Creative Patch Job

I hate to throw things away that are still in pretty decent shape. So when my daughter showed me her pants had a hole in the knee I knew I could patch it very easily but the cute patches at the store are more like iron-on decals and less like patches.

I saw that she was wearing the jeans again tonight so I took them off and got out the denim patch that I had in my sewing kit. I cut it into the shape of a heart and ironed it onto her jeans. I then got out some of my acrylic paints and painted the same design that was already on her jeans. She asked me to add a hot pink heart in the middle and  here's how it looks.

I'm thinking of adding a jewel to the center heart to add a little sparkle as well. She's thinks all the kids at school will want me to do this to their jeans too... she might be right. So there you have it, an easy way to be creative with a plain old patch.

Questions that make you think!

When teaching art we need to engage the students and encourage them to think about something more than what to create. It's our job as educators to create the creative thinkers of the world. Here are some questions that will get the kids talking.

What makes something art?
Does it have to be pretty?
Does it need to make a statement?
Can artwork have emotions?
Can a painting cry?
Can a sculpture laugh?
Can art talk to you?
What is fine art?
What is artisan?
Who are artists?
Should you have a plan or let the medium inspire you?
Once you know the basic elements and principals of design, can you throw them out the window?
...

Get past the obvious and stretch your thinking. Encourage kids to play devil's advocate. Have them take a side against what they may think or believe. Let the kids create questions of their own and see what they come up with while having this debate.

After a project is completed ask the students to have this type of discussion. There are no right or wrong answers, but try to steer the students to positive feedback when discussing each others art work. Make them expand their vocabulary and not just all say the same thing. (* oooh knew project idea just popped into my head using dictionaries and thesauruses... more later on that.)

 

Thinking in different ways will help you in all areas of your life and careers. Be creative, think outside of the box, try to see what someone else's point of view is before disregarding it. I believe it will make a better person out of anyone; and we can all use more good people in this world.

Home Made Paper Mache Paste

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papier-m%C3%A2ch%C3%A9

What you need:
1 cup non-self rising wheat flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup cold water
4 cups boiling water
1 Tbs powdered alum
1/2 tsp oil of cinnamon (optional)

How to make:

• Combine flour & sugar in a large pot. Slowly stir in cold water to form a paste.
• Slowly add to boiling water, stirring vigorously to break up lumps.
• Bring back to a boil, stirring constantly until thick and clear.
• Remove from heat & add alum. Stir until well mixed
• Add oil of cinnamon if paste will not be used immediately

Yields about 1 & 1/2 quarts

Paper mache can be used for many different projects. I have used it to make pinatas, card boxes, rattles and other 3D sculptures. One of my favorite assignments to make with my students is LARGER than LIFE objects. We take everyday items such as, toothbrushes, candy bars or pencils and make them HUGE. I have done this as group projects as well as individual. Either way works out great!

First, decide what to make; roll, fold or bunch up newspapers into the shape you need. You can also use cardboard boxes, paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, balloons or any material to make your basic shape. Then tape the items together so you have a stable structure. Finally, tare strips of newspapers, dip them into the glue (using your fingers squeegee off the excess glue) and wrap your structure in at least 3 layers. When the layers have all dried and you are happy with the look of your design, you may finish it off with paint to add the finishing details.

Here are some images for you from google image...

The picture above shows you structures and how to apply the layers. See how the students uses his/her fingers to squeegee off the excess glue?

 

These are maracas made with small water balloons and rolled paper. You leave a hole around the knot of the balloon so as the paper mache dries you can pop the balloon and remove it. Then add dried beans, rice or popcorn (to name a few choices) into the hole and finish paper mache-ing a handle to the rattle. When all dry, paint however you like.

Here are the LARGER than LIFE items like I mentioned. The kids can get really creative here and they really enjoy this project. The process is the same, you just make it HUGE.

Camouflage Drawing

Look through old magazines, newspapers or even online for an interesting image. Don't worry about the subject matter, instead find an image with interesting lines, textures or colors.

What you need:

• magazines, newspapers, other sources with interesting images
• scissors
• 12"x18" heavy paper
• pencils, chalk, pastels, oil pastels, colored pencils, charcoal, paint
• glue

What to do:

• Cut out a shape, no larger than 4"x 6", with no identifiable images.
• Paste it onto a 12"x 18" piece of drawing paper.
• Create a new design, camouflaging the piece glued to the paper. Use whatever medium will best hide the image.

