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Top 9 Trending Clothes You Need This Spring In Your Closet

Posted on March 23, 2018March 23, 2018 by Sharrette

The spring has just started and so has your closet must-haves! There are a lot of trends happening, and I’ve combed through them to bring you this list of top 9 trending clothes you need this spring in your closet. Yes, there are only 9 trending clothes you need that you will be able to complete all your spring outfits with them. Check them out:

Top 9 Trending Clothes You Need This Spring

Block Heels

These are a must have this season! I am seeing them everywhere, and I can’t wait to add them to my closet. They are chic and simple. You can easily pair them with all types of outfits, jeans, dresses or even rompers.

I know! You are like me and want to go buy some in every color. I haven’t added these to my closet yet, but they are definitely a must-have!

2. Lace Up Wedges

Another favorite this season is the lace-up wedges. You can wear these poolside, out for the weekend, or even everyday with jeans. That is the great thing about these 9 trending clothes items is that they are so versatile and will complete any outfit that you pair them with. Wedges are so easy and comfortable to walk in too, so you will have no problems with keeping these on your feet all night long!

Lace-up shoes are so sexy! They make me feel like a goddess whenever I have them on. I just want to show off my legs in them! You will too. 😉

3. Ripped Jeans

Number three on my top 9 trending clothes this spring are ripped jeans. I have a couple of different pairs of ripped jeans, as I am sure you do too. Pull them out and wear them because they are still on trend! I know you get the comments from your parents and grandparents that they will buy you pants that aren’t ripped. Ignore them! You look fly!

All types of washes and definitely black and white ripped jeans are the colors you want to add.

4. Moto Jeans

I am obsessed with Moto Jeans. They are like ripped jeans except your clothes aren’t torn! You have pants that have an element of design that was missing without them. My favorite colors for moto jeans are green and of course pink. Check them out and add them to your closet for this spring.

5. Off the Shoulder Tops

The latest trend for your tops and blouses is for them to be off the shoulder. Show some shoulder, show some skin. Super sexy! Who doesn’t love a sexy collarbone? Really easy to pair with skirts and jeans.

6. Rompers

These have been on the market for a couple of years, but they are really starting to take off in the style department. You can get a wide variety of styles of Rompers. Long or short, floral or plain, whatever you choose you will be on trend in a romper. Just let me know if you figure out an easy way to go to the bathroom whenever you wear one. 🙂

You will be wearing this for a weekend trip to the beach or a brunch with your friends! They are super comfy, too.

7. Maxi Dresses

It’s like resort wear took over the trends this spring for my top 9 trending clothes this spring to add to your closet. You will want to get your hands on a great casual and fancy maxi dress. They are the perfect item to pair with your block heels or wedges and head out for a date or to the movies with friends.

8. Tie Shorts & Tie Pants

Like I said the resort wear is taking over! Check out tie linen pants and shorts. They are a great spin on your traditional jeans and shorts. I think it is all about being comfortable, yet looking stylish and put together this spring. My favorite linen pants I’ve seen are from Vici Collection. Check them out here.

Other great tie pants and shorts are these:

9. Convertible Neckline Tops

Convertible tops aren’t just for nursing moms anymore! Now, they are making them for everyday wear. You can have the top be strapless or spaghetti strap depending on the top or long sleeve. They also combine the off the shoulder trend here. Great to pair with your ripped jeans for a fun night out. Or, just switch up the sleeves for a day to night wear.

Styling Them

So these are my top 9 trending clothes you need to add to your closet to be on trend this Spring. You can mix and match them with a wide variety of pieces to create unique and on-trend looks. I’m definitely looking to add them to my closet. What other trends have you seen this spring that you want to add to your closet? Comment below or connect with me on social media.

Have you read my post about how to minimize your pores for an everyday make up look?

How to Add Foil To Your Favorite Prints and Designs

Posted on March 18, 2018March 23, 2018 by Sharrette

When I first started calligraphy, a big trend was drawing a beautiful script design and adding foil to it. I was in love! It looked so easy and I loved the finished product. My only problem was the cost involved in getting the equipment to foil things. As I followed people on Instagram and learned more about it, I found that people had some hacks for getting the job done. So, here is how to add foil to your favorite print and design.

