Junk Mail Art and Spring Break Play

Growing up my mom and I had a tradition.  Each year, she'd take me out of school for one day, and we'd play hooky.  We'd go shopping and go to the movies.  We dedicated the entire day to PLAY and it is still one of my greatest memories.  I don't remember what I missed at school those days, but I do remember how much fun we had together.  

So this past weekend, we played hooky once again and enjoyed a spontaneous adventure.  We started by getting our toes done and ate lunch at our favorite restaurant. Then, we stumbled into the most amazing paper store and that's where the creative inspiration hit.  They had displayed fabulous recycled flowers and butterflies created from their store catalogs.  Since I'm much more aware these days about using recycled materials, and the fact that I have a love affair with flowers, I decided this was a perfect project for me to try.    

I gathered our most recent junk mail from the recycle bin, some sturdy wire, old buttons, scissors, a hole punch and a hot glue gun.  (It helps to put on your favorite music.  My choice today was the newest P!nk album.  Love her.)

I cut five petals for each flower, put the ends of the petals together with a small amount of glue, and punched one hole through all the petals.  Then I inserted the wire through the hole and bent it slightly to hide it underneath the button.  I hot glued the button on the wire and paper petals and that's it.  SO easy and so much fun. In fact, I can't stand junk mail, but now...I'm kind of curious to see what comes today.

On a side note, my mom got her toes freshly painted because she headed off to the beach for spring break. It got me thinking. Why can't I have spring break even though I'm staying home?  Why can't I still play hooky?  I may not be able to skip out on my job, considering my toddler relies on me to feed and care for him, but I can create a new version of spontaneous play.  

So, this week, we are having a mock spring break.  We will try new things, experience daily adventures, get our toes out in the sand...uh...um...dirt, and have some much needed springtime fun. We may not have a beach in Kansas, but we're bound to find some interesting things just by getting out to play.  

Your Personal Reflection:  Are you going anywhere for spring break?  If not, what kind of fun and spontaneous play can you do to create your version at home?  

Ruined Clothes Get New Life

I saved this blue sweater in the repurpose pile that I created from clearing out my closet last week. I found the striped sweater in my art stash and decided it was time to get cutting.

Both wool sweaters were accidentally washed in hot water, so the fact that they turned to felt made them perfect candidates for some fun projects.  I started by cutting the bottom of this sweater off, as I liked the knit and purl texture.

Then, I cut parts and pieces of the sweater in circles and stitched them together.  I also stitched around the edges to add some color.

The ruined sweater, that has been sitting in my closet, um...for way too long...now has a much happier purpose.

I love my new headband and have already started a few more!  They are so fun and easy to make.

I then cut a portion of the sleeve to make this supercool coffee cup cozy.  I added parts of the blue sweater, along with some leftover felt pieces for embellishments.

Now I'll be totally styling when gettin' my drink on.

I'm using the rest of the sweaters to make flower pins.  My creative mother-in-law made this one.  Check out her felted pouches made from her stash of recycled sweaters.

Your Personal Reflection:  Do you have any clothes that could be reused in creative ways?  Have you joined the growing list of explorers making the commitment to create space in their lives by reducing clutter?  Join the discussion here.

One Small Change - The Month of Love

I love this time of year!  Spring is just around the corner, and yet, overnight we received a new dusting of snow and today the sky is gray.  A perfect excuse to stay home in pj's and get messy with paint.

  

My one small change goal for the month of February is to return to using cloth grocery bags.  They've been sitting in the backseat of my car and I keep forgetting to take them in.  I foiled my plan this past week when I found myself in the grocery store, yet again, empty-handed.  I felt bummed as I walked to the car holding three paper bags.

As a way to make it up to this poor tree and to stay creative every day, I decided to repurpose the bags into vibrant Valentine's Day cards!

I started with very simple supplies:  the bags, scissors, acrylic paint, water, brushes, scrap paper and magazines.

I put on my Ani DiFranco Pandora station and went to town covering the paper with a mixture of background colors.

I played with my brushstroke and added swirls on top.

I used white fabric paint (Tulip Matte) to add some texture.

After the paint was fully dry, I cut out a variety of hearts of different sizes.

Then, I used the colorful paper and hearts to make my cards.  Here I stitched an outline with my sewing machine and glued the painted paper to a scrap piece of card stock.

I cut the brown paper bag in card shapes and added fun sayings from magazine clippings.

I loved this project because it gave me a wonderful opportunity to slow down.  As I played with paint,  I enjoyed memories of how much I loved Valentine's Day as a kid.  I remember the excitement of decorating the boxes to collect candies and cards from the boys I had crushes on.  I thought about all of my friends and family that I care so much about.  I thought about my grandma, living in a nursing home, and that her biggest excitement of the day is when the mail arrives.

