Skegness 31st May 2023

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On Wednesday 31st May, me and my grandma Ruth went on a coach trip, organised by the bingo club, to Skeggy for the day. It was the third time travelling, the two previous years the sun was scorching. This time however it was cloudy but fortunately not raining 🙂🙂

On arrival, we ordered tea, caramel latte and scones with jam and cream at a little cafe 😋 We ventured then around the shops. I bought two new books for myself from The Works, and three teddies for mum; a sloth, dog and hedgehog 🥰 For lunch we went to a gorgeous quaint fish shop, gran had the cod and me mozzarella sticks, chips and salad

Gran was a bit reluctant at first but I persuaded her to come with me to Skegness Aquarium..it was fantastic! There were small sharks and jelly fish, starfish, tropical fishes, blue lobsters, sting rays…and outside there was a dinosaur exhibition! Loads of huge dinosaur statues! A park keeper/enthusiast came at us with a hand held one, great photo opportunity, haha 😄😄 Gran was pleased I’d persuaded her to go, she loved it

To finish off the day, we had a wander around the funfair, and played on 2p machine in the arcades… another quick hot drink, then back on the coach home 🥰🥰

I am so glad we made it. Only a few months ago my gran had a nasty fall and broke her shoulder 😫 I stayed with her and looked after her for about eight weeks. She has other health complications too at the moment, and she’s eighty six now bless her..so I’m just happy we had a nice day away the two of us

Thank you as always for reading/viewing..I think my next project will be an upcycling job for the Children’s Air Ambulance, so keep a look out 😛

Many thanks, Lauren xx

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Flowery meadow’ amateur acrylic painting

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Hello everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur flowery meadow pub painting, enjoy! 😄😄

The first step was to paint dark emerald green at the bottom and fade it going up. We then incorporated blues and purples for the sunset sky. Prominent green leaves were added, then purple perennials, white daisies, scarlet poppies and fluorescent pink flowers. To give a 3D effect, the flowers lessened in size going up, then little dots, to give the illusion of fading away into the distance…and here is the finished piece:

As always, artist Rebecca guided us through the entire process. I actually think this one is the most effective ones we have done. It looked quite difficult at first, I thought it was maybe too tricky to achieve – however it all went surprisingly smoothly, and I am over the moon with the result! 😄😄

Thank you as always for reading/viewing 🥰 Catch you soon. Much love, Lauren xx

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

Trendy upcycled drinks trolley

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Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of a trendy upcycled drinks trolley, upcycled for the Children’s Air Ambulance 💙💙 Hope you enjoy!

I started off by lightly sanding by hand. I painted the drinks trolley with a teal frenchic furniture paint (looks more emerald green in person). I painted a few layers. I made a mistake with the stencil at first, so had to repaint and wait to dry again. I then spray painted gold on the stencil in all four corners, and on the bottom level a different stencil in the centre. I had to be careful spray painting, I covered the rest of the trolley with taped down newspaper to avoid unwanted spillages. To finish, I used frenchic top coat to seal.

(The paint is still slightly wet in above pic). I am really pleased with how this one turned out. I love the colour and have had compliments on it, the stencils aren’t perfect but it’s impossible to achieve perfection. I think it looks really shabby chic and cool. The start this year of many more upcycling projects for the Children’s Air Ambulance, it’s been a while! Haha 😄 I’ve got a bit of a tan with working outside, despite wearing factor 50 suncream and a big floppy hat. Ha!

Thank you so much for reading/viewing 🙂 My next project, before more upcycling- I’m going pub painting with my friend on Tuesday, so keep a look out for another amateur acrylic painting!

Lots of love, Lauren xx

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Gentle Joan’ amateur portrait drawing of family friend

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Hello again everybody! The latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of a now unfortunately deceased family friend, Joan 💙💙

I increased the size of a standard photo at the library, to A3 size. I then used my A3 light box to outline Joan on paper. Working from photographs, I carefully sketched and shaded.. I also incorporated some paw prints, with a purple border – Joan absolutely adored dogs, they were her life 💜💜

Joan was my mum’s best friend who unfortunately died suddenly three years ago 😢 She was an incredible kind woman, and helped me so much when I was looking after mum, she was a god send 💕 I’ve kept in touch with Joan’s husband Merv, and visit him regularly, this is who the portrait is for.. He has a bullmastiff Spencer, who mum loved, and I always say to mum I gave Spencer a big kiss from his Auntie Debbie 💕

Merv was very happy with the portrait 😊 I am only an amateur and I know I’m not the best in the world, but I think I am improving with practice..and it’s the sentimental value too isn’t it..

Here is the finished piece, framed:

Thank you as always for taking the time to view/ read.. I might start another diamond art soon🎨 💎

Much love, Lauren xx

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘African animals’ amateur marker pen original art

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Hi everybody! My latest blog post is progression photos of an amateur ‘African animals’ amateur marker pen original art 💙💙 Hope you enjoy!

