Stick Art: Expressive and Low-Cost

Wonderful low-cost art.

Welcome to the Club Creative Studio Two-Cent Tuesday post.  Today I will feature a few ideas I learned about via Pinterest using a low-cost supplies.

Each of the projects that I will highlight today are made from painted wooden pop sickle sticks.  The first one is a framed creation with same sized sticks, the second project includes a variety of stick sizes and additional wooden cut-out shapes.  Both involve paints and the use of a glue gun for quick results.

Framed Art Project

The first project was made by a group of second graders. Their art project was presented as a school class auction item.  Usually for this type of event, each class in a school collaborates and makes an item that is creative and interesting and it is auctioned off  to raise funds. Each of the class supporter’s bidding can get pretty competitive in their price wars to raise funds and have a chance to own art.  I know that this would have certainly caught my eye!

I am awaiting information on the pinner of this photo and source to share the details of the story behind this pop sickle art. When and if it arrives I will edit this post.  In the meantime, I am guessing that acrylic paints were used and each child contributed a set amount of sticks to form this art. The source: Holly McGavin, posted that the sticks were attached to foam core and then framed out. What a colorful result from something that is a low-cost, easy and quick. I love this project idea.

This project idea has inspired my daughter to create her own art, using inspirational quotes on each of her sticks and painted in the same technique. I think this has no age boundaries, I am even thinking of creating like this too! I love that a simple frame makes this look more worthy of hanging.  If it is a done as a class I suggest that  on one side the design is painted and the other side the artist’s signature is added. This makes the piece even more personal. Each stick can be readily identified this way for later reference.

Snowflake Project

Found on the site called:  Call Me May this project is also easy to make with variety possibilities as well.  How fun it looks, when completed I suggest hanging on a door, wall or from the ceiling! Using a variety of stick sizes, your snowflake shapes can be created in many interesting shapes and diameters. These are obviously painted (or spray painted) in a tint but they would also look beautiful in white and decorated further with added embellishments like glitter for a glam/festive look or buttons and gears for a vintage feel.

Source: http://www.callmemaybe8748.weebly.com

Have fun with your imagination and create with love like these projects were. I love sharing information that is low-cost and appealing. If you live in an area where you have a winter season, the snowflake theme can be current right up until spring!  Please stop by this Club Creative Studio blog often as the creativity is endless.  You never know what will jump-start your creative juices. Let us know what you think about this project in the comment box below!

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Creativity and Cardboard

What a great quote to start off this blog from Club Creative Studio.  I welcome you to take a few minutes to watch this video and be inspired from a nine year old boy’s creativity.

If you have ever wanted inspiration to create and use low-cost materials then take a look at what this YouTube sensation video has to offer. You’ll witness simplicity of dreams from the eyes of a child, using his creativity and cardboard. It’s CREATIVITY at its best. Bringing tears to my eyes having heard about this a while ago and then again as I post today on the Club Creative Studio blog: I share this highlight, as I continue to watch the wheels turn and confidence grow in creative thoughts of a young boy, Caine. Be inspired! Be CREATIVE!

Enjoy.

Rock’n Art

Natural stones can ROCK YOUR WORLD!

Club Creative Studio’s Blog today is called: Between A Rock.  I have  used stones, rocks and gems in several art creations.  I have never felt like I was”caught between a rock and a hard place” when designing with them because there are so many options to incorporate wire to create mixed media art.

Special meaning associated with art.

One recent and particular custom piece comes to mind to speak about because it had special significance to the person requesting that I design an item that incorporated her “fool’s gold”. This nugget was special because her husband was a truck driver and he had the idea to “do something with this” someday.  He did not get around to it but, she kept it close to her heart since he passed away.  Fast forward to 41 years later, his bride decided for him to do “something” with it she gave it to me to create something special.

She wore the necklace I created on the day that what would have been their 41st wedding anniversary.

It is a sweet story that I will never forget.

I love knowing that special meaning can be associated with art.  I love knowing that something that I created with love had more love associated with it for someone else.

If we take time to look around our world, you might find yourself appreciating the little things in life like rocks and pebbles.  The next time you find one, take time to admire the marbling effects, the texture, the shape and even the weight of nature.  A mere stone is special if it is a single stone or grouped into a functional or natural setting. Here are photos of a few man-made stone walls found in the Western part of North Carolina.  I could not resist taking photos of my views. I wonder if you appreciate them as well.

