(25x3)+7

Merry Christmas!

This is a card I made for the Holiday Card Project for deviantArt.  I'm reposting it here and wishing everybody the best Christmas yet!

The Millionaire Club

This might have been inspired by... Paris Hilton.  I know she said something similar in one of her books.  (And now you know what I read on my spare time)

On a different matter, I love both Kat's and Neko's characters although they handle money and riches differently.  Kat is the typical entrepreneur-- she loves starting stuff and is always on the lookout for new project ideas.  Neko, on the other hand, was born rich  and is more often than not trying to run away from the family name.  While he is a great marketer (it's just in his blood), he is happiest fishing and doing normal stuff kids his age do.

Richie and Clark

When I create cartoons I sometimes wonder how comprehensible they are.  People's humors are different -- sometimes I come across cartoons that just draw a puzzled look from me while other people understand them clearly.

This is the case with this cartoon-- it started out with me understanding the whole thing but as I think more and more about it, the clarity becomes muddled.  I thought, "No, nobody will understand this" so I kept revising and in the end I have a simple comic strip that does not have the spirit of what I was originally going for.

So if there are any cartoonist (or maybe even noncartoonist) who had the chance to read this, how do you address this issue?  I mean, do you dismiss ideas when you feel not much people will understand them or do you just create to your heart's content?  Or perhaps another question is: how do you make your cartoons (or work of art or whatever) as comprehensible as possible to an ordinary reader?

Domino Effect

What do You Fancy?

 

This is something I've done a few months ago but never got to post.  Now, I'm getting hungry...

Fancy-sounding menu items are from The Impatient Chef.

Pins and Needles

Lost in the Gene Pool

The One

Out of Season

Trash to Treasure

It has been a long time since I've posted anything aside from comic strips which is ok since this is a blog centering mostly on well, comic strips (what else).

However, just this morning my mom gave me this book:

There's something humbling about your mother giving you something for no apparent reason except for the fact that she knows you like being craftsy from time to time.  It doesn't matter that she bought it second hand from a book sale and costed around Php60/$1.50; I could happily say she knows me well enough to think about me when she wondered meanderingly through a bookstore.

I love eco-friendly products and should create more of them especially since it's one of my New Year's Resolution this year.  Unfortunately, the last big "Trash to Treasure" thing I made was waaay back last year or maybe even a couple of years ago:

Soda Pull Tabs Shoulder Bag

Bag up Close: croched and lined

I was proud of it but never had a chance to make a tutorial since I thought I'll be making some more through time (BTW, I have plenty of material to use because my dad is a big soda drinker)!

In honor of Trash to Treasures though, I want to post some pictures of adorable, recycled products which could give inspiration to other eco-friendly craft lovers out there.  The photos were all taken from Kultura's website and I know some of these had been on my bucket list of things to do just like my pull tabs bag which was inspired by their items.  Hopefully things will push through one of these days.

Plastic Vanity Kit

Strips Foil Bag (I believe this is made from those tetra packs)

iPad Newspaper Case

Pull Tab Wallet and ATM Case (the craftsmanship is great and I'm jealous!)

Wherein Disney will be Dismayed

For the past few weeks there had been mice loose in the house.  I had a couple of shirts chewed up and eventually we got them with a ratcatcher.  But honestly, I thought: are a couple of shirts worth more than mice's lives?  What do you guys think?

A Stick and a Pillowcase

The Rah Rah Squad 4.0

We all know who to blame for Neko's problem now...

Part 4 of 4.

For part 1, please click here.
For part 2, please click here.
For part 3, please click here.

The Rah Rah Squad 3.0

During the run of this cartoon, I believe I've only hinted once that Kat likes Jake.  And that was on my second comic strip way back in 2012.  Made me realize that the voice and the overall look changed quite a bit!

Part 3 of 4.

For part 1, please click here.
For part 2, please click here.

The Rah Rah Squad 2.0

This comic strip is, of course, referring to the stereotype view of cheerleaders.  And Jake is way too nice to take advantage of the smartest girl in school!

