Emoji paper clips

My son and I made these and I think they are so fun! We found the idea on Pinterest. We used polymer clay, glued them on with a little extra clay on the back and baked them up!

Felt Stickers and Paint

I had so much left-over felt stickers that I wanted to use them for this month's blog.  This is a great activity for the whole family to celebrate spring! I used the stickers in two projects:
1.) Wood Bunnies:  I bought blank wood bunnies at Target for $3.  I drew the eyes and whiskers and added different stickers and color paint to make each bunny unique.
2.) Printing Press:  I made this rudimentary printing press by using the felt stickers as a raised platform on rolled up cardboard (you can also use an empty roll of bath tissue).  I made sure the stickers were saturated with paint and then rolled the roller onto the paper.  ~ JM

Bunnies!

Printing Press

                 

Heart pillow

I made this pillow with two microfiber cloths, but rather than sew them, I used a hot glue gun!  I also glued on the heart felt stickers.  It is nice and cozy...and only cost one dollar :)

Abstract Art

Abstract art uses a visual language of shape, form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world (Rudolph Arnheim, Visual Thinking).

In the first painting I used cardboard and scraped the paint both vertically and horizontally followed by stenciling a bird sitting on a branch (my blogging buddy gave me these stencils years ago 😏).  In the second painting I blended big blocks of squares.  ~ JM

using cardboard to create texture and using stencil

blending squares

soaps and polar bear cookie pops

For Christmas gifts for my coworkers this Christmas, I made Oreo cookie pops and soaps.  I found massage soap molds and used lavender essential oil and dried lavender to make relaxing soaps.  They are so fun to make!

Mama's House

When visiting my mama's house in Alabama over the holidays I took a few pictures of her creative masterpieces.  My mom enjoys going to garage sales and thrift stores to turn old things into something new with a few coats of spray paint.  Below are two projects using stencils and spray paint and also the before and after of dining room chairs. ~ JM

Using stencil and spray paint on wicker cabinet and a sisal rug.

Before and after of a chair.

Creative Writing

Earlier this month the Portrait Gallery had multiple writing sessions using the portraits as inspiration for our stories.  The theme for the session I attended was "Understanding Others".  This is a wonderful creative exercise for anyone and anywhere!  The assignment was to concentrate on two different portraits and write a story of how these two different people could have met.

Writing prompts:

• Write down all the details you see that tell you something about who each person is.
• Mimic their postures one at a time.  Hold each person's for a moment.  What did you learn?  Write that down.
• With all the insight you now have about these two, look at their faces carefully.  Combine what you've observed along with their expressions in your mind.  Now, write a few sentences in his or her voice about your first subject's highest aspiration.
• Now do the same for your second subject.
• Begin a story with one of your chosen portrait's settings as your location and your two subjects as the main characters.  Imagine a reason for each being in that location, why are they there? How are they each feeling in the moment that they meet?  What will they think of each other?

First few sentences of my story:

Moria squealed in delight as her mother drove her to school.  It was field trip day to the farm.  Her second grade classroom learned all about the farm and was excited to see it in person!  When Moria and her classmates arrived at the farm they were greeted by the owner, Ms. Mae.  Ms. Mae was a proud woman who took pride in sharing the joys of animals, nature, and farming to others.... -JM

I chose these two portraits as my subjects:

More portraits located here.

"Woman with Rooster"

"Mavis in the Backseat"