tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87589358038344201522024-03-05T22:26:18.851-08:00Mrs Hannigan's Craft CornerLisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-28903289651119895872013-10-09T15:10:00.002-07:002013-10-09T15:11:22.612-07:00Portfolios for Young ArtistsI've been compiling portfolios for my kids. One of my older girls is trying to get into art school and they wanted to see a portfolio and I remembered so many awesome things she's made over the years and I was really bummed because I had no idea where her paintings were. I decided to nip it in the bud and make portfolios for my younger girls that we can add to as they grow. I bought a few of these <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027AEKXY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0027AEKXY&linkCode=as2&tag=mrshann-20">Economy Artist Portfolio</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mrshann-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0027AEKXY" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> from Amazon and I know they SAY "economy" in the title but they're nice, like luggage. I put some <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=index%20cards&linkCode=ur2&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aindex%20cards&sprefix=index%2Caps&tag=mrshann-20&url=search-alias%3Daps">index cards</a><img src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mrshann-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> in each one and a few paper clips so that as I'm adding items to their portfolios I can easily record data about each piece, like when it was created and what amterials were used and any relevant comments the child has made about her work. Sometimes i have photos of her making the piece, so I can include that too, if I want. Or instead. Either way, even if no one else decides to go to art school I feel better knowing we won't have to scramble to compile a portfolio again.
<a href="http://buyyourartonline.com"><img width="220" src="http://buyyourartonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/buy-your-art-online_school-portfolio.jpg" /></a><br><a href="http://buyyourartonline.com">buyyourartonline.com</a>Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-75511046169018951342013-09-24T14:46:00.001-07:002013-09-24T14:46:35.246-07:00Making something from nothingOne of my favorite things about being an artist is combining previously unrelated things and turning them into an awesome piece of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gypsy-mom/9839402756/">artwork</a> that people want to hang on their walls. <br />
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Part of this is because it's fun to rescue things that were doomed for the recycling bin. Cutting a word from a magazine page and gluing it onto a painted canvas is a way of preserving something intangible from the work of someone else. <br />
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Yes, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=site:+collageart.com&safe=off&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=rwdCUtOdFKSviAKRqIHIAQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=702&dpr=1">collage art</a> is my favorite. I like the idea of looking at something that's done (or several somethings) and deciding to destroy it and rebuild something new.<br />
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Blogging is like that, a combination of things in a new way to create a new form. Isn't it awesome that we live in a time where we can reinvent the world so frequently.<br />
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<a href="http://blogskinny.com/?Do-You-Love-to-Write?-Earn-Money-Blogging!&AID=6299"><img width="220" src="http://blogskinny.com/images/infographics/blogging_web_log.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://blogskinny.com/?Do-You-Love-to-Write?-Earn-Money-Blogging!&AID=6299">Infographic Credit</a>Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-18957595273335096012013-09-18T09:57:00.000-07:002013-09-18T14:26:29.623-07:00For the visual learnersAs a <a href="http://gypsymom.com">homeschooling mom</a>, I'm in tune with the way my kids learn. We have a lot of discussions in our family, where we wonder about things and postulate and commiserate and debate and generally talk constantly. But apparently, according to the graphic below, 64% of people are visual learners. I think that's a bit misleading because no person has only one learning style. We all learn in a variety of ways and visual images are just easy to remember for a lot of people. Measuring learning and retention aren't really how things work in our house.
With that said, it's important for anyone who is communicating with ANYONE to understand how best to get their message across. Working with art so much, it's interesting to see what sorts of things people "get" right away and what sorts of things make people shake their head, confused. In the graphic below, for example, the darker blocks of text with the white writing practically disappear the first time you look because the eyes are instantly drawn to the circles, but once you get to the second one, you realize that you HAVE to read the text because the images are working WITH it. that's a nice technique for drawing you in. I wish I could make my chore chart at home that interesting. The importance of Graphic <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/PlainTalkConf/eva-anderson-graphic-design-for-readability">design for readability</a> can not be underestimated. It's an art form that gets your work noticed.
