Inspiration is blowing in the wind!

I thought we'd start this month off with a quickie Show & Tell... 

The month of March is most commonly associated with St. Patrick's Day... a day when everyone claims to have even a small percentage of an Irish heritage that requires them to celebrate with green beer as well as corned beef and cabbage... it's all about the green! 

For me, I have a different fondness for March... it's all about March Winds! Without them we wouldn't have April Showers or May Flowers!! After all, they wouldn't have written a song about them if they weren't extremely important?!  I also believe that Kahlil Gibran was probably thinking about the month of March in his famous quote... "Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair!" 

In honor of the March Winds, I was inspired to create a trio of lovelies with their wind friendly (or not) hairdo's!!

Scarlet 

Penny

Iris

Until next time... Ciao!!

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever you are!!

I realize that Valentine's Day has come and gone but I hope you'll bear with me as I present today's Show and Tell... For the month of February I set out to create a special piece of mail art that I would send to my partner on the Envie Addicts Unite! thread at ATC's for All. This special mailing was affectionately dubbed Weirdy Mail, it was created to be a fun way to shake things up by setting aside our usual envelope swap and instead sending an unusual work of art or object through the mail. These items were intended to be sent naked, which means without packaging or boxes for all to see and enjoy the ART as it traveled to it's final destination!! The first hurdle was getting past our local postal workers, many of us had encountered some raised eyebrows and a multitude of questions but in the end I believe everyone has been successful with the post office accepting our items. Before I even created my project I talked to my local post master to find out if I would have any problems and was assured that I could go ahead with no restrictions! When my project was completed and the time had come to mail my Weirdy Mail to my partner I excitedly went to the post office to send it off. Everything went without a hitch, the appropriate amount of stamps were applied and it's journey had begun... I was told that it would probably take 3 or 4 days to arrive since we are both on the west coast. I anxiously awaited a response from my partner but the days keep ticking away... it is nowhere in sight... 14 days and counting!! No ransom notes or phone calls... my Weirdy is MIA!!! My post office friends just smile and say "hmmm, that's odd, it should be there...have a nice day."  It's obvious that they are not artists or they would be calling for an investigation!! 

Sooo, since I couldn't figure out who to contact to get my missing child's photo on the side of a milk carton or to report an official amber alert, I've decided to go ahead and share it's photos with you!! If anyone recognizes it or knows the whereabouts of my Weirdy, there is a reward for it's safe return!! (No questions asked!!)

Weirdy Heart - front view - paper mache, tissue paper, acrylics & markers

Weirdy Heart - back view - w/ built in envelope & card

Accordion Flag Card - open view ( I shared this in a previous post)

 Thanks for stopping by...until next time, Ciao!!

I haven't "lost my marbles"... this is really fun!!

I'm always looking for background designs to build upon for my various projects. The more colors and shapes the better in my opinion. Looking back at some tried and true methods from my past endeavors, I came up with a renewed urge to do some paper marbling. I really haven't done any in years, it was a favorite project when teaching my art classes for kids. They marveled at the works of art that they were able to create. I really loved seeing their enthusiasm & the fun they were having with it!!  So, what better thing to do on a deary winter day than to have some of that simply wonderful fun for myself!!

I have used a few different methods of marbling but I find the one I'm using today to be the easiest I've found while giving great results and being very economical to acquire all the supplies needed!

Below are a couple photos and a list of your needed supplies.

1. Liquid Starch - I got this jug at Wal-Mart (or local grocery stores)
2. Craft Acrylic Paint -  an assortment of colors - a little dab'll do ya!! 
3. Sheets of paper - I've had great luck with card stock (very affordable, too!!)
4. 2 Shallow Baking Pans -  One for marbling & One for rinsing
5. Plastic containers - any style you wish, for thinning paint in
6. Eye droppers (optional) - I like to use these for paint dropping (or brushes) 
7. Combs, skewers  - used to run through paint to create your patterns
8. Newspapers - for cleaning paint residue & drying papers on 
9. Liquid Dish Soap - just enough to add only 1 drop to each color you use

Let's get started creating some wonderful art... 

Don't forget to have FUN!!

First things first... set up your work area with all of your supplies!

