Tag Archives: recycle

Mosaic Renaissance a book by Laurel Skye

Art Contest, cool art, Crafts, Crash Glass, decoupage, Easy To Do Crafts, found object art, green, green products, hobbies, Mosaic Tile, Mosaic Tile Parties, recycled art, recycled craft ideas, recycled crafts, repurposed crafts, shard art, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Creative inspiration is always at our finger tips. We can visit hundreds of places a day, with the hope that something will trigger our creativity for our next masterpiece.

Mosaic Renaissance: Millefiori in Mosaics by Laurel Skye

Mosaic Renaissance: Millefiori in Mosaics by Laurel Skye

There are quite a few artists that I yearn to emulate.  Not copy.

There’s a difference!

Last March, I took two mosaic tile classes from mosaic tile artist, Laurel Skye, in Arcata, California. Her work brings inspiration to my soul and warmth to my heart!

Laurel’s journey into the land of mosaic tile started with a mosaic tile toaster entered into a local Bagel Shoppe contest. Laurel won. The rest is history.

While we were there, Laurel was in the beginning stages of writing a book to share her extraordinary talent. She seemed to be a little nervous, I can see why. Teaching a class is much different than writing step by step instructions for, lets say 10 projects, with photos to match.

Well she did it!  Pre-orders for Laurel Skye’s new book are now on sale…

Mosaic Renaissance: Millefiori in Mosaics  are now on sale. Check it out.

Congrats Laurel! We wish you all the best.

DIY – Do It Yourself TV

cool art, Crafts, decoupage, DIY websites, Easy To Do Crafts, hobbies, Life, living, recycled art, recycled craft ideas, recycled crafts, repurposed crafts, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Back in the early days of DIY TV…some of you might remember Christopher Lowell. He was certainly one of the first DIY pioneers!

Vintage Age of DIY TV

Vintage Age of DIY TV

Personally, I looked forward to his shows, but stopped watching when he started to dress up like a woman, during a few of his skits.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just that he has a beard. Hard to focus and it started to get weird for me:)

Anyway…point is…early on, he had a guest named Sandi Reinke owner of Loose Ends.  Sandi scoured the world for cool decor and wonderful organic bits and pieces, to create amazing things with.

Being a Decoupage artist, I fell in love with her infamous ‘Project Papers’ and bought them by the roll.

Really easy directions…

  1. Get a large bowl. Mix up a batch of equal parts white glue and water.
  2. Tear off a manageable piece of Project Paper.
  3. Roll it into a ball. Squeeze. The more wrinkles the better.
  4. Loosen the paper up a bit and soak it in the white glue mixture, until covered.
  5. Squeeze out the paper. Flatten a bit and lay it on base of your choosing.
  6. Smooth it gently with your fingers. You don’t have to get rid of all of the wrinkles!
  7. Add more layers.
  8. Let dry.

Animal Print Project Papers

Animal Print Project Papers

Here’s a link to a Bed Tray craft project using Animal Print Project Paper…check it out!

Sandi’s journey is amazing and worth the read.

Creative Kids

cool art, Mosaic Tile, recycled art, recycled craft ideas, recycled crafts, repurposed crafts, reuse, shard art, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Elizabeth's Creation Age 5

Elizabeth's Creation Age 5

Teaching adults how to mosaic tile has been an amazing experience but nothing compares to watching children create.

As adults, we work very hard to rediscover the creative genius we were born with but lost somewhere along the way.

Not kids!

When ideas come flying out of their creative souls, they’re fearless, allowing their creativity to flow and there are no mistakes that can be made.

Over the last year, I have taught mosaic tile class to over 75 kids and there was one child, out of that 75, that questioned her creativity.  Her free flow to create had already been altered by the outside world and she was only 9 years old.

When we are ostracized in our environment for excess creativity, we shut down and work very hard to be just like everyone else. Doesn’t seem fair, does it.

A fearless creative mind is so essential to society.  All of those unknown possibilities along with the freedom to free flow creative ideas, without being judged, is truly the catalyst to a life filled with curiosity and wonder.

