"Stay Whimsical"-An Illustration *And* A Story

"Stay Whimsical," watercolour line and
 wash and mixed media whimsical art.
by Clare Walker.

Hello there

Hope all is well in your corner of the world. This week's tale is of the whimsical mushroom you see above, and how it was a case of sticking with it, and listening to intuition.

It all started with thinking about all things Halloween. And then realising/more like remembering, I really, really, don't like spooky things. And that over the last few years, I've stuck (mostly) to being truer to that than the considerable commercial pressures of the season.

And so the first, hand painted version of this mushroom was born...

A  work-in-progress
shot of 
"Stay Whimsical"

Being me of course, I seriously thought that might be the end of it. Luckily, the image was having none of it, and I was able to ink in the words, the fairy window, deeper colours  more golden light for the mushroom, still stroke by stroke, but digitally (in Krita, if you're into that sort of thing too).

Which just goes to show, it's often the art that dictates when things are finished, not the person making it. (Around these parts, anyway).

"Stay Whimsical" Fridge Magnet
Available at Redbubble.

So now, there's a cute reminder to, "Stay Whimsical" at any time, *and* (if so inclined) to be able to buy/and/or gift the idea to others on some scrummy things, like the magnet you're seeing just above this.

Thanks for reading down this far. Have a great week...Staying as whimsical as you can, obviously. ;-).

More soon.

___________________________

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Just in time for Halloween...

Free Halloween Images

Hello there

In haste, but just in time for this Friday (if you're reading this near to my typing it, anyway), here's a selection of my Halloween images for this year, all on one sheet. I did promise the crafters reading this that there would be more soon for you, and with apologies for the delay, here it is.

They are all classic "black on deep orange watercolour," Halloween motifs  (cat, haunted house, bats,  etc), with a gentle twist. All the black images have been stencilled, to give a slightly grainy "old-fashioned printing," effect for extra spookiness.

And they're all ready to download, print and use.

To use them, you have a couple of options:

1. If you tap or right-click on the image above, you're welcome to download and use this one for free (credit always appreciated, but never required).

As ever though, I can't vouch that they'll come out the A4 size they went in (Google does a really strange re-sizing thing  that I can't always control), or

2) They are also available to buy and download now at a very-definitely-fully-printable-A4 size at Craftsuprint.Com.

Wishing you a fun week, with as much or as little spookiness as works for you.

More soon.

___________________________

The Tale of Some Whimsical Pumpkin Art...And a Cosy Halloween Collection...

White Pumpkin Line-and-Wash Sketch

Hello there, and hope you're well, and ready for some whimsy, amidst it all.

This week's tale starts innocently enough with a white pumpkin, that I sketched last weekend (see above), before it made its journey into soup. Or so I thought.

"Pumpkin Surprise" Number One

For a start, the pumpkin, despite being round, did not "play ball," as expected. (For which read, "I was completely unable to slice through it neatly like butter-as per celebrity chef demos, etc- to make said soup". Or at all, really). The resulting roasted "pumpkin crisps/chips" that I had been able to hack desperately from its unyielding sides *were* delicious, though. They just ended up in a hastily-re-arranged veg soup, instead.

And last Monday,  that was the fun anecdote with which I thought I'd introduce this sketch this week and have a short post. But, oh, no...

"Pumpkin Surprise," Number Two

The pumpkin had other ideas. This image wiggled and jiggled in my mind until I made it into a downloadable card sheet, which has a card front that can end up like this:

Click or tap here to browse or buy the
download sheet that makes this card front...

And along with the pretty "Pumpkin Polka Dots," background, I thought *that* would be it. 

And it seemed fair, because I haven't posted much for craft-loving people recently, who I know drop in here. If that's you, you might also like the 20% off sale on many of my Halloween and autumnal designs at Craftsuprint this week. As I don't know when you'll be reading this, I don't know whether it will have ended, but it's due to run until the end of September 2025).

But, in any event, that wasn't all. Cue:

Pumpkin Surprise Number Three

The pumpkin polka dots were now dancing around in my mind. And made their way onto Spoonflower, for a fabric and wallpaper outing.

As a final twist, somehow everything for a cosy autumnal Halloween collection (for who wants an extra-scary one right now anyway? Not me. And if you like whimsy and nature, I'm guessing maybe not you either) came together.

