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Aunt Peaches went tinsel this week

I love blogger Aunt Peaches. The simple fact that she blogs and posts regularly makes her a superstar in my book--but her content is actually fun, useful, and quite to my liking.

Check out her tinsel post and make everything sparkly this year.


Here's a chipboard prototype of the Santa ornament Sir Henry and I are working on this year. The glittery beard is a "must-have" for the holidays. 

update 2020--the photo of the 2013 ornnament is no long available but here is 2011...

Art Doll Collage Card

My cherished friend Cindy was having a birthday and I wanted to make a fabulous card. I have been viewing a lot of the "she art" lately and thought I would incorporate that theme.


I used an 11.5" by 4.25" card base and layered on dictionary paper, ink, pale yellow cardstock and then the doll.

I made her head first and then fitted the body, crown, arms, legs, and hair to work with body. I started to write "fitted to scale" but this dolly is not really to scale at all, is she?

I used print paper scraps (I think it might be Basic Grey, but don't quote me). All the parts are outlined in black ink.

I had a cool envelope in my stash for the card. This one took about 2 hours to complete and I loved every minute of it.

Dictionary Pages everywhere

This design is adorable with the ballet skirt
cut separately and slipped on the doll. Makes
a pretty hanging ornament.

After buying two huge dictionaries at a yard sale I began working them into all kinds of projects. The paper is thin, so it collages well and light background so it can be stamped and colored.


Try those paper chain dolls or just a solo dancer for a design reminiscent of childhood treasures.

All three of the dancer cards were featured
in a make-n-take at the FCC Crop & Stamp
fundraiser. They can be assembled quickly

Adapt and change patterns to work with the dictionary paper. I used one I found through Pinterest that was designed to hang. The pattern was large and the skirt had cuts like a snowflake.

Friendship Blooms in Open Hearts--Recycled from previously used greeting cards

Shaping up Nicely

All of these cards were drawn and cut from circles. We used recycled greeting cards and paper scraps.

The card blanks, including the printed file folder ones, were purchased on sale at major craft store and are manufactured by DCV. They are really handy for quick cards when affordable.

Just Cuttin' Up

More designs from the Recycled Greeting creative session taught this summer:

Designer note: Use a black
pen to make borders around
the shapes and around the edges
of the card. Stamp or write
word greetings on the front
to balance design.


Circles and leaves--simple easy fun.
Reminds me of the amazing and
talented Mary Engelbreit.



Just one big bloom & handwritten sentiment.            



Just draw, cut, and paste. This design used print
 paper from scrapbooking scraps.

Let's give some art away

Wish Big with three candles.

Designing and delivering creative arts classes for the first time in years has been a joyful experience for me in 2013. These creative art sessions are free and designed with the premise that it doesn't take a ton of supplies and tools to make fun cards and gifts. One of the philosophies of these programs is that when we create we honor our Great Creator.

Wish Big sentiment printed from computer.
Candle and flame cut from greeting cards.

The sessions are held monthly (except November and December) at First Christian Church in West Palm Beach, FL. We meet on Saturday morning from 10am-12pm. Feel welcome to email me if you wish to attend or start a similar program in your area.

One of my favorite sessions featured recycling previously used greeting cards into new cards. We starting with free-hand drawing of shapes onto the cards, cut them out, and pieced the shapes together. We used a "guide sheet" of shapes to get us started and I've published that here along with a few samples. Stay tuned for more designs from this session.

Pattern/guide for freehand drawings

Experience Discovery

"Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead." 1 Peter 1:6, 5x7"
 original art card by NAChattin 2013

For the last few years I’ve had an annual “one little word” with me throughout the year. I didn’t call it the “OLW” until later when I discovered that lots of writers and art journalists were doing it too—and doing it in ways I really liked. (http://aliedwards.com/blog/one-little-word  and http://onelittleword.typepad.com/ for example) I combined their techniques with mine.

One of the many awesome God-things about joining First Christian church in WestPalm Beach was that they do a “OLW” for the entire congregation. The words are printed on stars and drawn by every member. I drew EXPERIENCE as my OLW for 2013.