The equipment you will need:

Laser printer (not inkjet! Laser!)
Example: Brother HL-L2320D Mono Laser Printer
Minc Reactive Foil
Comes in a variety of colors. I use Light Pink Minc Reactive Foil 12.25″-Light Pink 10′ Roll and Rose Gold Heidi Swapp MINC Application Machine Reactive Foil by American Crafts | 12-inch x 120-inch Rose Gold Foil Roll
Computer to print from
LaminatorAmazonBasics Thermal Laminator

Optional:
ipad pro and procreate app
ipad pencil

The Process

1. Create, design or draw what you want to foil

I do this by using my iPad pro and pencil and drawing a design in the Procreate app. You can create any design you want though. All you need to make sure is that it is in Black and White. The foil will adhere to the image where the black laser ink is printed. I’ve also used apps like Photofy to create text that I want to be foiled.
For example, I can print off a black clip art lip with a white text overlay. After I foil it, the white text will be negative space and the black lips will be where the foil ends up.

Note: If you use more intricate designs than the foil will try to mimic that. Example of that being, if you have a gradient, it will apply more foil to the darker area and less to the lighter area.

2. Print with a laser printer

After I have created the design, I will transfer it to my computer. I do this by emailing it to myself or sending it to myself via text or Google Hangouts. There are a multitude of ways to transfer the file, comment below if you need help with this step.

I then lay it out on a page how I want it to be printed. If it was a simple calligraphy design, I would have drawn it or designed it on an 8.5″x11″ sheet of canvas. But, for something like creating stickers or labels or something I want multiples of, I will lay it out in a program like InDesign.

Side Note: Since I am a graphic designer, I have Adobe Creative Suite and the programs that come with it. Some alternates to Illustrator would be Procreate on the Ipad or even Paper 53 on the iPad. If you need other computer version alternatives here is a list of alternates.

After I have it laid out, I will simply click print on my Brother Mono Laser 2320. The mono portion means that my laser printer only prints in black and white. Laser printers can be expensive and so I strictly use my laser printer for things I want to foil. All my other black and white or color pages I want to be printed, I print from my HP inkjet printer.

Funny Story: When I originally went out to purchase the stuff for foiling, I thought I was purchasing a laser printer but ended up buying the HP Inkjet one. I tried to foil something and the foil would not adhere to the ink. Trying to a couple of different solutions, I was at a loss for what to do. So, I contacted the person that I saw using a laminator to see if they could help me figure out what I did wrong. I felt like an idiot for sure when I realized my mistake! So make sure the printer you are getting is a laser printer and uses toner not ink.

3. Lay foil on top of the design

This is the easy and the hard part. On Instagram, a lot of people will cut full page sized sheets of their foil and send it through the laminator. I like to be more efficient than that and only use the size of foil that my image is.

To do this: Measure your wording or image. For me, let’s say I am working on my 2×4 lip stickers, so I’ll need foil about 2″ x 2.5″. I’ll measure and cut the foil down to that size and it creates less waste. Be careful that you don’t cut it too close to your design but give yourself a border around the image. This will help make sure if something shifts you catch the full print with the foil.

Put the shiny part facing up and the other side down on your laser print. That is, put the color you want to see, i.e. the rose gold, facing up and the other side down on your image.

4. Put through a laminator

I don’t use one of those folders for laminators but you can. Depending on the size of your image, print, and foil you can do it a couple different ways. If it is a normal piece of paper, you might want to adhere your foil in place with washi tape so that it doesn’t shift when it is put through the laminator. Or, as I mentioned, use one of those folders to put it into and then put it through the laminator.

5. Peel foil off and enjoy!

After it has gone through the laminator, all you have to do is carefully pull back the foil and reveal the image below. Discard foil and hang around your house or sell the art for everyone to enjoy! These five steps should be super easy to follow for how

to foil your favorite print or design.

Super easy, right?

I hope this tutorial for how to foil your favorite print was helpful and that you run out and get all the supplies today! Overall, you can get started for just under $150. Which, considering the cost for just a Minc Foiler is $100 plus the purchase of a laser printer, you are getting at least 25-50% off. Watch for deals on laser printers and get them when they are on sale, that will help you cut down the startup cost, too!

I’d love to see what you end up foiling and hear your thoughts on this hack. Check out my tips for getting started with fashion illustration here. Comment below or connect with me on Instagram or Facebook.
Xoxo

minc reactive foiler sx

My Top Three Favorite Drawing Materials

Posted on March 12, 2018March 23, 2018 by Sharrette

I don’t know what it is about the number three, but I find it alluring and seductive. Not too many things that I’ll get bored reading the blog and not too few that it would be a waste of time. With that said, I’m going to tell you about my top three favorite drawing materials.