I'm so excited to write messages and send my colorful love notes the old fashioned way.  I'm happy that using paper bags wasn't a total waste.  (Although I'm still planning to use my cloth bags next time!)

Your Personal Reflection:  Receiving a handwritten letter in the mail is the best, and it rarely happens.  Think of someone you love and surprise them with a handmade love note today.  

Reduce Clutter; Create Space Update

My quest to reduce clutter this year kicked off with a big bang as we took several loads like this one to our neighborhood goodwill.  It felt amazing to let go of books, frames, furniture, and all those other kinds of "things" we store in our basement for whatever reason.  Although we made some great strides, our basement still feels "heavy".  I just don't want to hold on to anything that we don't use regularly.  So I'm now asking myself, "does this serve a happy purpose in my life?"  If the answer is no, then why keep it?  I want the things in my life to bring me great joy.  So does keeping a stack of plates, that we might use once a year, really do that for me?  These are the questions I'll continue to ask.

This is the last week before my e-course begins, which means I have a lot of work to do.  I'm taking a break from reducing physical clutter, and paying special attention to releasing my mental clutter.  As I find many things on my "to do" list this week, I'm needing to practice present-moment awareness, and not get caught up in multi-tasking craziness.  I must stay grounded.  I must find stillness.  I must release the tension in my shoulders.  I must breathe.  I must be quiet with my journal.  I must play.  Doing these things helps me flush out the mental clutter that can easily drain my vital energy.

This morning, I've decided that the best way to release some mental clutter is to turn off the computer, finish our "pamcakes", and go out on a spontaneous adventure with this little dude. (If you saw my last post you'll know we are ready to get out of the house!)

Before I go, I'd like to share a fun idea with you.  We created a family chalkboard for our kitchen, and it has helped me when planning meals and activities for the week. 

We took an old piece of wood, painted it with chalkboard paint and drew a monthly calendar with chalk.  This hangs near our kitchen so we can easily see what the week entails.  My husband still wants me to get my digital calendar synched with his, and I know one day I'll get there.  However, in the meantime, I love this solution as I can draw fun pictures and cross off the days!  

Check out these inspiring posts from fellow "Reduce Clutter; Create Space Explorers" like, True North Arts, Brown Eyed Fox, and Voices in My Big Head.  There's some amazing de-cluttering going on.   To learn more about my Reduce Clutter; Create Space challenge for 2010, click HERE.  Leave me a comment if you'd like to join us.  Let's continue creating space for what we love most!

Your Personal Reflection:  Has the new year inspired you to take a good look at the "things" in your life?  Are you ready to let go of more to make space for all that's important to you?

Making Small Changes

I celebrated my birthday over the weekend.  I had a great time with my favorite people, eating my way through the day. It started with a slow morning at home.  My husband made me breakfast and I enjoyed coffee time with my new Yoga Journal magazine.  Later in the day we ventured to a quaint vegan cafe where I had the yummiest hot cocoa with whipped cream - perfect on a winter's day with the high of 16 degrees! The night ended playing ping-pong, games and pizza night at my mom's house. (I also had a little "spill" that night that has humbled me.  I'll share about it in my next post.)

I received a very awesome gift that supports my need to reduce clutter; create space in 2010, as well as support my desire to make One Small Change each month.  My husband cut 12, 12x12 pieces of reclaimed wood and cardboard for a series of paintings I want to work on.  I'm so excited about this because just having the pieces ready to go has given me the SPACE needed to paint.  And, using recycled wood is a perfect compliment to my quest to not purchase art materials, but to use what I have in creative ways.

As you can see, Kestan has his own creative idea on how to use the wood.

So the way I'm choosing to reduce clutter this month, and make some earth friendly changes, is to organize what I have, donate what doesn't serve a happy purpose for me anymore, reuse supplies and materials in creative ways, and avoid buying anything new.

Thanks to each of you who are joining me on this reduce clutter journey.  I'm happy to see so many of you dedicated to making more space for what matters most in your life.  I am planning to make a web page dedicated for the reduce clutter; create space explorers, but in the meantime, learn more HERE, and feel free to join us!

 

I raise my second cup of vegan hot cocoa to you and wonder:

Your Personal Reflection:  What one small change are you willing to make this month to reduce clutter and create space for what matters most?

Intentions for a New Year

For me, this photo represents vast spaciousness - something I find myself needing more and more of with each passing day. (And one of the reasons why I took a week off from my blog. Glad to be back!) What started as a de-clutter December project, has now turned into my personal quest for the year of 2010. (This week I'll be introducing "Reduce Clutter; Create Space, 2010" project. I hope you'll join me!)

What does this mean? Well, every year around this time, I grab a warm drink, my favorite pen, and my journal, and I reflect on the past 12 months. I write about the events and celebrations that stand out. I write about lessons I've learned. I write about where I find myself in this moment as I approach a new year.

