Low Tech Message Center

Create a message center in a common space of your home. 

Our message center is in the front hallway between the garage door and kitchen. It houses a dry erase calendar so that all important events are noted (the dry erase calendar is completely reusable, we've had it for years.  Ours is also magnetic which comes in handy a lot!) and my newest creation, the Tack-it Board.  Yes, a regular cork board would work, but the space is ugly enough with the light switches and thermostat, so adding a decorative cork board creates both function and decoration to an otherwise dead space.

Here's why a message center will be so helpful to our family...

Next week I will begin a new teaching position that is really going to test my family's communication skills!  My husband Sam has been completely off the hook with morning duty since my furlough this fall.  Well his vacation is over and his morning job description has drastically changed from the last few years.  Now, not only will he be dropping our oldest son Jamison off at elementary school,  he will also have to get our little guy Logan off to daycare.  One more change and this is a biggie...  I'll already be out the door when they wake up.  Good luck Sam!

Now the trick is going to be to train everyone to use our message center.  Sam needs to look at the calendar... to make sure that school is actually in session (we have already made that mistake, Sam dropped Jamison off to school on a teacher's in service day LOL).  I'll post a weekly note to remind Jamison that he needs his viola.  To start there will be a note reminding both boys to remember their lunch boxes and backpacks.  This space will be the key to our communication when I can't answer my cell phone or respond with a text... high school starts early boys, the phone will be off!

Here are some more examples of my "Tack-it" boards.  You can purchase them on Etsy at ArtRecycles.etsy.com or custom order one by sending me a message on my Facebook community page Artrecycles (click on the ArtRecycles badge found on this blog)

Doodle 4 Google: "What I'd Like To Do Someday..."

2009 Doodle 4 Google Winner
Theme: "What if..."
Title: A New Beginning
What if..."out of the current crisis, discoveries will be found to help the Earth prosper once more"
Christin Engelberth, 6th grader

Doodle 4 Google  is a competition.  K-12 students who participate are required to use their artistic talents to "think big and redesign Google’s homepage logo for millions to see."  

As an (temporarily former) elementary art teacher, I encouraged my students to participate in the 2009 and 2010 Doodle 4 Google contest.  Besides the fantastic prizes, the contest inspires a young person to think creatively, and problem solve in a creative way.  Even though I never had a an actual winner, my students' entries have always made me proud. 

Here's why, a quality entry:

1. Requires a student to come up with an idea in words (think creatively), and then translate those words into drawings (creative problem solving). 
2. If thinking of an idea wasn't tricky enough, a quality doodle also requires artistic skill and several revisions.  

Just like a writing piece in their Language Arts class, students had to edit and revise their doodle several times to get a contest quality work of art- a difficult obstacle for many since today's children get a trophy for just being on the team.   Guiding students to think bigger or work harder on their doodle without crushing their spirit was a challenge. It was clear that the contest wasn't for all of my students, it took someone really special to see it through. 

The participation rules have changed this year, you can enter your child's doodle without a school district contact.  If you have a creative thinker and budding artist who rises to the challenge of working diligently on creative endeavors, this is a great opportunity. 

Winning a college scholarship- not bad
Having your artwork on Google's homepage for the whole world to see- priceless

For information go to tthe official Google 4 Doodle page
http://www.google.com/doodle4google/

Good Luck & Happy Doodling,
Tracey

Heart Garland

Every month I look forward to finding Family Fun Magazine in my mailbox.  If you have children in your life, this magazine is a must.  Great for craft ideas, recipes, and all around great read.  



Logan displays the pink heart garland made for Caitlyn

FFM's February issue has many excellent Valentine's Day ideas including Heart Garland made from paper towel rolls.  I rummaged through my recycling bin (luckily the snow came this week on garbage day or my recycling bins would have been empty) and found 2 paper towel rolls and 1 toilet paper roll.

My little helper Logan was more than pleased when I told him that he was going to get to be a painter.  He "loooves to paint".  Once an old t-shirt was on him and the table was covered in newspaper, the painting began.

True to Logan, he only wanted to paint with yellow (yellow is his "faaaavorite color").  After letting him use yellow on the first roll, I did try to persuade him into a traditional Valentine's Day color for the second one, but he still chose green. 

Logan's yellow and green pattern

I painted the last roll pink.  Logan wasn't thrilled with that because "pink is for girls", but decided it would be okay if he made it for his friend Caitlyn.  So that explains the first photo;  Logan with his proud face holding the pink garland he can't wait to give Caitlyn.  L-O-V-E!

I strung all of the hearts and beads, it was pretty easy, 10 minutes per strand.   A second grader could do this step independently after  proper instruction.

Supplies

• Paper towel or toilet paper rolls
• Paint and brush
• Scissors
• Embroidery Floss and needle
• Beads (I used Pearler beads because we have LOTS of them and the needle easily goes through them)

Make the Parts

1. Paint the towel rolls one solid color.  You can paint both the inside and outside, Logan just painted the outside and left the inside natural.  Allow it to dry. 
2. Push the towel roll down to flatten it.  Cut the roll into 1 inch sections.
3. Take a section, push one folded end into the center of the shape, and you'll create an instant heart.  Do this to all of the pieces (pinching the folds helps to keep the heart shape).
4. Cut a length of Embroidery floss, I used my wing span as a measurement.  Thread the floss onto a needle. (Be sure that your chosen bead allows the needle's eye to pass through it.)

   

Beads are snug against heart

 Assemble the Parts

1. Take a bead, slide it onto the needle and run it down the length of the floss until it reaches about an inch from the bottom. Take the needle and put it through the same bead and pull until the floss is taut.  This step anchors the bead onto the string. 
2. Now you're ready for a heart.  Push the needle through the bottom fold of the heart and up through the top fold of the heart. 
3. Slide the heart down the floss to meet the bead. 
4. Slide another bead onto the string all the way down to the top of the heart.  To keep the heart's shape, press the bead snug against  the heart's crevice.  Anchor the bead in place by sliding the needle through the bead again until the floss is taut.  Repeat these steps until you run out of floss or hearts.



Scrap-booking paper hearts

Double sided scrap-booking paper works great too.  Cut paper into a 6X12 inch piece.  Cut that piece into 1X6 inch sections.  Fold 1X6 inch strip in half, that fold is the heart's bottom.  Curl the two ends in towards each other and hot glue to make the heart's crevice.  Repeat the assembly steps.

What kind of pattern can you make with the hearts and beads?

Enjoy,
Tracey

  

Ephemeral Art to Wear

Art that is made to last for hours, days, or weeks is called ephemeral art.

Ephemeral Art is meant to be enjoyed for the moment because it will not last forever. 



Perfect for Valentine's Day



Perfect for baby shower favors
Pinwheel is a symbol of childhood
and peace

 

Introducing the "Soft" pin...

Due to the inexpensive materials used to create the "soft" pin, it will eventually fall apart.  The question is, how many times can it be worn and how many compliments wil it receive?



I make these little unassuming owls in all different shapes and sizes and in many different colors schemes.  Once I have glued all of the owl features together, I laminate them with contact paper (front and back).  Hence the name, soft pin, contact paper is a soft material.

I carefully cut the owl, leaving a little edge of the contact paper in tact, to seal the edges.  Lastly, I add some light catchers,  small craft "jewels" to the eyes to create a sparkle. 

To complete the pin, I hot glue a pin fastener to the back.

If you are interested in the pinwheels for baby shower favors send me a message on my ArtRecycles FB community page.

Enjoy,

Tracey