Drawing Experience

First, let me give you a little history of my drawing experience. I’ve been drawing since I was like 8. I’ve always loved it. For a while, I would only draw in pencil or black and white. I wasn’t quite sure how to translate the shading I was able to create with black and white into color.

So, all through-out my high school drawing and art classes, my favorite drawing material was pencil and paper. Slowly, I began to expand to colored pencil and marker. I was able to learn and recreate different things into color with correct shading techniques.

My Favorite Art Class

I took several art classes in college, obviously because my major was Graphic Design. 😉 One of my favorite classes that I took was a Charcoal drawing class while I attended Savannah College of Art & Design. The professor really captivated my interest and skill with still life drawings he would set up in class for us to render. They were filled with elaborate detail.

The professor would come by and periodically check our work offering minor suggestions or changes and by the end of the pieces, I felt like I had created a masterpiece. I wish I could remember his name. He had a sketchbook that he would work up different still life drawings in it. I was just awed by how detailed and intricate the designs were.

I also dabbled in gouache and acrylic paint in college.

Anyway, I really didn’t start to expand into different materials until the last two years. I focused for a while on Adobe Illustrator and my career. Since being home and having more time, I’ve learned some Modern Calligraphy and Fashion Illustration.

Favorite Drawing Material Number One – the Ipad Pro & Pencil

I must begin this with a warning, the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil are addicting. I love doing art in the Procreate app because it is versatile. I can do acrylic, gouache, pencil; the options are endless. Yes, they don’t come out exactly how traditional materials would but they are so similar it is hard not to forgive the minor differences.

Secondly, whenever I do something I don’t like, I can just erase it or undo it. This has been hard for me when I switch back and forth between traditional and digital. It is too easy to undo while using the Ipad Pro that when I draw when pencil and paper, I sometimes catch myself trying to undo what I just did. I would say traditional mediums are more difficult to master because there is no undo. It’s either restart or remake the mistake you made.

Favorite Drawing Material Number Two – Copic Markers

These I just discovered last fall. I feel like I have been missing out though. They are so great for blending. You can create different shades and effects just by layering the markers. Where have they been all my life?!

Even if you were to substitute out Copic Markers for any other alcohol-based ink marker, I bet you would quickly realize why I love these so much! The only con is, of course, the cost. As long as you are using them, I think it is worth the cost. Copic Markers or other alcohol based inks are not worth investing in if you just do art occasionally.

Favorite Drawing Material Number Three – Watercolor

I bet you thought I was going to put pencil and paper down as my third favorite drawing material? Nope, that was then, this is now. I love the light and airy look of watercolor. I also love the way that watercolor blends. It is very similar to how the Copic markers blend, but a little harder to maneuver.

Watercolor is a great medium for either calligraphy, drawing, or fashion sketches. You can get such a different look from using the Copic Markers. Some of my favorite fashion illustrations are watercolor. Check these out:

A Reader lives a thousand lives before he dies

Practice and Experience

One thing that I want to continue to encourage each of you to do is to practice. Start with one of my three favorite drawing materials, probably the easiest would be the ipad pro, and just create art everyday. If a new material or subject matter is difficult to draw or use, don’t give up. Continue to use it, watch videos on youtube or skillshare. That is the only way that you will learn how to use it and improve.

When I first started calligraphy in November of 2016, it was horrible. I thought it would be super easy because everyone makes it look easy. No, it really is an art form! Participating daily in calligraphy challenges helped me practice and improve. I’m still not the best at it, but I did improve.

The same goes for Fashion Illustrations. It took me awhile to get into the grove and I watched several tutorials on croquis and getting the figure in a style I liked.

Just don’t give up! I haven’t yet, and neither should you. 🙂

Those are my three favorite drawing materials. You can see the similarities between the three. They are all about blending and mixing to recreate just the right shades we see in life and in art. I also, unintentionally, put them in order from easiest to hardest. Go figure!

What are some of your favorite drawing materials? Share with me in the comments so I can check them out and add them to my art supply collection. Did you love this post?

You should check out my post about my Christmas Art Supply Haul, then. I talked about the great art stuff I got and spoiler alert, I mention Copic markers again! Or, follow me on Instagram or Facebook and let’s connect there.