<a href="http://referencevideo.net"><img width="220" src="http://referencevideo.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Reference-Video_visual-learning.jpg" /></a><br><a href="http://referencevideo.net">Image Source</a>Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-74269311331443287342013-09-14T23:28:00.002-07:002013-09-16T16:42:57.482-07:00What a fun businessDid you know I'm a career blogger? It's true. I usually write my personal blog at <a href="http://gypsymom.com/">GypsyMom</a> but I write about my business at <a href="http://30queries30days.com/">Write for Income</a>. I started in 2007 when we shut down our family business and it was necessary to contribute income to our household budget. We had just a few months of living expenses set aside and I had a newborn baby at the time. I wasn't about to go working outside the home in order to keep us out of poverty, so I explored work-from-home opportunities. I had always enjoyed writing and with six kids, blogging came easily. Sharing our family's funny moments and our sweet moments was just as much a way to preserve memories as it was a way to communicate with friends and family that lived far away.
After seven years, no more babies, one divorce, three more houses and one giant road trip, it's safe to say that this whole thing is working out. Keeping up with the industry is tricky, I took about 2 years off and returning has been quite a challenge. The way that search engine algorithms judge quality has been changed a lot over the past two years and it's refreshing to see how well they've made it benefit the reader because before all sorts of gobbledygook was able to make it to the top of the SERPS but now they're much better about keeping things higher quality.
Either way, if you like to write and want to learn more about blogging for money you should investigate it, and start with one of my main websites because it's an awesome job for moms and you get to make your own hours.
<a href="http://blogskinny.com/?Do-You-Love-to-Write?-Earn-Money-Blogging!&AID=6299"><img width="220" src="http://blogskinny.com/images/infographics/blogging_careers.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://blogskinny.com/?Do-You-Love-to-Write?-Earn-Money-Blogging!&AID=6299">blogskinny.com</a>Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-82639618136040671862013-09-12T09:46:00.002-07:002013-09-12T09:46:35.676-07:00The Art FundDo you have an art fund? I put a small percentage of every sale of my artwork into a fund to replenish the art supplies. It's become important to me to make sure we never run out of paint or brushes or yarn or string or glue or anything else art-related. Because of that, I've opted to create an art fund. I've been thinking of increasing the amount I deposit into the fund, not by percentage, but by small chunks, in order to fund a visit to an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007F7TC4G/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007F7TC4G&linkCode=as2&tag=mrshann-20">Art Retreat</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mrshann-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B007F7TC4G" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />or perhaps some fine art lessons. I'm not sure exactly what I'll do with it yet but I've decided to take on some sponsored posts and use that to fund some new experiences. I've been reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1585429287/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1585429287&linkCode=as2&tag=mrshann-20">The Artist's Way</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mrshann-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1585429287" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />and it feels important to fork out some dough for some experiences I wouldn't otherwise have, in an effort to spark more curiosity and inspire more creativity from myself. I've rearranged the studio a bit, too. That should help.
<a href="http://blogskinny.com/?How-Do-You-Get-Paid-to-Blog?&AID=6300"><img src="http://blogskinny.com/images/infographics/blogging_2011.jpg" /></a><br><a href="http://blogskinny.com/?How-Do-You-Get-Paid-to-Blog?&AID=6300">blogskinny.com</a>Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-8555861182153485922013-09-09T15:57:00.001-07:002013-09-11T09:12:36.988-07:00Product recommendationsI think it's so important to pay attention to the products we recommend. I can't imagine recommending something that I haven't used or tried. If you scroll through this blog you'll see me often posting things we just purchased ad that endorsement is nothing more than "I bought this" but telling readers "You should buy this" takes a lot of courage and I think you need to establish respect with your readers before you do such a thing.
<a href="http://http://blogskinny.com"><img src="http://blogskinny.com/images/infographics/blogging_brands.jpg" /></a><br><a href="http://blogskinny.com">Source Site</a>
What do you think? Could you purchase things from a blogger or through their link, knowing they likely get paid for each sale) if you knew that they never even tried the product. It would be difficult to write much in that review other than "This looks good." I'd rather be able to say "OMG we love this product, we want three more."
