Tutorial: How-to Transfer an Image

*Please Note: I wrote this post back in the Fall, not recently.*

I feel like its finally time for a tutorial...I have tutorials exploding from the seams of my computer that have yet to be posted. There's no better time than now to share one of them!

Today's is one I made back in the Fall and it's how to transfer an image from paper to another surface (i.e. canvas, paper, wood, etc.) I learned this back in my college drawing class. Its actually not something you should do in a drawing class because its basically the equivalent of cheating. But for crafting purposes, it's perfect!

*Keep an eye out for the TIPS found throughout the steps.

I love ampersands.

Things you need:

- canvas

- good pencil

- printed image (to transfer)

-tape (optional)

-paint

-paintbrush

 Step 1: Print out the image or words you would like to transfer to the canvas.

TIP: I like to cut the edges of the paper an inch or two away from the edge of the image itself. It makes it easier.

Step 2: Place the paper face down on a hard surface.

Step 3: With the pencil on its side, scribble all over the paper completely covering the edges of the image.

Step 4: Position the image face up on the canvas where you would like it to be.

TIP ONE: Precision is key. Take the time to make sure you have the image placed exactly where you want it (i.e. centered and not crooked)

TIP TWO: I like to tape ONE side of the paper to the canvas to hold it steady for the next step.

Step 5: Take the pencil and draw along the outside of the image.

TIP: Make SURE you press very firmly. Otherwise, it won't show up on the canvas.

Step 6: See, the pencil will barely show up on the canvas. So after you finish painting, you won't be able to see the marks.

I'm not really sure why I took a picture of this.

Step 7: Find a paint you love. I mixed up a few to make the perfect color.

Step 8: Paint the image. 

TIP: I like to use a shorter, angled brush. It gives you more solidity when trying to stay in the lines. Especially for those of us (cough, cough me) who have a shaky hand when it comes to anything that doesn't erase.

Step 9: Be happy and relish in how perfectly straight, centered, and beautiful your canvas looks!

Here's another example of how I used this transferring technique to paint a word:

(I cut out each letter individually to make sure it fit on the canvas)

This is the Russian word for "trust". At least, I think it is!

I hope this is helpful and fun to try! Let me know if you have any questions!

Perfectly Imperfect

I've been thinking a lot lately. I have a lot of time to think, so my mind runs rampant. I could sit and list off 100+ daily things or activities that I cannot do. I could tell you how much and often it makes me cry and how often I have to tell someone "no" when they invite me to something. I could tell you all about what the inside of my heart feels when my body tells me "you're done" and what happens when I ignore that warning.

Over the past 3 years and 5 surgeries later, I could also tell you the way these surgeries effect the depth of my heart and my sense of self-worth.

Life is different for the time being and it has been for a while. While not being able to do the things of life I'm used to and replacing those with limitations, it has hurt the very deep places of my heart. One day, I decided to look up the definition of limitation and found this:

When I had seen this, which was a couple months ago, it represented the state I was in exactly. And while those limitations overshadow and become more intrusive, I have one thing that is steadfast and remains true no matter what I am experiencing:

The fact that I am a daughter of the King. Of the one, true God. The God who created me, knew me, knit me together before I was ever shown to anyone else (Psalm 139:13). And the way He made me, even in the so-called imperfections, are perfectly imperfect. And I can say with full and complete honesty, even with tears burning in my eyes, and in the midst of the most profoundly difficult place of life I have ever been, that I wouldn't want my body any other way because I KNOW that God has me in His hands and made and allowed my body to be this way for a very specific (and completely not understood) reason.

God places us on this earth and gives us life because He has a very specific purpose for our lives. Each one of us are here for very different reasons and each one of us are loved by God in a way we will never be able to fathom or fully grasp. I am so thankful for that simple truth that is the basis for life and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Knowing the state of my heart and life, I absolutely would not know how I would be able to deal with this without knowing Christ as my Lord and Savior. I wouldn't.

I'm trying my best this time around to keep in mind these things:
 - to not always be a hero
 - to ask when I need help
 - to know my limitations and live accordingly
 - to keep goals and do things that bring joy
 - to hold tightly to that everlasting joy that only God can provide and that never truly goes away
 - keeping in mind that this is only for a time because healing is in His hands, not mine.
 - to always be grateful for the people He places in my life and who love me so much.

On a side note, I typed this post almost completely with my eyes closed. Finally, my keyboarding class from high school has finally come in handy!

Top 10 Pins: Encouragement

This may be inspirational word overload, but here are the Top 10 Pins I've been finding the most encouragement from this week. (Okay, eleven)

This week has been challenging in itself. And these each just give me a great deal of encouragement. And note, that half of them are scripture...the best place to find it.

{All links to sources can be found here}

 

Post Easter

Easter was absolutely a delight. While it was coupled with moments of some intense physical issues, it was worth every moment of it. My entire family was able to spend this Easter together, which is rare indeed. My middle sister, brother (in law), and nephew live down in Austin and my other brother (in law) always has to work on Sundays and basically every holiday between the months of January and September. So Sunday was exponentially enjoyable since we all were able to celebrate Christ's death and resurrection together.

We love each other, can't you tell?

Not only that, but we all went to church together at Prestonwood to watch my brother (in law) be baptized that morning. He's been a follower of Christ for about 10 or 11 years but made the decision to be baptized this week. It was such a special morning, filled with joy.

{One song that I absolutely love, cannot seem to find a link to share, and is so pertinent and perfectly fitting for what Easter is, is by Desperation Band called Overcome. Its also in the album called Counting on God. You can find it on Spotify and iTunes.}

In conclusion, Easter was a delight. Sometimes (and I don't know how) I fail to recognize Christ's death and resurrection and make a point to thank Him for that as much as I should. How?! That is the Gospel! I wouldn't know what to do with life, let alone have it, if I didn't know Christ as my Lord and Savior. And so, it is necessary and a blessing to have a day each year centered on celebrating Christ's death and life.

"For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, 

that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish 

but have eternal life. 

For God did not send his Son in the world to condemn the world,

but to save the world through Him." 

-John 3:16-17

Thank you Jesus.

Baltimore Pics!

I thought I would share some pictures from our past two trips to Baltimore this year! There's only a few and just some random places we experienced. It was enjoyable...except for the surgery and anxiety provoked moments.

{January Trip}

At Regi's - A quaint deli tucked in the south part of downtown.

Across the street from Regi's there was a overly stuffed old bookstore/Russian trinket store and had an enclave. I like to consider it a super secret spot.

Mom and Dad. Cute you guys.

They have these all over town. Neat.

The morning we left and it SNOWED! This was in January btw.

Best mom in the world.

A snowy Virginia.

This is the bracelet my parents gifted me in the taxi cab on the way to the hospital the morning of one of my surgeries.

Here's what it says: "He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." -Luke 17:6

{March Trip}

Have to wear your 50-cent-best-friend ring when you can't take the real thing with you.

Cherry blossoms. All over the city. And cute brick streets everywhere too.

I died when I saw this door. How cute!