• Take 1 Baking Pan & fill with water for rinsing your paper sheets
• Fill the 2nd Baking Pan with Liquid Starch - (approx. 1 inch deep)
• Prepare your Acrylic Paint in containers - thin with water to a consistency like milk (if it is too thick, it will sink to bottom of starch - too thin, it will spread out too much & color won't be as bright) Add 1 drop of dish soap & mix
• Set out some newspapers where you have room for drying your marbled papers after rinsing - do not stack - (or you can also hang papers from a line if you prefer)

Alright, we are ready to rumble... uhmm, I mean marble!!

At this point it would be ideal for you to see a video of me actually creating but I am not up on all that newfangled stuff... I'm somewhat electronically challenged!! However; you are in luck, there are some wonderfully talented artists with You Tube videos on marble paper techniques... it would be worth your while to check them out and actually see what I would have a hard time explaining effectively!! Several of them easily show step by step how to create the various styles of patterns by using the combs and skewers. They also show you how to skim the paint residue between printings with the newspaper strips that you've gathered. Seeing is believing... It really is quite easy to get going once you just jump in and try!! 

Below are some examples of marble sheets that I created. I always use half sheets of paper when marbling, they are a perfect size to easily use in many of my projects... postcards, ATC's, greetings cards, journal covers or even to cover other objects!!

Thanks for stopping by... 

Hopefully you've been inspired enough to give paper marbling a try!! 

 Until next time... Blessings to you all!!

Spread the LOVE around!!

Just a quickie Valentine's Day Show & Tell... No matter what society says or thinks, I believe that Valentine's Day is not reserved solely for Sweethearts! Yes, LOVE is what it's all about, but Love comes in all shapes & sizes from all kinds of relationships!!  Valentine cards are the perfect way to reach out to those around us, to let them know that we're thinking of them and wishing them a life filled with LOVE!! 

As an artist, I really love to make my own Valentines. Whether you think of yourself as creative or not, it doesn't take too much expertise to make a handmade card. However, it does takes time... what better way in this busy world of ours is there to show how much you care!!  Cards can be made from using just about any supplies that you may already have laying around the house... construction paper, card stock, paper doilies, markers, colored pencils, rubber stamps and ink, photos, magazine pages, glue, scissors, hole punches, tape... let your imagination run wild and above all else, have FUN!!

Below is a photo of some postcard style Valentines that I have made for this year. If you are interested in trying out your hand with this style card, I have posted some instructions in a previous post! (Scroll down through my last few posts to help you get started on some ideas of your own) 

Mixed media "Valentine" Postcards on 140lb watercolor paper 

Happy Valentine's Day and Blessings of Love to All!!

Say "Be Mine" with a Valentine... and pass the chocolates!!

Remember when you were a kid (it's definitely a farther stretch for some of us!), when February rolled around, our teachers used Valentine's Day as an excuse to have an art project!? I can't begin to count the number of hearts that I must have made, in retrospect it felt like a gazillion or more!! I fondly remember my most favorite project of all... My Valentine Mailbox! (aka: Shoebox) I loved covering & decorating it, making it my very own original and unique vessel with high hopes of it becoming filled to the brim on Valentine's Day. Long after the big day had passed, I would go through my saved treasures and admire everyone's creations... even back then, I was an Art Hoarder, a habit that I would continue throughout my life!! Yes, my name is Jan and I'm an Art Addict!! (and proud of it!!) 

Well, enough of my walking down memory lane, it's time for Show & Tell!!

Poking around the internet, I came across a couple of pics that inspired this project. I tend to take a little bit here and a little bit there and add it to a little bit more until I've been inspired to make a prototype of my grand plan... Voila, a project is born!! With Valentine's Day approaching, I thought this would be a great project to share! Hopefully, you will be inspired to give it a try & see how you can put your own creative stamp on it!!

So, let's get started with our Accordion Flag Card... 2 1/2" X 3 1/2"   (ATC size)

Below: It may seem like I'm working backwards & you are right, I am... photos of the finished work.

View showing the accordion spine of the card

View of standing card ( closed )

View of untied card from the top - stands on it's own - *notice the flag positions

View of opened card -  the top flags on the accordion point to the right & the bottom flags to the left

 

So, here's how I got started...

