Baby 2.0

It’s time to announce the impending arrival of Baby 2.0!   I am 30 weeks pregnant and due May 18^th.   “2.0” [pronounced two-point-oh] was the womb name my friend Ashley came up with -- it’s like a software version or the latest release of product and it though it is funny, the name quickly humanized during doctor’s appointments.  2.0 is healthy and happy in my belly and has been a good little fetus – no real complaints.  I was tempted to post a sonogram picture but decided thousands of people don’t need to see my insides.   Just imagine that 2.0 is really cute. 

Like with my daughter Molly, we are keeping the gender a surprise until delivery day – so I do not know if this little one will be a boy or a girl.   This makes it fun.  It’s a constant guessing game and is a challenge to decorate and prepare.   I am busy nesting with various organizing projects and getting the nursery ready now that Molly has a new big girl room.  The theme of this room is essentially elephants and giraffes and the color palate is pretty neutral – with white, black, grey, khaki and pops of yellow.   I created a piece of artwork to hang proudly on the wall. 

Here’s how I went about doing it.   I used:

• Artist’s Loft Gallery Wrapped Traditional Canvas – 24 x 36
• Artist’s Loft Vine Charcoal – medium
• Grumbacher paint – black and white
• PSA Essentials Peel & Stick stamps:  Little Bunny (the elephant)
• Acrylic block
• Close to My Heart pigment based ink – off-white
• Elmer’s Wood Glue
• Wood letters
• Recollections Chip board (for additional lettering when wood letters weren’t available at Michael’s)
• Mod Podge Glossy Finish

First, I free-hand sketched the elephant using the PSA stamp as my guide for the design.

 I then glued on the letters.  "See" and "Explore the World"

I painted it one shade of grey several times, then went in a re-outlined the elephant.   Then it was time to stamp.  

The grey was too flat for me, so I spent some time that brought me back to my glory days of art school – shading it and playing with the paint.  

I cut a globe from a magazine, glued then Mod Podged it on, and drew it into a balloon held by the elephant.

I use Mod Podge to seal the charcoal so it wouldn’t run and seal the stamps, too. 

See how it’s just a bit glossy over the elephant now?

And that’s it – I hope 2.0 likes his/her artwork. 

I was so proud of this project, I linked it up to some of my favorite blogs LINKING PARTIES!  Check out these great blogs and come join the party.

http://thirtyhandmadedays.com/

http://www.houseofhepworths.com/ 

http://www.katiesnestingspot.com/ 

http://www.the36thavenue.com/

 http://www.tipjunkie.com/category/handmade-projects/

 http://www.bluecricketdesign.net

http://www.domestically-speaking.com/

http://lilluna.com/