My Daily Makeup Routine and how I minimize my pores

Posted on March 9, 2018March 10, 2018 by Sharrette

I went through my daily makeup routine and wanted to put this post together for you. Lately, I’ve been trying different ways to minimize my pores because they seem distinct. I’ve watched a couple of youtube videos and checked out different makeup products. So, I am going to include what I’ve learned and implemented into my beauty routine to diminish and minimize my pores. Here we go, from start to finish my daily makeup routine and how I minimize my pores.

First, Prime Your Skin – Minimize Your Pores

I put on face lotion first to prime my skin. I used to have really bad acne due to my hormones and PCOS. Since discovering the Unblemish routine by Rodan + Fields, it has completely cleared my skin. In the Unblemish Routine, they have a face lotion. I mix that with a little bit of clean & clear dual action moisturizer. I mix it because it makes the R+F lotion last longer thereby saving money. Both are great moisturizers and SPF blockers. Plus, a bonus is that both keep my skin from soaking up all the makeup causing more breakouts.

Second, I prime my skin with pore minimizing remedy. In the past, I’ve tried and used a couple of different ones. My two top favorites are Senegence Silk Pore & Wrinkle Minimizer, and Pore Professional by Benefit. I’ve learned you should let these sit for a few minutes and then move on to your makeup. I take a dab, rub it into my pores in a downward motion and let sit for a few minutes.

Second, the Foundation and Powders

I’ve gone through phases with my foundation. As I mentioned, I’ve had really bad acne in the past and originally I only used Bare Minerals. I thought it would help keep my skin clear. It didn’t. Then, I switched to Dr. Jart BB Creams. My favorite is the Dis-a-Pore Beauty Balm. It has so many good qualities for your skin and I love that it is a BB Cream so it feels light and doesn’t seem to clog my pores. I’ve been wearing it for the past 3 years or so until I switched to the Senegence Anti-Aging Foundation.

To apply my foundation and minimize my pores, I wet a blending sponge and put my Senegence AA Foundation and a dab of makeup mood enhancer by .em Michelle Phan. I mix the two together with the end of my eyeshadow brush. I do this not so much for the enhancer but because the foundation color is a little too dark for my skin tone and instead of waste it or send it back I just lighten it.

Minimizing my pores is a basic two-step process. Add the pore minimizer and apply my makeup by dabbing with a blending sponge instead of a makeup brush. In some of the youtube videos I watched, one tip was to then bake a powder to further minimize pores. I just don’t because it is an extra step, and sometimes I don’t have the time to do it.

Dabbing the beauty blender on my forehead, cheeks, and chin with the foundation I begin to blend it onto my skin. I continue to blend and dab it all over until my foundation is applied. It is amazing the difference in coverage I get with the real foundation versus the BB Cream! For that reason, I sometimes still just wear the BB Cream because taking it off at night is less troublesome than the foundation.

Next, I contour my face with Too Faced Chocolate Soleil and Mac highlighter. I also apply Bellapierre cosmetic blush. I apply the Chocolate Soleil to my cheeks, the side of my nose, my chin and the top of my forehead. Then, I apply the mac highlighter to the tip of my nose, the top of my cheeks, and my jawline to under my cheeks. As I said, I treat these more as a contouring kit than bronzer and highlighter.

Third, the Eyes & Eyebrows

I apply an eyebrow pencil to my eyebrows not to draw them on but to fill in the holes from my crazy eyebrow hairs. I then blend it in with a brush wand. It helps the color not be too dark and tame the brows.

Following this, I will apply my eyeliner. The very best eyeliner, in my humble opinion, is the Eyeko Fat Liquid Eyeliner. It has a marker tip, so it makes applying it straight and even super easy. I usually pull my eye to the side to make it a tighter surface to apply to. After applying the black to the top lid, I sometimes put a little on the bottom lid lash line and then smudge it with a straight eyeshadow brush. Alternatively and/or additionally, I will sometimes apply a white eyeliner to my waterline to brighten my eyes.

To finish it off, I apply my mascara. My everyday mascara is Smashbox X-Rated. You can see my top three mascaras in this blog post here. I’m all about mascara that adds drama and volume even for my everyday look. This is more often my final step when I am talking about my everyday makeup routine. My non-everyday makeup routine would include applying Lipsense and mixing in some eyeshadows.

I would love to hear how you do your makeup or how you have found best minimize your pores. I am still learning, but I feel like these few tips and tricks seem to go a long way for me. Connect with me via social media or comment below!

