Christmas creativity: December 13th

       

     Every year our family celebrates the days leading up to Christmas by doing something special each day.This year we have decided to

                          Be creative each day

The aim is to do something creative to give away or to help someone else's Christmas be brighter. 

December 13th 2013

      

•       Make a Christmas card and give it to someone who has helped you this year or make some Christmas cards and deliver them in person to a rest home or unit that house people with disabilities.

      Here are some simple ideas to get the creative juices flowing.  I have added the links for those who need instructions.   

http://sas-does.blogspot.co.nz/2011/12/n-is-for-notes-for-friends-and-family.html

http://inkitupwithjessica.com/handmade-christmas-cards-pretty-pape/

I couldn't find a link for this one but I thought it was too good not to share

http://www.motleymama.com/2011/11/14/diy-christmas-cards-other-embarrassingly-easy-things/

http://diy-projectss.blogspot.co.nz/2013/11/diy-tree-christmas-card.html

Check Google or pinterest for other wonderful ideas.

A bit of creativity every day leading up to Christmas

Every year our family celebrates the days leading up to Christmas by doing something special each day.  One year it was Christmas readings and another year it was doing Christmas service and another year making and delivering secret presents.  This year we have decided to

Be creative each day


The aim is to do something creative to give away or to help someone else's Christmas be brighter.

Today's post will have the run down on each day and then I will do a more detailed post on each of the days all the way up to Christmas.

Some days will have more than one idea to choose from.  I will also include links to help start those creative juices flowing.

1.       Make a Christmas card and give it to someone who has helped you this year or make some Christmas cards and deliver them in person to a rest home or unit that house people with disabilities

2.       Make a 5 tree decorations and leave them in a strangers letter box (In NZ this is allowed although in other parts of the world you may have to leave it on a front door step and knock and run)

3.       Make a Christmas tree and hand it to a stranger in town

4.       Make a bird feeder and put it out in the garden for the birds or  make a homemade colouring books and buy crayons and leave in waiting rooms for families

5.       Make something useful from recyclable materials  and give to someone you love

6.       Paint/draw a picture and mount on card and make into a jigsaw for a friend or make a Christmas t-shirt from a plain coloured tee and textile paints

7.       Bake and make an edible Christmas tree or make some biscuits (cookies) and give them to the librarians in the local library

8.       Make a Christmas wreath and leave it on someone’s front door step or make 10-15 different size and shaped cut out snowflakes and stick to someone’s front door.

9.       Make a Christmas stocking and fill it with goodies and give to a person who has served you or helped  this year

10.   Make a nativity set or a Santa Claus to decorate yours or someone else’s home or make a flower/fruit  arrangement and give to someone in hospital

11.   Make a Christmas cake and ice it.  Give it to a person who is stressed and rushed this Christmas.

12.   Make a Christmas cushion for a child  or  make play dough or salt dough for a child

Elegant food when meeting quilting dealines

I have been working furiously in my studio.  I have a few deadlines coming up that I am madly working towards.  So in the next few days I will have some little updates to  show you of my work.  I am so excited to see how this art quilt is progressing.

While I was in the middle of quilting yesterday my 12 year old young man came in and said I need a plate of food for the social tonight.  This time of the year is wonderful in so many ways but the extra events and activities can sometimes just be too much.  My thinking cap had to come on quickly for a plate that 12 year old kids would like,  could be made fast with what we have in the cupboard and not break the bank. I came up with this lifesaver :)

A bread platter

Put on the platter 3 different types of bread.  

I have used a sliced French stick with garlic oil drizzled on it and then grilled, 

cheese grilled on top of normal sandwich bread and cut into fingers 

and made some bread sticks form out favourite bread recipe. (Just knead the dough and shape and put in oven. No need to rise)

Make 3 delicious dips for dipping sauces.

Dairy and gluten free dip

4 T coconut cream

4 T plain yoghurt

1/2 of a small onion

1/2 t gluten free vegetable stock

Grate the onion and then combine all of the ingredients together and then chill in the fridge

Humus

1/2 can of chick peas

juices of 2 lemon

3 cloves of garlic

splash of oil

3 T Tahini paste

salt and pepper to taste

Put all the ingredients in a food processor and blend till creamy.  Add more oil, lemon or chick peas juice if needed to thin mixture.

Refined sugar free Thai chilli sauce

3 T agave syrup (you could use runny honey)

2 cloves of garlic

2 T oil

a pinch of chilli powder

1-2 T apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

Mix all together.  Put more or less vinegar/lemon in depending on your taste.

Serve on a platter

ENJOY !!!

Making a quiltlet in a hour.

I love making wee little quiltlets so much.  My favourite part is that I can get it finished in one sitting. Especially if I cheat and iron the fabric dry when I have wet paint :)  They are a great way to experiment and try something new without worrying about a huge time commitment or massive expense.

Owl quiltlet

Time : Allow 1- 1 1/2 hours to complete

1. Start by cutting out 2 pieces of white fabric 10 x 15 cm.  Paint one roughly in red paint.  I have added a wee bit of blue and purple to the red paint to add more depth to the base.  Cut out a piece of batting the same size. 

A close up of the colours in the painting

2.  First brush some metallic paint through some sequin waste and randomly paint on the cloth.  Then stencil an owl in white textile paint onto the bottom left corner.  

3. Using a tree stencil stencil randomly around the owl leaves

4.  Use 3 different tones of green.  One green and yellow mixed,  one black and green mixed, one green and white and a little black

Finished top when wet

5.  Blot the fabric with an old towel to remove excess paint.

6.  Iron dry.  Use a pressing sheet. Only use an iron directly on the fabric when you are certain it is completely dry.

Finished top.  The red background has come through slightly and made the white look more pink.