One of my wonderful art EXPERIENCES this year has been to start doodling and painting and collaging on cards and occasionally canvas. I’ve had a sketchbook near me when I am relaxing and I’ve been studying the work of scads of other artists online, mostly on Pinterest. From simple shapes to Zen-tangles, I love using pens, paper, and glue to make designs that are unique.

 

"Just my size" 5x7" original art card by NAChattin

 

 

To see all of the posts of my original to me designs click on key word Uncharted Destination tour.

 

 

Loving "Pinispiration" on Pinterest

Yodie card for Cindy 2013

I have the most unwieldy favorites list on Internet Explorer that my techie-for-a-living husband has ever seen. I just love marking pages and thinking I'll go try that soon. There's over 500 of those pages in my favorites folder now and it's too cumbersome to even try and find most things. Plus, my tastes and goals have changed so much.

Pinterest has satisfied my need for saving and reviewing internet ideas. I can categorize items and there is a visual for every thing I mark. When my tastes change I can just create a new board.

Between Pinterest and RSS feeds to my Yahoo home page--I am all set.

The Yoda tribute design to the right is one of my favorites. I was inspired by a tee shirt that had been pinned by a sci-fi fan. It was the perfect impetus to use in creating a card for my "Star Wars" fan and friend, Cindy.

Follow my imagination and fun on Pinterest here: http://pinterest.com/nachattin/boards/

Small ideas and big results

I won't get lost in the crowd, April 2013
Check out my ATC gallery
http://www.nachattin.com/artfulspiritATCgallery.html

I've been on my ATC streak for months now and it's still not getting old for me. After reading this article from Stampington Magazine's Art Journal publication--I'm inspired to explore small scale in my journaling too.

Stampinton Magazine publishers have got it together. In a time when so many printed publications in our industry are fading, they keep changing and adapting. Their magazines have always impressed me as more artsy and "high-end" than most others.

They are also hosting three art retreats a year called Art is Life.  I enjoy drooling over the workshops available--http://www.art-is-you.com/mysitecaddy/site3/ I am seriously considering some of their online workshops this summer.

Mellywood's Mansion: How The Heck Does She Afford To Feed All Those Kid...

We see a lot of bread machines in our thrift store/yard sale adventures. It's one of those items that make us sad because we are still using our bread maker from over 20 years ago when everyone HAD to have one...

We love our bread machine all year long, but the box mixes are expensive and the recipe books seem complex. I'm going to mix up half a batch of Mellywood's  bulk bread machine mix and bring more fresh bread to the table.


Mellywood's Mansion: How The Heck Does She Afford To Feed All Those Kid...: Morning All, Sometimes people suck! No I haven't woken up on the wrong side of the bed but sometimes people are so rude when y...

Floppy Diskettes

A little over 3 years ago I made some hanging photo ornaments from floppy disks. You can see the instructions and finished sample in my You Tube video:

I have a web page that goes into more details on the supplies: http://www.nachattin.com/artclephotornament.html

There are still quite a few diskettes hanging around my studio so I decided to surf and find some other projects. Here's a fun tutorial from Cut Out and Keep web site: It's a floppy diskette card designed by Harmini A.


I'd love to send some of these to friends. I can only imagine how long a diskette would take to break down in a landfill--so reusing them makes so much sense.

Here's a blog post that shows 10 ways to recycle floppy disks: http://www.noordinaryhomestead.com/10-ways-to-reuse-3-5%E2%80%B3-floppy-disks/

I designed some digital versions of cards featuring floppy diskettes that can be glued to the front of a floppy or just sent via email or Facebook.

Samples of ATC books from Alpha Stamps Design Team Online

Ah, the glorious artist trading card. I can't get enough. Alpha Stamps (no affiliation) has a new challenge out to make ATC accordian books with their products. The products are gorgeous and the designs splendid. My style has gone quirkly lately so I thought I'd share something totally different and totally gorgeous. Enjoy.