I started out sketching the outlines of my African animals; giraffe, elephant, lion, rhino and buffalo.. the style of drawing is like subjects from art therapy books; pretty, brightly coloured, patterned and detailed 😀 As well as colouring the animals vibrantly with marker pens, I bordered the subjects with a black marker pen to make them stand out and ‘pop’ 🥰

I would love to visit Africa and do a safari/ construction and renovation volunteering in Zambia.. I feel like Africa is really special 💙 hence why I decided to do this artwork 😜

My next project is an amateur portrait drawing of a wonderful woman Joan who passed away three years ago.. she was my mum’s best friend and a god send, helping me look after mum (my mum has early onset alzheimers) 😢 I have stayed in contact with Joan’s husband Merv, that’s who the portrait is for..I will maybe draw her dog too Spencer, she adored dogs..I thought that would be a nice thing to do 💕

Thank you again for taking the time to read/view.. lots of love, Lauren xx

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Seaside and starfish’ amateur pub painting

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Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur ‘Seaside and starfish’ pub painting…

We started out with orange sand before beginning the water. We used light and darker shades of blue to give a more realistic ocean 💙 Then for great effect, we dabbed white with a sponge to give a softer wave, and created a cute little pink starfish in the right hand bottom corner. Also, we tried to give the beach more texture..

Becca is a self taught great artist who guides us through the entire process, a group in a pub setting which is a fab atmosphere..therapeutic but a lot of fun too! I look forward going every month with my friend Denise 💕

Coming up next, I’m on with an amateur Africa/safari theme original artwork I’ve completed with my colour pens…so keep a look out! 😄

As always, thanks for viewing reading.. much love, Lauren xx

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Grandson and Grandma’ amateur drawing

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Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur family portrait drawing for my lovely friend Sue, who has unfortunately just lost her grandson in a tragic road traffic accident 😢

I printed off a photo of Sue and her grandson with my printer, and enlarged a copy to A3 size at the library. I started using my A3 light pad to get an outline of them both, then took my time shading. I included calligraphy ‘Torn apart, but together forever in heart’, as I felt this made a nice sentimental quote.

I realise my drawing is amateur, and not so professional as it once was while I did my art A-level many years ago, I’ve kind of lost it…however, the most important thing for me was for Sue to like it, and she is absolutely over the moon, which makes me very happy 😁 She can cherish it forever, as another friend said

And here is the finished drawing…

Thank you so much for taking the time to read/view my post…

Next, I might use my specialist marker pens to create something colourful, but I’m not quite sure yet, so please just keep a look out 🥰

All the best, Lauren xx

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Jacqui and Jesus’ amateur drawing

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Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an amateur drawing of my priest Jacqui, and Jesus christ..as a gift for helping me through my confirmation preparation 😊

I obtained an outline of Jesus off of the Internet, and printed alongside a recent photo of Jacqui..I used my A3 light pad to trace these outlines onto A3 sketching paper..I sketched and shaded my two subjects..one of Jacqui’s favourite quotes in the bible is from psalm 139: ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ to which I added calligraphy at the bottom of the portrait.. and when Jacqui thinks of God she has told me she visualises the great light of God’s love, hence the sun..I used tea bags to give the background a distressed look.. lastly I framed with a black frame…and here is the end result:

I think I may do a couple more amateur portaits as gifts to family/friends, that would be a nice thing to do 😄

Thank you as ever for taking the time to read/view!

Lots of love, Lauren xx

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Enchanted forest’ diamond art

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Hi everyone! My latest UnicornPostbox blog post is progression photos of an enchanted forest diamond art 💎🎨 Hope you like!

It was so much fun doing this diamond art! They are so time consuming (took me a few weeks) but so therapeutic and enjoyable 😄

I have another previous diamond art I am trying to sell with this one, to go towards my fundraising for Alzheimer’s Society (I’m doing a paraglide in the Peak District)..my sister bought me another elephant diamond art too to complete next 💕

Here is the finished art piece…

I am quite proud of this, and looking forward to doing the next diamond art!

Next, however, I am planning on drawing a portrait as it’s sooooo long since I’ve done so…I won’t detail who I am drawing as it is a surprise present for a friend who may read this..haha 😆 But yeah, keep a look out 😜

Thank you as always for reading/viewing!

Many thanks, Lauren xx

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com

‘Penguins in love’ amateur acrylic painting

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Hi everyone, thanks for checking out my personal blog! My latest post is progression photos of an amateur acrylic painting of two love struck penguins, created this month at pub painting..hope you enjoy! 😀

I must be honest, out of the other three pub paintings I’ve done, I found this the most challenging..when it came to silhouetting the two love birds anyway, lol.. but although I am only an amateur artist, I think they’re a little bit cute, hehe…I’m looking forward to the next session in a month’s time with my friend Denise! 😀

And here are the finished ‘Penguins in love’🐧🐧 💙💙

Thank you so much for reading/viewing, and keep an eye out for my next artistic project blog post..

Lots of love, Lauren xx

© 2023 Lauren Parr/ https://unicornpostbox.com