Since you probably looked here to see what my product recommendations are, not to read my words about the credibility of product recommendations. So here are two products I recommend, with all of my heart: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JESVA8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000JESVA8&linkCode=as2&tag=mrshann-20">Liquitex BASICS Acrylic Paint Tube 36-Piece Set</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mrshann-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000JESVA8" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0035XKDJM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0035XKDJM&linkCode=as2&tag=mrshann-20">30 Fine Art Paint Brushes for Acrylic, Oil, Watercolors</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mrshann-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0035XKDJM" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />.
I recommend the paints because the colors are clean and crisp and the texture is nice and creamy. The colors mix well together and they dry to a nice finish. I recommend the brushes because they're labeled first of all. Acrylic paints don't do well with natural bristle brushes. You CAN use them but the fact is that they deteriorate over time, literally turning to mush. And using specific watercolor brushes is smart because they carry and distribute the water instead of repelling it or absorbing it.
Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-66132335777386141532013-09-05T15:36:00.000-07:002013-09-05T15:36:39.219-07:00I am woman...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Don't you just love this image: You might have to click on it to make it show up all the way.<a href="http://contemporaryartmagazine.net/"><img src="http://contemporaryartmagazine.net/images/slide_01.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://contemporaryartmagazine.net/">contemporaryartmagazine.net</a><br />
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I know it's not pink so maybe I shouldn't even post it here but I happen to think it's the most beautiful thing. To me it represents all creative women. We're so filled with music, wisdom, curiosity, animal senses and other unidentifiable awesomeness and when we're standing tall and proud in our element, those things are just channeled through us in a way that looks as if we're emanating badassery.<br />
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What do you think? What does this image say to you? Another thing it tells me is that purple eyeshadow doesn't HAVE to be goofy. Except, maybe if I was wearing it it would be.</div>
Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-90191170176041344752010-06-25T10:26:00.000-07:002010-06-25T10:26:40.317-07:00New Art supplies - Yay<center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJfIFmbBZTbgxLMEPop0WkrTboE8UQPxb3SFwcIJNOWSmu45dYNGk2DkJ0MOt5mn-62JxKZq8E4OQudbhA6m-ZKrR7zgeY9j33snw5ywTPDfTkWyUjvK2WZkxzN-subzf7Sge7-yKgqc/s320/SDC14479.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd4Mko8CvIYCdzep3jmN8FlbUhB3DkXlZcdCiScZGYdWSmL4oQi1yIt5i5qq3URXlJ583SF0BaYBe_2wzPqVSpxs2aGR8KPVpYyTIm4bX-0rE-jVC9raqDiLqLWhE8OA1wo95pgo303c/s320/SDC14481.JPG" /></center><br />
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I always go overboard when buying art supplies. I intended to get some oil paints, I don't know what happened with that. Actually, I think the three painting kits I purchased were my "oil paint" Apparently not, they're acrylic. Acrylic paint is fine, but three $80 kits aren't, not for the amount of paint that came with them. I need to look closer, to see if the other supplies inside make it worth it. We'll see. I also got a lot of coloring books, blank puzzles, watercolor paper, canvas pads, flat-backed gemstones, feathers, puffballs, sewing kits, pipe cleaners, finger paints, paint brushes, a knitting spool...I think that's it :)<br />
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Anyway, I've been working on a lot more art projects lately. Yesterday I made some beautiful watercolor backgrounds for some ballerina artwork I plan to make. I noticed the walls at my daughter's dance studio are boring and I'm thinking that these dance school parents spend a fortune on stupid stuff, so why not my artwork, right? I used to draw ballerinas and princesses for my daughters all the tie and I might not be that talented, but if I just DO it, I think they might sell. If not, at least I got to paint and maybe if I'm lucky, the school will display some of the paintings for me. If I'm very very lucky, maybe I'll sell a bunch. If I sell a bunch, maybe I'll want to teach an art class.<br />
