Paintings from 2013

"If you ask me for my New Years Resolution, it would be to find out who I am." -Cyril Cusack

This past year was the first time I ever painted.  Here are a few of my paintings from the year.  I have a long way to go, but I am starting to get better.

Year in Review

"Let our New Year's resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word." -Goran Persson

It is that time of year, where magazines, television shows, and everyone seems to be reviewing the year.  I am going through the months of my posts and choosing my favorite post.

January:  The blog wasn't around yet.  So, no post!

February:  Hunger Games Coasters.  The Hunger Games books are huge, as are the movies.  These coasters were my favorite post of February.  Also, The blog started on February 9, 2013.  

March:  Beautiful Creatures Book Bracelet. This was one of the first books read by the book club.  Fun to make and shows off the books well.  

April:  Angry Birds: Crafting the Revolution.  I love Angry Birds, and this year just seems to prove that. This game went over really well with 4 and 5 year olds.  Great age to just let them knock things over. 

May: Iron Man DIY T-Shirt.  Iron Man came out this past May.  This glow in the dark Arc Reactor shirt brought out the movie in style.

June and July:  A hiatus occurred.  The blog was on a break for the summer!

August: Divergent Window Clings.  Divergent was the book of the year. (At least in my mind).  With the movie coming out in 2014, Divergent is going to be sticking around for awhile!

September: Sand-bowl Center Piece.  My boyfriend started me on Clive Cussler books this past year.  I made this awesome bowl out of sand after reading Raising the Titanic.  

October: Water for Elephants Drinking Glasses.  In October I had a get together with a group of friends where we made these wonderful glasses.  I liked the irony of making water glasses for this book.

November: Chalkboard Vase with Starburst Flowers.  This was made after trying to figure out what to do with Starburst wrappers and wanting to make a fun vase.

December:  Have yourself a Geeky little Christmas.  I love my Christmas tree so very much!  It is so geeky and so very awesome!  

Happy New Year everyone!  

Nativity Candle Holders

"A perpetual holiday is a good working definition of hell." -George Bernard Shaw

Christmas has come and gone.  The stress of the holidays is over!  I am glad for a little down time now.  I etched a nativity scene on glass jars.  

Materials:

• Three Glass Containers
• Etching Cream
• Shipping Labels
• Scissors
• Paint Brushes
• Glass Stain

Directions:

1. Tint the glass containers with the glass paint.  Let dry.

2. Print free nativity scene images on to the shipping labels.  Cut out the inside images and attach the labels to the glass containers.

3. Follow directions on the etching cream to etch the glasses.

I used shepherds, Mary, Joseph and Jesus, and the wise men as my characters for etching.  Add tea candles inside to light them up.

Santa Windsock

"I don't remember that... kinda sorta..." -My father (about our Christmas ornaments)

Fun to hang outside and watch.

Materials:

• Plastic bottle
• X-acto Knife
• Hole Punch
• White Garbage bags
• White, red, pink, and peach paint
• Black paint marker
• Scissors
• Wire
• Paint brushes

Directions:

1. Cut off the bottom part of the bottle.

2. Paint entire bottle white. Let dry.

3. Paint on peach face. Let dry.

4. Paint on pink cheeks. Let dry.

5. Paint on red hat checks. Let dry.

6. Make outlines and eyes in black paint marker. 

7. Punch holes in 1 inch spaces around the bottom of the bottle.

8. Cut one inch strips of the garbage bag. 

7. Attach through the hole punches in the bottom on the bottle.

8. Make a pom-pom out of the garbage bag.  Attach to the top of the bottle.

9.  Attach wire to the neck of the bottle and form a handle.

Hang him up outside to enjoy the Santa windsock.

DIY Candy Bouquets

"I will honer Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." -Charles Dickens

My mother and I made these last night for a few people for Christmas.  Great idea for coworker, student-teacher, boss, ect.

Materials:

• Coffee Mug
• Foam Ball
• Fresh trimmed pine sprigs
• Candy (of various kinds)
• Floral accent
• Bamboo skewers
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors

Directions:

1. Put the foam ball inside the cup.

2. Stick springs of pine shooting straight up, unit the base is covered. 

3. Cut skewers in half and glue candy onto them.

4. Stick skewers into the foam.

5. Add an accent to give the creation some personality.

Yes, it is really that easy.  These look awesome, and when done in bulk the cost doesn't break the bank either!

Mustache Ornaments

"Ho Ho Ho!" -Santa Claus

Wrapped presents: Check!  Decorations up: Check!  Cookies Baked: Check!  It has been a busy day, so this is going to be a short, simple post. 

Materials:

• Ornament
• Black paint
• Paint brush

Directions:

1. Paint a mustache on the ornament. Let dry.

Told you it would be short and sweet.  This red one has Mario's mustache and I painted a green Luigi one.  You could do Wario and Waluigi as well.  Also, mustache's are in.  

Rudolph Terracotta Pot

"There are three stages of man: He believes in Santa Claus; He doesn't believe in Santa Claus; He is Santa Claus." -Bob Phillips

This craft was actually one my my fair projects for 4-H many years ago. It is now used as a decoration in my apartment.  As I walked by it the other day, I realized it would make a great post.  