If you create art with your kids…take a minute to think about the last time you told them that they were doing it wrong.  The more you say it…the more they’ll believe you. There are no mistakes in art.

You really don’t want them to lose their creative soul…do you?

Every child is an artist.

The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.  ~Pablo Picasso

Elizabeth and her mom Jessie

Elizabeth and her mom Jessie

Recycle Old CD’s II

cool art, Crafts, Easy To Do Crafts, hobbies, recycled art, recycled craft ideas, recycled crafts, repurposed crafts, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Recycle old CD's and DVD's

Recycle old CD's and DVD's

We have so many old CD’s…just needed a little more inspiration to reuse these shiny little gems…I found a few more creative ideas to recycle old CD’s…oldies but goodies! I just love the CD lamp!

Create a recycled CD lamp I

Create a recycled CD lamp II

Recycled Disco Ball

Creating

Art Contest, cool art, Crafts, Crash Glass, DIY websites, Easy To Do Crafts, found object art, green, green products, hobbies, Mosaic Tile, recycled art, recycled craft ideas, recycled crafts, repurposed crafts, shard art, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

We didn't know you were creative

We didn't know you were creative

Mosaic Tile Class was great last night. Four very different women. A couple of them brought some things to use as a catalyst for their mosaic tile project but a couple of them didn’t.  

 

When this happens I always feel the same question reeling through my head.  How do I teach them the principals of mosaic tiling while guiding them to bring their creativity to the forefront?  If I fail to do that I could end up creating their project for them and that’s not my intention.

Creativity is a funny thing. Those of us that have it don’t think so and those of us that don’t think we have it…don’t think so either. Whew. Common ground.

Rambling and babbling and it’s only Wednesday.

Cheers.

Crash Glass, Decoupage and Mosaic Tile

Art Contest, community, cool art, Crafts, Crash Glass, digital photo ideas, digital photography, DIY websites, Easy To Do Crafts, found object art, hobbies, Mosaic Tile, recycled art, recycled craft ideas, recycled crafts, repurposed crafts, reuse, shard art, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Crash Glass

Crash Glass

Awhile back, I was lucky enough to take a Crash Glass class with Laurel Skye that incorporated Decoupage, Collage and Mosaic Tile…The first time I ran across this amazing art form was stumbling upon Mo Ringey and Ellen Blakeley‘s websites. Prepare to be amazed at these very talented found object artists.

If you’re a scrap-booker or decoupage artist, you’ll want to try your hand at incorporating the two mediums. The process of mosaic tile and decoupage is somewhat time consuming but you’ll find that blending the two art-forms is quite exhilarating! You can’t stop gazing at it!

A Crash Glass & Mosaic Tile Collage class is the best place to learn the tips, tricks and techniques of this art-form. It will save you time, money and lung power.

By the way…if you’ve been a decoupage artist for awhile you won’t believe what I’ve found out! You know how inkjet printer copies of images smear when you apply adhesive or varnish to them? Well…did you know that you can copy the images using your ink-jet printer onto Avery Full Sheet Labels?  It really works quite well, for some decoupage applications! Check it out.

Need some decoupage or collage inspiration to get started…a few favorites!

Gluing Stuff To Other Stuff

Art Contest, community, cool art, Crafts, Easy To Do Crafts, found object art, green, green products, hobbies, Mosaic Tile, recycled art, recycled craft ideas, recycled crafts, repurposed crafts, reuse, shard art, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Going in a million different directions makes it difficult to get back to creating. A few days ago, I was rummaging through my stuff and found two bowls that needed a new look.

It’s been awhile since I have had the opportunity to sit down and mosaic tile in private.  Maybe it’s a good idea to take some time off,  for creative inspiration to fuel up. This one turned out quite beautiful…if I do say so myself.

Thrift Store Wooden Salad Bowl BEFOREThrift Store Wooden Salad Bowl BEFORE
Mosaic Tile Bowl After

Mosaic Tile Bowl After

“If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good”

– Dr. Seuss

Mosaic Tile Bowl II

Mosaic Tile Bowl II