Doodle. Word. Photo. Fun.

I have become lost in my own little world.  Obsessed.  Loving creating, again!  And, eager for you to do it with me!  I want to show you how to play.  How to create, with whatever material you have.  For me, it is for something fun to do with the kids on these cold days inside. A way to preserve memories, and get me off of the computer.

This is page is church doodles, layered with paint, and a photo.  The right side I think needs a little bit more, but Pax painted the dots...so I don't want to cover it up!  It was kind of fun to paint over all of the text.  A great way to pray, or vent, then cover it up and let it go!

High school friends were the highlight of this week! A birthday, a mural, and yummy cupcakes!  I'm trying to print the pictures I post....so, that was what I printed this week!

Date night owl!  The picture on the right is of a cool chair I saw on a DATE with my hubby.  So, that was the picture I used.  The "challenge" of this week was a doodle border.  It didn't quite happen.  But, I had fun with "ditto" spray paint, stencils, collaging, drawing, and a photo!

Doodles. Photos. And an envelope!  

Above page finished!

Little hands stamping, before he smeared the stamp pad all over his hand!

Good company! These two have had fun creating art too!  Wait till you see the book CZ has started..... love. love. love.

Altered art with an envelope

This week's challenge is to incorporate an envelope into you planner. There was no "fun mail" to work with this week. So, I used a Verizon Bill envelope.  You know, when you are using junk mail for art, it makes you think.  I think about materials I use, waste, if I'm being a good consumer, responsible, yada-yada.  I love the "self-talk" that goes along with creating art.  It is truly an experience, not just "art."

I used coupon cutting as a time to collage, have a paper ball fight (that was FUN) and to create.

 

A trip to Lowes = photo op. And, more materials to use.

I will say, I am THROWING JUNK away with each challenge. I am not keeping a pile of junk/papers that I "might" want later.  Either glue it down, now.  Or, throw it away!

Ta-da.  Not quite finished. But, I'm having fun.  I need to glue some pictures to the left side and doodle a little more.  I want to use this envelope as a place to keep snail-mail going "out."  Everyone loves getting mail, and birthday cards.  I hope to do better with this.  I also used a Christmas Card envelope that was sent "back to sender" because I had the wrong address.  The wrong address is an address that I really need to get right and send an encouraging note to them!

I added another envelope back in another section.  I want to use this section as a place to write little reminders about CZ.  One for Pax coming soon.

If you have questions, or need tips, send me a message on the ART SHACK fb page. I"m glad to help.  Art is fun, you should try it!

2014, JOIN IN!

2014 is full speed now. 

And, I have a goal. I'm excited.  Actually, I have a few. but for right now, I am trying to learn to create new habits with my artistic brain.  I HAVE to create, record, write, photograph.  Always have.  And, I LOVE to.  But, my ideas and plans and dreams and doodles sometimes run my life.  I have to create some new habits with my artist brain.

While sucked into Pinterest I found a cool  challenge that I will allow me to:  

       Put PEN ON PAPER!  
            KEEP UP WITH MEMORIES!! 
                    Give me a Goal of organizing & printing photos weekly?!
                              Pray while creating!
                                      KEEP up with my to-do list!
                                                            And, I'm so happy this has fallen into place! 

The Documented Life Challenge created by  http://arttothe5th.squarespace.com/ is giving weekly challenges all to be created in a planner. So fun!!  Each Sunday they post a new challenge...and of course I'm adapting them as I want to.  Here is my planner that I had not been using, that is now coming back to life!  Oh, to love many things.  What a blessing and a curse Mr. Van Gough.  Just gotta not let this become obsessive, like all things fun.

Week one: (was supposed to be a view of your door).  Mine was the view on my counter.  Candle burning.  Dinner cooking.  Balls being thrown (thanks Pax).  CZ chatting.  How fun to create art while life is happening.  Pax has been asking to do art since then!  

I'm going to try and incorporate a FEW pictures each week.  But, this is mainly to MAKE me QUICKLY organize them on my computer.  It would be SO nice at the end of the year to have favorite pictures from each week in ONE SMALL FOLDER.  Ya'll I have 1,000's each month.  I have a problem.  Hope this helps!

