do it yourself: statement art

you know that spot of your home, or room where it's just a little bare and when you walk past it you always think - i really need to find some art to go there. well... if you're into modern art then i've got the perfect idea for you and you can totally do it yourself. let your inner artist out and also release a little frustration out too while you're at it - art really can be therapy. 

this really couldn't be any easier, get creative with how you apply your paint to your canvas - throw it, pour it from a metre above, dip your fingers in paint and flick it heck squeeze it straight from the tube. the best thing about this art is that there are no rules, and everyone's piece will be completely unique. don't be threatened by this project, i promise you'll love it and before you know it's kind of addictive to create because each piece is so original. what makes this even easier is you can grab literally everything you need for this project from your local spotlight. 

diy striking art | mrtimothyjames | lay it out.jpeg
diy striking art | mrtimothyjames | shades.jpeg
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diy striking art | mrtimothyjames | layer.jpeg

you will need. a canvas, black and white acrylic paint, disposable cups, drop cloth and a paddle-pop stick or disposable knife.

step one. lay down your drop cloth so that it extends at least 50cm away from the canvas on all sides.

step two. mix your desired amount of shades into your disposable cups, use a paddle-pop stick of disposable knife to stir each colour starting with your lightest shade so you don't have to clean your stirrer after each one. 

step three. get creative with your paint application - splash, flick, drizzle, throw, splatter *insert more adjectives here* to create your desired look. 

step four. leave your canvas to dry, depending on your climate and how thick the paint is in places this may take up to a week.

step five. display/style your new artwork with pride - you made it and no one can ever re create it exactly as you have, it's truly an original artwork.


if you want the print you see styled with my artwork you can grab it below, when you print it just adjust the scale so that the words are proportionate to your desired frame.

if you make your own statement art piece i'd love to see how it turns out, share it with me on social media use the hashtag #mrtimothyjames

ever thrown paint at something to release your frustration? are you a fan of modern art? tell me all of the things in the comments below.

happy diy'ing love timothy xx

gingerbread cupcakes

i'm not going to lie, i'm a little bit obsessed with gingerbread yet i never seem to find a reason to make it, but... cue christmas, the time of year when indulging your hearts desires is perfectly normal. so, i had an idea the other day to whip up a gingerbread house completely from scratch, because i've always wanted to make one myself and you know - two birds, one stone. but as life would have it, making a gingerbread house from scratch is much easier said than done, so as i stood looking at my completely miserable attempt at 2am i decided gingerbread houses just aren't my forte. 

then came the next idea, a much more practical one if i do say myself, a fusion between two of my obsessions - gingerbread and cupcakes. these cupcakes are super delicous, moist, pack a punch of flaour and best of all they look adorable! if you're craving gingerbread this holiday season too, i hope you'll give these guys a go - they won't disappoint.

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the recipe

recipe makes 12 cupcakes

cupcakes

preheat the oven to 160oC / 140oC fan-forced. in a microwave safe bowl, melt together the butter, chocolate, sugar, milk, vanilla and syrup in 30 second intervals stirring between each burst until smooth. cool for 15 minutes. once cooled, add in the egg and whisk to combine. in a separate mixing bowl, combine the two flours and two spices. add the combined wet ingredients into the dry ingredients in thirds, incorporating slowly and gently, you want to do this by hand as you don’t want to incorporate any air into the mixture. once the mixture is prepared, divide it amongst 12 cupcake liners filling each one two-thirds full. place the cupcakes on the bottom shelf of the oven, and bake for 30-40 minutes rotating the trays halfway through. cool completely before frosting.

frosting

in a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate and cream in 30 second intervals, stirring thoroughly between each burst to make a ganache. set in the fridge to cool for 30minutes, or until thick and creamy. whip the butter for 5 minutes or until pale in colour. slowly incorporate the icing sugar until you have a thick buttercream. add the the cooled ganache and whip until soft and smooth. use a piping bag and nozzle to pipe the buttercream onto the cupcakes, add some sprinkles for extra interest. chill cupcakes before serving, top with a gingerbread cookie and enjoy.

i'd love to see your creations, if you make these delicious cupcakes share them with me by using  the hashtag #mrtimothyjames on social media.

are you obsessed with gingerbread too? have you ever tried to make a gingerbread house from scratch? leave me a comment below!

love and cupcakes timothy xx

free printable: xmas cards

i am such a huge fan of simple yet beautiful graphic design, so every year when silly season sneaks up on me comes around, i will literally spend weeks shopping around for cards with the perfect design. i've always considered making my own cards, but given the fact that i'm a huge procrastinator i'm super busy with study and work, i never seem to find the time. so i finally pulled myself together and designed my take on simple and beautiful xmas cards. so to celebrate i've created a little download link for you all to share these cuties with me this xmas. and to make things even cuter and way more festive, i've also created matching envelope liners - because we all know xmas is the time for everything in excess and also they're just adorable.

xmas cards | mrtimothyjames | one
xmas cards | mrtimothyjames | two
xmas cards | mrtimothyjames | three
xmas cards | mrtimothyjames | four
xmas cards | mrtimothyjames | five

for the best printing results, set the images to fill the entire page, adjust the print quality to high and print the cards on the thickest gsm cardstock your printer will take (envelope liners can be printed on regular paper).

to create the cards

use a ruler to connect the cut marks on the corners of the cards and use an xacto knife to cut out the card -  alternatively you can draw a pencil line between the cut marks and cut out the cards with scissors.

fold the cards using the dotted line as a guide, and score the spine of the card.

to create the envelopes

cut out the patterned liner using scissors, trim away the black edge for a cleaner look.

secure to the inside of a 5" x 7" envelope using double sided tape or glue, close the envelope and pinch along the top edge to score the liner inside.

these envelope liners were designed to fit these kmart envelopes.

 

add a festive message inside the card and slip it inside an envelope or simply attach it to a gift to add a special little touch. if you use these xmas cards this silly season i'd love to see how you style them, share them with me on social media by using the #mrtimothyjames

happy card giving love timothy xx