Work in progress...

I haven't posted anything for a while as I have been very busy teaching and creating work for my new website: www.beckylongillustration.com
Here is a little taster of some of that work.

Crafty ideas

I have decided to join the online crafting community with this post!

I drew a reindeer to use as a Christmas card design but then I thought of all the other things I could make with it; I created gift tags by folding two images printed back to back, punching a hole in the top corner and adding a ribbon. My favorite use though, was as cup cake decorations or 'toppers'. Not only did I get to eat cake, but they looked cute and Christmassy too. 

As you can see I had fun making the gift tags and cup cake toppers, so I thought I would share this with all the crafters and see what became of it...you can print out and use the JPEGs I have uploaded.

 Click here to DOWNLOAD FREE PRINTABLE FILES

There are two different sizes, the larger size is perfect for cards and the smaller size is intended for gift tags (I used the smaller size for the cup cake toppers, just folded them and secured a cocktail stick inside with double sided sticky tape). Both sizes have cut and fold lines on for square cards but you don't have to stick to the cut lines (I prefer the cards that I cut into reindeer shapes). Just remember that you need to leave a bit of the fold at the top so both sides are attached!

The cards should look like this when printed on a sheet of A4.

If you are worried about putting card through your printer you could print them on regular stock A4 and then glue them (use spray mount for neatness) onto heavier card.


You could try printing the design onto decal paper to create a transfer that can be applied to glass or ceramic. I think you could make some great table decorations with some old jam jars, a bit of ribbon and some tea lights.

You could also print onto heat-transfer paper and apply the design to fabric for use on a Christmas stocking or similar project.

Both decal paper and fabric transfer paper are available online and in craft stores. Make sure you follow the instructions on the pack you buy as they do vary.

Flights of Fancy

These images are from another fabric design. I scanned in lots of textures and drawings before editing it all in Photoshop. The final design was assembled in Illustrator.

Forest friends fabric

A small section of the fabric. The theme is arrows...just in case you hadn't guessed!

Forest Friends Fabric Design

A great big tree from the forest

A very red fox

I have been working on a fabric design and these are some of the drawings I have produced. I don't know if they will all make it onto the final design but I like how they are looking. The fabric will be available to purchase once I have finalised the design and checked proofs for colour matching!

Water - Illustration Friday

Raincloud illustration for Illustration Friday.

Mr Bloodhound...developed

And here he is with added detail!

Mr Bloodhound

Can you imagine this guy owning a Bloodhound? That's the idea...people who look like their pets.

All the trees in the wood

Here is a note card design I created a few months ago. The card folds into three and has envelopes in a matching lime green colour. I created the trees using collage and scanned textures.

Petrified Wood

Another little doodle I drew in the park. I added the colour digitally. I kind of like the way it looks like the folds of material, like silk or something. Perhaps it could be a print on a silk scarf?

Mr Kartoffell gets musical

My Mr Kartoffell illustration has been used on the cover of "The Best Things In Life Aren't Things" by The Cutler.

Ginko

Ginko patterns  from a trip to the botanical gardens. 

Anglesy Inspiration

I spent the jubilee weekend in Anglesy, off the coast of Wales. Here are a few photographs; some  are inspiring me to make a collage, some are of things I found and some are of me (how vain)!

I'm loving the colours and textures of all the rocks and I had great fun playing around with seaweed on the beach...

Squid ink

This is my entry for the Windsor and Newton Ink competition. I think I must have been still fixated on the sea when I came up with this idea.

All at Sea

I started playing around with the idea of making type from various sailing knots and this is where I ended up!
I'm unsure about the level of detail on the ropes so I am going to try a simplified design too to see which looks most effective.

Claire and her ukulele

For my friends birthday I created a collaged portrait of her playing her ukulele!