 Tool around the links on their blog to see a total of three design team books and check out the gallery for even more ideas.

Getting Patriotic all Summer

I love my country. No matter what your politics you have to admit that you were blessed to be born or naturalized as a citizen of this country.

As summer begins I think about two kinds of cards, decor, entertaining, etc. The first is patriotic and the second is "beachy fun."

Take a look at all these ideas for patriotic party crafts and recipes at JoAnn.com

Patriotic rarely goes out of style--this card was

made in 2005 and I'd still send it today.

 

Art Journal and Doodle Inspiration

Journal doodles are popping up on every page lately. At first I was working on doodle dollies and then I moved on to bunnies (from Noni Art) and bugs and flowers like this bee on a purple bloom.

I’ve been asked often where I get the inspiration for doodle shapes. Most of the Noni art is just Zen. I look at the painted area like I’d look at clouds to find shapes. On fancy artist days, I think of myself as a sculptor looking at stone before chipping out the statue.

Doodling on blank paper or newsprint is a bit more defined. I look online for inspiration, I practice, and I make it my own. I’ve traced photos in my journal to turn them into doodles, I’ve doodled photos, and I’ve looked at my rubber stamps for inspiration.

Some of the Zen-tangle things I worked on a while back are coming into play as well. I don’t concentrate on filling each space as much as I start with a few lines and work out. Next I “find” shapes in the doodles much like the Noni art process.

See http://www.artfultourist.blogspot.com/2013/04/noni-art-what-you-get-when.html for background on the Noni Art.

Noni Art--I give you my heart

“I give you my heart,” is Noni art that was also inspired by a Pinterest pin. The heart is popped up with glue dots.

 

See http://www.artfultourist.blogspot.com/2013/04/noni-art-what-you-get-when.html for background on the Noni Art.

Noni art --cheery girl

I have been pinning lots of doodles on my board and found a pin with all kinds of faces. I used one on this curly haired girl. Her heart shape cheeks are filled with a Sakura Gelly Roll pen.

 

See http://www.artfultourist.blogspot.com/2013/04/noni-art-what-you-get-when.html for background on the Noni Art

doodle finds--check out this link

Not Just Any Bee - Doodle Art: The Book of James: You can probably tell by now that I REALLY want to do a journal... but I REALLY don't have anything to say!  I have tried my whole li...

Bloom Child Noni Art

My Noni art is appearing everywhere. Here’s an ATC sized piece that rests happily in my art journal.

 

 

See http://www.artfultourist.blogspot.com/2013/04/noni-art-what-you-get-when.html for background on the Noni Art.

NONI art---what you get when grandchildren paint and Noni takes paintings home



"The world is bigger and the worries are
smaller through the eyes of a child." by
NAChattin--Noni Art 3/13

In February 2013 we visited my awesome step-daughter and her children. (Sam, age 4 and Anna, age 18 months) While we were there Grandpa built an incredible tree fort for the kids and Noni stayed inside. One of our activities was painting. Yes, if you listen carefully you can still hear my heart singing.

The amazing Mom, Molly, laid out a shower curtain on the floor, put newsprint from a roll on top of it, poured acrylic paint into bowls, got out brushes, striped the kids down to diaper and under-roos and we had a blast.

Here are some moments from our adventure with paint (photos by Molly Schloesser)

  Molly put the painted paper out for recycling and I rolled that baby up, put it in the car, and took it home. I stand strong in my philosophy that a home is not a home without kid art displayed. The paper was huge, about 5’ by 3’ and I just couldn’t get it to stay up on the refrigerator….

Thus, Noni art was born. I’ve been taking pieces of the painting and doodling into it and cutting it into smaller pieces for collage, cards, and ATC (which you witnessed during the 7 days of Holy week ATC display here).

Jump into color feet first by NAChattin.

 

The bird at top right is the first peice I created. It’s 5” by 7” and was mailed as a card to Molly, of course. It remains one of Henry’s favorite pieces in the whole collection. I am going to share more of my Noni art as the days go on—it’s spurred a whole new interest in doodling and drawing for me.