Below: Begin with a strip of any color card stock  3 1/2" X 8" - to create the accordion spine, mark the 8" sides every 1/2"  - using a ruler and a scoring tool, draw a score line connecting from top to bottom - there should be 15 scored lines when finished - fold in alternating directions at the score lines to create an accordion .

 

Needed supplies - card stock, ruler & scoring tool

Finished accordion should have 7 peaks with a single flap at each end

The next step is to create the Flags... I used watercolor paper, but you can use any paper of your choice. You will need to cut 14 flags - 1 1/2" X 2 1/4" - I used my old faithful, Jacquard Dyes, to create my background designs and finished with details using pen & ink. This is where you can make them your own by using any medium & technique that you enjoy working with! When making your designs, take note that 7 flags will be pointing to the right & 7 flags will be pointing to the left. You may want to lay out your designs accordingly. I trimmed the edges that are not attached to the spine, as well as using a hole punch in some places. In doing this, I think it adds another design element to the overall work.

Jacquard Dye backgrounds before ink detailing

Finished flags - ready to attach to the accordion spine

The only thing left to do, is to assemble your cards... my first step was to attach my front and back covers - on the inside, I used one of my ATC sized Janoodles on each side attached to the end flap strips. On the outside, I used a plain red card stock. All assembling was done with two-sided tape. For placement, refer to the photo below.

Inside covers are attached to spine at both ends with the 7 peaks in the center

You are now ready to attach the flags to the peaks. I am using the photo below to easily show you their placement. Start on the right side of your card - on the 1st peak you will attach 1 flag to the top half of the right side of that peak - on the left side of the same peak, attach another flag to the bottom half of the strip. Important, do not let the flags touch, leave a small gap between so that they will point in opposite directions and freely move when opening & closing your card. Repeat these steps with each peak using all 14 flags. Refer to the previous photos at the beginning of this post to once again see the finished work!!

Example of flag placement to the accordion peaks

Hopefully I didn't confuse you too badly! Sometimes, doing is a lot easier than explaining... when in doubt, just jump in and I believe that you'll figure it out in the end!! As always, the most important thing is... Have FUN!!  

Thanks for stopping by... Until next time, 

Blessings to one and all!!

Part Two... Going Across the Finish Line!!

Just to recap... our previous post ended with 4 Mail Art Postcards that we cut from a colorful background sheet that was created using acrylic paint.  Today I will continue to embellish with my finish designs. Upon completion,  the postcards will be ready to pop into the nearest mailbox to start their journey to their planned destinations!

So, let's get started... But first, take a moment to scroll down to the end of the previous post... to refresh your memory, this photo shows our postcards with their finished backgrounds. 

Welcome back... Below: Pictured is an assortment of hand carved stamps that I have made. I chose to use them on the postcards as another layer of design.  The background was created to be totally free form, by adding the specific designs of the stamps a wonderful contrast is achieved.

Hand carved stamps

Postcards after the stamping is completed

As you can see above, that second layer of color and design that the stamps provide is a great option for continuing your finish work!

Below are the individual postcards that I completed. Of course, they are done in my own familiar Janoodle style. Using these basic techniques, you can personalize your postcards in your own unique way, there are no rights or wrongs. 

Just remember to have FUN!!

"Love Art" Postcard

"Dreaming of Spring" Postcard

"Happy Birthday" Postcard

"Sunflower"Postcard

I hope that I have inspired you, even the tiniest bit... come on,  just jump in... no plans... experiment, try something new, what's the worst thing that can happen? 

Your ART is waiting to be created!!

Part One ... "The Background Check!"

Up until about a year and a half ago, I had never heard about Mail Art... now, I can't even imagine not having it as a part of my creative life! I'm very grateful to the website ATC's for All for introducing me to this wonderful form of expression and communication! I spent several months on the site watching and lurking around various swap threads, all the while my interest grew to the point that I wanted to join in! Finally, I mustered up enough courage to ask if I could join a monthly mail art swap called Envie Addicts Unite! Lucky for me, they graciously welcomed me into the fold! Each month, I am partnered with another artist to exchange a piece of art in the form of an envelope or postcard. Right from the beginning I was hooked! There's nothing more exciting than opening up my mailbox to find a colorful and unique work of art that was created just for me. I have also increased my loathing of those plain white envelopes that scream out  "Junk Mail" in their boring & obnoxious way!!! I love going to the post office to mail my creations, customers in the line as well as the workers behind the counter, are very curious and full of questions... it has become my quest to brighten up my little corner of this world, one piece of mail at a time!!!

