tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61033020751423317642024-03-13T16:08:50.139-07:00ROWDY GRANDMA....crafting with the grandkids!!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-4594407631131945432010-08-06T11:47:00.000-07:002010-08-06T20:46:09.957-07:00Zentangle FeverHave you guys heard about<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Zentangle</span>? It is a meditative drawing process which can be addicting. I recently sent some Zentangle books to my grandkids in Arkansas, they love it. In fact two of my granddaughters, Faith and Sarah have become very accomplished in this art. They have even begun to add their own tangles to their drawings. The friends and teachers they have introduced it to are fascinated as well. Recently they paid us a visit here in Texas and wanted to try some tangles on canvas. The results were fabulous!!<br /><br />Both Faith and Sarah took them home to hang on their bedroom walls, they each have quite a collection of their own art pieces hanging in their rooms. I am so proud of everything they have created!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/TFxcgvU2QII/AAAAAAAAAfY/n4BZ15oINdY/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/TFxcgvU2QII/AAAAAAAAAfY/n4BZ15oINdY/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502374562269380738" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Faith was inspired by circle tangles she saw in the book 'Zentangle 2'<br /><br /></span>Kids love art materials. I always keep some inexpensive canvas in the studio for them to use. Children feel so much like an artist when they get to put their marks on a canvas. Next time the grandkids visit... <span style="font-style: italic;"> surprise them..</span>. have their own canvas waiting for them to create art to hang in their rooms. You can always catch a sale on canvas of all sizes at your local craft store, <span style="font-style: italic;">Michaels, Joannes</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Hobby Lobby</span> often have 50% off.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/TFxcCJ4JCTI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/Z2gzphzSerY/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/TFxcCJ4JCTI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/Z2gzphzSerY/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502374036820789554" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;"> Sarah was inspired by the use of color, she loves yellow.</span><br /><br />If you haven't been introduced to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zentangle</span> yet you can visit<a href="http://www.blogger.com/zentangle.com"> </a>the official <a href="http://zentangle.com/">Zentangle</a> site for more information. Amazon and Design Originals sell books on Zentangle, or just google <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zentangle</span>, there's lots of info on the web.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-37627687149067117932010-07-02T11:04:00.000-07:002010-08-06T13:11:13.873-07:00OpportunitiesIt has been a shameless amount of time since my last post, but I do have excuses (I always have excuses). I should probably go ahead and just call it like it is...procrastination. However, I really dislike calling it procrastination, it's not like I am not doing anything...I am usually doing too much (another problem I have).<br /><br /> My studio was in transition for a really long time, moved from a garage studio to one I had built behind my house...which is great. It just happened to be during the rainiest time ever here in Texas...so that took forever. Therefore, not much creating was going on.<br /><br /> I also decided last November to go back to work. <span style="font-style: italic;">Design Originals</span> is a local book publisher based in Fort Worth, TX. They have been publishing fabulous art and craft books for over 25 years, I have collected many, many of them. So this was a dream job..surrounded by artists and crafters and the books they contribute to. Heaven!!<br /><br /> A few months ago an opportunity came up for me to do a book for <span style="font-style: italic;">Design Originals</span>. My own art work concentrates mostly on recycled items. I also absolutely love wine and have collected a ton of wine bottles. I have used them as borders for my flower beds, made bottle trees and created mixed media pieces and jewelry from them. The book <span style="font-style: italic;">Design Originals</span> was putting together just happened to be on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bottle Art..</span>.my thing. Suzanne McNeill, owner of <span style="font-style: italic;">Design Originals</span> and a fabulous artist herself, asked me if I was interested in doing the book...and I said you betcha. It was a wonderful learning experience, I am thrilled to have had the chance to do my very own book. It is exciting to see it in print, on the <span style="font-style: italic;">Design Originals</span> website and believe it or not on Amazon. I am an Amazon fanatic...now my book is on there, unbelievable. I sometimes just do a search on Amazon just to make sure it's real.<br /><br /> In the book I do photo holders out of wine bottles and was able to place pictures of the grandkids into the photo shoot. My <span style="font-weight: bold;">rowdies</span> have their pictures in my book, my ode to how much they mean to me. Faith and Sarah, my granddaughters from Arkansas spent some time with me last week. Of course we were in the studio all the time. They wanted to make some projects from the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bottle Art </span>book. They did a great job and I wanted to share some of the pictures with you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/TC47goCfFXI/AAAAAAAAAeg/FGdC2iJg7RY/s1600/vases.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/TC47goCfFXI/AAAAAAAAAeg/FGdC2iJg7RY/s320/vases.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489390427500909938" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Decoupaged bottle and vase.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/TC49P_c9CCI/AAAAAAAAAfA/KBllp3pznQM/s1600/sarbottle.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/TC49P_c9CCI/AAAAAAAAAfA/KBllp3pznQM/s320/sarbottle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489392340751419426" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Sarah creating <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Paula in a Bottle"</span>.</span><br /><br /> Since my studio is now pretty much in order, the grandkids and I are back to creating some wonderful things. As they have grown their abilities have also grown. I have always felt I learned a lot from them while we worked together in the studio, I feel that even more now that they are older. We brainstorm about some of my upcoming art pieces as well as how they want to work on their own piece of art. My goal when they were smaller was to acquaint them with the wonderful world of art materials. Now that they know more about the possibilities of these materials they are some of my most treasured critics.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/TC4-7YPKn2I/AAAAAAAAAfI/seXs1s9WHe0/s1600/rylan:faith.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 224px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/TC4-7YPKn2I/AAAAAAAAAfI/seXs1s9WHe0/s320/rylan:faith.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489394185650478946" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Faith and Rylan.</span><br /><br /> My youngest grandson, Rylan, is soon to be 8 months old, it will be great to have a tiny little person in the studio with me again showing him all the wonders of art and craft. I have tried putting a crayon in his hand..but alas it still goes instantly to the mouth..so he is not yet ready..but I am...ready and waiting!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/TC47goCfFXI/AAAAAAAAAeg/FGdC2iJg7RY/s1600/vases.jpg"><br /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-71564896238273550342009-10-15T17:07:00.000-07:002009-10-15T17:39:37.317-07:00Ghouls on a stick!!<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Ste_WEcg9QI/AAAAAAAAAdg/czd6eNFIsBY/s1600-h/ghoul1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 146px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392989464670827778" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Ste_WEcg9QI/AAAAAAAAAdg/czd6eNFIsBY/s200/ghoul1.jpg" /></a><em> Ghoul-on-a-stick</em></div><div align="center"><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Halloween is just around the corner, one of my favorite holidays. The <strong>rowdies </strong>and I have a lot of fun with Halloween projects. One of our favorites is monsters, ghouls and skeletons on a stick. This is similar to the project I posted on <strong>January 24th, 2009</strong>, the <strong><em>paintbrush</em></strong> <strong><em>characters.</em></strong> We used paperclay as we did for that project but this time we molded it around a styrofoam ball, you can use really small round styrofoam or the really large ones. You can put all kinds of bumps and bulges on it to make it a scary monster. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Ste8j7onu_I/AAAAAAAAAdY/HSSU-rO9-3s/s1600-h/ghoul3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 142px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 201px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392986404288969714" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Ste8j7onu_I/AAAAAAAAAdY/HSSU-rO9-3s/s200/ghoul3.jpg" /></a> <em>We put a screw in this ghoul's head (he's got a screw loose!!) </em><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:courier new;">After the clay dries paint them with acrylic paints and apply a sealer of some kind. The stick can be anything from a skewer to a popscicle stick, we also painted our stick. The sticks we used for <em><strong>ghouls-on-a-stick</strong></em> are lollipop sticks, my favorites..they make the ghouls look like lollipops!!</span></div><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><strong>Have fun!!</strong></span> </div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-7825294338163444112009-10-08T11:50:00.000-07:002009-10-15T17:41:44.501-07:00Art Tip<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Ss44xtSkc5I/AAAAAAAAAdI/6ExIQeKldtQ/s1600-h/laugirl.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390308230631289746" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Ss44xtSkc5I/AAAAAAAAAdI/6ExIQeKldtQ/s200/laugirl.jpg" /></a> <div align="center"><em>Lauryn's art.<br /></em><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:courier new;">I keep a whole section of art materials just for the <strong>rowdies</strong> to use when they come to visit. Kids do love to paint and draw, but almost all of my grandkids have experienced <em>"artist's block."</em></span> </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:courier new;">They are all set to paint and they ask me what they should paint. I suggest things like bunny rabbits, kitty cats or merry-go-rounds. Their reaction is <em>"I can't paint that", or "I don't know how...you do it for me." </em></span><br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:courier new;">To encourage them to explore with their art I tell them I would like to see how they paint a bunny rabbit, maybe by watching them I can learn something about bunny rabbit painting...things I would never have done...like pink and purple polka dots and squiggles for a tail.</span><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:courier new;">So, instead of me sitting down drawing a bunny and them copying me we sit down and let the grandchild draw and I do my best fo copy theirs. It is a good experience for both of us. <strong>Funny thing...I almost always like their bunny best!!! </strong></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-65643741445049112752009-09-19T17:36:00.000-07:002009-10-15T17:42:36.878-07:00When life hands you lemons.....<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SrWoRmT0EWI/AAAAAAAAAcY/zxOeI0kPOQ8/s1600-h/ceilingpictures1.jpg"></a> <div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Rowdy Grandma</strong> has been a little self-absorbed over the last few months. Shortly after my last post in July I was diagnosed with severe COPD. It was surreal, I have always been so healthy and active...and very experimental in my art work. One of the biggest disappointments with this diagnosis is what it means for my approach to art. I decided it was best to take a few months off and regroup a little.<br /><br />Most everything I do in the studio involves <em>harmful mate</em>rials - I burn a lot of my assemblage and collage work. I use chemicals to patinate metals, aerosal sprays to preserve my pieces. Resins, oil paints, turpentine and paint remover...they are all harmful to the <em>respiratory system.</em><br /><em></em><br />So, guys let me caution you...when you use questionable materials, either in your own work or the art you do with the grandkids, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">ALWAYS USE A MASK AND ADEQUATE VENTILATION!!.....IT MATTERS!!<br /></span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SrWOc6ynRGI/AAAAAAAAAcI/cCavJoM5lmg/s1600-h/IMG_1242.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383365557060322402" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SrWOc6ynRGI/AAAAAAAAAcI/cCavJoM5lmg/s200/IMG_1242.JPG" /></a> <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Taylor with mask and gloves...he's ready to create!!</span><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Oh, and of course cool, protective eye wear. </span><br /><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">There are so many fabulous art materials to work with, I am now taking classes in <strong>drawing </strong>and <strong>watercolor</strong>...although I may never be able to completely substitute fire for water I have found a wonderful local teacher and hope this is an opportunity to turn <em>lemons into lemonade</em> and expand on the art I produce. I have completed some new works for local art shows and have not stopped working with the grandkids on their own art. I look forward to sharing lots of interesting <strong>ideas</strong> and <strong>kid projects</strong> with you over the next few months. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span></div><div></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><div><br />Here is a cool idea for displaying the <strong>rowdies</strong> art. If you are like me the front of your refrigerator is jam packed with art. One day I was looking for wall space to hang more kid's art....couldn't find any so I started tacking it to the ceiling of my studio.....the kid's absolutely love it!! If you don't have a studio ceiling a hall ceiling is a great place for it too...or try a spare bedroom, especially if it's the one the <strong>rowdies </strong>sleep in when they stay the night. They will love drifting off to sleep while staring at their own little <em>masterpieces.</em><br /></div><em></em></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-32176753286475702192009-07-20T13:12:00.000-07:002009-10-15T17:43:27.957-07:00So many stuffed animals, so little time!!<span style="font-family:courier new;">Sarah, my 11 year old granddaughter from Arkansas, spent a week with me recently. She adores doing arts and crafts as much as I do, maybe even more.<br /><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SmTYuOrxqBI/AAAAAAAAAbo/3C00cpihqnI/s1600-h/sarahallstuffs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 164px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360647745205020690" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SmTYuOrxqBI/AAAAAAAAAbo/3C00cpihqnI/s200/sarahallstuffs.jpg" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Sarah with her new collection of creatures.<br /></span></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />Everyday we did some kind of project. I taught her to use my sewing machine and together we created a menagerie of cool stuffed creatures.<br /><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SmTYWmoBegI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/15oJMOYdGAg/s1600-h/sarahswemach.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360647339314870786" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SmTYWmoBegI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/15oJMOYdGAg/s200/sarahswemach.jpg" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Sarah, concentrating on her stitching!!</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />All it really requires is a whole bunch of <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">stuffing material</span>, plenty of <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">old clothes </span>to cut up and a few <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">socks.</span> Sarah made up a lot of her creatures by drawing them on the material with chalk.<br /><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SmTYekZ5GkI/AAAAAAAAAbY/viFnIxxAftc/s1600-h/chalkjeans.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 126px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360647476157684290" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SmTYekZ5GkI/AAAAAAAAAbY/viFnIxxAftc/s200/chalkjeans.jpg" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Chalked mermaid.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />She also looked through one of my favorite books on stuffed animals, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Plush-O-Rama</span> by <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Linda Kopp</span>, and based some of her creature designs on those she liked from Linda's book. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">That same week <a href="http://favecrafts.com/">FaveCrafts</a> asked me to submit a craft to their website, this gave me the idea to interview Sarah as a guest blogger and find out how she feels about creativity.</span><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SmTYh2uHJbI/AAAAAAAAAbg/3T15KF3QWIA/s1600-h/sarahstuffing.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 129px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360647532613936562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SmTYh2uHJbI/AAAAAAAAAbg/3T15KF3QWIA/s200/sarahstuffing.jpg" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Stuffing a creature.</span></div><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: boldfont-family:courier new;" >Here's what she had to say.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">RG:</span> What are your favorite colors?</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sarah: </span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Green, blue and purple.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">RG:</span> Do you have a favorite art project?</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sarah:</span> <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Probably stuffed animals, because I got to learn to use a sewing machine.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">RG:</span> What is your favorite part of being in the art studio?</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sarah:</span> <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">So many possibilities of what you can do, looking around at everything.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">RG:</span> What inspires you?</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sarah:</span> <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Pictures in magazines for drawing; for stuffed animals just seeing them all in my room.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">RG:</span> What do you think is the most exciting part of a new project?</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sarah:</span> <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Watching it all unfold and come together.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">RG:</span> Which stuffed animal is your favorite and how did you come up with the name.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sarah:</span> <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">My favorites are Polly and Molly, I picked Polly because it's a fun name and reminds me of pink, I picked Molly because it rhymes with Polly.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SmTYyeQ4U6I/AAAAAAAAAbw/RCeVB63e1eQ/s1600-h/sarahfavs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 130px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360647818106655650" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SmTYyeQ4U6I/AAAAAAAAAbw/RCeVB63e1eQ/s200/sarahfavs.jpg" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Sarah, Polly and Molly.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Thank you Sarah, we had a great time crafting!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Click over to FaveCrafts website to see my latest project called <a href="http://www.favecrafts.com/crafting-with-kids/Bling-Bouquet">Bling Bouquet.</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-71277437111806737992009-06-23T16:18:00.000-07:002009-10-15T17:44:09.709-07:00Trip to Maine<span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The coast of Maine is beautiful.</span> I just returned from Lubec, Maine... the easternmost point in the United States. I have a good friend who owns a cabin there, it sits across from the Lubec Channel, and is very close to the very picturesque <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Quoddy Lighthouse</span>.<br /><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SkFoGsL0quI/AAAAAAAAAaY/My_fiudusZY/s1600-h/dtlighthouse.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350672296442112738" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SkFoGsL0quI/AAAAAAAAAaY/My_fiudusZY/s200/dtlighthouse.jpg" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Dylan and Taylor in front of Quoddy Lighthouse.<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:courier new;">It was a real treat to get away from the near 100 degree weather we are having in Texas. I took a couple of the grandkids with me..(ask me about road trips with grandkids)!!<br /><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SkFoTvPd_EI/AAAAAAAAAao/YR5C-j1nGak/s1600-h/rustygolf.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350672520601009218" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SkFoTvPd_EI/AAAAAAAAAao/YR5C-j1nGak/s200/rustygolf.jpg" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Rusty, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">not </span>admiring the beautiful view of the Porcupine Islands as he stands on Cadillac Mountain in the Arcadia National Park...but yearning to play the golf course he can see from the mountain, he played it the next day. </span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />My husband, Rusty, and I survived,(and so did the kids); we had a really good time seeing another part of the country.</span><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SkFoPkh0i6I/AAAAAAAAAag/ZaRllAWuGZ4/s1600-h/taylortree.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350672449005718434" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SkFoPkh0i6I/AAAAAAAAAag/ZaRllAWuGZ4/s200/taylortree.jpg" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Taylor standing on the roots of this wonderful old tree on Sand Beach in Arcadia National Park.<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:courier new;">My next trip is to Arkansas for Rusty's family reunion and a visit with the grandkids in Arkansas. Hoping to get back to art making in July. </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:courier new;" >My how time flies!!! </span><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SkFoYIBBn8I/AAAAAAAAAaw/vk85KkYjgyk/s1600-h/mainebridge.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350672595970793410" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SkFoYIBBn8I/AAAAAAAAAaw/vk85KkYjgyk/s200/mainebridge.jpg" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">My idea of heaven!!<br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-27259201809449393992009-06-04T16:49:00.000-07:002009-06-04T18:46:25.198-07:00Flipped out!!!<span style="font-family:courier new;">As a </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >mixed media</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> artist I play with a lot of</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" > recycled </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">objects. I have tons of flip flops in all sizes, each grandkid leaves at least one pair here every summer.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SihvSMThweI/AAAAAAAAAYo/eG3HLxRZ9Nc/s1600-h/girlsflipflop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SihvSMThweI/AAAAAAAAAYo/eG3HLxRZ9Nc/s320/girlsflipflop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343643316206551522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lauryn and Lyndsey painting their silly shoes.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />A couple of summers ago I decided to make a little art with these leftovers. The </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">have been anxious to make their own </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >silly shoe art</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> so this past week a few of them came over to</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > Rowdy Grandmas</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> and we made an <span style="font-weight: bold;">"altered flip flop"</span> which can be hung on the wall.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sihvul4_CoI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/CH-s6RBJFlY/s1600-h/lyndslaurflop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sihvul4_CoI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/CH-s6RBJFlY/s320/lyndslaurflop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343643804110883458" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Lyndsey's flame shoe, Lauryn's buzzin' bee shoe.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />For this craft all you need to begin is a flip flop - from there you can add anything you want to it. They come in really cool colors, so you don't even have to paint them. They can be very simple, glue on an image from a magazine, a color book or a piece or two of old costume jewelry.<br /><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SihvLJV9UWI/AAAAAAAAAYY/1uUfapAY-oQ/s1600-h/bareflipflops.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SihvLJV9UWI/AAAAAAAAAYY/1uUfapAY-oQ/s320/bareflipflops.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343643195152355682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Colorful flip flops.</span><br /><br /></div> <span style="font-family:courier new;">My </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> jump at the chance to paint anything, so we painted our flip flops. If the kids seem a little stumped about what to put on their shoe it's time for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >brainstorming.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> What is their favorite insect, what is their favorite thing to do, do they have a favorite doll or sport!!! Sometimes coming up with funny ideas is the best part of the project, it gets them talking and thinking.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SihvOomRgTI/AAAAAAAAAYg/jwuEWO3V5xQ/s1600-h/gessoflops.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SihvOomRgTI/AAAAAAAAAYg/jwuEWO3V5xQ/s320/gessoflops.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343643255081894194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Shoes with white primer paint</span>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Afer a little </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >brainstorming </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">Lauryn decided since she had</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> a friend who likes </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >bees</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> her silly shoe would be all about <span style="font-weight: bold;">bees</span>.