Refinishing A Table with Marble Project Paper

Posted on March 3, 2018 by Sharrette

The Inspiration to Refinish A Table, my table that is.

I just got finished refinishing a table that I use as my desk and for all my craft and art projects. I wanted to tell you about the process, how I came up with the idea, and how amazing it turned out! Plus, it is super affordable.

Have you ever been on Pinterest and drooled over all the fancy home and office decor? No? Not even the amazing craft rooms? I have and do all the time. One day, maybe when my children grow up, I plan to make myself an amazing craft and office room. I’ve even started a Pinterest board to save all of the great ideas for when that happens.

In the meantime, I’ve been working on my art and blog. Taking photos has been a learning process over the past year or so. Trying to get the right lighting and editing the photos so the lighting and color are correct is quite the process. One thing I learned quickly was the setting or background needed to be consistent for posting and white generally looked the best to me.

What I’ve been doing in the Meantime for my Photos

I bought poster board to place my art and put my flat lays together. It worked for awhile but I got tired of the pure white look. Plus, poster board gets damaged easily. I deviated from the white poster board with scrapbook paper that looks like wood boards. I really like that and plan to still use it but then I started taking more photos from afar and of my workspace. The table I use is counter-top height. It’s not that comfortable. However, it keeps the kids from messing with all my supplies and the stuff I keep on it. The only problem is that it was a dark marble top.

It didn’t make for pretty pictures. I kept pinning and drooling over all the white desks. One day, I thought, I will get a white desk to take amazing photos!

Well, that day hasn’t come but while I was at JoAnn’s this week I ran across an amazing product! Are you ready for it?

DCWV Project Paper Marble

DCWV Marble Project Paper

It was exactly what I had been looking for. The photos showed that it could go on the wall or furniture. I knew I had to get! So, I got it thinking that it had a sticky residue on one side to adhere it with. That was the first mistake I made.

Getting Home & Refinishing A Table

I got home and cleared off my table to begin refinishing the table with the project paper. It seemed like it would be quick and easy, so I got it started. I looked over the project paper and was upset to find it didn’t have a sticky side. There were no instructions either. I was at a loss how I was supposed to apply, so to google, I went.

Google told me that you are supposed to modge podge it onto things and put a layer of modge podge over it. How frustrating! I was just at JoAnn’s and could’ve bought the modge podge while I was there had I known. I wasn’t about to wait or go back to the store. That wouldn’t stop me, though! Searching through my house, I found some spray adhesive I knew would work great.

Unfortunately, that ran out halfway through applying the second sheet. It was rough! I finally found another medium that acts like mod podge in my art supply. I was able to finish applying it. Holding the sheets and trying to apply it without air bubbles was difficult and I didn’t get the edges perfect.

After I finished applying the paper, I applied a coat of gloss to seal it down some. Here is the exact process I used:

Buy project paper
Learn I needed modge podge
Get frustrated
Find alternate spray adhesive and lodge podge in my house
Apply spray adhesive to back of project paper
Align with edges and one side of table
Slowly lay down from one side to the other while smoothing out the best I could the air bubbles and wrinkles
Run out of spray adhesive
Find modge podge alternate
Apple to other sheet for the second half of table
Slowly lay down from one side to the other while smoothing out the best I could the air bubbles and wrinkles
Move table outside, and apply gloss coating
Let dry

It is paper so I have to use coasters if I have a drink. However, I am happy with the results. I can’t argue with how cheap it was and it makes a huge difference in the look and feel of the table. Plus, I can take all the amazing photos I want as seen in my previous blog post here.

Results

Here are some more photos of the end result:

What do you think? For $6 it isn’t bad, right? It has a line in the middle where the paper meets, but I’m totally okay with that. I’ll keep dreaming of my someday office craft room that has all the expensive stuff but in the meantime enjoy this amazing hack I found.

What is a hack you have found for something you have been dreaming about off Pinterest? I’d love to hear it. Share it with me on social media or comment below.

Decopodge your way to an Instagram Worthy desk

Xoxo

3 Things About Starting A Blog You Can Learn From Me

Posted on February 28, 2018March 23, 2018 by Sharrette

The Decision to Start A Blog

3 things i learned about starting a blog Blogging requires dedication, and I knew that going into it. I debated both sides of blogging before I started. Should I? Shouldn’t I? Let me make starting a blog easier for you by sharing my three main hesitations with starting a blog and how I overcame it.