 

Bathroom Finger Paint

What you need:
1/4 cup non-abrasive household cleaner (like Bon Ami)
paper cups
water
food colors

How to make:
1. Pour cleanser into a cup
2. Add enough water to make a thick paste
3. Add food color and stir
    Repeat with other colors

How to use:
Use in the bathroom on the shower walls and bath tub. Kids have fun and help you clean at the same time! Give the kids an idea like "under the sea" and have them draw things that one would find in the ocean or let them be creative all on their own.

Caution!
Always supervise your child when there is water in the tub. If they are still at the age of putting things in their mouths they might be too young for this recipe. Remember the paint was made with a household cleaner. An alternative would to replace the cleaner with cornstarch, but then you'll have to wash up when they are finished.

New Name! New Focus!

If you scroll down or look at other posts you will see a lot of different things. My focus was split and I tried to please more than myself. I have no followers but I'm hoping to change that.

I plan on teaching to anyone that wants to learn. I don't have a classroom of students to teach so I thought I'd create my own classroom... this is an art class but art is more than just painting so don't be surprised if I post on how to create a kid's birthday cake, or make something more crafty than artsy. I have a lot of interests and I hope I can focus them in here and create a blog that will inspire others to learn.

I want to TEACH and I want you to LEARN!

I want to refocus!

I'm not sure what way is the best way to blog... I never thought I'd have a blog. So far it's been a mix of things that people have asked me about but has had no real direction. The thought of having more than 1 blog is too much for me right now.

My life has been changing without any real focus on what I want or what I want to share with others. I am being pulled into many directions... even now while I'm trying to focus and write this blog, my kids have interrupted me 3 times. How can (make that 4...) and 5... now 6 times... oh hell, why do I bother typing when I have kids? How can I focus on what I want when I'm being pulled in so many directions by my kids?

I had a plan. I was going to teach art, get a masters in art therapy, and then get my doctorate. I was going to have a house with my dogs, husband and kids. I was going to be successful and known. But somewhere along the way I was derailed. I lost my focus or priorities changed.

So here I am. A mom, a wife, a dog and home owner, but I have nothing to call all mine. I love my husband, kids, dog and even house but I have to share all of those. I want to be able to come home and tell my husband and kids about my day. Tell them how I helped someone work through something they were struggling with. I don't want to talk about what I did around the house (which is usually little to nothing). I don't want the only conversations I have with my husband to be about his work or the bills. I want something that is all mine that I can share with my family. I want good stories to look back on and smile. I want memories of my family and I laughing over the fun things we did on summer vacation. I'm afraid that all the memories we will have are the ones of not having enough money to allow my kids to go bowling with their gym class or to pay for their art fee.

I'm doing everything I can but it's not enough. I try to have fun nights with the kids, playing games or cards or watching movies. We try to eat dinner together but even that has be happening less and less as the kids schedule gets busier and busier. I want my perfect life, the one I had in my plans, the one I can still see somewhere in my future. I just don't know when I will have that life.

I never had a hard time focusing as a child or young adult, but as soon as I became a mother I had to focus on more than what I wanted. Now that my kids are older and more independent I want the change to refocus my life again. But I'm still being pulled into too many directions. I have so many likes and talents that I'm not sure what will be the best choice. Maybe if I left money out of it and thought only about what makes me happy, I could find my center again. I need to do things just because I love doing them, not because I might make some money to help support my growing family. It's a hard thing to do when there are 7 people in this household and only 1 full time income. But I think if I truly want to be happy I need to do this.

So here are some of my talents, degrees or interests...
BSE in art education
nail technician license
Emergency Medical Responder (maybe one day paramedic)
owning my own coffee shop/diner
making art (pottery, painting, drawing, print making, photography, or sculpture)
landscaping
computer animation
I like talking/listening to people and helping them with their problems
baking
I want to learn a language but don't want to do the work (wish that was possible)

I had great creative ideas when I was a kid, I feel like I've lost that and most of my memories. I think that happens when you stifle creativity and talent for too long. You become lazy and bored. I have forgotten how to be fun and creative and I want it back!

So some how I think I'm going to try to do that here. I'm going to try and focus on something I love and share it with whom ever wants to read it. I keep telling myself I want to be a teacher so I'm going to forgo the classroom and teach my readers. I'm going to forget about the money I could make or might even lose and just do what I love to do. TEACH.