Today's Show & Tell is about creating backgrounds for Mail Art Postcards! In past posts, I have shown my use of Jacquard Dyes or watercolors in creating backgrounds for my work. The translucent quality that they provide is very compatible with using a metal tipped rapidiograph for the very fine detail work that I use to finish my pieces. Today we are going to use acrylic paints which have a more opaque quality, making it necessary to use a bit larger pen tip for your finish details to avoid clogging or wearing out your pen.

When creating a background sheet, I like to just jump in with no preconceived plan... I'm a play it by ear kinda gal!! ( Which has had mixed reviews throughout my life?!) So, here's how I start... I usually grab a piece of  9X12 in. , 140lb. watercolor paper. This is a great size for cutting out 4 separate 4X6 in. postcards when finished.  Next, choose assorted bottles of an inexpensive craft style acrylic paint in the colors of your choice and an old outdated plastic credit or gift card.  That's right, no brushes... the credit card is used to spread the paint across the paper to create free form patterns!! The colors become layered in places as they are swept along the paper, this creates added effects to your design.  

Below: This photo may seem out of sequence but I wanted to use it 

first to show you the supplies stated above! 

Also, shows those effects that color layering adds to your design!

Let's get started...  

Squeeze the paint directly on the page forming different sized color dots. Using the edge of the credit card, swipe & spread the dots along the paper. In doing this, patterns are formed. Experiment by moving your hand in different directions to come up with your desired results! (*Note that the green area in the photo shown above was created from the green dots in the photo below!)

Below is the finished sheet. As you can see, I used several colors 

and patterns to fill the entire page!

 Below is the finished sheet cut into 4 separate sections to create your Postcards!

These background cards are now ready for their "finishing" designs. 

Stop by for part 2 of this post for further steps toward completion!!

Until then... Ciao!!

First post of the New Year!

Whoa... I can't believe it's already January 11th, I did have high hopes for starting off this year with at least 1 post every 3-4 days. Well, so much for plans, to avoid feeling like I've already failed, I'll use my woman's prerogative to change my mind. No more declarations, no more goals, no more pressure to perform... whew, I feel better already!!

Wintertime has become my least favorite time of year, as the years go by I find myself less and less enthusiastic about all that it has to offer! Don't get me wrong, I do still enjoy gazing upon the beauty of freshly fallen snow but that seems to be where it ends!! Inevitably, reality does set in when I must leave the confines of my dry, warm home to go out into the world. Coats, hats, scarves, gloves, boots, ice cleats, heavy socks... has it always taken this long to get ready to go?! O.K., now I made it outside... where's the snow shovel, ice melter, ice scraper and snow brush?! Thank goodness, I actually still have enough energy left to drive downtown to run some errands (hopefully the city has plowed the streets I need to go on?!) Optimist that I am, I have found a light at the end of the tunnel... today has 1.35 minutes more daylight than yesterday!!

My "ART" is what I depend on the most to see me through until Spring comes shining through... I am truly blessed, so I'd better knock off all the whining and just get to work CREATING!! Here's my first "Show & Tell" of the New Year!

Below are a few "themed" Janoodles that I did this afternoon!

(They are a little bit abstract and a little bit realistic... my favorite way of seeing things!!)

"Flower Garden" Janoodle

"Under the Sea" Janoodle

"Wooly Worm" Janoodle

"Mountain Scenery" Janoodle

Thanks for stopping by... Until next time, Ciao!!

For Auld Lang Syne...

HAPPY 2015!!

 Wishing you a New Year 

filled with love and blessings beyond your wildest dreams!!

Thank You all for stopping by my blog throughout this last year!!  In 2015, I'm hoping we can continue to share the creative side of life as well as occasional musings of whatever seems relevant at the moment!! To me, the New Year always feels like we are headed into a brand new chapter of our story, blank pages to be filled with more possibilities than we ever dared to imagine! I usually don't make New Year's Resolutions, I think the added pressure of a public proclamation to make some change in my life is counter productive, sets me up for failure every time! Instead of resolving to change, I prefer to celebrate everything that I already am while believing my best is yet to come!!