Week two: This challenge was supposed to be a "selfie."  (Thanks Mallory on the link to the great fb article on "dying to the selfie.")  This is how I want to see and be seen.  "Free in Christ."    Life is hard, challenging, frustrating.  But, through my faith and hope in Christ, I am free.  Free to create.  Free to hope.  Free to love others.  This pictures capture a sick Pax and a sassy Charlotte.  It is good to print cell phone pictures frequently to be reminded of how much better the "real camera" pictures are.

Two weeks down in 2014. 

Real life: filled with the flu and flooding. 

Artsy life: filled with prayer, color, and fresh ideas.

I'm excited about this challenge. And, it has been fun seeing the other creations on-line.

Goes to show there are lots of folks looking to create, needing direction and the boost of joy creating gives you.  Can I just also throw in here...God is the ultimate creator. Creating all! And I think He gives lots of us the desire to create, that we have to action!


** I won't have long posts each week.  But, check back to see the progress.  

PURCHASE a SHIRT to "Fight Childhood Cancer with Little A"

A long story short.  Meet Ericka, my BFF since 7th grade.  And, her sweet baby girl, Analise, best known as "little A."  These gals are amazing.  Truly.  And, I love them (and Scott too) like they are family.  

In June, Little A was diagnosed with a  Wilms Tumor and quickly started her 20 weeks of chemo.  They initially found a small tumor in her kidney, in which they removed both the tumor and her kidney.  Quickly after the diagnosis, Little A began chemo.  She is half way done with chemo.  But, the word, "cancer" will linger.  What an unfair word for a child.  For, a 1 year old.  What an unfair battle.  It is scary, really scary.  The part I have selfishly hated the most, is "chemo lockdown." If there is any thought that I am sick, or my kids, we can't get near Analise.  And, for her, I hate that she has a central line and can't get in water. I hate that she doesn't have a good appetite.  I hate how scary a temperature is.  And, that she wakes up a lot in the middle of the night.  And, for her parents, I hate that "cancer" lives in their house. I hate that they have to watch their baby girl go through this.  Cancer does suck.  It is mean.

BUT, with truth, we believe (they believe) that God is bigger than this battle.  Bigger than cancer.  

But, more research IS needed.  A cure is needed.  Did you know one in every 330 children develops cancer before age 19.  One in every five children diagnosed with cancer will die.

You have a chance to honor Analise and help raise money for childhood cancer.

BUY A shirt in her honor NOW.

Support Childhood Cancer Awareness! Go gold!

PROCEEDS from the sale of this shirt (that I got the privilege of designing) will go to Lillys Foundation.  

100% of their proceeds go to help families in need.

HONOR Analise and help raise money for childhood cancer.

**SHIRTS ONLY ON SALE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 25 ** 

*** PLEASE SEE THE most recent Little A post on this blog to order the shirts. Paypal is not being very coorporative!  OR...you can e-mail me at creativeandcolorful@yahoo.com for the address to send a check in the mail!

*** T-shirts will be mailed out the beginning of October, or you can pick them up at the Art Shack!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ORDER!!!!! Looks like maybe PayPal is behaving now....?!

Sizes

ORDERING IS NOW CLOSED!!!! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR ORDER!!!

GNO

Plan a Girls Night Out with the folks from church, a small group, fellowship group, or bible study.  Pick a painting.  Secure a handful of folks.  Bring snacks and drinks to share.  $20/person. Enjoy getting to know new friends and chatting with old friends...while painting!  You do not have to be "good" at art.  It is step by step.   

Call Elizabeth at 399-0707 or e-mail creativeandcolorful@yahoo.com to schedule a date. 

I lift my eyes up...

Simple cross with border

As for me and my house...

GNO

THIS. WAS. FUN.

Seriously.

A neat group of gals, moms, friends, and new friends.

Taking a break.  From jobs. And kids. 

To relax. And snack. And chat.  

While creating.

Fun.

This was the "inspiration."  Well done GALS.

  

I love this pic.  Laughing gals. Planning their next monthly GNO.

Who's in on the next ART SHACK GNO? 

Send me an e-mail, FB Message or text!

We are going to make this a regular Art Shack happening.

creativeandcolorful@yahoo.com

Boys creating awesome art!

These photos do not give these awesome pieces of art justice! I absolutely LOVE these dragons.  They are so so cool, yet so different. 

These boys kept me laughing!

And, loved snack time!

Yes, your head is about 5 eyes wide.  We measured. In the summer! And, had a great time!