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">Taylor decided his dad likes to rides motorcycles so he would make his look like a </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >road</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">, and finish it off with tires he drew on paper.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Lyndsey decided her shoe was <span style="font-weight: bold;">goin' down in a maze of</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >flames</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">...and...well.... who knows why Lyndsey decides anything.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SihvpH5uq2I/AAAAAAAAAZI/9-w5Q3dAblk/s1600-h/taylorflop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 104px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SihvpH5uq2I/AAAAAAAAAZI/9-w5Q3dAblk/s200/taylorflop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343643710161595234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Taylor's road hog shoe.</span><br /><br /></div></div></div> <span style="font-family:courier new;">All of the flip flips were first painted with a white primer or gesso. For Lauryn's </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >bee</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> we applied painters tape in a stripe pattern. The untaped area was painted yellow. Once that paint dried we removed the tape and painted the remaining areas black. It already looked like a </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >bee!</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SihvXSHxNLI/AAAAAAAAAYw/6URW7WMOVNE/s1600-h/laurfloptape.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SihvXSHxNLI/AAAAAAAAAYw/6URW7WMOVNE/s200/laurfloptape.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343643403667190962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Taped shoe, ready for bee stripes.</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;">She then drew pictures of </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >bees,</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> colored them in with colored pencil, cut them out and glued them to her flip flop with hot glue.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sihxaxsa8nI/AAAAAAAAAZg/gY-143P_CUM/s1600-h/bees.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sihxaxsa8nI/AAAAAAAAAZg/gY-143P_CUM/s200/bees.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343645662705283698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lauryn's bees, so cute!! </span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Bees</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> like flowers, so she hot glued a big flower to her shoe. We could have stopped there but we decided to take some wire, coil it around a pencil to shape it and add a bead to the end for antennas. The wire very easily slips into the rubber of the shoe, so just poke the wire in where you want it.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SihveKZeUpI/AAAAAAAAAY4/O-6KRrYRA9s/s1600-h/flopantenna.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 188px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SihveKZeUpI/AAAAAAAAAY4/O-6KRrYRA9s/s200/flopantenna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343643521853051538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Wire for antenna, glued flower.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">For all the flip flop projects we sprayed the final, dried paint with a </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >clear acrylic apray</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> so the paint would be sure and stay on. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >A note of caution,</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> we sprayed Lyndsey's entire shoe with acrylic after we put the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >flames </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">on. Her </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >flames</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> were drawn on paper, thin cardboard would have been a better choice, the acrylic spray made the paper</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > flames </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">a little limp. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Lesson learned, on Lauryn and Taylor's silly shoe we sprayed the painted flip flop before applying the paper figures.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sihvibpt8TI/AAAAAAAAAZA/XS7jOcDSWF0/s1600-h/hangerstyles.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sihvibpt8TI/AAAAAAAAAZA/XS7jOcDSWF0/s320/hangerstyles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343643595204063538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Two types of wire hangers.</span><br /><br /></div> <span style="font-family:courier new;">There are several ways to make hangers for the</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > "altered flip flip".<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >1. A length of wire <span style="font-weight: bold;">approx. 4" </span>length stuck into the top of the shoe in a loop fashion.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >2. A length of wire <span style="font-weight: bold;">approx. 2"</span> length with each end bent up slightly and stuck into the back of the shoe, the best alternative if you don't want the hanger to show.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-style: italic;">3. Just poke a hole in the back of the shoe near the top and hang it on a nail</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >So, the next time you are looking for a lazy day, summer craft just pull off your shoe and get to work!!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-79751615163789848292009-05-29T12:10:00.000-07:002009-05-29T14:06:20.334-07:00Sarah's Tshirt tote.<span style="font-family:courier new;">We've talked about how much kids love getting their hands dirty, and making sure the <span style="font-weight: bold;">rowdies</span> wear an old Tshirt or overshirt while they are creating really messy art,<span style="font-style: italic;"> (it's all messy!).</span> How about incorporating the two...when my granddaughter Sarah visited from Arkansas we decided to take one of these old Tshirts and sew up her very own tote bag.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SiA7_a4XrFI/AAAAAAAAAXg/5l5MlbbrJsM/s1600-h/stote2use.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SiA7_a4XrFI/AAAAAAAAAXg/5l5MlbbrJsM/s320/stote2use.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341335118794959954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sarah's tote bag.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">This is not a new idea, I have seen lots of these done in various ways...just <span style="font-style: italic;">google</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">how to sew a Tshirt tote</span>, and you find all kinds of projects. I like doing these because they are such a great way to recycle and everybody has an old Tshirt.</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SiA_W815HnI/AAAAAAAAAX4/yPdeZ_mWK48/s1600-h/totechalk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SiA_W815HnI/AAAAAAAAAX4/yPdeZ_mWK48/s320/totechalk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341338821583249010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Yardstick and chalk marking.</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;">First thing to decide is how big you want the bag. Measure it out on the front of the Tshirt with a <span style="font-weight: bold;">yardstick</span>,<span style="font-style: italic;">(easy for the rowdies to</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">use)</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">chalk</span>, you may also want to measure and <span style="font-weight: bold;">chalk</span> the back. Sarah cut the front first,layed this piece down on the back and cut around it. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rowdies</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">love to work with chalk, they love tools of all kinds</span> ...so of course they want to do the cutting. If you have a rotary cutter introduce the grandkids to this handy dandy little item...they are amazed!!!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SiBKNDcY79I/AAAAAAAAAYI/-gxHEXZvhAI/s1600-h/strap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 100px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SiBKNDcY79I/AAAAAAAAAYI/-gxHEXZvhAI/s320/strap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341350746184544210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sewn strap, use a chopstick to turn it.</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;">The straps are very easy as well, make them as long or short as you want by cutting strips from the Tshirt. When you have cut the strips of material place the right sides together and sew a seam. Turn the strap right side out, <span style="font-style: italic;">(a chop stick works really well for helping little hands work the strap back to the right side.)</span></span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Sarah did a lot of the sewing of the straight seams on her bag, I sewed the straps on for her since it was a rather small area and had to be backstiched.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;">I am not going to go into detail on how to sew the bag, again you can <span style="font-style: italic;">google</span> tons of ideas for sewing it up. The main thing I wanted to share was the way she chose to decorate it. We had a blast painting her hands in bright colors of acrylic paint and smacking handprints all over her tote, front and back! She then used dimensional paint to write her name on both sides of the bag. (We </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">painted the Tshirt before we sewed it, it might be better to paint it after.)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SiA8WOl-slI/AAAAAAAAAXo/Bigr7XdRsq8/s1600-h/sarahhand_edited-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SiA8WOl-slI/AAAAAAAAAXo/Bigr7XdRsq8/s320/sarahhand_edited-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341335510633591378" border="0" />(</a><span style="font-style: italic;">Handpainting.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">If you have a favorite Tshirt with a cool logo just be sure you cut your bag to incorporate the logo, additional paint may be added...<span style="font-style: italic;">cause they have to paint! </span> When Sarah wanted a second, smaller bag we cut pieces from other old Tshirts and sewed them together before we made our tote. For this bag we used an old sweatpant drawstring for the handle, you could also use shoelaces or ribbon for handles.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SiA_SnLKYQI/AAAAAAAAAXw/OrqY6_C8-a4/s1600-h/ssmtote.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SiA_SnLKYQI/AAAAAAAAAXw/OrqY6_C8-a4/s320/ssmtote.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341338747047403778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Scraps of Tshirts bag.</span><br /><br /></div> <span style="font-family:courier new;">If the grandboys don't want to make a tote bag have them handprint a plain Tshirt they can wear, make a pillow to sleep on, or do a simple collage on construction paper. I do have a grandson who loves to sew and he has made several pillows, and silly creatures from old clothes.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SiA_dBtJ_eI/AAAAAAAAAYA/sjY-uX5oWg4/s1600-h/moocow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SiA_dBtJ_eI/AAAAAAAAAYA/sjY-uX5oWg4/s320/moocow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341338925967998434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Moo Cow design.<br />Acrylic paint on a pair of jeans, may also be done on a Tshirt.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Take a peek next week, I have two of the grandgirls with me for a few days and we are going to make one on our favorite projects......Altered Flip Flops!!!</span><br /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-56697387138273119582009-05-19T16:26:00.000-07:002009-10-15T18:26:24.740-07:00Thrift store recycling.<span style="font-family:courier new;">Sorry dear readers I admit to having been in a technology slump the last few weeks.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Honestly, I didn't realize it had been so long since I had posted.<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> "My, how time flies when you are procrastinating".<br /><br /></span><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ShNG_edV0yI/AAAAAAAAAV4/e88mEIdkY_o/s1600-h/P1010015.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 156px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337688039686001442" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ShNG_edV0yI/AAAAAAAAAV4/e88mEIdkY_o/s200/P1010015.jpg" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> Mixed Media group, hard at work!! </span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">I have been involved in creating some of my own art and have attended a few classes as well. I belong to a local Mixed Media group. A lot of the members of this group are either </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Rowdy Grandmas</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> or </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Rowdy Moms </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">and are always giving me great ideas for arting and crafting. At the meeting last Saturday we all made jean purses from our old jeans, (the ones I brought were too small for me, a few claimed theirs were too large...yeah, right!!)<br /><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ShNGwub10QI/AAAAAAAAAVg/sKSB4bsMIHE/s1600-h/P1010003+copy%282%29.