Let no stone be left unturned! This is a wall located in downtown Sylvia, North Carolina.

I love wire wrapping polished stones.

Many natural stones or dyed rocks have interesting patterns, as highlighted in my cuff bracelet design here. Enjoy, admire, own it.Historically, stones have important status.  Paleo archeologists have discovered evidence dating back 250 million years suggesting that pre historic man used warm clay, earth and stone in medicines. The use of clays for healing was also recorded around 2500 B.C. in Mesopotamia. Some scholars also believe that other prehistoric ancestors used ochres made from naturally tinted clay and iron oxides were used not only to paint caves, but also to heal wounds. Interestingly, iron is a main element in the basalt stones used in modern-day stone massage therapy.

Lodestone, a magnetic rock, was discovered in China around 8th century BC. It is believed that needles made from these magnetic stones around this time replaced bone acupuncture needles.   And in Japan, warm stones were worn around the waist to aid digestion.  Stones also play an important role in Native American beliefs. Some tribal elders believe stones to be ancient beings that have souls.  Stones were also used in northern Europe as the original electric blankets without the electricity. People would put warm stones in bed. Warm stones were also used during childbirth to help reduce pain and spasms.

And, if you found yourself in the generation of the PET ROCK, or know of the WORRY STONE, rocks take on additional meanings. I have been working for the past few days creating bracelets that have wire and various stones. I like the feeling that there is a deeper connection to nature when I am creating with stone.  I’ll be highlighting those creations soon as I find ways to perfect my wrapping techniques further.

Rocks, pebbles, stones…oh my! my photo is from an old street in downtown Philadelphia.

What type of people like stone jewelry?  I think anyone can “rock” this look because it is natural and can be a very neutral accessory.  People are drawn to the earth themes of wearing a stone accessory.  It is quite opposite from the shiny bling of a diamond or gemstone.  Adding a rock item to your collection of accessories provides a variety in range from semi-precious stones or a common rock you can find on a curbside or natural forest path.  No matter if a stone is man-made or dyed, it can bring a look of nature, calmness and simplicity. Smooth or rugged, a stone piece can be a statement piece of wearable art or a simple highlight of what nature has to offer us.  Stones can be used in their natural state, carved, polished, combined with other elements, caged in wire, attached to a pendant and even made  as a faux clay bead.  There is no limit to the display of a real stone in jewelry except for its weight.  Many artists attempt to mimic qualities of stone in other mediums.  A common look is from turquoise, and marble.  And why not? The natural stones can be expensive and hard to find, not to mention heavy to wear in their real states.

Image Copyright: Club Creative Studio

 Please visit and revisit the Natural Stone section in the Club

 Creative Studio online storefront. Inventory changes often!

http://www.clubcreativestudio.com

Find softness in a harsh rock setting like this one from a small north Carolina town called Sylva.

Are you attracted to rocks? Do you enjoy wearing jewelry that has rocks incorporated? Club Creative Studio has items that are unique and are inspired by nature.

Be sure to check out the website to view wire-wrapped stones. It is truly Art That Will Set You Apart!

http://www.clubcreativestudio.com

Flashback of Creativity

A few months ago I was taken back. I was transported to the past where  fond childhood memories were clear as day.  It was at a craft fair that took place around the Christmas holiday.  I attended with my neighbor.  Many rooms were decorated with items for sale. There were many trees set up with ornaments for sale and there were many people doing their holiday shopping.

It wasn’t until I went upstairs to a particular room that I experienced my flashback.  The flash from the past was a clear as the days of old. I was in utter amazement in what was sitting under a decorated tree.  I discover in this room, a childhood friend.  Something so familiar and missed that seeing it brought tears to my eyes.  REALLY! I dropped to the floor on my knees to get a closer look.  I reached out to hold this dear object and I picked it up gingerly.  WOW! It was meant to be! Finding this lost treasure from my past was a sign that I needed to buy it for myself. For a second or two, I needed to reward myself and take back, reclaim what was a big part of my life in the past. I had to have that doll!

This is Mrs. Beasley and me. She is my blast from the past doll.

Mrs. Beasley was a fabric  and plastic doll made by Mattel in 1967.  Today she is considered vintage.  This particular Mrs.Beasley doll is a vintage re-make with the recordings of Cheryl Ladd as the grandmotherly voice used in her string activated voice box encased in the doll’s  cotton fabric torso area.  The doll was designed to resemble a grandmotherly type figure. She also had a string that you pulled to make her “talk”. The phrases she spoke were of things a Grandmother might say like: “I do believe you are the nicest little friend I ever had.” and “Would you like to try on my glasses, you may if you wish.”