Hope you'll continue to stop by, we'll see what unfolds together!  

Until then, Ciao!!

Lift your voice in song!!

Silent night! Holy night! ... All is calm, all is bright... Round yon virgin mother and child... Holy infant so tender and mild... Sleep in heavenly peace... Sleep in heavenly peace!   

Silent night! Holy night! ... Shepherds quake at the sight... Glories stream from heaven afar... Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia... Christ our Savior is born... Christ our savior is born!
 
As we move closer to the "Big Day" that we've all been preparing for, I find myself needing to step back and look around at all of the wonders of the season!  I love Christmas... first and foremost, I pray that everyone remembers the reason for the season, to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ... without Him, it is only another winter's day!  Christmas is a magical time of year when it seems the world allows itself to come together in love and fellowship, differences seem to be more accepted, helping hands are stretched out to those of greater need, and a simple smile with a "Merry Christmas" can become a shining light in someones heart on a cold winter's night! Yes, I'm sure to some, it does sound like magic but I believe these are the Blessings available to us all, each and every day of every season all year 'round!!  This is my prayer for you all in the New Year, " hold onto what this season is truly about and make it a part of your daily life!"

Silent night! Holy Night! ... Son of God, love's pure light... Radiant beams from thy holy face... With the dawn of redeeming grace... Jesus, Lord at thy birth... Jesus, Lord at thy birth! 

Merry Christmas to all and Blessings for a New Year filled with everything that your heart desires!!

Ho Ho Ho...

You better watch out... You better not pout... Better not cry... I'm telling you why... Santa Claus is coming to town... He's making a list... And checking it twice... Gonna find out Who's naughty or nice... Santa Claus is coming to town!

Today's Sing-a-long has made me think... What would Christmastime be without pictures of the "kids" for all of our family & friends to see how they've grown in the past year?! As the proud mother that I am, I'm obligated to conform to this tradition... here's Blossom!! ( The jury is out on which one of Santa's lists that she'll end up on?! )

NAUGHTY!!

Oooohhhhh... or NICE!!

He sees you when you're sleeping... He knows when you're awake... He knows if you've been bad or good... So be good for goodness sake!  O! You better watch out... You better not cry... Better not pout... I'm telling you why... Santa Claus is coming... Yes, Santa Claus is coming to town!!

Think out of or inside the box? Try Both!!

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks... Dressed in holiday style... In the air there's a feeling... Of Christmas... Children laughing, people passing... Meeting smile after smile... And on every street corner you'll hear... Silver bells... Silver bells... It's Christmas time in the city... Ring-a-ling... Hear them ring... Soon it will be Christmas Day!

My inspiration for today's Show & Tell Sing-a-long came from my participation in a swap on the ATC's For All website using matchboxes as well as recently I saw some wonderful matchboxes that a fellow AFA artist created as a present. I said to myself "(Self), wouldn't those make the cutest ornaments for the tree?" Sooooo, what else could I do but scrounge around looking for the matchboxes that I had left over from the swap and go into action!! 

Below are a couple examples of what I came up with... they really are cute in person (I'm not so sure that these pics do them justice)... don't take my word for it, give them a try! One thing I can guarantee, you'll have plenty of fun!!

"Christy" with the smile of an angel!

"Holly" with an attitude! 

Strings of streetlights, even stoplights... Blink of bright red and green... As the shoppers rush home with their treasures... hear the snow crunch... see the kids bunch... This is Santa's big scene... And above all the bustle you'll hear... Silver bells... Silver bells... It's Christmas time in the city... Ring-a-ling, hear them ring... Soon it will be Christmas Day... Soon it will be Christmas Day!!

As always, I'm happy you stopped by... Until next time, I hope you'll make time to Sing, to Laugh and to CREATE... Blessings!

 

Star light, star bright... let your creativity shine tonight!

We Three Kings of Orient are... Bearing gifts we traverse afar... Field and fountain, moor and mountain... Following yonder star... O Star of wonder, star of night... Star of royal beauty bright... Westward leading, still proceeding... Guide us to thy Perfect Light!!