Materials:

Terracotta Pot
Jute
Jingle Bells (5)
Light brown foam
Dark Brown foam
Gold crafting foil
Wire
A large flat wooden disk
Brown paint
Dark red paint
Pink paint
Black paint
White paint
Paint brushes (foam, small)
Hot glue gun
Scissors

Directions:
1. Paint the outside of the pot brown. Let Dry.
2. Paint the rim of the pot red. Let Dry.
3. Use black paint for eyes, eyebrows, and mouth. Use red paint for nose. Let dry.
4. Add light pink for cheek color with foam brush, and add in white pupils and a shimmer of the nose. Let dry.
5. In the mean time cut out two ears out of the light brown foam. Use the foam brush and red paint to give color to the inside of the ear. Let dry.
6. Cut out two antlers out of dark brown clay.
7. On a piece of gold foil write Rudolph using the back of a paint brush and glue onto the front rim.
8. Hang jingle bells of various lengths of jute from the wooden disk. 
9. Cut a piece of wire for a hanger. (About 12 inches long).  Bend into a loop.  Put the disk inside the pot and string the wire through the outside hole to the inside of the pot.  Wrap to make a knot big enough to keep the disk up.  Use hot glue to help hold it in place as needed.
10. Glue antlers and ears into place.
11. Unravel the jute and cut into small pieces for 'hair'.  Use hot glue to hold in place.

I don't know why, but this Rudolph craft reminds me of the book I just finished reading for the library's book club, "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger.  It might be because the books occurs around Christmas time, or a reindeer is the closest Holiday thing to a Merry-Go-Round animal.  Anyway, although it is set around Christmas time, I would suggest reading it after the New Year first.  Holden is in transition during this book, and the New Year is the perfect transition time to go along with that. 

Christmas Pins

"Oh look, yet another Christmas TV special! How touching to have the meaning of Christmas brought to us by cola, fast food, and beer... who'd have ever guessed that product consumption, popular entertainment, and spirituality would mix so harmoniously?" -Bill Watterson, The Essential Calvin and Hobbes

I love making things out of polymer clay.  Little trinkets are easy to make, and these pins can be made into any Christmas image you want.  

Materials:

• Multiple Colors of Polymer Clay
• Pin Back
• E6000

Directions:

1. Make the Christmas image you want out of the polymer clay.
2. Bake at 225 for 10 minutes. Let cool.
3. Attach the pin back to the image with E6000.  Let dry.

New Baby Ornament

"In the eyes of children we find the joy of Christmas.  In their hearts we find it's meaning." - Leland Thomas

I am at the age where all my friends are getting married or having babies.  A baby's first Christmas is a very special event.  This ornament helps remember that and can be personalized with birthstones or names and year.  Shout out to my mother who actually was the one that created this ornament.

Materials:

• White polymer clay
• Skin tone of baby polymer clay
• Blue or pink (or gender neutral color) or polymer clay
• Bead in the color of gemstone
• Two black seed beads
• Wire
• Toothpick
• Pasta Machine (specifically for polymer clay)
• Puff Paint

Directions:

1. Run white clay through the pasta machine to get the blanket base.  Add two loops to the top for the bow.
2. Roll skin tone clay into a ball. tuck into the blanket.  Add a round circle for a nose.  Mold two ears out of clay and attach to face. 
3. Add the seed beads for the eyes.  Add eye dimple with the tooth pick. 
4. Create two feet out of the skin tone clay and add five little spheres to each foot for the toes. Tuck under the blanket. 
5. Put the remaining color of polymer clay through the pasta machine.  use two strips for the ribbon from the bow.  Take one circle of that color of clay and place it for the center of the bow.  Stick the bead that is the birthstone color in the middle of this circle.
6. Attach wire to the top of the baby.
7. Bake at 225 for 15 minutes.
8. Let cool.
9. With puff paint write baby's name and year of first Christmas if desired. Let dry.

Video Game Controller Ornaments

"Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people once a year." -Victor Borge

Video game controllers are unique and reflective of the system.  The controller says so much while not saying anything at all.  These ornaments can reflect your favorite game system, or use them to decorate an entire tree.

 

Materials:

• White Craft Foam
• X-ACTO Knife 
• Craft Board or Cardboard
• Images of gaming systems printed onto computer paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• String or Ribbon

Directions:

1. Determine what parts of the game system you want showing and cut out outline and inside shapes from the computer paper.
2. trace the image onto the white craft foam.
3. Using the X-ACTO knife cut out the design from the foam.
4. Attach string or ribbon to the top to hang it on the tree.

Snowmen Icicles

"A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water." -Carl Reiner

With more snow occurring over night tonight, I thought it would be a good time to show off an easy gift to make for coworkers.  These icicle snowmen are easy to make and use the icicle from The Lovely Bones post.  The pictures are not the best quality, but show the basics.