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Art is good for my mind. My kids like it, too. As soon as my camera is fixed, I'll post about some of the projects we're working on as a family.Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-18985784963205615462008-07-15T22:26:00.001-07:002008-07-15T22:31:45.988-07:00Carved Walnut Heads<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden/images/knowhow/pp/gardening_kids/forkids6_lg.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 178px;" src="http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden/images/knowhow/pp/gardening_kids/forkids6_lg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dargate.com/249_auction/249_images/3162.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 183px;" src="http://www.dargate.com/249_auction/249_images/3162.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://server11.sitewizard.co.uk/sites/derek/images/carved_head_specimen.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 187px;" src="http://server11.sitewizard.co.uk/sites/derek/images/carved_head_specimen.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At the farmer's market a few years ago there was a man selling carved walnut heads. They were the size of... walnuts, and they looked like shriveled up shrunken old heads. We have a walnut tree, so I kept meaning to try it, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. In the meantime, I found a few pictures of carved walnut things, enjoy...Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-18239027639467189452008-06-07T20:45:00.000-07:002008-06-07T20:50:35.810-07:00Handmade Flower Paper<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPUt77rC1CApkiB2MqapilkTbWZBd0Bj5nIrVlf-qbh3cxeoqaztOXZtUZF2gl1jPlEn_AmlSKIR4c58V6vaVV5RNZbHYAenXt0iGq83BqNfciXk6HOxcZ-CYs0JsvWB3mfWnsdB-A8A/s1600-h/3535.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPUt77rC1CApkiB2MqapilkTbWZBd0Bj5nIrVlf-qbh3cxeoqaztOXZtUZF2gl1jPlEn_AmlSKIR4c58V6vaVV5RNZbHYAenXt0iGq83BqNfciXk6HOxcZ-CYs0JsvWB3mfWnsdB-A8A/s400/3535.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209352481272071586" /></a><br />I totally love making handmade paper.Anyone else? I learned how to make it when we lived in Lynnwood. I used to dry it on my sliding glass door. I once printed out a picture of my kids on handmade paper, it looked so cool- printed in Sepia tones. When you dry it on the window it comes out really smooth. I like embedding flower petals and other things into it.Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-87287105880841273852008-04-15T22:03:00.000-07:002008-04-15T22:06:31.192-07:00It's coming again....The monthly crafting with 4 yr olds (even though I think they're all 5 by now) thing. Will I manage to pull it together for the little book things? We'll see.... I need to look for spray paint in my garage. And I need to pick up some ink for my printer to do the little picture things. Although it could work without the little picture things. I need to spray paint, though. several times, for each page and it needs to dry in between layers. Then we need some stickers, markers, paints.... forget the paints, class is an hour...... We can swing it. We'll use markers and stickers.Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-10691710171998191072008-04-09T08:36:00.000-07:002008-04-09T08:40:00.505-07:00Recycled Crafts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcFmvTDF7pQqiRUi6OLnMr4L8Q8QdBLy4Nmh8c8dFElfrnIQbqbVHb8KaKmNalsXhsWse1PBDgYOI9kH3x2fv8VSTJeZZbYF3vjlfYQozBtZ_g6Me0LBd-b0sW_VxnSNcVqDjrH5IPrg/s1600-h/bottlefish.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcFmvTDF7pQqiRUi6OLnMr4L8Q8QdBLy4Nmh8c8dFElfrnIQbqbVHb8KaKmNalsXhsWse1PBDgYOI9kH3x2fv8VSTJeZZbYF3vjlfYQozBtZ_g6Me0LBd-b0sW_VxnSNcVqDjrH5IPrg/s200/bottlefish.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187270466941182162" /></a><br />I found a website for making <a href="http://www.allfreecrafts.com/recycling-crafts/bottle-fish.shtml">Recycled Crafts</a>. This is note-worthy because the Girl Scout Promise says we must "Use resources wisely" and "make the world a better place" Which includes, of course, beautifying it with old CD's and finding ways to reuse plastic beverage bottles. The fish are impressive, though- aren't theyLisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-49316783506436327712008-04-04T22:38:00.000-07:002008-04-04T22:39:33.059-07:00Crafty new ThemeDuh- of course a craft blog would have a crafty theme. It doesn't, though. I'm going to change that. You'll See...Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-25488390401882971772008-03-25T01:10:00.000-07:002008-03-25T01:17:24.073-07:00Acrylic Paintings on Watercolor paper<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYLznYTpXEgCH2YqGeJF4pAcqOhInaOv8zUNAzhzdcx94_5ozn2_qK7gfrVIuzT6wFWV_T7AdBJM-JXFhh10Vhl-wLM3_vWVFqb0jRt81diBytjkIaNEisSAeYitiPJm7LQXIU-AEBPY/s1600-h/paintings2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYLznYTpXEgCH2YqGeJF4pAcqOhInaOv8zUNAzhzdcx94_5ozn2_qK7gfrVIuzT6wFWV_T7AdBJM-JXFhh10Vhl-wLM3_vWVFqb0jRt81diBytjkIaNEisSAeYitiPJm7LQXIU-AEBPY/s200/paintings2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181590312562679922" border="0" /></a><br />I don't know if painting is a craft, but it's an art and arts and crafts go together, and if you're a bad artist, applying paint could be a craft.<br /><br />That said; I hate supplying kids with inferior art materials, like peeling tempera paints and cheap watercolors and papers that crumble.<br /><br />My theory is that if they have high quality supplies and learn how to care for them properly (clean those brushes <strike>,dammit</strike> for heaven's sake) they will be inspired and pleased by their work, and be proud to show it off and I will be proud to display it.<br /><br />SO- these paintings were done with acrylic paints (quality, but cheap- they're thinner than real artists acrylic, and available in bottles at wal mart for 44 cents each) on thick watercolor paper and framed in some garage sale frames (12 for $1) Arranging them all on a wall together would be pretty, especially if you only supplied the kids with the colors that matched your decor.Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-9852285106661679862008-03-25T00:32:00.000-07:002008-03-25T00:40:16.423-07:00Don'tcha hate it when a great plan falls throughI just totally failed the board book thing. Instead, we did spring yarn flower pictures. They're the 3rd installment of our 4x4 four season tiles. We've done Autumn (silk flower leaves in fall colors with crinkled paper tree trunks) and Winter (christmas trees in felt and glitter) and now Spring (the yarn flowers) If we do summer, I think we should do the blue hot glue for water, with sandpaper beach sand- maybe pre-cut the sandpaper into castle components so they can make little sandcastles.<br /><br />Anyhow- we'll do the altered board books next time. I'm collecting stickers for it. I should request some of the budget funds for scrapbooking embellishments. Why do I always use my own resources? I don't even have resources right now. That's not true, I guess I always have resources. Still, I'd have more if I'd use the budget instead of my stuff.Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-83067536079320762502008-02-13T20:38:00.000-08:002008-05-09T07:51:44.227-07:00Pre-K craftingFriday I get to do my pre-school craft class in our co-op. I'm thinking I want to do the little board book-altered book craft, but I'm not sure how I will manage it.<br /><br />I have a few ideas...<br /><br />the one I like best I can't do this month. I could take the pictures, though. I want to print a bunch of one-inch headshots of each kid, then cut out a bunch of little cartoon and clipart people , let them decorate the books and collage in the pictures with their heads attached, and let them narrate to us what they're "doing" in each picture. I think it has potential for being a craft item they're so hugely proud of, a story they wrote with pictures of themselves in the picture. Then, even at 4 they could have a story book they could read to people.<br /><br />We'll see, I think I'll do it. I'll have to let their moms know why I'm taking their pictures.<br />OOH- I could photoshop their heads onto clipart and then cut it out for them and then we're more likely to finish the project in the 40 minute time frame. Oh yeah- I can't wait for this, it will be so much fun. I can get bigger board books, too now. That will buy me time.<br /><br />So they'll all be spray-painted to begin with and we'll give them the cutouts of themselves, plus a few other stickers and things. we'll have them narrate their stories onto peel and stick labels- woohoo.<br /><br />Now what will we do Friday?