Rather than write resolutions, I usually write a word or phrase that sets my intentions for the coming year. Sometimes I think about it for weeks, and sometimes the phrase comes instantly. This past month of clearing clutter has erupted a deep desire in my soul to let go of more.

So my intention for this next year is to create S P A C E. I intuitively know that the more space I create, the more open my heart feels. And the more open my heart is, the more peaceful I feel.

I look around my environment, and what was once a place that suited my needs, has now felt as though I'm being swallowed in it. The more I clear, the more piles I find. And these piles are sneaky and hidden. Because on an external level, my house looks clean and orderly. But, when I start to go deeper, I find more and more treasures to sift through and learn from. It's hard. I get why so many of us avoid going deeper in our lives. Sometimes it's easier to not see. To stuff it away. To hide it in the closet. The drawers. Sweep it under the rug. But the physical stuff, the tightness in my throat, and the mental chatter reminds me that I CAN'T live that way. I need to go deeper. I need to clear. I need to breathe. I need to feel free. I need to be.
The creation of more space in my life is SO exciting. I see the open road, and I smile.

Your Personal Reflection: What is your intention for this new year?

(You can see the list of what I de-cluttered for the month of December on the right side of my site.)

4 Creative, FUN, & Inexpensive Gift Ideas that Moms (and kids) will Love

Looks like we've got another computer junkie in the family. I informed Kestan that he couldn't start blogging until he was at least two! So until January I have offered to write his blog posts for him. Here are some of his ideas, for all the mommy's in the world, on some creative, fun and inexpensive gift ideas this holiday season. A few ideas are for your kids, some are to do WITH your kids, and some are just for YOU (or moms in your life).

1) Toilet Paper Roll Recycled Cars
I found this idea in Family Fun magazine and I couldn't resit trying it out for my car-lover.

Supplies:
* toilet paper rolls
* plastic lid tops
* toothpicks
* straws
* nail & hammer
* hole puncher
* scissors
* hot glue gun

First, paint the paper rolls and let them dry. Use a hole puncher to create holes on both ends for the straws. Cut the straws just a little smaller than the toothpicks. You will insert the toothpick inside the straw, then the straws inside the holes, creating the axle for the wheels. Use your hammer and nail through the center of each plastic lid, (using a nail the width of the toothpick). This will create the hole for the toothpick. The lids will go on each end of the toothpick and hot glue in place.

You can find a fancier "How To" version here.
I have to add that these aren't the sturdiest cars! They certainly didn't last very long, but were very fun to make and a great lesson to teach your kids how to recycle ordinary things in new ways! I thought they could make great stocking stuffers.

2) Frame Your Child's Masterpiece
This is so easy and can be a great treasure for any grandma, mom or special family member to receive. I purchased half price pre-cut matte's at the local craft store. Tape the artwork on the back, and tape a piece of yarn, length wise, for hanging.

3) Support Hand-Made Artists
Times are tough and money is tight. Think about spending your money more wisely this year by discovering and supporting a new artist. So many of us creative mom's want to stay home with our kids, but still have to nurture our creative spirits (and bring home some bacon), and nothing helps more than keeping our art going!

Go to ETSY and play around. And check out a few of my new favs:

Allison Strine

Aimee at Artsyville

Andrea Stern
(10% of her proceeds in December go to Toys for Tots)

Shannon at Free Spirit Knits

(Ok, yes, this is me! I have found it hard to promote my own artwork,

and I'm changing that. I have to be one of my favorites, right?)

Give your kids the best gift ever, by giving YOURSELF the gift of rejuvenation!
5) Take a Virtual Restore and Renew Retreat
You can find so many amazing mom's doing really amazing things through the web. The following women offer mindful writings, products and services that support your personal wellness.

Owning Pink is a beautiful community started by the lovely Lissa Rankin. Her blog offers wonderful reminders and support that invite you to feel safe while exploring your truth. Give yourself, or a mom in your life, the gift of renewal by introducing her to this lovely community.

Hip Mountain Mama is one of my favorite Twitter friends. Suzy owns a family business in Colorado that offers all natural products for mama's and babies. She also shares awesome craft ideas on her blog. And sticking with the recycling theme, check out her "One Small Change" project and join the challenge. You are bound to feel revitalized after a visit there.
Here I go again...but let me remind you, that Kestan put me up to this blog entry. He loves his mommy and thinks my upcoming e-course is going to be especially awesome for other mommies. (And so do I!)

If you are looking to renew your spirit, set intentions (and stick to them) for a new year & new life, looking for more balance between your personal wellness and interests with your responsibilities, and wanting to put YOURSELF first, then think about signing up for Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery. It's the best $39 you can spend on you, and you get to participate at your own pace, in your comfy home, under your favorite blanket. Learn more about why I created the class, here. (Gift certificates available!)

Your Personal Reflection: What small gift will you give yourself this season that doesn't cost much, but offers huge rewards?