Anyway, I digress, because the "Cosy Halloween Mini Collection" (featuring pumpkins, black cats, golden leaves and gentle "flower of life," geometrics), is *also* available now.

Cosy Halloween Collection at Spoonflower,
by Clare Walker shown
demonstrating Spoonflower's
 "12 napkins" template.

The image above was created using one of Spoonflower's template makers. In this case, how a collection of 12 napkins might look using the fabrics in the mini-collection.

Warning: Spoonflower's template design tool also includes cheater quilts, infinity scarves and other delights and is mildly addictive, even if, like me, you've never personally sewn a quilt. You can give it a go with this collection by tapping or clicking on  this link.

And now?

And now, yes, finally, those white pumpkins seem to have found all their right place, living happily ever after. Sometimes, you just have to go with what the designs seem to want, rather than logical plans.

If you've read down this far-thanks so much, and have a wonderful week.

More soon.

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Cosy Halloween Autumnal Designs Are Here

Hello there

Hope all is well with you, and as promised, this week's post is full of Halloween printables, designed to be of the cosy and heartwarming kind.

Click or tap here to download and buy the full "Cauldron and Pumpkins"
Printable Cardmaking Sheet at Craftsuprint.com

The full sheet gives you a variety of embellishments and sentiments that are easy to cut out and use, and hence the option of making the same card design sound very different for each recipient. Simply change the sentiment tag for each person, and the card will have a very different feel.

Tap or click here to see and buy the full-res version
of this sheet at Craftsuprint

For example, the "Happy Halloween," sentiment tag might be perfect for general use, or with children or grandchildren. Those who honour the wheel of the year especially may prefer, "Happy Samhain."

Close up of the embellishments and
sentiments on the main "Cauldron and Pumpkins sheet

Or, for the friend who always jokes about their cooking (and/or who loves a joke anyway) how about adding the "An Alternative Way To Make Pumpkin Soup...," tag to their card?

If you want to add your own sentiment this sheet also has you covered, with a blank tag designed especially for it.

And if you'd like more...

If you'd just like to send a cosy and fun card, the main card sheet by itself gives you all you need.

However, if you'd like to add a matching insert (complete with an optional verse that carries on the "home and hearth" theme  from the main sheet) that's available too.

Cosy Pumpkin Blank and Verse Insert Sheet

And this beautifully bright and warm pumpkin border (that, as it's composed entirely of pumpkins, might also be useful in Thanksgiving projects if you're in the USA)...

Click or tap here to see the Cosy Pumpkin Border

A spookier Halloween?

I know that some people actually love the spookier aspects of Halloween. (Confession: I'm a scaredy-cat). But if you love spookier things, then I also have you covered in my Craftsuprint shop (with the added bonus that the colours and fonts from each Halloween set should all interchange pretty well).

Whether you're seeking cosiness or spookiness this year though, please remember that these are downloads, so (as I type on Oct 17th 2024, anyway) there should still be plenty of time to download, make, and send these items.

Finally...

Phew! Thanks so much for reading this unintendedly-marathon-like post, down this far, and for being here.

More soon.

___________________________

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Love, Peace, Joy, Courage Potion Bottles Pattern: Free Image Download

Click, tap or double-click here to
 download and use this image if you'd like

Hello there, and more than anything, in the light of all that some are experiencing around the world  hope that wherever, whenever and however you're reading this, you're safe, happy and finding ways to thrive.

This hope made me wish that we as a species could physically bottle love, peace, joy, and courage potions and send them out at a moment's notice to wherever it's needed. 

This pattern, in all its whimsy,  was the result of that thought. And if the idea speaks to you too, please feel free to download and use this image in your projects if you'd like. (Credit is always appreciated, but never required: my full angel policy is here).

Once again, I can't vouch for the size of download you'll get, as still haven't fathomed out how the blog is processing images these days.

And...

And yes, just to be clear, the idea behind these is potion bottles and jars. So, yes again, I have been thinking about Halloween designs. This year's designs  all are cosy, warm and comforting, but all the details will keep for another post.

For now, am just going to thank you so much for being here, and let those love, joy and peace potion bottles do the talking.

More soon.

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Bats, Hats, Cats, and A Big(ish) Announcement

Hello there, and hope you're thriving.

And just like that, we are knee-deep in the bats, cats and hats season, (a.k.a) Halloween. 

It's something with which I haven't always felt completely at home. One the one hand, I love fun, but on the other, scaring people or being scared is very much not my thing.