I didn’t want to invest my time and money into starting a blog, only to trail off after getting into it. I knew I was going to have to go all in. So, the very first thing I did to prep myself was joining a blogging support group on facebook.

This has been one of the best things I could have done! I joined before I even really got started blogging. I followed along with other people’s questions and blogging and got some great tips to get me motivated and started. If you are even remotely thinking of starting a blog, that is the first thing I recommend.

Join a facebook support group!

What I learned from blogging

This is the one I am apart of:
Boss Girl Bloggers. Laura is the admin and creator of the group. She is absolutely amazing. She promotes her blog (check it out here) which is packed full of blogging tips and tricks while also giving a lot of great advice and resources for you. The other members of the group are super helpful and supportive as well. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, get involved in the group and you will want to get your blog started right away!

Pin Everything Starting A Blog Related on Pinterest!

Another thing that has helped me get started on the right foot has been reading a lot of other blogs. Pinterest is a great resource for this. Have a question, Pinterest it!

I’ve been working on getting everything I have in sync and Pinterest has been my go-to for answers along with the support group on Facebook.

I have good momentum on this blog, and I don’t want to lose steam. I joined StumbleUpon, set up my social media accounts. Planned out my first bits of content. However, one of the struggles I have run into with my blog has been content. Topics are a dime a dozen. I don’t want to repeat content from other bloggers and I want my blog to be a resource for people. So, I am still working on building that.

Blog Content Topics

I have read over and over that one of the most important things I need to do to make my blog successful is good content. My first blog post was an easy about me and why I wanted to get blogging. Check it out here. However, what do I write about next? This has been another thing that Pinterest has helped with. There are a lot of pins about blog topics.

So, don’t be afraid to research, read, and learn as you go.

Research Before You Purchase

Finally, the third thing you can learn from my journey in starting a blog is that everything doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg to get it going. Marketing, as I learned from my master’s program, is a huge part of building a great business. Generally, you want to spend 5-10% of your budget on marketing. But, what if you don’t have a budget so you don’t have a percent to go toward it? Promoting your blog can come in small increments, $5 here and there. Also, don’t be afraid to use free resources like social media. I am still figuring out the promoting and increasing my blog traffic. Reach out to family and friends to become readers of your blog. They will want to support and encourage it during the process.

Another one of my hesitations with starting a blog was the startup cost of the site. WordPress.com, which everyone recommends WordPress, costs $30 month for the business account with all the features I wanted. That is over $300 a year! Yikes!

This is where Boss Girl Bloggers came in handy. I learned about self-hosting and SiteGround through the group. You sign up and install the WordPress plugin on SiteGround. If you already have a blog going, no worries, they do site transfers for free. The only thing you might lose is the photos. The benefits are huge though! It saved me over $25 a month for at least the first year! Plus, I am not restricted by the rules of wordpress.com that came along with having my site through them. I can monetize and post how I like when I like.

It definitely made my decision with starting the blog easier.

What tips helped you the most when you started something?

Comment below or on my social media channels: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. I would love to hear some and follow along with your on your journey!

My Three Favorite Mascaras You Need To Try Now

Posted on February 20, 2018March 1, 2018 by Sharrette

Why You Should Be Using These Mascaras!

I love the false lash look, even for everyday wear. Have you scrolled through Pinterest and seen what long lashes does to a face? You look sultry, sexy and appealing in every way. Something about it just draws you in and makes you stand out. My lashes aren’t short but they are not super long either.

Beauty Tip – to apply mascara go horizontal on your lashes then go vertical to give them the most definition.

The three mascaras that I am about to talk about I received samples of in my paid subscription to Ipsy and Birchbox. I’m providing links to purchase them, but they retail at your local stores or you can find them online.

Eyeko Black Magic Mascara

I got this Mascara in my Ipsy or Birchbox a few years ago and it quickly became my favorite!

It added such drama to my lashes. At the end of the day, I checked for smudging and wear surprised that there were no flakes and it appeared as voluminous as at the beginning of the day. It is definitely a mascara that you will want to go out in. Dramatically transforming ho-hum lashes to va-va-voom! I felt like it was as close to false lashes as I was going to get with a mascara.

To top it off it has a lot of benefits in this formula. You get conditioning via Keratin and Shea Butter. The brush lifts to add volume and curl to your lashes without the need of an eyelash curler. It is water-resistant and paraben-free.