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 199px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337687786276638978" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ShNGwub10QI/AAAAAAAAAVg/sKSB4bsMIHE/s200/P1010003+copy%282%29.jpg" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The beginnings of my jean purse!!</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;">During the meeting we spent some time talking about using recycled materials in our art, such as the jeans. Mary Lynn, a fellow </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Rowdy Grandma</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> showed us some items she has picked up at </span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Goodwill.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> She purchases old pictures sold at thrift stores and reuses the canvas and frame for her own work</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ShNG6B8NyMI/AAAAAAAAAVw/BPKeuQpiO68/s1600-h/P1010006.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337687946131523778" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ShNG6B8NyMI/AAAAAAAAAVw/BPKeuQpiO68/s200/P1010006.jpg" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Carla's purse with a decal she made of her dog and cat...so cute!!!</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;">What a great recycling idea for all artists. In an older post I talked about taking the grandkids on trips to the thrift store and encouraging them to find something to use in their own art. I had not thought of looking through the old pictures..... kids love actually putting their work on <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">canvas</span>....this way it is already framed and if they like they can paint the frame as well!!</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:courier new;" > </span><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">Remember bean and macaroni art? My next trip with the </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> to </span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Goodwill</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> we will seek out a small framed canvas to fill with dried beans and macaroni...it gives them a chance to </span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:courier new;" >play with their food. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">While at </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">the thrift store</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> pick up an old Tshirt and make a tote bag. My granddaughter Sarah and I did this a few months ago, next post I will share her Tshirt tote bag with you.<br /><br />Please share your thrift store finds with me...I am always happy to have new things to search for when I make a trip to <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Goodwill, </span>and would love to post some of your finds.<br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-87569617033130877332009-05-01T13:25:00.000-07:002009-05-27T10:42:31.555-07:00Chalkboard paint.<span style="font-family:courier new;">I love <span style="font-weight: bold;">chalkboard paint</span>, it can turn just about anything into a message board or drawing center.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SftejUPRUMI/AAAAAAAAAS4/5znFHoPw8Ss/s1600-h/hmoto.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SftejUPRUMI/AAAAAAAAAS4/5znFHoPw8Ss/s320/hmoto.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330958544744304834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lauryn's jar.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">This is a really fun paint to use on the wall in a child’s room or on a piece of furniture.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">The <span style="font-weight: bold;">rowdies</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>painted a storage chest I have in my studio and spend a lot of time drawing pictures and leaving messages there. We love chalkboard paint so much we decided to try it out on a few other projects.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SfteqVynGKI/AAAAAAAAATA/T7_wX9bCw8s/s1600-h/tlaustudio.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SfteqVynGKI/AAAAAAAAATA/T7_wX9bCw8s/s320/tlaustudio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330958665420052642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Taylor and Lauryn in the studio.</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Old shoe boxes and jars </span>are wonderful storage items, if you paint them with chalkboard paint you can list almost everything you put into them…and if you change your mind, just erase and start your <span style="font-style: italic;">stash list</span> all over again.<br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A few things to keep in mind when you paint on these surfaces.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">1. You will need at <span style="font-weight: bold;">least 2 coats,</span> and it is best to let it dry for at least an hour before writing on it.(<span style="font-style: italic;">I sometimes put a coat of gesso</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">on first as a primer)</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">2. Since you are crafting with the <span style="font-weight: bold;">rowdies </span>remember to have an old hair dryer ready so they can dry between coats…<span style="font-style: italic;">they adore this step in any painting project.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">3. Brush on each coat in a different direction for a smoother coverage. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">4. Wax paper is better than newspaper as a surface to paint on …Lyndsey turned her freshly painted box lid over on newspaper and it stuck…<span style="font-weight: bold;">big time!!!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">5. You may use bristle brushes, this paint does wash out with water. I prefer inexpensive foam brushes that can be thrown away.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sfte5aIoYyI/AAAAAAAAATI/RMSSJu0yq8I/s1600-h/lynsmess.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sfte5aIoYyI/AAAAAAAAATI/RMSSJu0yq8I/s320/lynsmess.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330958924284191522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lyndsey's box top.</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;">The coolest project we came up with is applying the chalkboard paint to denim.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SftfAY6_1GI/AAAAAAAAATQ/kMAnObMJuoQ/s1600-h/jeans.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SftfAY6_1GI/AAAAAAAAATQ/kMAnObMJuoQ/s320/jeans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330959044217656418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Denim patch. Approx 5 1/2''h x 4"w</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"> I cut up a pair of my old jeans; we made a pin out of one scrap and a big patch from the other.<br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SftfHy9LKhI/AAAAAAAAATg/AmuOWF4gPXI/s1600-h/gessojeans.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SftfHy9LKhI/AAAAAAAAATg/AmuOWF4gPXI/s320/gessojeans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330959171465194002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Denim pin with gesso.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />A coat of gesso was applied to the small denim piece used for the pin.</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">When dry we applied 2 coats of chalkboard paint, letting each coat dry.</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Since the pin is a small area we used <span style="font-weight: bold;">chalk pencils</span> which you can purchase at any craft store, they come in a variety of colors.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SftfNBy-LTI/AAAAAAAAATo/EolCq3RfF-0/s1600-h/flowerjean.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SftfNBy-LTI/AAAAAAAAATo/EolCq3RfF-0/s320/flowerjean.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330959261348277554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Denim pin. Approx. 2''h x 1 1/2"w </span> </div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />Attach a <span style="font-weight: bold;">safety pin </span>to the material and it becomes a really cute pin. This piece was sprayed with a <span style="font-weight: bold;">matte acrylic spray</span> so the chalk would not rub off. Be careful with the spray so the picture is not too diluted.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SftfSCNGmxI/AAAAAAAAATw/y0vmAGdmWv4/s1600-h/jeanmatte.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SftfSCNGmxI/AAAAAAAAATw/y0vmAGdmWv4/s320/jeanmatte.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330959347357227794" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Denim pin with matte spray.</span> </div><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">The big patch was <span style="font-weight: bold;">not </span>coated with gesso, we applied 3 coats of chalkboard paint. This piece is large enough to use regular chalk.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SftfD6dIO8I/AAAAAAAAATY/lIsHGw43PEo/s1600-h/stickjeans.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SftfD6dIO8I/AAAAAAAAATY/lIsHGw43PEo/s320/stickjeans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330959104758791106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Big patch drawing!!</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />This is a great way to leave yourself a message or even use as a name tag. If you decide to try this project with the grandkids leave me a comment about how you decided to use it. I would love to hear from other <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rowdy Grandmas!!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-83734764259840482122009-04-20T17:52:00.000-07:002009-04-20T19:22:53.092-07:00Accidental Art<span style="font-family:courier new;">Something for you to ponder Grandma...learn to recognize art in the most simple, unusual and sometimes irritating moments. Strive to impart this attitude to your grandchildren (and your adult children). As a mom I remember getting upset sometimes when there was an accidental spill, or clothes were ruined by a good day of unexpected play. It's normal, and you can bet most parents still get bugged when the kids make a big mess. One of my jobs as </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Rowdy Grandma </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">is to not get bugged, but to pat them on the head and say "</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >that's okay, everybody makes mistakes.....now what does that spilled milk look like to you, maybe a cloud, or a giraffe"??</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Se0o0dangCI/AAAAAAAAASg/BWVxOr4vRX4/s1600-h/studiohands2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Se0o0dangCI/AAAAAAAAASg/BWVxOr4vRX4/s320/studiohands2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326958815963742242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">rowdy handprints</span><br /><br /></div> <span style="font-family:courier new;">A perfect example happens all the time in my studio..</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >.spilled paint. </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">The </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">and I now call it </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >accidental art</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> and we have fun with it. </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">We have spilled so much paint on my floor it has now become a giant canvas. There are a few masterpieces we don't paint over but otherwise any of the kids can just pick up a paint brush and paint the floor.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Se0ombAAhnI/AAAAAAAAASQ/2S1ka_C6rBM/s1600-h/studioman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Se0ombAAhnI/AAAAAAAAASQ/2S1ka_C6rBM/s320/studioman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326958574797096562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Dylan's studio boy </span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />When they spend time in the studio without me I am always pleasantly surprised at all the amazing things they come up with. The best are often the sweet notes they paint to </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Rowdy Grandma,</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> sometimes it brings tears to my eyes.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Se0os03mgYI/AAAAAAAAASY/qZWIRKlKHSA/s1600-h/studiogirl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Se0os03mgYI/AAAAAAAAASY/qZWIRKlKHSA/s320/studiogirl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326958684820373890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">studio girl</span><br /><br /></div> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Now I know you may not have a floor you want painted. My studio was once a garage and I have a concrete floor, </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >(by the way I love concrete floors... four rooms in my house are painted concrete). </span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> But take it from me you can also paint a carpeted floor. I know this because when Dylan was younger he was painting his model car in the sunroom and dropped the paint jar. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > Wow,</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> the pattern it made on the carpet was <span style="font-weight: bold;">awesome</span>...and he really dreaded telling me about this major spill....talk about trouble from grandma!! He and I ended up making the most of it by taking some of the other paints and trickling them in similar patterns all over the carpet...he had created </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >accidental art.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Se0ohnBZR_I/AAAAAAAAASI/mm3Sqopcy1E/s1600-h/studioflag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Se0ohnBZR_I/AAAAAAAAASI/mm3Sqopcy1E/s320/studioflag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326958492124792818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Heart America!!