This year though, I decided to really go for it in my own style, and just make everything in my Halloween design as cute and whimsical as possible.

You can judge for yourself whether or not I've been successful...

Happy Halloween Scoop T-Shirt

But I was much encouraged when even my husband (a.k.a. The Computer Man) who had not been privy to my "make it cute and whimsical," idea for the design said, 
"You've really put the "happy" into Happy Halloween here-even the ghost is smiling."

So I figured that was a good sign of "mission accomplished", especially as the cat, bat and pumpkin are all smiling too, as you can see really well on this magnet:

Happy Halloween Fridge Magnet

So, if you're up for a really happy Halloween with the emphasis on the happy, too, then do check out everything you can use and wear to promote the *happy* Halloween vibe, 

*and*

My fun new printable witch's hat-shaped card at Craftsuprint, that's really easy to make, but has plenty of "wow" factor.

That Big(ish) Announcement

It's OK, it's a happy one too, (or at least, one that should make life considerably easier when navigating this site). You can now visit one page to a beautiful smorgasbord of my designs in one place (the "browse and buy" page), with easy links to more info depending upon the type of lovely thing you seek.

This one page gives you *lots* more images than before, and replaces both the stodgy text on the old "stockists" page, *and* the old (and often temperamental) "shop" links. 

So, after a busy (oh crumbs how busy-art is so much easier :-) ) week making this page work, it only remains for me to ask you to tap or click below to:

Try Out The New "Browse And Buy" Page Here

(and please click its links through from there to anything you fancy).

Many, many  thanks, and hope you like it.

More soon.

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Free Happy Halloween Gif (and a Sale...)

Hello there.

Now, before I go any further with this post, if you are scared of spiders, please know that, I am as well.

Which made it both bizarre even to have *had* the idea for the Halloween gif below, and essential that the spider therein be the cutest and most smiley, goggley-eyed creature I could muster.

Click, right, click or tap here to download and use this gif if you wish

I hope therefore, that everyone can enjoy this gif, however they feel about spiders (please do download and use this image if you'd like, ready for 31st.). Alternatively, there is also a Halloween, "Friendly Ghost," gif from a previous year here. (Terms of use for all my freebies are here).

Nothing spooky about this sale, though...

In other news, I just wanted to let you know that *all* the printables in my Craftsuprint shop (over 450 of them, now) are on sale from today 28th October to the 31st October 2022. This is the last full sale of these that I plan to run before Christmas, so it's a great time to stock up on any printable sheets you've had your eye on.

Here's the link to the shop again: https://www.craftsuprint.com/clare-walker/

Equally, if you're reading this after Oct 31at 2022, the sale will be over. The link will still point to shop goodies though :-).

And with all of that said, it's time just to wish you a lovely weekend (or day, if you're reading this later).

More soon.

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A Cute Halloween Cat for the Spooky Season...

Hello there, and I hope all's great with you.

Every year, around the Halloween season, I face the same dilemma. Pictures, card sheets and products for it are supposed to be spooky. And yet, "spooky," isn't my natural stamping ground, whereas "cute and whimsical," ideas come more naturally.

Halloween Black Cat image by Clare Walker
Click here to see it on stickers at Redbubble.

So am hoping that this Halloween cat can cover both bases, and be useful to you this Halloween season, whether you need him for crafting and card sheet purposes, or on some ready-made stickers and other goodies.

Halloween Black Cat Design by Clare Walker,
Papercrafting and photo by Marion Kimberley-Scott

,

Once again, the wonderful Marion Kimberley-Scott has demonstrated far better than I ever could, the wonders you can make if you choose this cat as a printable card sheet (see the pictures above and below). Thanks so much, Marion (and for the permission to use your pics)..

Halloween Black Cat Card Insert: Design by Clare Walker,
Papercrafting and photo by Marion Kimberley-Scott

And with that, will just wish you a happy weekend (or day, depending on when you're reading this.

More soon.

PS. If spooky isn't your thing, you can also check out what became of last week's cosmo flowers, if you'd rather, in an updated post,  here...

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Free Pumpkin Clip Art for Halloween

Hello there. Hope all is well and lovely for you, wherever you are.

This week's post is earlier than usual, mostly because this pumpkin clip art would be great for Halloween projects. So if you're looking for it right now, here it is. (Having said that, being pumpkin-themed, it might also be lovely for Thanksgiving, a little further away).

