Paper Raven Co. Blog

Happy November! I hope everyone had a great Halloween and did something fun and/or spooky. For this month's Illustrated Desktop Wallpaper, I really wanted a constant reminder of gratitude. The holidays are on their way, and being busy with a to-do list sometimes makes us forget to stop, take a breath, and be thankful. So, if I can be honest, I did this wallpaper really for me. For me to remember, when I turn my computer on to start the work day, to be extra grateful for the customers, and clients, and interactions I have that make my business successful. And that starts with you! I hope this month brings you peacefulness, clarity, and renewed relationships with those you love.

Click on the graphic above to download the free wallpaper. And be sure to check out the work in progress shot below, and share your space with me on Instagram! Cheers & Enjoy!

Happy September! (How are we already in September?!) It's been a whirlwind of a summer, and I am looking forward to cooler temperatures, the Ghost Tour I'm going on in October (!!!), Stranger Things Season 2,  and sporting my extensive scarf collection.

Click below to grab the September Desktop Wallpaper - and enjoy! This month, I used india inks and my trust pen to complete this illustration. 

And don't forget about our sale! It's still going strong, but there are some items that have already been scooped up! Everything in the shop is on sale, so be sure to check it out. 

Click here to shop the sale, and don't forget to use code VERYGREEN for 15% off your order. All orders over $20 receive a free gift!

Hey, Happy August 1st! I'm particularly excited about this month because it's my birthday month yasssss! For this month's Desktop Wallpaper, I drew inspiration from all of the wonderfully overgrown plants on my balcony. It's been one of those great summers where it thunderstorms every afternoon (my favorite, not my dog's), perpetually smells like rain, and the plants have just been exploding. It's awesome. I sketched this in our sunroom with the door open and the smell of basil flooding in, while my sweet Patty was sunbathing in her corner of the balcony - it's a peaceful memory,  I hope that comes through in the final illustration. Click the image below to download it!




I would love to see your desktop or studio space if you use the wallpaper, so feel free to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram so I can see and give you high-fives. Bonus points if you hoard plants like I do. I really need to make a "Plant Lady is the New Cat Lady" Art Print, yea?

Thank you guys so much!
xoxo, Erin

Happy July 1st! I hope everyone is having a great summer so far. This month, I wanted to experiment with some new lettering techniques and fun, poppy colors. I created this illustration using my Tombow MONO Drawing Pens, and then finished it with color in Photoshop. Later in the month I'll be traveling to the Bahamas, and the bright hues definitely inspired me here. Hope you like it! Click on the image below to receive the Wallpaper, and enjoy.

* This post does contain affiliate links, as part of my work as a brand ambassador. I will always provide honest feedback and never recommend something I don't absolutely love myself.

I will be the very first person to admit this - Uhhh, it's June?! How did that happen?!

This year has been moving so fast. I can't believe we're already in the summer months, when my brain was 100% sure it was February, like, yesterday. Time flies when you're having fun, right? I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day and ended May strong and happy :) As for Paper Raven Co., we are about to go through a pretty big transition, which will be a huge opportunity for growth! I will be doing a few shows this Summer (including ICE in Atlanta this weekend), and will be traveling a bit as well. I hope you've got some exciting plans to look forward to this summer!

And without further ado, click the image below to receive the newest June Desktop Wallpaper! I hope you like this one - I was inspired by all of the greenery that is taking over our patio :) 

Because Mom is always extra, I whipped up this adorable DIY Cake Topper for you to use on Mother's Day (you're getting her a cake, right? She deserves a cake.)

It's super easy and fun and your Mom will totally be like "Whoa, a cake topper." *bonus points awarded* You're welcome.

You'll need: 
- The Cake Topper Printable (click below to download)
- Scissors and tape
- Skewer or stick
- CAKE! Make your own or go to your local bakery. Maybe a good time to support a small biz in your neighborhood? ;) 
- Any berries or flowers to decorate your cake.

Directions: 
1. Click below to download the printable. Then print the sheet in color on your home printer or take to your local printer: 8.5x11” sheet. (Pro tip: This works best on slightly thicker cardstock paper!) 
2. Cut out the graphic in your printable - leave a margin like I did or cut a large oval around the graphic - up to you!
3. Attach a skewer/stick to the back of the graphic with tape. Make sure it’s secure.
4. Insert into the top of the cake and decorate with flowers or berries. Voila! Enjoy! (Mom gets the first bite!) 

If you use the printable, I would LOVE to see how it turned out! Don't forget to tag me on Instagram and let me know how it goes (and also what flavor of cake you chose because that's super legit important.)

Happy Mother's Day! Love, Erin.

Yea, I really wanted to make my monthly subscriber desktop download a shameless homage to the song that's been stuck in my head for a week straight. I cooled it, though, and did some watercolors for you instead. Things have been super busy around here, so I'm going to be brief this month and just let you get to the good stuff right away. Shazam! Click below to grab the wallpaper!

Happy Earth Day! Earlier this week it struck me: I needed to do a free printable for Earth Day, and we need to spread some love around for our gorgeous, amazing Planet! I am SO inspired by nature (can you tell?) in my work, and even walks in my neighborhood, enjoying the Springtime, give me so much peace. I am a huge advocate for Green Energy, Climate Change Awareness and preserving our planet. So I wanted to send you a gift for you to enjoy for Earth Day, in support of our planet, its wildlife, and the organizations, scientists, and regular citizens like you and me that are committed to protecting it. Enjoy! 
 

 Click here to Download

One of the best parts of my day, as the weather has warmed, has been walking my sweet dog Patty in the afternoons. Our neighborhood is in bloom, and we have a ton of bird species nesting in the trees. During our outings, I like to pause and take a moment to intentionally appreciate nature, to notice details, and welcome that peaceful mental state into my work. If that sounds a little "woo-woo" to you, maybe it is. But in an increasingly chaotic world, especially when the environment and the planet is at such risk, it's become a focal point of my day to stop and be grateful for the beauty around me. Nature teaches us so many things: persistence, balance, harmony; I find that very comforting, and I've strived to make those principles an integral part of my illustrations.

So for April's Desktop Download, I give you an illustration based on my favorite scene from Alice in Wonderland: you can learn a lot of things from the flowers. Click the image below to grab it. 

Here is the full illustration (but click the image above for the download!), and a detail shot of me drawing it. I start with a pencil sketch, then ink in the leaves with India Ink, and then ink in the lines. Finally, I bring the illustration into Photoshop to finish it. Happy Spring!

Hello friends in love + equality, happy March! I can't believe it's already here, and as I am writing this, my balcony door is open and the first breezes and rumbles of a March thunderstorm are rolling in.

This month, I created a new illustration for our Desktop Wallpaper, starting with a pencil sketch, painting with india ink, and finally lining with my Faber Castell Artist Pitt Pen. The colors for this one gave me a bit of a time, but when I popped in that spot of lime, I was in love. I hope you enjoy it too!

 
Here's a close-up of my inking process:

I love to see when others enjoy my freebies, so feel free to post a pic and tag me on Instagram as @PaperRaven.Co - I would be thrilled to check it out and send some good vibes your way.