</span><br /><br /></div> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Point being, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Rowdy Grandma, </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">try to lighten up and be </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >the grandma who doesn't want to grow up</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">!!!...and have fun with the grandkids!!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Se0o-Ke3GGI/AAAAAAAAASw/YR5elvYicwg/s1600-h/taylordriveway.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Se0o-Ke3GGI/AAAAAAAAASw/YR5elvYicwg/s320/taylordriveway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326958982679959650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Taylor's major paint spill on the driveway.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Chalkboard paint</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> is another really great paint for kids to use, next time I will show you a few projects you can do with the <span style="font-weight: bold;">rowdies </span>using this great product.<br /><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-67853699523644126822009-04-09T17:34:00.000-07:002009-04-15T07:13:24.275-07:00Planting tiny seeds.<span style="font-family:courier new;">There is a wonderful little set of books called </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Elf-Help</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >. </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">I picked up one many years ago in a gift shop. The title is </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Keep-life-simple-therapy</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">. I refer back to this book very often. A quote I would like to share with you is one which reminds me of the difference we can make in the lives of our grandchildren...after all they are like the seeds we have planted in our life. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">"Think small. Planting tiny seeds in the small space given to you can change the world - or at least your view of it". </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Linus Mundy</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">E</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >ven if I can not change the world I can change the lives of those around me.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">I would like to thank</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > Vibrant Nation </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">for honoring me with the inclusion of my garden stake article in their fabulous website for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Baby Boomers</span>. If you have never seen this website you need to check it out, lots of good information.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);font-family:'Times','serif';font-size:11;" ><a href="http://www.vibrantnation.com/conversations/4157-garden-stakes-a-fun-spring-gardening-project-to-share-with-your-grandchildren/" target="_blank">http://www.vibrantnation.com/conversations/4157-garden-stakes-a-fun-spring-gardening-project-to-share-with-your-grandchildren/</a></span></p> <p class="EC_MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);font-family:'Times','serif';font-size:11;" > </span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-46353346022609010872009-03-31T11:08:00.000-07:002009-03-31T15:21:04.466-07:00Monster root!!<span style="font-family:courier new;">We have had some big rains in </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Texas </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">lately. When the rain pours the creek behind my house becomes a </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >raging </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">river. The coolest thing about this is a lot of stuff flows down this river. As the water recedes it leaves behind all kinds of junk, this is where I pick up most of my wood scraps.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SdJhi59LFMI/AAAAAAAAARg/Bj54EVvbkm4/s1600-h/cedarstump.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SdJhi59LFMI/AAAAAAAAARg/Bj54EVvbkm4/s320/cedarstump.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319421362178823362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">cedar stump</span><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />This past week the grandkids from Arkansas visted us. While we were scavenging the creek we ran across these wonderful cedar stumps with roots.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SdJhHq20FlI/AAAAAAAAARQ/L61fuPIhL0w/s1600-h/cedargesso.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SdJhHq20FlI/AAAAAAAAARQ/L61fuPIhL0w/s320/cedargesso.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319420894269150802" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;"> cedar stump with gesso</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I know I have been a good influence on the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> when we all have the same idea.....</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >hey, let's turn</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >this into a monster face!!!</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;"> So we did. First step was to coat the wood with gesso. The gesso coat makes the paint brighter.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" ></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SdJgtxjKoHI/AAAAAAAAAQw/LiCAMbsjqo4/s1600-h/cedar3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SdJgtxjKoHI/AAAAAAAAAQw/LiCAMbsjqo4/s320/cedar3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319420449389191282" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;"> Sarah's monster.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Each kid then painted their idea of a monster on one side of the stump using acrylic paint, it became a </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >three-headed monster.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SdJgyhkPl4I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/HhAJ4v84V1s/s1600-h/cedar2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SdJgyhkPl4I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/HhAJ4v84V1s/s320/cedar2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319420530998089602" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;"> Marshall's monster.<br /></span> <br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">When the paint dried we applied a thick coat of varnish to protect the paint.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SdJg411bMFI/AAAAAAAAARA/0-fFN4tfKFM/s1600-h/cedar1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SdJg411bMFI/AAAAAAAAARA/0-fFN4tfKFM/s320/cedar1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319420639518077010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Faith's monster.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >And, oh yeah I have two more of these to play with. I guess I will paint my own monster face!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-67290589249246610702009-03-24T14:10:00.000-07:002009-03-24T19:35:56.001-07:00I'm a weiner!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SclMmahwIeI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/OxQDwCxWGLU/s1600-h/kreativblogger.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 170px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SclMmahwIeI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/OxQDwCxWGLU/s320/kreativblogger.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316865057927209442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I was lucky enough to get this Kreativ Blogger award from Tina Morton <a href="http://thingsandplacesforkids.blogspot.com/">http://thingsandplacesforkids.blogspot.com/</a> Part of the game is to name 7 things about yourself and name seven other people that deserve the same award.<br /><br />Seven things about me:<br />1. I love my bulldog, Cinnabun....even though she snores.<br />2. I have a pet snake, Diana. I use her skin in my art projects..and share with my other crafty friends.<br />3. I have a pet rat named Spunkers who makes nests from snake skin and steals my pencils.<br />4. I recently retired from American Airlines.<br />5. I love wine and sometimes do wine tastings for friends.<br />6. I have four tatoos.<br />7. I in some way burn almost all of my art.<br /><br />Seven people that deserve this award:<br /><br />Amy Huff <a href="http://lonestarart.blogspot.com/">http://lonestarart.blogspot.com/</a><br />Mary Perlow <a href="http://colormary.blogspot.com/%20">http://colormary.blogspot.com/ </a><br />Livia Hajovsky <a href="http://livia-theartjunkie.blogspot.com/">http://livia-theartjunkie.blogspot.com/</a><br />Mad Mary Davenport has three fabulous blogs out there<br /> <a href="http://itsmarysmadness.blogspot.com/">http://itsmarysmadness.blogspot.com/</a><br /> <a href="http://whatsinyourdrawers.blogspot.com/">http://whatsinyourdrawers.blogspot.com/</a><br /> <a href="http://whatthehellwednesday.blogspot.com/">http://whatthehellwednesday.blogspot.com/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-91667257551275019892009-03-19T19:06:00.000-07:002009-03-31T15:20:19.116-07:00It's a stake up!!!<span style="font-family:courier new;">Kids adore gardening. They love to plant seeds, they love to wear garden gloves, and they really love garden tools!! So if you are planning a garden make a point to get the grandkids involved.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">I will tell you this <span style="font-style: italic;">(from personal experience)</span>....depending on the age of the kid, planting seeds can take a really, really long time. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Patience</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Rowdy Grandma</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >patience!!</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">If you plant seeds you probably need plant markers...I have a tough time remembering what we planted where...<span style="font-style: italic;">the older I get the tougher it gets!!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ScMBMr2EOHI/AAAAAAAAAPI/B69BXVgDKHs/s1600-h/herb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ScMBMr2EOHI/AAAAAAAAAPI/B69BXVgDKHs/s320/herb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315093302666868850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Here's one stuck next to some dill and cilantro...we call him Herb!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">The </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">and I have come up with a great little craft to do in the spring when we plant our garden.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ScMC3JgTbwI/AAAAAAAAAPw/KU13_BpTiD8/s1600-h/rosemary.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ScMC3JgTbwI/AAAAAAAAAPw/KU13_BpTiD8/s320/rosemary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315095131694788354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Rosemary smells heavenly!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Plant markers from old scrap wood.</span></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> The only other thing you need for this project is paint. The markers we have made are from six inches to a couple of feet in height. If you make them small in height they are really cute in potted plants.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">This is another craft where <span style="font-weight: bold;">imagination</span> is key. The stakes may be painted only in bright colors with the name of the plant on it, or they may like the idea of painting their own plant on the stake.</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Kids love painting faces so they may want to paint a person or their own face on the plant marker.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ScMBmXpqqcI/AAAAAAAAAPo/S5q9KnLXt1c/s1600-h/lyndsstake2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ScMBmXpqqcI/AAAAAAAAAPo/S5q9KnLXt1c/s320/lyndsstake2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315093743922751938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">People plant marker!!<br /><br /></span>Another cool idea for these sticks is to paint the face and name of everyone in the family...grandma, grandpa, mom and dad and kids and place them all together in the garden to create a family tree.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ScMBauCN92I/AAAAAAAAAPY/DilpQo1Hf90/s1600-h/lynsstake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ScMBauCN92I/AAAAAAAAAPY/DilpQo1Hf90/s320/lynsstake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315093543772878690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Lyndsey's people plant marker!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >It is a good idea to spray them with an acrylic sealer when dry, they last longer in the garden.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >As an alternative to scrap wood you could also purchase a strip of molding or other type of wood from the hardware store and cut it into strips.<br /><br />After they are painted try wrapping them with wire and adding beads and other trinkets.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ScMBgn19SgI/AAAAAAAAAPg/fKxY4vPowzI/s1600-h/oldstakes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ScMBgn19SgI/AAAAAAAAAPg/fKxY4vPowzI/s320/oldstakes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315093645190056450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >These have been in my garden for years!!!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/ScMBgn19SgI/AAAAAAAAAPg/fKxY4vPowzI/s1600-h/oldstakes.jpg"><br /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-81810078161867043742009-03-11T14:05:00.000-07:002009-03-12T15:54:43.496-07:00"Make my Day"<span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Random acts of kindness</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">....what a cool concept!