Green

This was a really fun swap!  The challenge... create a piece of art the size of a postcard.... any medium, style, subject.... THEN hang it outside to 'weather' for a week... bring it in, let it dry if neccesary and then send it off 'naked' through the mail....

We created two and sent them out into the world. 

what color would your art be?

...scatter joy...
lindy

trash to treasure

Our task: create a bookmark from items destined for the trash or recycling....  it's a salvaged goods bookmark. 

For the front I used a discarded paper I had used as a paint pallet and added a piece of a paper coffee cozy, some plastic that came as extraneous packaging, scraps of craft paper, old foil, & an old coil.  To which I added scraps of ribbon with attached charms.

On the back I added some fun sentences from a rescued book.

This was a fast, fun project .... I LOVE functional art. 

What have you re-purposed recently?

...scatter joy...
lindy

aLtEReD ArT!

Here is my first attempt at an altered art doll.  The parameters were to use as many 'found' objects as possible, and paper, pens, paint, pencils and tape were not allowed.  We had to use a minimum of 10 different objects, meaning if we used 10 of one thing (like buttons) that would only count as 1 item.  Per usual, I had no idea what I was doing... lol... do you see a theme with me?

Attaching metal to metal was my biggest challenge... I initially tried liquid nails and even clamped it, but it didn't hold.  Next I tried an epoxy.  That worked well (at least well enough for it to hold together through the mail.)  A friend suggested I sand it a bit to add some 'grip' so I think that definitely helped.

This was a very fun project for me because I tend to see facial images in EVERYTHING so it's simply a matter of filling in what my mind's eye sees.  And I love repurposing items... and making something out of 'trash' or junk.

The more I look at her, the more pleased I am... perhaps I've found an Etsy item for my empty shop???

If you had your own shop, what kind of shop would it be?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Warrior

This tangle was done with a dark blue micron on water color paper.

And, as usual, when I was done it looked like something to me... so this one is a warrior mask.

What do you see?

Interesting that it looks like a warrior to me... does this mean I feel I'm at war? or preparing for battle... ? or simply protecting myself??? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. lol.

What does your armor look like?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Funky Bird Part II

Here is the REAL funky bird.... I didn't set out to draw a bird, but after I was done that's what it looked like to me... do you see it??

What does YOUR funky bird look like?

... scatter joy...

lindy

layers

This was another from the set of 7 private swap...I was experimenting (well they are all sort of experiements, aren't they?)

And I'm getting ready to take on a new challenge with my art soon.  I have long been an admirer of all things 'altered' and find the layers and layers of textures, colors, words fascinating... so I'm going to teach myself that technique and see what happens.

Oh and I read something on a blog I recently stumbled upon and found it an interesting perspective:  The difference between art and craft is with craft you have a step by step process you follow to recreate the original and art is where you take that process and then MAKE IT YOUR OWN. 

Have you hugged your inner artist today? AND have you told that inner critic to shut the #%!$ up??!?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Childhood Board Games

My family was a game playing family... we loved cards, board games, & sports... and one of my all-time favorite games is Monopoly.

Of course I just had to join the swap that was an ATC to interpret your favorite board game.

chalks, pencils, & ink on watercolor paper

What is your favorite board game?

...scatter joy...
lindy

city life

Today's tangle was part of a series for a private swap... I started with straight rectangular boxes, and after I was done it looked like buildings in a city to me.

What excites you more... the allure and buzz of the bright lights or the serenity of the country?

...scatter joy...

lindy

Breast Cancer Stamp

Here is my version of the Breast Cancer Stamp.  It's standard ATC size done on watercolor paper in ink, chalk, and pencil.


What is your favorite postage stamp?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Bookmark Tangle

You know I love me some zentangling.... ; )  so..... for this swap we had to do a bookmark.  I really liked how this turned out.... I wasn't sure at first because generally I keep my tangles in a smaller space but I took my time and didn't rush.... just went about it as I felt like it.  I used sepia toned pens on water color paper, charcoal for shading; the person I was creating this for loves all things vintage.  I had some great paper I used for the backing, too, that was an interpretation of an old pattern in blues and beiges...

tell you a secret??? i almost kept this one for me..... *giggle*

what do you use for a bookmark?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Take a bite...

Yes... I'm obsessed... obsessed with enjoying my food while making my beautiful body as healthy as I can.... (see post below this one for one of my fave breakfast smoothies!).... so much so that I've gone and done something some might think is crazy.... I signed up for my first ever triathlon!!!! OH YES I DID!!! AND.... I started a blog called Tri-umphantly to journal my journey to the center of ME!!!!  If you are a fan of fitness or looking for a different approach or simply want to cheer me on (cuz hey, we can ALL use cheering ON!!!) then please click on the link and follow along.... glad to have you!

Enough about that part of me... on to my obsession with whole food fabulous and making ART!  So this piece was part of a set of 7 different ATCs that I did on a personal trade with someone from Swap-Bot.  She was doing zentangles of letters A-G for me and I had free reign... so I tried to do some fun things for her.  This one came about because she mentioned she liked to collect postage stamps and I had this great one from New Zealand.... and of course one of my very fave foods is from there.... I wonder if it's the color or the fact that it is one of the most nutrient-rich foods you can fuel yourself with that has my heart.....?!?

In case you can't decipher my sketches.... these are kiwi.  What a cute name... kiwi....!!! This is chalk, ink, pencil on watercolor paper... oh and let's not forget the ephemera....

What's the last thing you sketched?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Spring has SpRunG!

I hosted my first swap.... it was part of the newfangled zentagles group I belong to... this group encourages experimentation (in general, tangles are black ink on white/cream background).... this one is not...

