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!!

Gobble, gobble, gobble...

 Happy Thanksgiving to You All!

Today officially kicks off the Holiday Season... a time to gather with friends and family, a time to reminisce of those not with us while making new memories to be shared for many years to come.

No matter what each of our personal circumstances may be, I pray that we can all feel the peace and joy in recognizing and giving thanks for all of the gifts that surround us everyday of our lives.

God Bless You...Today & Always!

It's a perfect time to sing & dance!

Oh, Come All Ye Faithful... Joyful & Triumphant... Oh Come Ye, Oh Come Ye to Show & Tell...

( Yes, you guessed it!  I love Christmas Carols and it's the one time of the year I can usually get away with breaking out into song anytime I choose!! You are lucky though, I have not figured out a way to add audio to my Blog!!)

But I digress.. our Show & Tell today is a fun way to include some interactive ornaments to your Christmas trees. My "Dancing Elf" is just one example of the characters that you can create to tempt everyone's "inner child" to come out & play!! 

I started by creating a basic puppet style figure of an Elf out of 140# watercolor paper. I  decorated his body with Spectrum Noir markers w/Ink details.  I then attached all of his limbs with small brads, the key here is to not tighten them but to leave them loose enough for the "Dancing" motion as you pull the attached strings down... see below, here is a view of the back side of the Elf. As you can see there are 4 strings that are attached to the very tips of the arms & legs. The strings are then gathered and knotted at the base of body & again about an inch farther down, this keeps strings from getting in the way of the movement... refer to pic, it really is a lot easier than it sounds!  

Back side of "Dancing Elf" - notice the string placement

Below is the finished "Dancing Elf"... all you have to do is tug on the hanging strings in a downward motion & he will jump, as you release the strings he goes back to his standing position... do this repeatedly and he will dance his way into your heart!!

"Dancing Elf" in relaxed hanging position

"Dancing Elf" in jumping position when string is pulled down

Hope you give this idea a try... as previously mentioned you can make a variety of characters, just let your muse run loose and as usual...Have Fun!!

Joy to the "creative" world... got ideas?

Well, As they say "variety is the spice of life" (whoever "they" are?) but I do completely agree. The Christmas theme that I find myself being drawn to is a perfect chance to show off the kind of creative "variety" that can be used this holiday season! No matter what your artistic interests are, I'm sure you can take your favorite medium and come up with unique & fun ways to share your talents with your family & friends... believe me, they will appreciate the obvious time and effort that your artwork reflects!

So, today I have another little Show & Tell that I hope might spark those creative flames into action! I have a close friend that is a wonderful artist that specializes in print making. Her etchings, woodcuts and block prints leave me speechless each and every time I see her latest works, her talent is definitely an inspiration for me. I recently took part in a Block Print Swap on ATC's for All that reminded me of my own creative limitations in this field. Although I found myself frequently frustrated, I did enjoy the challenge, as well as it reinforcing my "awe" of my friend's considerable talent! After a few discarded "blocks", in the end I did manage to create a very simple design that I felt reflected my very best effort for the swap.

"Vino" Block Print

Since then, I have been inspired to create hand carved stamps using the leftover supplies & tools that I gathered for the swap. I came up with a few simple Christmas designs as well as adding words for an additional element that I could use in making ornaments. The style of the ornament is very simple and lends itself perfectly to showcase the printmaking design used. Sometimes it's true, "less is more!"    

Below is a pic showing the supplies used to make the featured ornaments: hand carved original stamps, Speedball brand water soluble block printing ink, cotton muslin fabric, polyfill stuffing (not pictured) & assorted ribbon. 

 

Viola! Original Hand Stamped Ornaments... "Little Pillows" can be made in any color or shape of your choice!  They are very light weight so they can be hung on any size tree or decoration and the design is on both sides for added exposure.

Below:  Using the same stamps, I decided to carry the look over to creating more gift tags. On these, I used stamp pads instead of block printing ink but you don't have to switch. I printed the designs on white card stock then attached them to leftover pieces of scrapbooking paper that I had made into tag shapes with a ribbon attached. There's plenty of room to write on and sign your name.

Thanks for stopping by... There's more Holiday Projects and creative surprises on the horizon, I hope you will check back to see ... (I'd better get to work!)

Tag, you're it!

Just a little Show & Tell for today's post... With the Christmas Season starting to creep it's way upon us, it's inevitable that our art projects begin taking a holiday theme! There's no snow on the ground as yet but the 12 degrees that the thermometer shows and the even colder chill factor from the morning wind definitely has reminded me... 'tis the season to be jolly (bbuuurrrrrrr) !!  So in an effort to stop whining about what I can not change, I decided to just go play & art the day away!!

Today, I decided to create name tags to put on packages. Yes, I do know that at the local $ store there are plenty of tags to purchase with no effort... to all of my fellow artist's out there, you understand that "the fun is the doing!!"

Below, you'll find pics of one style tag that I really have fun doing... the first pic is of blank tags that I made from the back cover of an empty sketch pad, then  covered in the kraft paper from a lunch sack... repurposed & free!!

 

Blank "Kraft Paper" Tags - approx. 2"x4"

Next... I created these "little angels dolls" on 140# watercolor paper and painted them with Jacquard Dyes & Gel Pens with Ink detailing.

Angel Doll Figures

 

Next... I attached the Angels to the tags with glue, added some background details and a ribbon tie! The dolls have been positioned on the tag, leaving a space to write the name of the person that the present is for. ( Notice... bottom right corner) 

Finished Christmas Angel Tags

I guarantee that your family & friends will be thrilled to receive your thoughtful and unique Holiday Gift Tags... Let your imagination soar, anything goes! "Tis the season to be CREATIVE!"