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">As a </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Rowdy Grandma</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> I introduced the grandkids to a project which allows them to pass on a little kindness. I call it </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >"make my day",</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> (I always had a thing for Clint Eastwood).....anyway it relates to an article I read a few years ago about a movement called</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" > Found Art</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">The idea is to create small works of art and leave them in public places in the hopes when found by a stranger it will </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >"make their day"</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: courier new;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sbg-PeBBfNI/AAAAAAAAAOY/6GwXMAF9wZY/s1600-h/materials.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sbg-PeBBfNI/AAAAAAAAAOY/6GwXMAF9wZY/s320/materials.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312064195959815378" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" > simple materials</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">One of the easiest projects we do for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >"make my day"</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> is also a recycle project. It is simple, simple, simple...all you need is a </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >brown paper bag, </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">a</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > glue stick</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> and an </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >old magazine. </span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> You don't even have to have scissors. I love the effect of tearing my bag, as well as the images I tear out of the magazines. Most kids will like the idea of tearing the materials...but there will be a few who really prefer scissors...either something in their little minds just can't handle the randomness of tearing or they like tools!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">You simply tear the bag into strips the size of a bookmark and find wonderful, colorful pictures from magazines to glue to the paper bag bookmark. Look for fun, inspirational words to tear out and add to the bookmark. If you use white school glue to glue on your pictures you may also add an overcoat of the glue to the finished bookmark, much like decoupage.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sbg-KI6pN_I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/-NdTJJ5hbD4/s1600-h/strips.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 272px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sbg-KI6pN_I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/-NdTJJ5hbD4/s320/strips.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312064104396568562" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" > paper bag strips</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">The grandkids and I have added all kinds of extras, such as stamping and embossing powders...but even if you don't have a lot of crafting materials in the house you are able to come up with the simple items for this project. Using pens or crayolas to write words such as </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >"have a nice day"</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> is another option , if the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> aren't old enough to write words they may want to use the pens and crayolas for designs...</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >aka</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> scribbles. Construction paper is a nice addition if you want to frame the pictures on the bookmark.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sbg-WW0TraI/AAAAAAAAAOg/7tu31GlDAgo/s1600-h/3bkmarks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sbg-WW0TraI/AAAAAAAAAOg/7tu31GlDAgo/s320/3bkmarks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312064314286517666" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >First bookmark has a coat of white glue, the last bookmark has black construction paper.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">This is another good project for getting the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">to brainstorm. Ask them where they would like to leave their art. A supermarket shelf, a library table.....they will be delighted to help think up their special drop-off spots!! Plan a field trip and take them to the areas they want to visit with their art, it is also kind of a secret spy feeling ...leaving your art piece without being noticed....</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >.plus you giggle a lot. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Another option is to leave a note on the back explaining this is </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >"make my day"</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> art and if you find it please let us know. You can set up an email address just for the purpose of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >"make my day"</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> responses.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Please let me know what projects you come up with for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >"make my day "</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> art, I would love to post them.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-54741783013401195372009-03-02T16:08:00.000-08:002009-03-12T15:55:21.133-07:00A walk in the woods.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sax77dOjrZI/AAAAAAAAAN8/BMc30Rk8omY/s1600-h/IMG_0621.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sax77dOjrZI/AAAAAAAAAN8/BMc30Rk8omY/s320/IMG_0621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308754322151157138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I visited the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">in Arkansas this past week. They have recently moved into a wonderful home near Cabot, Arkansas. To my delight it was full of wooded areas with ponds and creeks; even an old delapidated house where I was able to collect some rusty metal and bottle caps, broken glass jars and strange nests left by <span style="font-style: italic;">who</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">knows what</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">kind of insect, </span><span>I guess it is a dirt dobber!!</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wonderful</span> material for my next mixed-media project.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sax7FMtf8DI/AAAAAAAAAN0/4IVNnSiM5GQ/s1600-h/dobberar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sax7FMtf8DI/AAAAAAAAAN0/4IVNnSiM5GQ/s320/dobberar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308753390004596786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">update.</span><span style="font-style: italic;">..ain't google wonderful...my dear spouse just told me these are pipe organ mud dauber wasps!!</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">Paula, my oldest was in the play, </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Steel Magnolias, </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">at the local dinner theater...by the way she was fabulous!! It was a little snowy and cold so I was only able to take one good walk through the woods but it too was fabulous. Woods and creeks are my favorite types of walks, I love the feeling of being deep in the woods and listening to the sound of the water......Sarah was good company and a good tour guide...thank you Sarah!! </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sax4Z1qBMBI/AAAAAAAAANc/2_ax2n6D57E/s1600-h/sarahwoods.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sax4Z1qBMBI/AAAAAAAAANc/2_ax2n6D57E/s320/sarahwoods.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308750446058352658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Oh...and who remembers Dearborn heaters, this was in the old house...I actually caught my housecoat on fire when I was a kid by standing too close to one of these!!!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sax4rbmfFpI/AAAAAAAAANs/_DUVpP-mIQk/s1600-h/dearborn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/Sax4rbmfFpI/AAAAAAAAANs/_DUVpP-mIQk/s320/dearborn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308750748301858450" border="0" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-48097055143465356002009-02-23T13:40:00.000-08:002009-02-24T16:54:23.232-08:00"Go outside and play"<span style="font-family:courier new;">"</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives.".</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">....</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >.Thomas Berry<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SaMeEtzT3gI/AAAAAAAAANQ/aDAu0JJ5r9w/s1600-h/butterfly2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SaMeEtzT3gI/AAAAAAAAANQ/aDAu0JJ5r9w/s320/butterfly2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306117852335693314" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;"> A swallowtail butterfly I raised from a pupa. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">While I enjoy crafting in the studio with the grandkids I also make sure we spend time together outdoors. Funny thing is not all my grandchildren like spending time outdoors.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">With all the computers, video games and the urbanization of our communities there is a new term being coined, "nature deficit disorder." A wonderful book about this trend was written by </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Richard Louv, </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">it is titled </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Last Child in the Woods</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">Most of us </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Rowdy Grandmas </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">grew up at a time when we either lived on farms or in wide-open spaces or one our relatives did.....so we had plenty of exposure to tree climbing .....and idle time to spend in our clubhouses nestled deep in the vines and bramble bushes in the woods near our homes.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">The natural world has a spiritual, calming effect on us. We need to feel the solitude, the wonder and the sun on our faces. But, think about it, constant contact and interaction is available to our grandkids.....can they stop texting long enough to look up at the clouds???......long enough to look out the car window???</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I am a grandma so I accept the moniker "old fogey" gladly when I ask the kids to put their </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Wii</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">, their </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >cellphone,</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> or their</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" > ipod </span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> down long enough to go outside with me to the creek behind our house and search for minnows, tadpoles and frogs.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SaMcf-G39SI/AAAAAAAAANI/K-UBIcKY9pQ/s1600-h/sunset+lake+VASSAR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SaMcf-G39SI/AAAAAAAAANI/K-UBIcKY9pQ/s320/sunset+lake+VASSAR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306116121545930018" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">No, this is not my creek...just a very peaceful picture.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Look at your own time spent with the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">and find ways to incorporate</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">time outdoors....even if you have to yell...<span style="font-weight: bold;">"go outside and play."</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-78026229843346717532009-02-16T16:07:00.000-08:002009-02-16T17:19:30.066-08:00Jeepers Creepers where'd you get those eyes???<span style="font-family:courier new;">One of the reasons my grandkids love the studio is because it is a happy place......in fact it's kind of a rule. When they get a little snippy with each other I remind them </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Rowdy Grandma's</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> studio is for laughing, creating and acting silly ...</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >there's no crying in crafting!!!</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><br />A very favorite way of keeping a cheerful mood is to play music, and it is usually the oldies. The perfect tune for the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Jeepers Peepers</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> project is </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Jeepers Creepers </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">by </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >the Mills Brothers</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">....we love it!!!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZoLffRhFLI/AAAAAAAAAL4/953tWHt1RQQ/s1600-h/lynds2jp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 273px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZoLffRhFLI/AAAAAAAAAL4/953tWHt1RQQ/s320/lynds2jp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303564146781000882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Lyndsey enjoying the music, and of course kids are crazy for glasses so she is modeling a pair of funky specs!!