I used watercolors, chalks, inks on water color paper

Today's nod to the celebration of crafts is a nod to my love of textiles..... and a further nod to organics as well as modern prints... I just stumbled upon this site and can't wait to place an order... I have no idea what I'm going to make, but right now that doesn't seem to matter.... ; )  Check out Daisy Janie at
http://www.daisyjanie.com/index.html

Bounce

Zentangle... circles.... bounce.... a recent swap challenged us to interpret a zentangle ATC with a single or multiple circles.... 

I took it literally....

And today's craft moment:  a very cool zippered pouch with reverse applique.... zippered pouches are a huge fave of mine... maybe it's because I seem to have so many bits and bobs flying about and this helps to reign them in...

check it out http://orangeflowerpatterns.blogspot.com/2009/08/zippered-case-with-reverse-applique.html

Have you zentangled yet?

...scatter joy...
lindy

envie envy

Trading these fabulous miniature works of art (ATCs) has been so fun for so many reasons... one of which is the discovery of mini envelopes to send them in.... (I know, it's the little things in life that gives me such pleasure!)  I've received some very cool envies and finally I took one apart to use as a template.  You could use any kind of paper, really... scrapbook paper, wrapping paper.... I had a couple Paper-Source catalogs on hand that I thought would be fun to turn into envelopes...

I'm going to work on making a template to share with you, but in the meantime here are the photos.... (and you can always make any size envies... just think of it as wrapping a package.  Tape runners (or 2 way tape) works wonderfully well.

template:

folded piece before taping:

new life as an envie:

envies a plenty:

and today's craft moment.... the Paper-Source blog is full of ideas and links to templates!
what color is your envelope?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Eat your Green....

A recent swap had us creating ATCs that were GReeN... at least 80% had to be green aka 'most' .... and knowing how much I love green, you know I just had to sign up... but what to do... what to illustrate.... ???

Well my fave veg and my fave fruit, of course..... juicy and delicious...  I used chalk, watercolor, and pen on watercolor paper.

Today's craft moment....one of the more inspirational sites I follow... johnnie's work has a wonderfully positive energy...  http://www.savedbylovecreations.com/2010/03/winners-choice-giveaway.html  I'm so glad I found her site...!

fave fruit? fave veggie?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Once upon a time...

there was a girl and she liked being a girl very much because being a girl rocks it out and so she made it her goal to eradicate (big word for small blog) the use of 'like a girl' as being a negative and instead used it as a statement for being or doing your best...!  ride like a girl..... run like a girl.... play like a girl.... cry like a girl (cuz let's face it.... crying is NOT a bad thing!)....

today's craft moment.... hey... CRAFT like a GIRL!!!!! wooHOO.... anyway.... today's craft moment: one of the wonderful things about my promise to share cool 'craft' or art sites with you in celebration of national craft month is all the new and wonderful sites and blogs I'm finding... I hope you are enjoying the exploring.... because these fabulous femails are awe inspiring....

http://hearthandmadeuk.blogspot.com/   this site offers up tutorials, commentary, and one of my most favorite things... stunning photography either snapped by the author herself, or found shots decidedly in need of being shared.  enjoy.

what do you do like a girl...?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Celebrate Craft Month

I totally forgot that March is national (?) Craft month.... I love that there is a month devoted to the craft of crafts... ; )  I urge you to 1- make time for your favorite craft, 2- learn a new craft, and 3- encourage others to celebrate national craft month!

I, of course am celebrating the whole year since my 'theme' this year is 'awaken the artist'.... but specifically this month from here on out I will highlight one favorite craft site each day either in a post dedicated to that particular craft or as the final paragraph in the post.

Today I share with you a wonderful, wonderful artist and her blog that celebrates the paper arts.... I encourage you to visit because there you are sure to be inspired to try new things.  http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/   Ink Stains by Roni Johnson is a trove of delicious ideas.  She is also the author of the Teach Yourself Visually Collage and Altered Art.

What craft have you been wanting to try?  What are you waiting for???

...scatter joy...
lindy

time for a tangle?

It continues to be my new favorite art form... I keep thinking about how I could broaden this beyond making ATCs and trading... and the sweet thing is... everyone interprets the same designs differently.  AND anyone can do this... these two I did while listening to a podcast with Doug Graham about raw foods and his book
80-10-10.  I think it looks like I was happy... (which of course I was.... and I AM...!)

To me: the tangle on the left looks like a curvy woman with a cape who is busy shaking and grooving... and the center looks like all the inner workings of a healthy body doing it's thing..... and the one on the right ???.... lol... well maybe it doesn't always have to look like something...  (although when viewed with the deep curve on the top it definitely looks like my luscious produce overflowing from a bag as I leave the market...!

what does your happiness look like?

...scatter joy...
lindy

... Balance ...

One of my favorite forms of art is word art... especially using inspirational or motivational words.  This card is called 'Balance' and is part of a set of two
(I'll post the other one the next post).

I had so much fun making the 'Skinny' that I continued with the same colors and techniques.  I'm going to have to make a set of inspirational cards for myself, I think....

How do you find your balance?

...scatter joy...

lindy

who named them 'skinnies'??? and why?

Embrace Change.... this was for a private swap I did with one of my swapping friends on swap-bot.  She had to educate me on creating a 'skinny'. 

They are 3x5.... hmmmmm now I wonder if was supposed to make the art vertical vs horizontal...

I did this one in acrylics, inks, pens, metal, ribbon and beads.

Can you tell how much fun I'm having creating?

How do you spread your wings?

...scatter joy...
lindy