chalkboardy.
I was commissioned to create some typography for L's playroom door (loosely based on some pins). I am really happy how it turned out. I liked the colours so much I made a smaller version for Eli's birthday inspired by one of the greatest musicals of all-time. xo.
Fee Fi Fiddley.
I've been workin' on the railroad all the live-long day.
I've been workin' on the railroad just to pass the time away.
Don't you hear the whistle blowin'? Rise up so early in the morn.
Don't you hear the captain shoutin' "Dinah! Blow your horn!"
Dinah won't you blow? Dinah won't you blow? Dinah won't you blow your horn?
Dinah won't you blow? Dinah won't you blow? Dinah won't you blow your horn?
Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah. Someone's in the kitchen I know-o-o-o.
Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah, strummin' on the ole banjo.
Singin' "Fee, Fi Fiddley-eye-o. Fee, Fi Fiddley-eye-o-o-o-o. Fee, Fi Fiddley-eye-o!"
Strummin' on the ole banjo.
This is one of the songs I sing Elijah over and over when he is having trouble falling asleep. xo
Hey Phil Collins!
Little Tarzan is getting more mobile. He gave me a thousand great shots, but moved on to the next pose before I could capture them all.
Don't forget the other scenes from the past - clicky clicky– Jack, Mario, 3Men, Beanstalk, Superman, Wizard of Oz, circus, skateboard
(and stay tuned . I have a few more on deck)
make art not excuses.
Five days ago I got a message saying... It's been 8 days since you last blogged... just sayin'
I was going to list some excuses as to why this might have been the case (some of these things might include brainfreeze, having more local friends to actually do stuff with, nervousness about being a guest blogger, events to plan for, laziness), but then I thought of this quote - Don't make excuses, make good. And to me, art is good.
(photo via pinterest via Chris Piascik)
But really, I've been pinning like a mad-woman - but I've been making some of my inspirations! (Unfortunately I can't upload many photos because I either forgot to take a pic, it is a Christmas gift, or it is half-finished. I guess you'll just have to come visit me to see!)
Crayon art tutorial
I had been meaning to make this super rad colourful canvas of happiness for a while now (found on Pinterest, of course) - and Aly's back to school party seemed to be the perfect opportunity!
Materials:
Crayons [I used three boxes of 24 crayolas and took out the blacks and browns (Target had them on for 40 cents a box)], Canvas, Glue Gun, Hair Dryer
1) Glue gun crayons to the top edge of the canvas (I made sure the word crayola was shown on all of them)
2) Tilt canvas slightly and blow dry crayons. I did a couple of crayons at a time, and then went back over the whole thing. The hot/high setting splattered the paint, but the lower setting spread it. I used both.
Instant colour gratification.
live to skate.
After a bit of a hiatus, I (with the help of my dear sister Andrea) created a new scene - in honour of Rob: ex-skate boarder extraordinaire.
Don't forget about - Jack, Mario, 3Men, Beanstalk, Superman, Wizard of Oz, circus
Freezer Paper Stencil Printing.
For a long time I've been wanting a silk screen machine and have been book-marking diy screen machines online. Finally, I came across the cheapest, easiest (and possibly coolest?) way to create silk screen-like prints - using Freezer Paper!
And as promised, I have created you a tutorial [with photos!].
Materials:
- Some freezer paper . It is like parchment paper, except one side is shiny.
- An exacto knife (or scissors if you are really good)
- some sort of material to print on [In this tutorial I am using a kids tote bag]
- an iron
- any colour of fabric paint (I am using Tulip fabric paint from my dear cousin Leah.)
- a paint brush
Procedure:
1) Draw your design on to the dull (not shiny) side of the freezer paper. (I designed the "gittr dun" and "bacon is a vegetable" shirts on my computer first)
2) Cut out your design with an exacto knife. (make sure you put a cutting board under!)
3) Stick an extra piece of freezer paper inside your bag/shirt to avoid leaks. Place the freezer paper design (shiny side down!) on your fabric.
4) Iron the freezer paper onto the fabric. (Just use the iron setting that is best for the fabric you are using). The freezer paper will stick to the fabric pretty quickly.
5) Squirt the fabric paint onto the spaces you want painted. Paint with your paint brush.
6) Unless you want a distressed look, paint a couple of coats. For this bag, I did 3 coats.
7) LET dry (forget about it!). Don't be tempted to pick at it like freshly painted nails. Be patient. (and if you get really impatient, take a blow dryer to it.) Once dry, carefully peel off the Freezer Paper (use tweezers or your exacto to help peel off the small bits)
8) Enjoy! How easy was that? If you use this tutorial - send me a photo of your project!
**Because Rob is getting a new bike, I decided to splurge (with a coupon code) on a Silhouette paper cutter that is compatible with freezer paper. I will be able to make more intricate prints without giving my hands callouses from the exacto knife. (It also cuts wall decal vinyl! I'm pumped!)
Just clowning around…
Come one, come all to the Greatest Show on Earth!
Starring Angry* Stong Man Eli (look at those muscles!), Kennedy the juggling phenom, Easton the Incredible Lion Tamer and Clown Laia with her polka-dotted charm.
Another scene by the Fab Four. This time I thought I'd include a "behind the scenes" photo (thanks Becky!) to give you an idea of the chaos (amazing super-fun time) of creating a scene with multiple babies.
*Note: Eli looks upset in this photo, but in many of the ones we took he is perfectly happy. This one captures the character well.
[and just in case you forgot about my other scenes: Superman, Tub, Beanstalk, Mario, Candlestick, OZ]
We’re off to see the Wizard…
... The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Here is scene-making at a new level. Originally inspired by Adele (and then Aly!), I started making baby scenes- here and here and here and here and here. (and I'm happy to say my scenes jump-started the creativity of other moms!) The sisters Elliott decided that we should do a combined baby scene - and of course we jumped at the chance! We lugged all of our stuff over to Aly's and set up scene. (We actually did two scenes.. I'll post the other one a bit later. Suspense is wonderful, isn't it?)
This was so much fun - and quite hilarious- to put together. We had the scene set in place, but then three of the babies fell asleep. We had some delicious lunch and the babies chatted on the lawn. The babies got hungry (surprise surprise) and then we finally got back to the scene. Well, of course the fourth baby (mine) decided that he was tired and passed out on the floor! He slept through almost the entire WofOz photo shoot. (even when wee Lannaia started pulling off his Tin Man costume - mesmerized by the shiny foil.) - but I think he looks adorable anyways.
ps. Doesn't Becky's "surrender Dorothy" look amazing? And she makes a mean chocolate chip cookie.
pps. Check back later for our other collaborative scene.
Jack be nimble…
Jack be nimble
Jack be quick
Jack jump over the candle stick.
t
[more scenes: superman, rub a dub dub, beanstalk, mario]
happiness is a warm glue-gun.
I craft. I've always loved to make art - doodle, paint, construct, cut, paste, colour. I am really excited that my motivation to craft has come back in full force!
I like to make fun things for myself and for other people. I decided to take the 30 days of Creativity challenge for the month of June (which doubled as a 30th birthday countdown). I didn't create one thing a day like I was supposed to (slaps hand), some days I created five things. Others I created none. Here is a sampling of stuff I've been working on...
swap-bot journals. moly_x_32. moly_x_51.
etsy maps. seating charts. paperdolls.
calendar. agenda
baby book. baby announcements. weekly photos. baby nook.
michael jackson.
business cards.
craft ideas. christmas book.
buttons. lots of buttons.
flyers.
mail art.
polaroids magnets.
a ridiculous number of lists.
{for an awesome free happiness is a warm glue gun printable poster click HERE}