</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">Instead of making a pin from an eyeglass lens how about turning it into a necklace. Follow the instructions for the pin, the only difference is instead of adding a pin back twist a piece of wire into a figure 8 and use your heavy glue to attach it to the felt. When wire piece is dry add a leather or satin cord large enough to slip over the</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > rowdies</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> head.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZoL7YMpgkI/AAAAAAAAAMY/jdXnSOu6FTg/s1600-h/lens8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZoL7YMpgkI/AAAAAAAAAMY/jdXnSOu6FTg/s320/lens8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303564625917870658" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">A thin rim of white glue was applied around the rim of these specs and then sprinkled with glitter....when dry a photocopied picture of a peacock feather was glued to the lens.<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZoN78qLLGI/AAAAAAAAAMg/asK2by1McLs/s1600-h/peacock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZoN78qLLGI/AAAAAAAAAMg/asK2by1McLs/s320/peacock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303566834728643682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />If the you or the kids don't have the patience to wait for the glue to dry you may add the image to wet glue and glitter. Faith put her image on when wet and it spread the glitter onto more of the pin. It's beautiful.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZoL1TSDA0I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/rZiBAJmYyqQ/s1600-h/faithpeacock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZoL1TSDA0I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/rZiBAJmYyqQ/s320/faithpeacock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303564521519121218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Crumbled tree bark glued aroung the rim....a 2 part resin was poured onto the lens and the tree bark frame.</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZoLqLxz-XI/AAAAAAAAAMI/PXV-JprKuOk/s1600-h/treelens.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZoLqLxz-XI/AAAAAAAAAMI/PXV-JprKuOk/s320/treelens.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303564330526308722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />The frames of these </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Jeepers Peepers</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> were soldered.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZoLlyHM5RI/AAAAAAAAAMA/BrgA4VugFGM/s1600-h/solderlens.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZoLlyHM5RI/AAAAAAAAAMA/BrgA4VugFGM/s320/solderlens.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303564254917223698" border="0" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-84541879983160562242009-02-13T15:23:00.000-08:002009-02-23T19:03:28.805-08:00Jeepers Creepers where'd you get those peepers???<span style="font-family:courier new;">Anyone remember that wonderful old song...</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Jeepers Creepers</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">...for some reason it is one of those songs that has always stuck in my head. Kind of like </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Zippity-do-dah</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> and </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">When I wondered what the heck to do with all of the old eyeglasses grandpa and I seemed to be collecting, that song came to my mind…soooo of course that is what I call this project. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Jeepers Peepers.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZcrIk7amaI/AAAAAAAAALw/mkeqZAxhhWk/s1600-h/croplens.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZcrIk7amaI/AAAAAAAAALw/mkeqZAxhhWk/s320/croplens.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302754512603879842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">The eyeglass lens generally pops right out of the frame, which leaves you with a perfect little piece of glass which is all ready for decoupage.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Materials needed are: <br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Eyeglass lens </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />White glue </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Strong glue, such as E2000<br /> </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Magazine or wrapping paper <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Pin back</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Felt or acrylic paint </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">......and a little pair of hands!!!</span><br /><br />A lens is a very small area so when you sit down to look through the magazine for images, or select a wrapping paper, be sure and remind the kids to look at how tiny an area they will be working on ….small images may be faces, pictures of toys, flowers or animals. When they find the perfect image cut it a little larger than the lens so it is less difficult for small hands to work with.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZYJ18RGlsI/AAAAAAAAALI/zVhEGyu0r1E/s1600-h/buffalo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZYJ18RGlsI/AAAAAAAAALI/zVhEGyu0r1E/s320/buffalo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302436433590916802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">For this project the glue is easier to work with if you pour a small amount into a jar lid and use a paintbrush to apply the glue to the back of the lens. Once the lens is covered with glue place the part of the image that will show through the glass onto the glued area and press out air bubbles. Then apply a layer of glue,with a paintbrush or a finger, to the back of the image and let dry approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZYJwmePCbI/AAAAAAAAALA/lQDiR552zLo/s1600-h/gluepot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZYJwmePCbI/AAAAAAAAALA/lQDiR552zLo/s320/gluepot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302436341841070514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Once dry, trim the excess paper around the lens with a small pair of scissors. At this step you may simply paint the back with acrylic paint and let dry. The </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> and I like to use felt. Lay the</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" > tiny masterpiece </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">down on the felt and use a sharpie or a piece of chalk to draw an outline,cut this shape out of the felt. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZYJ7ZA23jI/AAAAAAAAALQ/_wkEYtwUCws/s1600-h/buffalofelt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZYJ7ZA23jI/AAAAAAAAALQ/_wkEYtwUCws/s320/buffalofelt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302436527206751794" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Test it to see how close you came, you may want to trim it a little before you glue the felt to the back, or wait til it is dry and trim.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZYJ_4NNLiI/AAAAAAAAALY/qPZvunKiZF8/s1600-h/buffalocutfelt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZYJ_4NNLiI/AAAAAAAAALY/qPZvunKiZF8/s320/buffalocutfelt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302436604299521570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Spread a small amount of strong glue on top of the entire paper backing, press the felt firmly onto the glue. This stage will probably take a few hours to dry. At this point you may glue your pin back to the felt, again using the strong glue, or you may prefer to glue the pin back on after the felt layer has dried. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Note: for the buffalo pin we tried slitting holes in the felt and inserting the pin back through it, we then glued the felt and pin back on at the same time. This method hides and secures the pin back, but is more difficult to operate the pin closure.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: courier new;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZYKFTnSVMI/AAAAAAAAALg/BRGNKFAMrow/s1600-h/inpin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZYKFTnSVMI/AAAAAAAAALg/BRGNKFAMrow/s320/inpin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302436697556014274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">If you chose to paint the back apply the pin back with strong glue once the paint is dry. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Helpful hint: place the pin back high on the lens rather than in the middle so the pin will not sag when worn.</span><br /><a style="font-family: courier new;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZYKJ-xb-zI/AAAAAAAAALo/5_vpug9e4NI/s1600-h/pinback.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SZYKJ-xb-zI/AAAAAAAAALo/5_vpug9e4NI/s320/pinback.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302436777860791090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I have made many different styles of these pins. When crafting with the grandkids this is a very simple way to make them. Sunday I will post a few additional ideas you may want to use for this project….I will also post some pictures of the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Jeepers Peepers</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> I have made.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-90268541642647100872009-02-06T12:33:00.000-08:002009-02-10T18:25:19.040-08:00Folksy !!!<span style="font-family:courier new;">Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting a great group of women, many of them grandmothers and some of them great-grandmothers. These ladies are members of the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >20th Century Study Club </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">in Justin, Texas.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">I had been invited to their monthly meeting to share some of my pieces of </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >American Folk Art, </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">as well as some information about folk art styles. <span style="font-style: italic;">Wow,</span> was I impressed when I learned this club has been in existence since </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >1938.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> This kind of group is what makes American communities so important, for over 70 years these ladies have gathered together to form friendships and to help strengthen their local community. There were some wonderful conversations concerning their own collections and remembrances of folk art that had been produced or collected in their own families. Thank you ladies!!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">In an earlier post I suggested <span style="font-style: italic;">kids seem to be natural folk artists</span>, they can turn just about anything into art if encouraged. I would also like to encourage our generation to think in that way. Folk art came about when </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >“common folk”</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> began to have access to mass produced goods. Instead of throwing things away they found a way to make use of them.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">An <span style="font-weight: bold;">old jar</span> became decorative when it was covered with putty or clay and odd bits of beads, buttons and memorabilia were stuck to the sides.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYywTJRmJGI/AAAAAAAAAKY/xD52ypEAZuY/s1600-h/memory.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 309px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYywTJRmJGI/AAAAAAAAAKY/xD52ypEAZuY/s320/memory.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299804704461956194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bottle caps</span> became kitschy ashtrays when strung together with wire.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYywYd-3VGI/AAAAAAAAAKg/HCq2BWPGz2E/s1600-h/ashtray.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYywYd-3VGI/AAAAAAAAAKg/HCq2BWPGz2E/s320/ashtray.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299804795919881314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fabric scraps </span>from old clothing became a useful bed covering.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYywftwrFvI/AAAAAAAAAKo/j09UeWRT-B4/s1600-h/quilt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYywftwrFvI/AAAAAAAAAKo/j09UeWRT-B4/s320/quilt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299804920414410482" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">And, as we all know <span style="font-weight: bold;">popsicle sticks</span> can be anything!!!</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYywsZSd8AI/AAAAAAAAAKw/3IOvdzTRtBw/s1600-h/faithpop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYywsZSd8AI/AAAAAAAAAKw/3IOvdzTRtBw/s320/faithpop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299805138257309698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />In the next week I will share with you one of my favorite recycled projects. What do you do with old eyeglasses???...you turn them into </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Jeepers Peepers </span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-style: italic;">of course!!! </span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-71079868780831188772009-01-30T16:57:00.000-08:002009-02-23T19:03:57.494-08:00Here fishy..fishy!!<span style="font-family:courier new;">One of my passions has always been books. To tell the truth as I get older one of my silly, sometimes worries is where the heck am I gong to keep all these books I keep collecting. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I like all kinds of books, but I am </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >crazy</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> for all the wonderful craft books out there. They are crammed full of good ideas I can adapt in my own art and ideas I can share with the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdie </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">grandkids.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">There are tons of projects using old socks...you know the socks that loose their significant other and are doomed to live out their lives in a big pile of singles. I discovered another great way to use these orphans in a book I read recently, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >D.I.Y. Kids</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">, by </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Ellen </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">and</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" > Julia Lupton.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYOpn3vsB3I/AAAAAAAAAKI/BG9c90ao5kI/s1600-h/fishy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYOpn3vsB3I/AAAAAAAAAKI/BG9c90ao5kI/s320/fishy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297264089161795442" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Just take an old </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >sock</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> and partially fill with </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >sand</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> or </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >raw rice</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> and tie a </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rubber band</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >string</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> or </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >ribbon</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> around it. Once you have it filled it's pretty simple to draw funny faces and figures on it with </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >permanent markers, acrylic paints or dimensional fabric paints.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> As always ask the grandkids to use their imagination, they may want to glue sequins, buttons or glitter on to their sock creature.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYOprtRMdmI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/oFcqFXraQwQ/s1600-h/fishystuff.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYOprtRMdmI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/oFcqFXraQwQ/s320/fishystuff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297264155069019746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Cute, cute, cute and so easy. Let me know if you and the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">make one of these, I would love to post some silly sock creatures on my blog.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-62006002674948728452009-01-28T13:52:00.000-08:002009-01-28T15:00:27.145-08:00Unruly crafting ideas for Rowdy Grandmas.<span style="font-family:courier new;">Okay </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Rowdy Grandmas </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">here are a few tips I wanted to share about craft time with the grandkids.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Kids love to wear aprons or one of grandma and grandpa's old shirts, (it's kind of like playing dress up), and keeps mom and dad happy....no paint or glue on their clothes!! Another option is to buy some old clothes from the thrift store; they can wear these while crafting...and everyone loves being allowed to do the unexpected so consider letting them paint these old clothes...</span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >and yeah</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">...while wearing them...how fun is that!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">The grandkids do like to get dirty, but they also think wearing gloves is the best....so try to keep a big box of disposable gloves from the drugstore in your crafting stash.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Another great thing to have in your stash is an old hairdryer...I don't know why exactly but my grandkids absolutely love drying their projects with a hair dryer. I guess it's the <span style="font-weight: bold;">immediate gratification</span> thing coupled with using a power appliance!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Try not to teach </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >perfectionism</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">.....when Lyndsey painted her paintbrush character I had to hold myself back from saying..</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >.uhhh...don't you want to paint the eyes and the face to look more like a real person.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYDefSrAS0I/AAAAAAAAAI8/6W8JxSmt7FY/s1600-h/lyndsey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYDefSrAS0I/AAAAAAAAAI8/6W8JxSmt7FY/s200/lyndsey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296477790957226818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">She is perfectly happy with her character this way...and that's cool, cause sometimes kids feel blocked in their creativity just as we do, or are afraid of making a mistake. They may ask you to do it for them....it's tempting, but I think it is better not to ...</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >.</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">it</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">is what it is</span>.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYDevNt0vDI/AAAAAAAAAJE/G3Edpi0Z7nw/s1600-h/lyndsey2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 195px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SYDevNt0vDI/AAAAAAAAAJE/G3Edpi0Z7nw/s200/lyndsey2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296478064504781874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />If you make a habit of applauding them for their efforts rather than their natural abilitities you have a chance of helping them get rid of the little voice inside their heads that says this isn't good enough.</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" > I know this voice well!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Try to always approach your time with the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdies </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">with a sense of play, kids love music amd movement, so put some silly songs on while they craft their masterpieces. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">A great book which is full of silly projects is </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >The Encyclopedia of Immaturit</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">y by </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Klutz</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">. I found some old tricks in this book that reminded me of my childhood, many of them have been around for ages....</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >.<span style="font-weight: bold;">but in my maturity I had forgotten about them</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6103302075142331764.post-10428530866566429672009-01-24T11:07:00.001-08:002009-01-28T14:59:33.727-08:00Paintbrush characters<span style="font-family:courier new;">This is such a great project for old paintbrushes, the characters work best with 1/2 inch width or larger bristles.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuAFtDvuFI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xshqvgoYCNE/s1600-h/clays_edited-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 197px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuAFtDvuFI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xshqvgoYCNE/s320/clays_edited-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294966622387157074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">The </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >rowdy </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">grandkids and I tried this project with two different types of clay.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Crayola Air-Dry clay</span> is easy to mold and comes in a big 2.5 lb. tub for about six dollars. The other product we used is <span style="font-style: italic;">Creative Paperclay,</span> it is packaged in a 1 lb. block for about the same price as the <span>Crayola clay.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> Creative Paperclay</span> is a little more expensive, but we found it does not appear to crack when dry. The <span>Crayola clay</span> did crack on us. Both clays need to be worked with water, the <span style="font-style: italic;">Crayola Air-Dry clay</span> may have cracked because we did not add enough water. If the cracks bother you try filling them with glue or possibly more clay when the characters have dried.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuBG0__TPI/AAAAAAAAAH0/2mCmTQr-kZw/s1600-h/paintbrushes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuBG0__TPI/AAAAAAAAAH0/2mCmTQr-kZw/s320/paintbrushes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294967741210381554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Supplies you need are:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >paintbrush<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Crayola Air-Dry clay or Creative Paperclay<br />water<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >small paintbrush</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" ><br />acrylic paint<br />spray or brush on clear coat</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">1. Grab a chunk of clay and moisten slightly<br />with water til pliable.<br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">2. Decide whether you want a profile character or full face character.<br /></span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">3. Mold the clay around the paintbrush, leaving the bristles for hair.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuDN0VLwWI/AAAAAAAAAIU/a7aOanBWxFM/s1600-h/lyndseyclay.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuDN0VLwWI/AAAAAAAAAIU/a7aOanBWxFM/s320/lyndseyclay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294970060313182562" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">4. Shape small amounts of clay for eyes, ears, nose, mouth or even cheekbones or warts.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXt-SO7UapI/AAAAAAAAAG8/khzijwUGIbM/s1600-h/faceparts.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXt-SO7UapI/AAAAAAAAAG8/khzijwUGIbM/s320/faceparts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294964638613793426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">5. Apply the face parts to the main face surface and blend using a small, wet paintbrush. (You may also use the blunt end of the small paintbrush to adhere the face parts).</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">6. When the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > rowdies </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">are happy with the character they have created it is a good idea to have them use a moistened finger to go over the face to further smooth the surfaces together.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">7. Let dry (preferably overnight) and paint.</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Styrofoam makes a good base for drying.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuA9JFiWrI/AAAAAAAAAHs/bmpiff3tVqs/s1600-h/claypeople2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuA9JFiWrI/AAAAAAAAAHs/bmpiff3tVqs/s320/claypeople2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294967574803667634" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >8. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >Have fun coming up with cool names for your paintbrush guys and gals!!</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" > </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" ><br /><br />Tips:</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">For very young kids, 3 to 6 years, an easy alternative to shaping face parts from clay is to use buttons, yarn, toothpicks or anything else you can come up with for the eyes, ears, mouth and nose. They may also use their little fingers to poke holes in the face for the eyes and mouth.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuBUKZF51I/AAAAAAAAAIE/5GwuiKhDB8c/s1600-h/bob2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuBUKZF51I/AAAAAAAAAIE/5GwuiKhDB8c/s320/bob2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294967970291115858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">These paintbrush characters are Taylor and Lauryn's, they love using my spray paint, so they painted their bristles with gold spray paint before applying the face. Lauryn used jumprings to give Charley<br />earrings!! Taylor gave Bob a very red tongue.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuCxNpntTI/AAAAAAAAAIM/kYtnlQui2ms/s1600-h/charleyprofile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuCxNpntTI/AAAAAAAAAIM/kYtnlQui2ms/s320/charleyprofile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294969568893580594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">Remember <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rowdy Grandmas</span> to encourage them to use their imagination, they may decide to make something other than a person...Dylan made one of his paintbrushes into a fish. He used toothpicks to support the fins and tail while it dries, and plans on painting it next time he comes to visit.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuJn6kto7I/AAAAAAAAAIc/CkDNL0pn-ko/s1600-h/fish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8cW_1iLzVrE/SXuJn6kto7I/AAAAAAAAAIc/CkDNL0pn-ko/s320/fish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294977105735295922" border="0" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769161812085319909noreply@blogger.com5