Free Pumpkin Clip Art-right-click, click or tap here to download

Anyway, as with all the clipart on this blog, simply right-click, click or tap, depending on your device, to save it, and it's yours to use in many and varied ways. (See my angel policy for full details).

NB. There are more Halloween-themed freebies on the blog from previous years as well, such as this raven, and a Halloween ghost gif.

Finally, if you're liking this pumpkin, and wanting a craft sheet featuring this pumpkin and other yummy autumnal squashes and motifs...

you can buy and download this to use instantly, at Craftsuprint.Com

Hope this helps, and more soon!

Funny Halloween Cartoon for 2020 (Day 45/100)

Today's offering is some Halloween humour for 2020> As I very much hope it won't be relevant in any other year, it won't be on sale in any way. Please though, do share it if it makes you laugh.

More tomorrow. 

Halloween Ghost Gif (Day 37)

 Hello again.

Day 37's offering is in preparation for Halloween next week...a friendly ghost who goes "Boo".

If you want to download and share this image in social media posts, texts or emails (keeping the watermark), please do. The download link is: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4DybfAzd3936Y0P9lkKWgMex2rkAphUN6pliFj-1ryGZ2p4ccv4ePYvVJhwBhW55zo5bd4foqzsLZCI-3LYMak2gDXZ5G58aymgFxJtp_F0FIIzo7-9MlDunIkc38nVKWZNosa7zUse_/s800/boo-halloween-ghost.gif

It inserts into these places just like a still image.

Anyway, hope this is fun, and finds you well.

More tomorrow.

Free Pumpkin Clip Art

 Today's offering is free pumpkin clip art. (Digital clip art in Krita).

Just right-click and save (or tap and save this image). Use it however like as long as you don't sell it or claim copyright. (See my angel policy for details).

And yes, just in case you were wondering, this is also Day Three of my sketch a day challenge.

From now on, only a few of those sketches will be on the main site. But you can follow them all on my 
Instagram account and new-look  BoundingSquirrel Facebook Page.

Happy weekend!

Free Halloween Image: Raven

Hello there.

Today's image is a free piece of Halloween clip art/illustration for your projects.
You can use it personally or commercially, (my full "angel" policy is here).

To download this jpg, just click or tap  and save a you normally would on your device.

And if you like this raven, he comes with all the Halloween trimmings (including spooky verses you can use) on four co-ordinating craft sheets you may enjoy.

Have fun with this-more soon!

A Halloween Cartoon to Share...

With Halloween coming up, this seems like a good cartoon to share. It's in the newer, "digital ink and wash" style I've been experimenting with. But most of all, it's for fun and to brighten your day.

Feel free to pass it along to anyone else who might enjoy it too, and have a great day.

Update: This proved popular, so it's now available as a card on Zazzle, (and customisable too, so not just for Halloween)

Confession Time: It's Going to Be a Cute Black Cat Halloween Here...

It's confession time. Originally, you weren't going to see any Halloween designs here this year. I loathe horror films, large spiders, and anything related to guts and gore. So why do any designs on those themes, right?

But then, this cute little cat came into my head...(he's hand-drawn, but  in digital oil pastels).

And I wondered whether anyone else out there might like a cute Halloween, with a little black cat, as well?

I know that local customs on this vary widely. But here in the UK, black cats are traditionally lucky. (And if YouTube is anything to go by, they're also loved elsewhere too).


Playing around a bit more, I was really surprised when something so simple looked good on a mug.

Painted Black Cat Coffee Mug by BoundingSquirrel
Look at more Black Mugs at zazzle

So he made his way onto a pumpkin-gold background...

 

Which works out well for items like cards...

Happy Halloween Black Cat Cards by BoundingSquirrel
Shop for a different greeting card template online at zazzle

And then, in different sizes, the cat and his clone morphed into a pattern...(More on patterns in another post. I've finally getting the hang of them, and can demonstrate a simple method if you're pattern-challenged too.

Anyway, the resulting pattern was here...

Which translates itself onto items like this...

Painted Black Cats on Halloween Golden Background iPad Mini Case by BoundingSquirrel
Check out other Cat Cases at zazzle.com

And so, just like that, I ended up deciding to "do" Halloween 2014 after all.

 

So, what about you? Do you love cute designs for Halloween too? Or, are you a stickler for traditional gore? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.