Paper Raven Co. Blog

Happy November! This month, I will be gearing up for the holidays, launching our 2019 Folk Art Florals Calendar (coming November 5th!), and donating to some good causes. Most importantly, I will be VOTING! Who's with me?

This month's calendar was created in my ProCreate App for the iPad Pro - I have been loving this workflow so much! I typically use the Dry Ink brush under Inking for my linework. 

* To get the wallpaper, click on the image above! Then, save it and set it as your desktop background. Yay!

If you like these, please tell your friends about it, and tag me on Instagram with a pic of your desktop in your feed or stories, and I'll be sharing them on my Stories :) Also be sure to check out my Stories (or the Wallpaper Story Highlights in my profile) for mobile wallpapers!

Have a great November!
Warmly, Erin

Surprise! I'm comin' atcha in the evening tonight to hand-deliver a fun and free printable for your Thanksgiving festivities. I have whipped up a Thank You Card and a set of little Gift Tags for you to use on Thursday. Simply click the image above to download. I recommend printing the items on cardstock paper on a color printer. Or you can go to your local Kinko's or Fedex store and request that they print it for you.

Here are some ideas to get you started: 

• Attach the gift tag to a bottle of wine and bring it to Thanksgiving Dinner.
• On the back of the card, write 2 - 3 things you appreciate about the hostess. Tuck it in an envelope and bring it with your side dish. 
• If you're hosting, print several sheets and use the gift tags when boxing up leftovers to send home with your guests. 
• Give the card to someone who helped you cook! 
• Write guests' names on the gift tags and use them as drink markers. Tie them around the stem of a wine or water glass. 

I hope you have a peaceful and fulfilling Thanksgiving, whatever your traditions are. In the spirit of the holiday, I have created a free printable wine label for you to dress up your hostess gifts! Please print as many as you'd like.

What You'll Need:
1. Bottle of Wine or Spirits
2. Double-Sided Tape (Or regular tape will work)
3. Scissors
4. Printable

Directions:
1. Click below to download the printable. The print size is at 8.5x11" (standard printer).
2. Cut out the printable along the border. 
3. Fill in the "To" and "From" sections. 
4. Use double-sided tape to attach to your bottle (you can remove the label first if you'd like, but it's not required - this printable wraps around a standard size bottle). 
5. Bring your gift with you to your gathering!

Halloween is my favorite Holiday. I mean, I like it more than Christmas. Maybe it's the air getting crisp on my morning walks with Patty, or maybe it's that everything is covered in Pumpkin Spice, or maybe it's the beautiful scenery and changing colors. Or the opportunity to carve pumpkins. This year, I wanted to do my own take on Pumpkin Decor, so I spent a nice sunny fall morning making this DIY to share with you. Enjoy!

Don't forget to post your finished pumpkins on Instagram and tag me at paperraven.co so I can see!

1. Gather your materials! I grabbed the mini Pumpkins from my local grocery store, and if you need some cheap (but good!) paint, you can head over to your local hardware store and grab a sample of Valspar "Satin" (pictured above) for like, $2! That's less than a tube of good acrylic, this art school grad will tell you. Pick up your favorite paintbrush and a Gold Sharpie. You may also want a cup of water for refreshing the brush and a paper towel.

2. Get ready to paint! Don't forget to shake up the sample for even pigment distribution!

3. Paint a flower shape. It doesn't have to be intricate - we will be adding the gold accents on top of the paint once it dries, and this is where the detail will come in. 

4. Be free to make floral shapes, leaf shapes and berry shapes. Don't worry about messy edges - they will be covered in gold! Try to fill the front side of the pumpkin, or you can even cover the whole thing! Once the paint dries (about 20-30 minutes), apply a quick second coat.

5. Voila! They look so elegant and sophisticated - and the gold isn't even on yet! Let these babes dry for 30 minutes and make yourself a cup of coffee or tea. 

6. Now the fun part! Using your Gold Sharpie, carefully outline each shape in gold. I found it was easier if I pressed lightly. Then, add in interior details like petals, leaf veins, and decorative elements. Have fun with it! You can go for realism or a graphic style or a mix of both. 

7. The Gold Sharpie dries fairly quickly, but give them a good 5 minute sit so you can admire without smudging.

And there you have it! You can make as many of these as your heart desires! Here are some ideas:
- Nestle them at your front doorstep with a cinnamon broom and a basket of pinecones. 
- Get the super mini gourd pumpkins and make each a place setting at your next Fall Get-Together.
- Fall Wedding? Make one for each of your tables for a pretty (and affordable!) centerpiece.
- Or, decorate your Thanksgiving Table and make a beautiful place setting, like we have done here:

Fabric Tablecloth, "Sweet Leaves and Berries" from Minted // PlaceCard, "Autumn Thicket" from Paper Raven Co. // Dinner Plate from World Market // Lantern from IKEA // Dessert Plate Thrifted

Don't forget to share your finished pumpkins on Instagram and tag me at paperraven.co so I can see! Or leave a comment here with how you used the DIY :)

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