The doll was made popular by the sit-com, family show starring Brian Keith. It was called: Family Affair. Keith played an uncle who was put in charge of these adorable twin children named Buffy and Jody.  Mr. French was a supporting character as the butler.  It was one of those feel good shows that I just loved watching as a child on television.

Buffy had a Mrs. Beasley doll on the show and they were pretty popular dolls.  The fabric of the doll’s body was blue and white poka-dot. It was a very stiff-stuffed doll with arms, torso and legs, that were solid and great for wear and tear.  That doll was durable.  Mrs. Beasley came with her own plastic granny glasses and a hair net. Funny now to think about those factors that seemed appealing to have on a doll.

I earned my own money to buy my Mrs. Beasley by making loom pot holders! I remember making many of the square loom pot holders in hopes that those in my neighborhood would buy them so that I could have enough money for my Mrs. Beasley doll. They did, so you know I had a fond appreciation for her because of the added efforts in obtaining her.

The funny part about finding this doll that day were the comments I got while I was holding her while shopping the rest of that shopping spree. Women would stop to talk about her and tell me that they had a Mrs. Beasley doll too or that they knew someone who had one when they were growing up.  One lady even asked if I were planning on buying it for sure because she would consider it if I did not want to purchase it.  I did buy it and I guess I was not ready for the reaction of my family when I brought my tiny treasure home.

My blast from the past doll.

The cats found her curious but were not impressed with it. And my husband did not know why I “needed” a doll at my age. My daughter thought it was “creepy” and said she was going to give her nightmares. Oh well!  She is mine. I have been reunited with my friend, Mrs.Beasley!

Do you have a flash from the past item that you are attached to for personal or creative reasons? Do share. Creativity is meant to be appreciated.

Admire and Inspire: Buds Buy Beads

Here’s a TNT (This-N-That) Club Creative Studio riddle for you.

Question: What do you get when you place two jewelry makers with different design styles together in the same bead store for a few hours?

Answer: A few long receipts!

Small package, long receipt.

Welcome to the Club Creative Studio blog where the focus is on CREATIVITY.

I recently blogged about a small bead shop that was closing its doors for public business. I learned that after eight years, the owners wanted to start reclaiming their lives and go fishing and enjoy and be near their grandchildren more often.  One can hardly argue with that! It takes dedication and many hours run a brick and mortar storefront and I totally understand their desire for a change of pace.  It will be a loss to many bead fans and jewelry-makers to no longer have the store in their neighborhood. In their final days of their close-out, they offered a great opportunity for customers to purchase their remaining tiny treasures at deeply discounted prices. I hit the bead store scene with a new bud to buy beads and we enjoyed our productive day.

I had a great time talking the “language of jewelry-making” with a fellow jewelry maker and friend: Anna Servati of Anna’s Jewelry Designs. We first met at a networking event and quickly started speaking our native language BEADS.  It is always a thrill for me to be able to meet or maintain a working relationship with someone who has similar passions and high levels of creativity.  We have very different design styles yet, we can still appreciate the same beads and techniques in the jewelry-making world. I suggested that when we both got home, we needed to photograph our “bead stash” from today. Here is Anna’s stash. She loves gem stones, and added some unique clasps to her collection.

This is Anna’s stash.

While shopping, we  had moments where we both admired the same beads even though we may have bought totally different beads in the end. We did agree to both purchase one bead alike, however.  This will be the bead that we will both use in one of our individual projects to see how each of us will create with it.

How fun is that?

This is the special bead we each bought to use in our own separate creations.

I wanted to use the photos to illustrate in this blog how two people can shop differently with their own personal art styles in mind, and let you see what caught our eyes long enough to want to purchase.  My hope is to have you admire the collections and be inspired to do something creative. You don’t have to be a jewelry-designer to use  or love beads, stones, charms or wire!  This is my stash from the shopping adventure.  You know I am always on the hunt for the unusual finding so leave it up to me to find the charms shaped like hands right off the bat as I entered the door! Some things just scream Club Creative Studio.

This is Club Creative Studio’s bead stash from 01/03/2013.