You can get it here or from your favorite makeup retailers.

They’re Real by Benefit Cosmetics

Love this Sweater? Click the photo to check out my blog about how I’m obsessed with it.

These also are great for giving you that false lash looks with just mascara. It lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts and separates the lashes for a going out kind of look. The best part of this mascara is the brush. I feel like I get more of my lashes than I do with other mascaras leading to a more defined and dramatic look. This mascara also stays on all day with no smudging or flaking.

The only con I’ve come across with this mascara is that it stays on almost too well. Even with make-up remover, I have a hard time removing all of it. Pro, It acts like a primer and mascara.

Smashbox X-Rated Mascara

This one has been my daily go-to for several months now. Smashbox X-Rated Mascara feels more like an everyday mascara than they’re real. It gives me all the drama I am looking for but doesn’t take as much work to get off as They’re Real mascara. I do love the eyeko mascara the best, but Smashbox and They’re Real are a close second favorite.

It claims to give you massive volume with a single layer to drama-city the more you layer it on. The brush helps separate your lashes and get coated with the formula to help create that build-able look.

It also does not flake or smudge and lasts all day long. Recommended application is to roll the brush-up and out working from the base to the end of the lashes.

Check out these three mascaras for yourself. You won’t be disappointed with the results of any of the three for volume, drama, and that false lash look. Check out my favorite sweater this winter and other blog posts here.

Let me know which one is your favorite in the comments or connect with me on social media.

5 Tips You Need to Know When Beginning Fashion Illustration

Posted on February 17, 2018March 3, 2018 by Sharrette

Introduction to the Basic Fashion Figure for Fashion Illustration

So you want to get started in Fashion Illustration? It looks pretty simple, you think you can do it, but you don’t know where to start? I’ve been doing this and learning a lot. So let’s discuss the five top tricks that have helped me out and can help get you ahead of the game.

Tip Number 1 – Create Movement with your Fashion Illustrations

You want to make sure your fashion figure pose isn’t stiff but has movement and flow. If you draw your fashion figure straight up and down it will come off as cold and robotic. Here are some of my very first fashion illustrations.

Fashion Illustration

I’m kind of embarrassed to show you these, but everyone has a starting point. This was mine. As you can see, they look stiff and the one on the right-hand side even looks like she is falling over slightly.

Here are some more recent sketches I’ve done with better movement:

Original Fashion Illustration Street Style — Custom Illustration

So how do you create movement? On to tip number 2.

Tip 2 Study Fashion Magazines & Model Poses

You want to create movement. Angles, the body sways as you walk so you want to emulate that in your fashion sketches. Study fashion photos and see how the models are posing. Here are a few to give you an idea.

Follow the angles the model’s body makes and incorporate that into your drawings. Draw fashion illustrations of models walking the runway. The hips will go one way, while the shoulders go the other. I still have trouble getting this perfect, see my latest Instagram post for what I’m talking about.

Tip Number 3 – Have the Correct Materials

Having the correct materials can make your work 100 times easier. This one you can get away with not having the correct materials. However, I highly recommend investing in some good alcohol ink markers. The colors blend well when you are using them and create just the right blends you are wanting to create in clothing, hair, skin, etc. You can blend with watercolors and even the iPad pro. But, alcohol markers make it so easy!

Personally, I switch between the iPad pro procreate app and hand-drawn fashion illustrations with Copic markers. I started out with colored pencils and watercolors and started investing in copic markers. It took me six months to invest in them to get a good variety. The difference is huge. Just scroll through my instagram feed and you can see what a difference the materials seems to make.

Copic Markers, or really any alcohol ink markers, are super easy to blend and use. You don’t have to get a degree to use them. You can layer the lighter colors to make a darker shade or add a slightly different tone to create the folds and shades of the outfit. Yes, you can do this with watercolors but I have found that the watercolors were not as easy as a beginner as the copic markers are.

Tip Number 4 – Practicing, Practice, Practice

As with everything, you need to practice, practice, practice to get better. It still takes me several hours to complete a fashion illustration. You can do different practices to help your speed. I just haven’t invested the time in that yet. Since it takes me several hours to complete one, I usually only manage to do about 2 to 3 fashion illustrations a week. I am wanting to be able to do them quicker so I can do more in a week. I am just not there yet.