My first fun doodle adventure was with a photo from our paint date. I may have posted this previously but it's too fun not to mention again (Jump into Color Feet First--at right)

 Finally, because whoever met a grandmother who didn't like to show off pictures, here's one of Sam and Anna--Molly is a talented photographer in addition to everything else she gets right.

We can't wait to visit them again and again. The reason you don't see Dad, Ryan Schloesser, is because he is on army assignment overseas. (Keep him and all of us in your prayers)

 

ATC Cards for 7 days of Holy Week

Day Seven: Flower Bunny

Happy Easter! 

This week is the holiest time in the Christian church. It’s also the Passover celebration in the Jewish faith. Jesus was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and that is where our Christian communion celebration originates. It is during this week that he was crucified and rose from the dead. (Just a short little “reason for the season” note for you).

Celebrate holy week and the last week of Lent with me this week as I prepare the seven ATCs of Easter.  These cards are all assembled from the spring/Easter ATCs that I have made recently.  As you may have read, I am unable to escape the calling to create ATCs lately. I like to put the little 3.5” by 2.5” treasures to work after I make them so that’s why I mounted them all on cards. Some are removable and some are not—but they got their start as ATCs.   

Easter Sunday Bonus--A few more ATC cards:

ATC Cards for 7 days of Holy Week

Day Six: Bunny foo-foo

 

 

 

ATC Cards for 7 days of Holy Week

Day 5: Blissful Bunny

 

 

ATC Cards for 7 days of Holy Week

Day Four: Torn Paper Chickee

 

 

ATC Cards for 7 days of Holy Week

Day Three: The Curvy Chick

 

 

ATC Cards for 7 days of Holy Week

Day Two: Joy

 

 



ATC Cards for 7 Days of Holy Week

Day One--The Happy Bird

 

Tendinitis in my wrist, hand, and thumb that occurred after these were made prevents me from typing lots of detail and instructions. Post a question here if you want to know a product or technique. I invite you to just celebrate and enjoy.

ATC Cards for 7 days of Holy Week

This week is the holiest time in the Christian church. It’s also the Passover celebration in the Jewish faith. Jesus was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and that is where our Christian communion celebration originates. It is during this week that he was crucified and rose from the dead. (Just a short little “reason for the season” note for you).

This is not an ATC card but one I made from
the painted paper that my grand kids made I
just doodled and cut this big eyed bunny who
rests happily on a 5" by 7" card.

Celebrate holy week and the last week of Lent with me this week as I prepare the seven ATCs of Easter.  These cards are all assembled from the spring/Easter ATCs that I have made recently.  As you may have read, I am unable to escape the calling to create ATCs lately. I like to put the little 3.5” by 2.5” treasures to work after I make them so that’s why I mounted them all on cards. Some are removable and some are not—but they got their start as ATCs.   

Tendinitis in my wrist, hand, and thumb that occurred after these were made prevents me from typing lots of detail and instructions. Post a question below any day's design if you want to know a product or technique. I invite you to just celebrate and enjoy.

 

 

 

Direct from Dropbox--journal snippets

In March, I started some doodling projects
I've been working with a book Sir Henry
 got me for Christmas called Creative
doodling byStefannie Corfee. This is my
grand-daughter's little foot on paint day.

I am the first to admit that my blog photos are not high on the technique and quality scale. I don't use my blog to make money, I don't update on a regular schedule, and I'd rather make art than photograph art.

I have a new smart phone (apparently smarter than the last one) that takes photos on a 3gig camera. That's the same size as our first digital camers which weighed 6 pounds back in 2003. I figure it will do and as Lorretta Lynn says, "I have never been afraid to make do."

Today I am experimenting with taking photos directly from dropbox downloads off my cell phone and not editing them in any way. For a woman who loves her PhotoShop this is a tricky task.

So, here are a few more journal snippets from 2013:

I've been studying faces by other artists
to develop my own face skills with my
journal doodle dollies.