7.  Quilt around the owl in a pale pink thread.  Then quilt leaves around the owl in 3 different colours of green

8. Paint eyes with metallic bronze paint. Then stitch around the quilt edge with a running stitch or a zigzag stitch to finish it off.

9. Evaluate:  I am not sure I like the metallic eyes.  Tomorrow I may try putting another colour on top.  I love the different tones of green and   the depth it adds.  The composition is good. I think next time I will add some stamps on the background before adding the owl to add more interest.  Over all I quilt like this little quilt.

Play hard learn hard

Play hard 

learn hard

I am very sorry to say I am going to have to postpone the play posts that I had planned for you all, until after Christmas.  Life has got so busy and I have had some unexpected events which has meant less time being able to blog and be in my art studio.  I would like to give this my best effort and attention which I just can't do a t the moment.  

Thank you for all the support you give me.  I hope you are having a lovely Christmas season. xxx

Photography: Out and about

A selection of photos while tripping around our district.

This tree looks like a bear head.  Isn't nature amazing :)

Feel free to use my photos for inspiration but please remember to acknowledge my contribution to your creativity xxxxx

25 Creative presents

Well it has been a very busy week full of lots of secrets for Christmas.  I love this time of the year, the rustles of wrapping paper,  the giggles behind closed doors and the little whispers.

I love thinking of creative ideas for presents that make a difference in peoples lives. I especially love making kits for children and adults that encourage creativity.  The difference between a gift that promotes play and creativity is whether the object needs to have the recipient do something with it or whether the gift can just work on it's own.  Creativity doesn't happen with something that works on it's own.

So what can be given to others to promote creativity?  I have found so many ideas over the years I would like to share with you.  Many of the things can be bought at second hand shops,  use recycled products or can be bought cheaply at Dollar stores.

 A Wonderful Captain hook outfit made from a bit on an imagination and an old scarf(the hair), a coat hanger, foil, a belt, an old coat, my white shirt, and his own black pants and white socks,  We only purchased a pirate hat.

1. Dress up kit-Choose a theme and find items of clothing and props that go with the theme. Ie Fairy princess: A long sparkly dress, wings, a tiara/crown, a wand, ballet style shoes and glitter.
2. Cupcake kit-A tray, a couple of recipes on a laminated card,  a jar with ingredients in it, a variety of interesting toppings/sprinkles/chocolate drops, icing, a piping bag and 2-3 nozzles
3. Art journalling kit-stamps, paper, a journal, an art pen, pencils, an eraser, some stencils, some textures things to print with or through with a stencil brush, stencil brush, paintbrushes, foam craft brushes, glue, collage materials,  a variety of drawing mediums I.E crayons and recyclable materials to print with. I.E cotton reels
4. Messy play-slime, play dough, finger paint, clay, puff paint, water balloons, paint, a play recipe book, bubble mixture,buckets, spades, mud, corn flour gloop, an apron
5. Art- pens, pencils, a variety of papers, crayons, dye, pastels, a variety of paint, paint brushes, easel, artist pallet, pallet knives
6. paper planes- book with paper plane folding ideas, a variety of papers, paper clips, blue tack, stapler, Cello tape, scissors
7. fort kit- ropes, old sheets, pulleys, pegs, torch, binoculars, string, clamps, 
8. water play-trough, buckets, sieve, guttering, down pipes, hose of different thickness's and lengths, funnels, different sized jars and containers, a water wheel, 
9. Clay- clay, clay tools, clay cutter, paddles for smoothing the clay, sponge and dish for water, natural objects to put in the clay i.e. shells, rocks, hay
10. Quilt- a pattern, material to finish the quilt top, batting, backing, thread, scissors, a quick unpick, and some safety pins
11. Sand- Buckets, spade, water wheel, sieve, moulds, cars/trucks, different thickness's of sticks, shells, rake, trowel
12. Building a tree house kit-wood of different sizes, nails, screws, hammer, pliers, screwdriver, suggestions of  ideas to build a hut, old tyres,  rope, pulleys and old sheets
13. Blocks- wooden ones are wonderful.  they are a great investment and last for years
14. Lego- A creative pack is always the best starting set.
15. Train sets- Timeless creativity.  We have 2 a push along and a Thomas the tank engine classic.  Both are well loved
16. Dress up box- Handbags, scarves, old coats, dresses, a few shirts, pants and shoes.  throw in a couple of different style hats and the imagination can take you any where
17. Dolls house- there are many on the market to choose from.  You could also re decorate an old one ans supply materials for the kids to make there own furniture.  
18. Playmobil- One of the best role play toys on the market.  It is pricey but it is worth every penny.
19. sewing machine-  A great way to start creativity
20. cook books-  You could also add to the cook book an apron, chefs hat (for a child)  and cooking utensils.
21. Books-  I think one of the best presents ever.  I always love to receive books. 
22. Sewing patterns- include a pattern, the material, notions, threads and voilà something new is made.
23. Gardening kits-Trowel, spade, fork, seeds, gardening gloves, soils, plant pots, and pop it all in a wheel barrow or garden cart.
24. Jewellery kit-jewellery pliers and cutters,  wire, beads, findings, a bead mat, and instructions laminated on a card
25. Hot chocolate kit- a jar of hot chocolate mix,  include the recipe on a card, a mug, a saucer, bag of marshmallows, chocolate chips, a teaspoon and cinnamon sticks.

Use a bit of imagination with put it all together a voilà a present that can be used  to get brains thinking and creating.