Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to start:

• A light blue, or any color of paint for use on wood (I used  black)
• Envirotex Spray Sealer
• A can of gloss spray, any brand
• A flat ¾ inch brush
• A foam plate
• <Painter's tape
• A 5/8 inch round foam pouncer brush (at any craft store)
• A stencil of your choice (I found a free rose stencil online)
• Scrap paper
• Unfinished wooden magazine holder (at any craft store)

Using a ¾ inch flat brush paint the inside of the magazine holder any color and let it dry completely. Using black, paint the outside and edge of the magazine holder and let it dry. Using the painter’s tape to hold the stencil in place, use the pouncer brush dipped in the black paint and dab it lightly on the scrap paper to remove any excess paint before stamping over the opening in the stencil.

Make sure to clean your stencil after each use and alternate the position on the magazine holder if you will be doing more than one stencil. Repeat using the stencil on the rest of the holder and let it dry.

This makes a really cute addition to your desk or on a lamp table in your living room. Remember to coordinate the colors of your project to the room where you will be using the magazine holder.

I hope you enjoyed making this project as much as I enjoyed showing you how.

Post from: Blisstree

Thrifty Magazine Holder

Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• 1 Paper mache book box
• Scrapbook papers: Brick Red, Musical notes (or anything you choose)
• A clock kit
• Acrylic paints: Barn red, Yellow-tan
• A ½ inch flat paintbrush
• A glue stick
• Paper trimmer
• Scissors
• Black pen, or computer-generated text

Start by painting the pages of the books with yellow-tan. Apply two coats letting them dry between coats. Paint the remainder of the book dark brown. Apply two coats here too, and let them dry in between coats.

Drill or cut a hole in the front of the book and follow the manufacturer’s directions for the clock kit.

Take the scrapbook paper, I used the musical notes, and glue them on the front and back of the book box. Cut the clock hole through the paper. Cut a strip of the red paper to wrap around the spine of the book and overlap slightly in the front and the back of the book.

Insert the clock and glue the clock numbers to the front of the box. To make the clock look authentically old you can cut out some rectangular book labels from scrap world map paper and either print a title with a black pen or use the computer to create text.

I was very impress with the outcome of this work and I’m sure that you will be too.

Post from: Blisstree

Decorative Paper Mache Clock

Image: sxc,hu

They did their fabric painting using gelatin.  Beth made several pans of colorless gelatin to take with her.

Then they spread paint in various designs and even non-designs over the gelatin and pressed the fabric onto it.  These then dried.  She now has numerous circles of delightful color and design to create with.

At home, she made smaller circles and is doing the same with it, creating numerous colored small circles.

When Beth gets something posted on her blog about this project, I’ll let you know.

Have you ever done this type of fabric painting?  What did you make from it?

Post from: Blisstree

A Fabric Painting Day with Friends

Being bored wasn’t something we admitted to when I was a child.  Mom or Dad would find more farm work and housework for bored children.  So we discovered all types of hobbies and creative play.

Image: sxc.hu

I’ve discovered, too, that bored children often grow up to be bored adults.  So why not encourage hobbies of many types for your children.  Become involved yourself and include your youngsters.  Introduce them to new activities.  These should include a mix of sit down and active hobbies.

You never know what life will bring. When I had a broken back, as an adult, and lay in bed in a body cast for six weeks, people wondered if I wasn’t bored out of my mind.  No, I had much to do, when I wasn’t too tired.  I read, I wrote, I played games with my granddaughter.  Occasionally the family brought the TV into my room (we only had one in the family room) and played movies.  But I was never bored.

Some hobby ideas:

• Reading
• Board games
• Outdoor games like croquet, catch, hoop shoots
• Sewing and related activities
• Painting, sketching and other arts
• Knitting and crocheting
• Fabric art, altered books
• Scrapbooking
• Photography
• Collections of many kinds
• Geocaching

Some of these may be computer related, like digital photography and scrapbooking, but they’re still using your creativity.

What activities do you encourage with your children?

Post from: Blisstree

Encourage Hobbies with Your Children

Through the wonder of Facebook, I was reunited with an old college sorority sister, Tina Mackin. It turns out she’s an artist (her Web site is www.SmackinArt.com) and her work is brilliant and colorful and completely fun. She copied me on a portrait of some friends she had painted and I knew I just had to have her make one of my family. The best part is that her original portraits are very affordable – ranging from $75 for one person to $250 for 10 people. She also makes prints mounted on mat board for $25.

I sent Tina the family portrait from our 2007 Christmas card, and then sent her a recent photo of Truman so she could super impose his face. Here is the result. Way cool!

(Photo of my portrait, by Tina Mackin, www.SmackinArt.com)

Post from: Blisstree

My Friend Makes Fun Family Portraits!

I took several painting courses and explored various medium.  I’m amazed at all the different types available today…those I see my daughter use for her fabric art and even pencils and inks youngsters bring to school where I substitute teach.

Image: sxc.hu

Do you have an urge to draw and paint?

• Keep a sketchbook with you, even a small one, so you can jot down sights and textures you come across.
• Check out the various types of pencils, paints, and inks available for artwork nowadays.
• Take an art class, perhaps at an adult education facility or one at the local parks and recreation.  Join your children in a class and have fun together.
• Design and sketch greeting cards and post cards.  Nowadays, you simply make one master, then scan it into the computer for printing out.
• Try painting on larger canvas or  board.

After painting for your own enjoyment, you may even have someone ask to purchase your work, as I did.

Post from: Blisstree

Rediscovering Painting

Just in case you needed more inspiration to pick up your paintbrush and decorate your own clothing…

Designer Vivenne Westwood has teamed up with a group of grade two and three students to create her latest collection of hand-painted garments!

I’ve used paint to decorate my clothing (yes, on purpose – I didn’t just splatter myself and even to enhance intricately pieced & quilted jackets.  There are lots of products on the market specifically made to paint on fabric, but as long as you use a fabric medium, any acrylic paint will do!

Image source

Post from: Blisstree

hand painted dresses for high fashion