The best take-away aspect that I realized yesterday while spending time with my friend was that while we had our little conversations in between our glazed over eyes in auto pilot shopping mode, we spent some quality time doing what I love to do…admire and inspire.  The shopping spree also brought another aspect to the forefront of my mind. I feel that it is important to have at least one person that you can trust to have a listening ear near or word of honest advice when you need an opinion.

I have many different “go-to” pals who are very knowledgeable in specific areas that are willing to share and have a give-and-take conversation. If you don’t have people in your life-like that, I suggest finding a few because there is nothing better than having the opportunity to bounce off ideas and get feedback from a variety of people.

To view more interesting and unique hand-made items from Club Creative Studio, U.S.A. visit the website and check back often. You may see a creation that incorporates an item from this recent stash of goodies! Thank you for taking time to admire and be inspired. We love it when you wear and share Club Creative Studio hand-made ART THAT SETS YOU APART!

http://www.clubcreativestudio.com

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Bad News,Good News

Business owners have a hard job. They deserve hugs.

It is hard to run and maintain a business.  For some, it is a venture that is not long-lived. Whenever a business has to shut its doors and discontinue services to our community I am saddened. It doesn’t matter the reason, there is always a void placed in front of us when someplace we frequent or have support for has closed.

This is the case for a local bead shop in my area. I have only visited and purchased from this particular shop once in the last seven months but, I supported their efforts in bringing the love of beading to many it served.  Perhaps if I had lived closer, I would have been able to take advantage of shopping there more often.  Needless to say, the bad news is the closing of a bead shop.  Now that the owners have decided to close their doors for public business, their bad/sad fortune in closing has become the limited time good fortune and good news for those gaining from their clearance prices.

Find the good in a situation.

Today, I am going to check out their remaining inventory with another fellow jewelry maker. I have no idea what I will come home with, if anything at all.  I do know that my friend and I have different styles in our creations, so I am sure that if we get anything there to add to our supply list, they will be very different items. That fact alone may be a most interesting tidbit of information to realize in our shopping experience.  What will attract her eye and what will I find interesting or useful in comparison? Our design styles will certainly call for the need to shop with different eyes, for different items.

I think that it is important to spend time with those with similar interests in business.  It is a good opportunity to brainstorm and ask for advice if the other is willing to share information and experiences.  Many times artists feel that they are in direct or indirect competition with each other.  I can see how that belief can be possible but, there is also another side to this situation. I look to others in the same field as partners in a way, because we are along the same path.  Our journey and adventure may be very different but, still a common bond can bring us together.  For the love of beads can’t we all just get along!

Be supportive of fellow artists, they are just like you creating with love.

This is the case with my jewelry-making pals. We all have different styles and customers.  If we happen to ever have the same customers, it is because of their love for art in general.  Styles are individual and pleasing to many.  We make our creations with love and care as artists, no matter what level we are on in our specialty craft. We have opportunities to look to and to look out for our fellow creators.  I am happy to support local businesses and people associated with the common bond of beads.

To take this support to a new level, I have an idea in the works that will allow fellow artists to show support to one another.  Stay tuned to this blog for more information on how I hope to bridge creative people together with others and allow them to share their talents and shine.  I welcome you to “FOLLOW” this blog for updates on future posts. Keep informed of creative ideas from creative people.  Thanks for stopping by the blog today creative friend.  Have you been inspired to support the efforts of a fellow artist more deeply?

New Year’s Tradition

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We create our own decorative glasses and masks for the new year.

We wish all of our visitors to this site a great start to the NEW YEAR! May it be a creative year full of happiness and good health.  This will be a quick post to share a tradition that my daughter and I take part in each New Year’s Eve. We don’t purchase pre-made decorative eye glasses…we MAKE THEM!

Happy New Year!

This year we made the year numbers a bit larger and placed a stick handle on the back to display as a mask.  Each year we get out the markers and decorate away! We don’t spend too much time on it or add any mixed medium supplies, it is merely a quick way to bond and share the new year together in a few pics with our creations in hand.

Happy New Year! We hope you celebrated in style!  Are you inspired to start your own tradition by doing the same thing next year?  Try it!

Christmas Crunch- It’s Bow Time!

Are you feeling the Christmas crunch? Club Creative Studio is sharing creative information about how to make your gifts look special for the holiday season and beyond.

Christmas Crunch: Quick and Easy Project ll

Transform a plain wood item into a colorful item with a personal touch.

