Nature Keeps Moving

Tags

How to Make Paper, If Flowers Could Talk, Up-cycling

I have a Bradford Pear Tree in the front yard, and it’s budding now.

Paper Making Project – Day 4

Tags

crafts, How to Make Paper, Up-cycling

I allowed the paper to dry completely while still on the sheets of interfacing.

Since the paper curled so dramatically, I sprayed them lightly with water and ironed them. Overall, I’m very pleased with the results. The color is almost white, with a very pale tint of pink and flecks of lime green and hot pink.

Paper Making Project – Day 3

Tags

How to Make Paper, Scrapbooking, Up-cycling

After the paper had been pressed for about 36 hours, I removed the stack of books and lifted off the top board. I wasn’t able to find information about how long the paper should be pressed, so 36 hours is not an official rule or guideline.

I carefully began peeling away the interfacing sheets and clipped them to wire hangers for drying. You can see that the paper is thicker in the center due to the sagging of the netting that I used to make the mold. I definitely recommend using wire mesh rather than fabric tulle for that reason.

I’ll post a photo of the dry paper tomorrow.

Creative Paradise

Tags

Art, Cereal Box Art, Daily doodle, Giveaway, Up-cycling

I find the pursuit of dreams more interesting and entertaining than the actual attainment of them.

For example, over three years ago I started writing a novel for kids ages 9 to 12. It took me about three years to complete a finished draft. After showing it to a few editors, they all agreed the idea is original, but I need to keep working on it to make it marketable for retail booksellers. After three years of work, I decided to put that project aside for a while. Gradually, I’m thinking about returning to it. I might take it in a new direction. I’m getting ideas again. That project is more about the pursuit of a dream than it is about attaining a goal. I’ve enjoyed the process of writing that book, and part of me wants to keep it to myself, because finding a publisher would mean allowing someone else to have a great deal of creative power. That’s a difficult thing for me to do with a project that I’ve poured so much of myself into over such a long period of time.

Now, for the progress on the 150 subscribers giveaway project. I mixed chocolate brown with white acrylic to make a light tan and covered the whole Cheerios box panel. Then I mixed  colors with white and brown to soften them –  blue, brown, raw sienna, green and iridescent gold. I applied the colors with a trowel. I had to be careful not to scrape the surface, because I found the paint will easily scrape off the Cheerios box cover. Then, I troweled on some pure irridescent gold as an accent on top. I also brushed the iridescent gold onto the side of the Wheat Thins box. I stopped here today, because I need all of this paint to dry before I continue.

Box Art—Day 4 Finished

Tags

Art, Cereal Box Art, Journal, Up-cycling, Writing

This is the final day of this box art series. I struggled today trying to decide whether the piece is finished, or if I should continue. How do you decide whether you’re being impatient or if the art is done and it’s time to move on? Maybe it has to do with whatever territory is being explored, and if it has been explored enough. This piece has served its purpose of opening up a new avenue – the idea of working on a project a little every day as a kind of meditation. I believe it’s time for me to move on to a new project for this blog. Here’s what I’ve done to put a period on this piece.

I smeared a little more color on the front.

I filled the blank areas with writing, starting with the side. “Search within for the answers.”

I just started writing on the back with whatever was in in mind at the moment – almost like an exercise in stream of consciousness writing. I realized my handwriting seemed very mundane, so I started experimenting with the way I was writing the letters.

and finally, on the top, I wrote “be true BE TRUE.”

Now it’s time to move on. I have no idea what I’ll start tomorrow. It could be a longer term project. Maybe something more involved with more detail, more planning. It’s up in the air. Tomorrow will provide an answer.

Box Art—Day 3

Tags

Art, Cereal Box Art, Up-cycling

Today I added hot glue to my box art, traced the hand, and added some dimensional swirl and stripe designs in hot glue.

I painted the hand black and dry brushed with bright copper iridescent acrylic paint.

I used a trowel like a palette knife to add more layers of color around the box.

That’s all I had time for today, but I will continue work on this tomorrow.

Box Art – Day 2

Tags

Art, Cereal Box Art, Up-cycling

This is day two of my Box Art series. Today I decided to paint each side of the box a different color.

I’m painting in acrylic, and I like to layer colors, so this is just a ground coat.

I intend to keep working on this until it transforms into something more than what it appears now, but for now, the bright colors are inspiring me.

What this piece will become by the time it’s finished, I have no idea yet.

Box Art

Tags

Art, Cereal Box Art, Up-cycling

Yesterday, I made a blank canvas from a box of Wheat Thins.  Just hot glue the lids closed. Cover it in brown acrylic paint (so the graphics won’t bleed through). Once the brown paint is dry, cover it with white acrylic gesso (or any acrylic paint color of your choice). You can see a tutorial on my Youtube channel called Cereal Box Canvas Part 1. But with this Wheat Thins box, I didn’t go through all the steps of taping it with masking tape. I kept this one simple, and I think the simple approach is my favorite. I’m starting a series on this blog where I will paint for a few minutes every day and show the daily progress.

Just as I was about to get started, I saw my Youtube channel had a new subscriber, Melanie (moonweavings is her Youtube channel). She had a message in one of her videos “Don’t think. Just. Paint.” – and it was just what I needed today before I got started. Here is her blog link. http://www.weavingthemoon.com/

 

 

I started out by tracing my right hand with a paintbrush and black paint held by my left hand. Then I wrote a message to myself. I will only have a few minutes each day to do this, because my schedule is so busy with deadlines, but this is my chance to play and meditate through painting.

 

 

Nut Can – Up-cycling Project

Tags

Up-cycling

This is a project I made a while back that didn’t quite make it onto my Youtube channel. I thought it might have a place here on my daily blog. The embellishment was kept to a minimum, but you could go wild adding all sorts of alterations to it.

For this simple up-cycling project, I took an empty can of nuts, similar this this, and covered it with scrapbooking paper. First, I thoroughly washed the oil out of the can with dishwashing liquid. I used Ranger alcohol ink in the eggplant color to tone down the red, plastic cover to coordinate with the decorative paper.

I made a flower from a plastic grocery store bag. I used bright copper acrylic paint to paint the squares of plastic that I cut from the bag to make the flower. I allowed the acrylic paint to dry thoroughly before making the flower. The acrylic had a tendency to lift up a little bit while the flower was being made, but most of the paint stayed in place. See my Plastic Bag Flowers Youtube tutorial at this url—

I poked two holes in the center of the plastic cover and tied the flower in place with the string I used to bind the flower together. I taped the string on the inside with masking tape and painted the tape to match the cover to finish the inside. I altered the aluminum color of the edges of the can with Latte colored alcohol ink. Alcohol ink sticks to plastic and metal, and is waterproof.

The decorative paper is from my Blossomwood paper pad by K and Company. Here is the url to the K and Company store, where it may still be available for purchase—

http://www.eksuccessbrands.com/kandcompany/productlist.htm?bid=599

I hope this project is a starting point that will get you inspired to look at your trash in a new way!

First Cup of the Day

Tags

Art, Journal, Scrapbooking, Up-cycling, Writing

Let’s get started! I plan to use this blog as a catalyst to jump start my creativity. I want to grow as an artist and writer, and I believe it takes consistent effort to successfully energize the creative spirit. I plan to post something every day, whether it’s reflecting on my artwork or writing from the past, or new projects where I’m stretching my abilities and imagination. Whatever I post, it will be something that’s inspiring me at the moment. I hope you’ll join me for a cup of creative caffeine!