Materials:

• Hot Glue
• Clear Glitter
• White, orange, black, blue, and pink polymer clay
• String or twine
• Wax paper
• Pencil
• E6000

Directions:

1. Follow the directions from The Lovely Bones post on how to make an icicle.  
2. Make a snowman body out of white polymer clay.  Add arms (and legs if wanted).
3. Add hat, scarf, or ear muffs using pink or blue clay. 
4. Shape orange clay into a small carrot and add for a nose.
5. Create two small balls of black clay for eyes.
6. Bake at 225 for 10 minutes. Let cool.
7. Glue onto icicle using E6000. Let dry.

This makes a great gift for teachers, coworkers, or to top off presents with.

R2D2 ornament

"Christmas is a time you get homesick- even when you're at home." -Carol Nelson

I had an R2D2 toy growing up, and every time you pressed one of his buttons he would make his beeping sounds.  It was something I found fun, but probably annoyed my parents and brother.  This R2D2 doesn't make sound, but he might make your other Christmas ornaments jealous.  

Materials:

• Christmas Bulb
• White, Gray, Blue, and Red Paint
• Black Puff Paint
• Paint Brushes

Directions:

1. Paint bulb white. Let dry.
2. Paint top half of bulb gray. Let dry.
3. Add blue shapes to match R2D2 designs. Let dry.
4. Add red dot using back of paint brush.
5. Add black circle, and black bulls eye with puff paint.  Let dry.

R2D2 is now ready to be hung on your tree or given to your friend that loves Star Wars.  (You know the one).  

Christmas Card Magnets

"At Christmas all roads lead to home." -Marjorie Holmes

I always love getting Christmas cards, but never know what to do with them afterwards. It seems like sure a waste to get such beautiful images and just recycle them. I decided to make some magnets with decorative gems and the cards.

Materials:

• Transparent decorative gems
• Elmer's glue
• Christmas cards
• Scissors
• Magnet pieces

Directions:

1. Cut out the images to fit on the flat side of the decorative gems.
2. Glue the images on the decorative gems. Let dry.
3. Cut magnet to fit the gem and paste onto the back of the gem. 

Cute, simple, and easy to make.  This would be a perfect activity to do with kids.

Mousetrap Magnets

Calvin: "This whole Santa Claus thing just doesn't make sense.  Why all the secrecy? Why all the mystery?  If the guy exists why doesn't he show himself and prove it?  And if he doesn't exist what is the meaning of all this?"  Hobbes: "I dunno.  Isn't this a religious holiday?"  - Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

I started receiving Christmas cards in the mail, so I had to find somewhere to hang them.  I had seen an Admiral Ackbar mousetrap, and thought how cool would it be to have that as a refrigerator magnet and have the mousetrap part hold my mail and other things.  I made the Admiral (get it?  It's a trap!)  and some other traps to hold all my Christmas cards for this season.

Materials:

• Paint
• Puff Paint
• Owl stickers
• Magnets with peel backs
• Scissors
• Paint brush

Directions:

1. Paint the mouse traps the colors you want them to be.  Let dry.
2. With the puff paint, paint dots along the outside.  Let dry.
3. Stick the stickers onto the mousetraps.  
4. Cut the magnets to size and stick them to the back of the mouse traps.
5. Hang the mousetrap magnets on your refrigerator or other magnetic surface.

Robin Ornament

"Christmas is a stocking stuffed with sugary goodness." -Mo Rocca

I feel that Robin always get the short stick.  He can fight crime and the Dick Grayson, the original Robin, even becomes Nightwing.  Yet, he always continues to live in the shadow of Batman.  Plus, no one wants o be known as the boy wonder. 

Note the Batman ornament in the background. Batman is made out of plastic from a food container and paint.

Materials:

• Red Ornament
• Black Paint
• Gold Paint
• Paint Brush

Directions:

1. Paint a black oval at an angle onto the bulb.  Let dry.
2. Paint a gold 'R' onto the ornament. Let dry.

This is one of my favorite ornaments.  It is simple, clean, and pops.  I love it!

Mario Bomb Ornament

"Christmas is a box of tree ornaments that have become part of the family." -Charles Schulz

The bomb from Mario is a very easy ornament to make and add to your geeky Christmas tree. It also kind of reminds me of a pigs nose, which makes me giggle.

Materials:

• Ornament
• Black Paint
• White Paint

Directions:

1. Paint the ornament black.  Let dry.
2. Paint two long white ovals in the center of the bulb.  Let dry and hang on tree.

Nothing screams classic geek like Mario.  

Gingerbread Houses

"Janie works hard, of course, and she's a good wife and mother but do you know she's never once made a gingerbread house with her children?"  -Mildred Hastings

Every Thanksgiving my family has a gingerbread house competition.  My little cousins, brother, and I use graham crackers, frosting (or water with powder sugar), and tons of candy to create whole scenes.  So this weekend, when I made a gingerbread house at a friends Christmas party I was all ready. Gingerbread kits make this so much easier.  Do not forget to frost the gingerbread houses to the cardboard (the mistake my rookie friends made).  A solid foundation holds the house up. 

The little ones aren't quite as clean when they are making theirs, but then again they are too busy eating tons of candy.