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.onlywire.com/submit?u=URL&t=TITLE&tags=TAG1%20TAG2" title="Add this Article to Onlywire" target="_blank"><br /></a>Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-27597901718334888722008-02-08T07:17:00.001-08:002008-02-08T07:44:33.828-08:00Digital ScrapbookingI just learned a new hobby- it is so much fun. Here's a lot of information that you don't need to get started, but come back here and take a peek at<a href="http://everydaydigitalscrapbooking.blogspot.com/">Everyday Digital Scrapbooking</a> when you're ready to learn more. For now, here's my top ten reasons why digital scrapbooking rocks. <br /><br /><br />10- you can magically resize things just by clicking on the corners and dragging them into place<br />9- you can't mess up and waste supplies<br />8-you can use the same ribbon over and over again<br />7-if something doesn't look right you can tweak its position and never worry that your glue has dried<br />6-the supplies are cheaper if you choose to buy them, there's so much for free<br />5-if you're good with graphic design, you can make your own<br />4- the elements can be used in web design and other graphic design applications(like my new blog template you haven't seen yet because I haven't made it yet)<br />3-you don't have to worry about children gluing them to the dishwasher, their forehead, the toilet, their dolls, the car, the cheerios or the dog.<br />2-you can do it one-handed<br />1- there's nothing to store in rubbermaid, obsessively lay out on the table, and frantically clean up when I'm done.<br /><br /><br />I would list my favorite free digital downloads here, but I'll just let you explore on your own. Here's a great tutorial I found at <a href="http://www.freedigitalscrapbooking.com/digiscrap101.html">Free Digital Scrapbooking</a>. She mentions you need a graphic design program that can deal with layers, then she names a bunch that are costly (like Adobe and Corel) I am here to tell you that GIMP program I recommended in the <a href="http://mrshannigan.blogspot.com/2008/01/ani-mason.html">Ani-Mason post</a> deals with layers just fine, and takes up a lot less space on your hard drive than the programs she recommends, and it's free. And they have never paid me anything for this, this is an honest testimonial. If it ever gives me trouble I will let you know. Oh- here's one, there's so many options of things to do that it's overwhelming.<br /><br />And- here's what I made first<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYlV-8WzKOO5mr6mNPmhwCNQI8V0AzTcWV4HUUJwnmzod7iSWDaCPwWoWDXNZc1cG4Soi71xRjYqGiY8_Zpxpz6moSBoskm6AcCygRLSVzcAaaw51kK2cI9wqjSsMiU6ye9UFJQDjMvc/s1600-h/eviejpgalbum.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYlV-8WzKOO5mr6mNPmhwCNQI8V0AzTcWV4HUUJwnmzod7iSWDaCPwWoWDXNZc1cG4Soi71xRjYqGiY8_Zpxpz6moSBoskm6AcCygRLSVzcAaaw51kK2cI9wqjSsMiU6ye9UFJQDjMvc/s200/eviejpgalbum.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164634139429567506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH7_E2cmXs3fPGdKNoonehzFAqpCy3k1jeliRxhGJ8XC5kBDQ28N8fkTqzZPjD3shqUzLrXk7d6MLeFKeHalAqeejdFh8RgwGKqFTp4-Oy03U5UljWp24fKXnJ6BRriH79Y6rNbqTWjg/s1600-h/Hip+Hop+Maddy.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH7_E2cmXs3fPGdKNoonehzFAqpCy3k1jeliRxhGJ8XC5kBDQ28N8fkTqzZPjD3shqUzLrXk7d6MLeFKeHalAqeejdFh8RgwGKqFTp4-Oy03U5UljWp24fKXnJ6BRriH79Y6rNbqTWjg/s200/Hip+Hop+Maddy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164634173789305890" /></a>Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-43993277530354552942008-01-24T18:48:00.000-08:002008-01-24T18:57:03.028-08:00Altered Books (with Kids)Is it possible to feel lust over a craft?<br /><br />I have had this crazy burning desire to alter books. It's been going on for years. It's like the naughty rebel cousin of scrapbooking. While I was browsing homeschool blogs on WordPress, I found <a href="http://hiddenart.wordpress.com/2008/01/24/inspiration-for-teacher/">this cool lady</a> who did an altered book activity with a group of Sunday School kids or something. I love the idea of using recycled board books. <br /><br />AND I love how she painted them all white before she started. I think it would be so much easier for the kids to see the possibilities on a blank canvas. (Did you feel the almost-deep thoughts there?)<br /><br />She referenced some really cool sites she found while looking for inspiration. They Inspired me, too. Maybe I"ll finish one of those altered projects I have started.Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8758935803834420152.post-36572676124751639262007-11-02T00:31:00.000-07:002008-01-23T00:33:34.245-08:00Starting Holiday CraftsOK we're starting our holiday crafts today.<br />Nothing exciting, some no-sew fleece scarves. No pics- sorry camera is freaking out.Lisa Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494212460130465055noreply@blogger.com0