Still, doing 2 to 3 a week has gotten me a long way from my first to my latest. This is the difference from, my first, 7 months ago to yesterday:

Tip Number 5 – Study Other Peoples’ work

Studying other fashion illustrators’ works and components has been a huge help for me. Check out my post on my favorite fashion illustrators to follow on Instagram. I study different elements or features that they have in their drawings that I love most and try to recreate them in my own figures and fashion illustrations. Occasionally, the artists’ will even posts tips and tricks on what they do to create their illustrations. I always get excited to learn something new to help improve my work!

When I first started drawing fashion illustrations, I had a lot of difficulties drawing the eyes and other facial features. It took practicing and studying what others did to improve. I still have a long way to go. In the beginning, I loved sunglasses or glasses because I just could not draw the eyes to save my life!

Bonus Tip Number 6 – Take an online Fashion Illustration Class

There are a few places that you can take a quick fashion illustration class. Check out skillshare, youtube, or as I mentioned in tip number 5, Instagram stories. You never know what tip or trick will help improve your work the most! Also, don’t forget about pinterest as a huge resource. You can find fashion croquis to help you get started or different outfit ideas for incorporating into your fashion illustrations.

These are my top tips for learning and perfecting fashion illustration. There are so many other tips and tricks you can utilize. I’d love to hear some of your tips that have helped you the most. Comment on this post or get in touch with me via social media! I look forward to interacting and learning with you!

Kate Spade New York Sale

Posted on February 13, 2018March 1, 2018 by Sharrette

Kate Spade New York Sale and the Items You Need this Spring!

kate spade new york sale

Kate Spade New York is having an awesome 30% off sale right now through February 19th. Have you heard about the Kate Spade Sale New York yet? Here are a few of my favorite items that you should check out during the sale.

Take an extra 30% off sale styles with code: SPARKLE. Valid through 2/19.

First of all, let’s talk about their awesome Dresses for this spring you need to add to your closet. Their clothing is so fresh and feminine you are sure to get a lot of use out of the clothes and accessories you buy during this sale.

These dresses are fun and flirty. They have a unique style that you can complement with a wide variety of accessories and are sure to get you noticed!

Here are a few of my favorite items for work or going out at night. They are dressy and have that extra touch you expect when you think Kate Spade.

Which is your favorite Kate Spade Item for this spring? Are you planning on checking out the sale and getting some of the stuff you’ve been waiting on?

My favorite thing about the brand Kate Spade has built is that she relies on color, and prints and puts it together in an elegant and feminine way. She is known for that extra element on clothing and accessories. From her purse designs to her apparel and catwalk, she does it all. She is a regular feminine icon for women everywhere who want to, as she calls it, live vividly with individuality and radiant style.

Kate Spade Quote

As always there are some awesome calligraphy and art pieces that you can check out in our shop. Or contact us if you have a specific quote in mind you want to be done for your home!

Best Valentine’s Day Sales to check out this week!

Posted on February 11, 2018March 1, 2018 by Sharrette

Top Flash Sales This Week To Get You Ready for Valentine’s Day & In the Mood for New York Fashion Week

Who doesn’t love a sale? These Valentine’s Day sales will help you get your fashion fix during this year’s New York Fashion Week. Don’t just drool over the clothes this year, get your hands on top designers!

Here are some of the top retailers that are having sales this week:

Zimmermann Spring Dress

Barneys — They are having an Infinite Rewards Sale.

You get $25 Gift Card for Every $250 you spend, Plus

earn even more on purchases over $1000. Valid through 2/11. So hurry and head on over to Barneys now!

You know I love Zimmermann if you have seen my fashion illustrations. So while at Barneys be sure to check out their Zimmermann Collection. Here is a dress to get you started

Moda Operandi — Take an extra 20% off sale. Valid through 2/12.

Madewell — Enjoy 20% off select items for the Galentine’s event. Valid through 2/13.

Alice + Olivia — Take 50% off your purchase of $300+. Valid through 2/11.

Old Navy — Take up to 30% off your order with code: HURRY. Plus with code: FREESHIP, get free shipping on orders over $25. Valid through 2/11.

Here is a cute spring top to get you ready to transition from this cold and dreary weather to warm comfy spring. But hurry! Sale ends tomorrow!

Boohoo — Take 40% off everything and get free shipping. Valid through 2/13.

Rag & Bone — Enjoy up to 50% off sale items.

Also, check out our shop for some great home decor items. We also offer custom pieces. Contact Us for details.