Welcome to Club Creative Studio’s blog with the focus on creativity.  I am adding a few posts about using your creativity in a crunch-time situation. It is that time of year that many stress about the time that they do not have to be creative for the holidays.  Maybe it is a lack of innovation of gift-giving ideas, maybe it is the stress of the challenge to do something new and creative in decorating, baking, cooking or gift-giving or gift wrapping.  Whatever the creative challenge, here is another post for a suggestion to use your creativity in a quick and easy project.

It doesn’t take as long as you think it does to be creative with acrylic paints.  You can transform a wood item into a colorful work of original art with a bit of paint and patience.  While there is a time and a place to appreciate wood for its natural beauty, some items just lend themselves to adding paint to beautify a wooden item in a different way.

Today, I painted a wooden nut cracker home accessory and changed the appearance from plain to wild, crazy, festive and colorful.

It is easy to transform a wooden holiday accessory into a more decorative item.

The first step is to find an item or ornament made from wood that is smooth and ready to accept paint.  I applied a thin layer of gesso acrylic primer to my wooden nut cracker item.

I applied one layer of gesso to prime the surface.

Using acrylic paint, I applied my paint to the wood figure with ideas to make it a “non-traditional” looking item. I wanted my nut cracker to be bright and colorful, with pattern added after the larger areas were painted for a unique look.  When you see the finished product at the end of this post, I think you may agree that the mission was accomplished.

Painted item ready for the next step. The next step is adding the details.

I love defining areas and adding details with black as a sharp contrasting color.

To add detail to the finished painted portions, I used a black felt permanent marker to add my swirls and decorative detailed areas.  Adding pattern with my marker seemed to make this item even more fanciful and imaginative.  A light coating can be added as a final touch for gloss or a matt protective coating if desired.  I hope that if you challenge yourself to create a painted wooden project, you can be expressive and end up with a one-of-a-kind festive item.

My finished project! The details make a polished look in the completed art.

Although I love creating in clay and glass creations like the hand-made art you find in the Club Creative Studio website (http://www.clubcreativestudio.com) I have another love for using paint, especially acrylic.  I love that this medium has an easy clean-up process and you can mix your own colors with ease.  The fast dry-time is also a plus for getting your project done if you feel the holiday crunch for time.

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Christmas Crunch- Quick and Easy Projects

Welcome to Club Creative Studio’s  blog where the focus is always on creativity.  With Christmas fast approaching, I am certainly feeling the “Christmas Crunch”. It is the time many feel rushed, hunting for quick solutions.  Many of your creative endeavors do not need to be time-consuming.  In fact, sometimes is a simple display of creativeness can mean the most.

Here’s the first of a few posts that will deal with the holiday season theme suggesting project prompts that are fairly quick and relatively easy to complete.  Let’s not stress being creative.

Hand-Made Gift Tags

Let’s create simple yet fun gift tags. You can do this inexpensively and with scraps and other found objects around the house. Using the computer is a fast and easy way to make gift tags because of the editing possibilities and the quick process. Maybe you want to combine the computer with other elements to create your tags.  I used pre-cut blank tags but, making your own from scrap stock paper and using a hole punch is just as easy to customize your color choices if you have those scrap booking supplies close on hand.

Basic supplies for gift-tag making.

Supplies I used in the creation of my tags were: paper tags and ribbon,  scissors, decorative tapes, permanent markers in various size points and colors, foam stickers, scrap wrapping paper, brads, double stick tape, stamps, ink pads.  Dividing the tag surface into sections will give you an area to focus on. The new printed tapes out in the scrap-booking section of your local craft stores are fun to experiment with.  Feel free to cut the tape to suit your specific design needs.

Hand-made gift tags with paper “yo-yo” flower added.

For the paper “yo-yo” flowers you see on my tags, you’ll need a paper strip of printed scrap paper cut in a rectangle. The size of your flower and center opening will vary in size with your cut paper width and length cuts. Using the basic accordion fold, pick a thickness and keep the folds back and forth consistent.  Glue two stop ends together overlapping slightly and your “flower” is ready to add  a brad to the center. For a finishing touch on the flowers, I marked the raised and folded sections with metallic marker and placed double stick tape on the back to adhere to my blank tag area.  Let your creativity flow as you save money and create one-of-a-kind hand-made gift tags. It is certainly part of your gift!

Club Creative Studio gift tags.