Archive for the ‘crafting’ Category
30 Days of Creativity – Day 26
Another installment of 30 Days of Creativity – Day 26: Write, draw or paint something with your non-dominant hand.
It was funny explaining this exercise to my kids, and I found it somewhat easier than I expected. My little one told me a few times to switch hands to make drawing easier. He can be so logical. Drawing felt a little weird, and I had to think a lot more about how to form letters, which way my pen was going. Would this be like being in a reverse universe?
Tags: 30 days, craft critique, crafting, drawing
30 Days of Creativity – Days 23 and 24
Day 23: Listen to a favorite song or artist and create something inspired by that music.
Earlier this year, I created some doodles inspired by Maroon 5. (Oh how their music just rocks my world!)
But since Christmas and holiday music is, well, everywhere, it seems fitting to share with you some wintery pieces I’ve doodled recently. This one was from my new smart phone?! RotoDoodle is such a cool app – I can spirograph anytime, anywhere!
spirograph-project.tumblr.com
Snowflake spirograph
Day 24: What is your “Creative Bucket List”? List 12 creative things you want to learn more about.
- Soap Making
- Quilting
- Embroidery
- Chinese Watercolor Painting (I’m attempting a few cards this week… talk about last minute.)
- Mixed media
- Knitting
- Crocheting
- Photography
- Jewelry
- Photoshop
- Furniture refinishing
- Vintage art
I’m curious what creative things everyone else is learning about, or wants to learn about – feel free to share in the comments!
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Tags: 30 days, bucket list, doodles, spirograph
30 Days of Creativity – Days 21 and 22
Time to pull this all together! 30 Days of Creativity has turned into something like “months-and-months” of creativity. I’m wondering how many others have kept up with this challenge. And that’s exactly what it’s been… challenging.
Day 21: Find and photograph one object in your home and create something inspired by it.
Our stairwell. It greets me each morning – and when the sun is out, an amazing amount of light comes pouring in.
I’ve been sketching lines upon lines trying to capture the geometry, but I still want to incorporate some shadowing. So, the project isn’t done… yet.
Day 22: Take time today to thank your favorite creative people for their talents. Comment on their blogs, Facebook and Twitter.
If you have a little time, visit these sites of goodness!
Mod Podge Rocks by Amy Anderson | Angry Chicken with Amy Karol | Ashley at Film in the Fridge | Architecture at Searching for Silsbee
Churchmouse Yarns & Teas | Share the world of tea with TeaLula
Tags: 30 days, art, crafting, Friends and Family, thanks, websites
Book Review and Giveaway: Make and Takes for Kids by Marie LeBaron
Sometimes (more often than you might think) I run out of crafty ideas. Really. Enter Marie LeBaron, founder and managing editor at Make and Takes. Her book “Make and Takes for Kids: 50 Crafts Throughout the Year” (Wiley) arrived and I devoured it cover-to-cover.
Marie LeBaron uses her background in early childhood development and creative edge to develop kid-friendly projects. But what sets this book apart is the fact that she outlines learning objectives and skills associated with the projects. The creative process is the focus for the kids, not necessarily the final project. However, if you’re looking for inspiration to make new things to sell, this is not your book – personal use only.
The projects are organized by months with four projects per month, some have five. The colorful book is beautifully layed out.
And, like a good educator, LeBaron gives a nice overview (at the beginning of the book) of basic supplies needed, which you probably have lying around in your house or they’re easily found at a craft supply support. The “simple instructions” for seasonal and holiday creations, edible and decorative, are exactly spot-on.
We tried the Paper Spiral Christmas tree project with some supplies we have in our stockpile.
Not too shabby working on identifying shapes, cutting and fine motor skills. My kids and I can’t wait to try more!
I would love to share this fun and insightful book with a reader, and what better time as we head into the holidays. If you love spending time creating with kids, won’t you share a favorite craft or food idea that you like to do in your home? Leave a comment by December 1, 2011 (11:59 pm CST) and I’ll randomly choose a lucky reader to send a copy of “Make and Takes for Kids”! Don’t forget to include your e-mail so I can contact you if you’re chosen.
Thanks and enjoy the weekend!
**This giveaway is not affiliated with Wiley, MakeandTakes.com, or Craft Critique**
Tags: book review, books, crafts
Let the Lego Birthday Party Planning Begin
Birthdays have always been a large part of my childhood. My mom and dad hosted birthday parties for me until I was 22 years old, believe it or not. A summer birthday meant picnics, backyard games, lots of family and friends. Sometimes we’d just go out to eat at a nice restaurant.
I always thought I’d give my kids memorable birthdays and fun parties. Just two years ago (almost three) we hosted a Webkinz party for our daughter. Some of her friends still talk about it. And now my son’s turn…it started with him in January of this year. “I wanna Lego theme birthday party!” How strange (or cool) is it that a four-year old thinks about party themes? My planning started two weeks ago since I get worked up over these things. I hope by sharing the process I’ll minimize the amount of Maalox I drink on top of the acid reflux pill I already take.
For this Lego birthday invite, I had Ollie pose his Lego figures and we had a little photo shoot. I edited the pictures in Picasa, made a collage and added invitation text in the empty space. Instead of printing the invitations at home, I uploaded the completed picture to a major store (think Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, etc.) and ordered 5 x 7 prints. They turned out so well, and it was very easy to do!
Hope this inspires you to do your own invitations!
Swimming for Katie Renz – fundraiser
From October 10-12 some of the best stampers are joining together to support and encourage fellow stamper, and former Craft Critique Reporter Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer. If you’re not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year. This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight. A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer. Her first post about it is here. The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.
This exclusive stamp designed by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file. 100% of the profits go to Katie’s fund to help her and her young family. Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support. In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs both also donated digis that are for sale. Direct donations are also being accepted. Information central is HERE. This is a permanent page that will stay active at i{heart}papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button.
Please visit the blogs in the hop today to see what they have done with this inspirational stamp! Here’s mine… won’t you Swim for Katie, too?
If you would like to send her a card, her mailing address is:
Katie Renz
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913
**update** Craft Critique will be posting more creations (I submitted mine.) – supply lists and/or tutorials will be included!
Tags: craft critique, Friends and Family, gift, help, Swimming for Katie