Just a quickie Show & Tell Sing-a-long... Today we are featuring the ever popular "Star"... What would our Christmas Trees be without them? Although stars can be made from just about any material you choose to work with, I have chosen to use paper! Your choice of paper and white glue along with the crafter's best friend, a pair of scissors, are all that you will need to create these wonderful holiday icons!!

Below is a version of the lacey looking Swedish or Polish Stars... it is made with 12 strips of paper ( 1/4" X 7" )... each side is made up of 6 woven strips then each side is attached together to create the star's points. I think that you can see how to easily construct it by looking at the completed star in the picture below! If further instruction is desired, you can find several versions with detailed instructions by searching "Swedish or Polish Stars" on the internet.

This star was made from cardstock -  any medium weight paper can easily be used

Below:  This featured Star is a polyhedra - a 3-D geometrical figure.  It's hard to see in this pic but it is approx. 5" X 5" X 1 1/2"(thick). There is a wonderful website  -  www.korthalsaltes.com -  it features 100's of polyhedra models & downloadable templates that are available for free. If you like an occasional creative challenge, I think this website will give you just what you're looking for! To be honest, the star is relatively easy compared to some of the other models. 

I do have a few others in the works that have me a little stumped & frustrated... No, I will not give up (I just need to step back & regroup)!!

Made from gold glittered scrapbook paper - 12"X12" sheet makes 2 Stars

Thanks for stopping by... until next time, Blessings to you all!!

Get wired for the Holiday Season!

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer... Had a very shiny nose... And if you ever saw him...You would even say it glowed... All of the other reindeer used to laugh & call him names... They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games...

Today's Show & Tell Sing-a-long is all about adding a touch of bling to your Christmas Tree with simple ornament designs of wire & beads!  If you're anything like me, you probably have a box with a stash of beads that you have been collecting with the idea that someday they'll come in handy. Well today is that day!! (to be perfectly honest, I have many other boxes with treasured "someday" supplies!) I love to play around with wire, it's easily manipulated into shapes without too much physical strength or tools. It comes in a variety of gauges (sizes) and colors that can bring any idea you may have to life! There are no templates needed and no rules to follow, just jump right in... twist it, curl it and string a bead here or there... each ornament will be an original work of art to shine on your tree! 

Below are some examples of Wire & Bead Ornaments to help "jump start" your creative juices... just one thing to remember, Have Fun!!

Copper Wire w/ Glass Beads

Aluminum Wire w/ Wood Bead

White Vinyl Coated Wire w/ Glass Beads

 "Mobile" Ornament - each of the 3 levels balance & move with air currents

Then one foggy Christmas Eve... Santa came to say, "Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"... Then all the reindeer loved him... And they shouted out with glee... Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer... You'll go down in history!!!

 Thanks for stopping by... it's always more fun to sing with others!!

Dress your Holiday Trees with a touch of whimsy!

Dashing through the snow... In a one horse open sleigh... O'er the fields we go... Laughing all the way... ha ha ha ha ha... now everybody sing!!

Surprise...Our Show & Tell Sing-a-long continues with the Christmas theme ( just a heads up, you can probably assume this will be the case until Santa shows his jolly little face in the neighborhood! ) The ornament ideas that are being featured today were made out of porcelain clay but you can also use polymer clay or paper pulp. I have used all of these and received excellent results as well as some wonderful differences unique to each medium.


Below: These ornaments were made from porcelain slabs being pressed into mini tart molds (approx. 2" to 3") with added coil embellishments. After the 1st firing, the bisque pieces were airbrushed with underglazes and fired for the final time. Each ornament is actually 2 separate pieces that have been attached back to back with adhesive. They are hung by a ribbon tied around the center seam.

Whimsical Holiday Ornaments - Porcelain w/ underglazes

This is an example of my "Hedouni" ornaments - made in sets of six.

Bells on bob tails ring... Making spirits bright... What fun it is to laugh & sing... A sleighing song tonight... Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells... Jingle all the way... Oh, what fun it is to ride... In a one horse open sleigh!

Hope you'll stop by for our next Christmas Show & Tell Sing-a-long!!

Until then, Blessings to All!!