Part 2 of 4.

For part 1, please click here.

The Rah Rah Squad 1.0

The Rah Rah Squad is the cheerleading team in school.  And nope, Jake isn't jealous of the little boy.

Overprotected

... and this should teach Neko not to get too smart with his mom.

Disclaimer: People in some parts of the world eat pig intestines, chicken feet and fertilized duck eggs AND eat with their bare hands.  This comic strip was not meant to be derogatory.  As even I had done almost all of the above.

Less Than Perfect

Shhh... Don't Say Bad Words

The Boy in the Mirror

Unfortunately, brains weren't part of the package...

Treasure Hunting Epilogue

An extra cartoon.

For part 1, please click here.
For part 2, please click here.
For part 3, please click here.
For part 4, please click here.

Treasure Hunting 4.0

It's nice to create a comic strip that just shows how the characters interact for a change.  Normally, I would create a mini-story where someone creates/gets in trouble or write a comic strip with some kind of punchline or whatever.  In this series, I just want to show that above everything else, the gang enjoys each other's company and as corny as this sounds, they are all about friendship.

For part 1, please click here.
For part 2, please click here.
For part 3, please click here.

Treasure Hunting 3.0

Researching had been hard work!

For part 1, please click here.
For part 2, please click here.
For part 4, please click here.

Treasure Hunting 2.0

Part 2 of 4.

For part 1, please click here.
For part 3, please click here.
For part 4, please click here.

Treasure Hunting 1.0

On to another adventure.

Growing up I've heard of the search for the Yamashita Treasure one way or another.  While I do not know whatever came out of it, there's something romantic and exciting about finding hidden gold.

Part 1 of 4.

For part 2, please click here.
For part 3, please click here.
For part 4, please click here.

Reputation

Something I did a few months back but never posted...

Romantic Interlude

The Blind Man

xoxo

Inspired by real life.  My mom always says that our dogs get more hugs from me than they do.

... And Action 4.0

Part 4 of 4
For Part 1, please click here.
For Part 2, please click here.
For Part 3, please click here.

DIY: Clay Pot Decoration

I was just googling clay pot designs and darn, there are just so many perfect ones out there!  Of course, that doesn't stop me.  I will post this anyway.

Finished Product: 

Materials:
Clay Pot
Acrylic Paint
Brush(es)
Palette
Pencil
Newspaper (to protect working surface)
Toothpick (optional, for drawing fine lines)


Steps:
1. Place the clay pot and paint atop a newspaper to protect your working surface.  Design your pot using a pencil.

Just use your imagination when doodling :)

2. Start painting.  I used toothpicks and the smallest brush for fine lines.  Otherwise, I mainly used the bigger brush(es).

Black lines were made using a toothpick

 3.  Let the paint dry.

Easy right?  I have to admit, I selected the wrong clay pot.  I think it was originally green?  But I did paint another pot which I like better...

Another sample design

Enjoy!

....Off to paint another one...



 

... And Action 3.0

Part 3 of 4.

For part 1, please click here.
For part 2, please click here.
For part 4, please click here.

... And Action 2.0

Audition time!

Part 1 here.
Part 3 here.
Part 4 here.

Calligraphy

Year by year it seems like I stumble upon something new.

When I was growing up it seems like the only plausible careers are to be a: teacher, doctor, lawyer, or something really specific wherein you need to have extensive education and climb up the corporate ladder.

But time has changed and when I read about a workshop conducted by a calligrapher, I can't help but think, "Hey!  That sounds like fun!"

So sign up I did.

I finally learned what that pointy thing (called a Nib) does! 

One thing I learned: Calligraphy isn't as easy as it looks!  Practice, practice, practice.

And I give you my favorite quote (written by me):

... And Action 1.0

 

Changing up my posts a bit by NOT having the comic number in the title.  Whew!

For part 2, please click here.
For part 3, please click here.
For part 4, please click here.

Mirror Mirror

096: The Crayon Thief

One thing is for sure: Sarah sure loves her older brother!

095: When I Grow Up