Reindeers and Elves: Handmade Cards

Well, there is a reason for my blogging absence...

Work.

Life.

Family.

and Instagram is faster and more immediate :)

Another reason is my commitment

 to making and gifting handmade this year.

No "Made in China" for me this year.

Oh,  one exception:

 I can't handmake a trampoline for the kids.

Here is a card I made tonight from

a vintage 1976 Golden Book 

 "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer"

Are you into Christmas this year?

Or maybe you just couldn't be christmarsed!

(got to love the Urban Dictionary)

Tissue BoxCover

I'm not overly emotional

 (well, you only have MY word on that one)

But when I go to the shops

 I don't by one box of tissues,

 I buy six!

 I am actually from loud sneezing, 

allergic rhinitis royalty.

 My tissue use is prolific.

Now while my nose likes to get a littler hyper,

my eyes work perfectly.

So this week I set out to create a tissue box cover

 that would mask the ugly boxes that decorate my bench tops.

I punched out some circles from origami paper

and mod-podged them randomly onto a mdf blank.

Finally, I sealed them with a few coats of Mod-Podge.

It was ridiculously easy, relaxing and I kind of like it-

 it certainly beats the cactus barcode design.

 I hope your nose is kind to you this week :)

Sharing here:
Craftionary

La Dolce Vita is up-cycling

Now call it opportunistic BUT,

 when the kids are at school is my best chance to...

 ... go through their rooms and throw out crap

- they are such hoarders!

If you have a daughter,

chances are she went through PPP

 (plastic pony phase)

A word of encouragement:

thankfully there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I think my daughter has pretty much outgrown them.

Yesterday, I found this forgotten plastic pony carry case and couldn't help myself

-maybe I can be a hoarder too.

I soaked off the filly brand info and was left with a super  icky sticky but funky green briefcase.

"Movie Classics" has been featuring

 regularly in my up-cycling work lately.

A trim and a tweak,

 some glue and some sealer and...

La Dolce Vita!

Translated:

The Sweet Life or 

The Good Life

Ticket wallets fit perfectly- La Dolce Vita

Linking Elle and Lou here:

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Art bangles: A class project for Primary Students

Now it may just be me..

but in my experience,

 the male gender aren't crash hot

 when it comes to buying presents for others.

This week I have been talking

 with quite a few mums

 about what goes on in their home for Mother's day.

Overwhelmingly, this is what happens:

It seems we mums buy our own presents,

subtly side passing them to our partners 

who in turn pass them on to the kids.

This has its benefits-we get what we want!

I know, because I'm getting a funky pair of knee high boots  (Oh! what a surprise!)

But really we mums have don't care about the present,

 it is the thought that counts.

 We are SO cliche sometimes!

Now I teach in a boys' college and I feel I am obliged to TRY and educate the young ones to think about others, especially their mums who do so much for them.

I admit,

 I also wanted to teach them about up-cycling,

artworks from a variety or historical and cultural contexts,

moulding materials and presentation.

So, we embarked on 62 bangles!

This how we did it...

•   We began by soaking extra large paddle pop sticks in water for 24 hours.
• Then carefully, we bent the pop sticks into a curve and put them in a small glass to dry for 24 hours. Some broke or splintered, but we had extras.

• Next, the boys looked through old Art books and journals that were destined for the recycle bin. As they looked at the artworks spontaneous conversations, questions and analysis evolved. They chose an artwork that would become the feature of the gift tag and bangle.

• A flat paddle pop stick was used as a template. Placing it onto the chosen artwork, they traced around the shape, cut out the art image and Mod Podged it onto the bangle. They sealed the outside of the bangle with Mod Podge also. 

• To make the gift tag the boys used a circle punch to select a matching image. This was then glued on blue industrial offcuts. 
• They punched white paper for the reverse side, glued it and wrote a sweet message for their mum.
• Then the boys punched a small hole and inserted the string. 

•  Finally the boys wrapped the bangle, inserting the information note below.

I know the boys' mothers will appreciate the care their sons have taken in creating this gift for them and the boys were very proud of what they achieved.

Incidentally, this activity also gave the boys practice with their fine motor skills such as cutting, tracing and accuracy. Never underestimate how many primary students struggle with these simple tasks!

Anyhoot- Happy Mothers Day!

Post Note: my children made me some gorgeous Mother's  Day cards, as did my wonderful husband AND my knee high boots are a perfect fit...who would have thunk it ;)

Also, the original pop bangle idea is not mine it came from the creative  Tara at Craft Affection.

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Mother's Day Card: Sound of Music

Last weekend The Sound of Music was on TV...again!

I wonder how many times I've seen it?

I could watch it all over again tonight.

It may have something to do with the fact that brown paper packages tied up with string DO feature pretty highly on my list of things to dig.

It inspired me to make this  Mother's Day card for my favourite woman, my Mum.

Happy Mother's Day

 to ALL the fabulous Mums out there,

 from all generations!

Sharing at:
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Maths meets Art: Bunting to stimulate inquiry

When it comes to maths my mind is a black hole.

Simply put:

Algebra + me = coma

Sound familiar? Is this you? Your child? 

Well, I used to think this way and

 I thought I was super crap at maths.

It ends up -I'm not too bad actually!

How do I know?

Well I married a Maths teacher!

So many people consider that Maths and the Creative Arts
are at opposite ends of the learning spectrum.

I wish to assert an alternative and less common belief,
 that just as music and maths are intrinsically linked,
so are visual art and maths.

In my Art classes I teach about measuring, fractions,
how to visually divide an image, how to frame,  angles, pattern, tessellations...(big breath)...
the golden ratio, sequencing, perspective...
Do I really need to go on?

So if I can teach all this,

 why did I think I was so rubbish at Maths for so long?

Maybe it has something to do with the unimaginative approach of my Maths teachers from

 some 20 (a-hem) years ago.

Maybe it has something to do with

 the notion that Maths has an image problem,

 especially with girls.

So when the library staff at Mt Alvernia College,

 an all girl's school in Kedron

commissioned some maths bunting I jumped at the chance!

How exciting to potentially engage young womens' maths inquiry through the visual arts! 

I hope that when the girls' eyes wander

 that maybe they will begin to wonder....

"What does that have to do with Maths?"

"Is Maths connected with that?"

Any inquiry is good as it is the beginnings of engagement. 

Who knows?

The girls might even come to the conclusion

 that maths can be beautiful,

(something my husband has been telling me for years).

Envelope for Maths Bunting

Extra education for no extra fee:
In Australia we call the subject Maths not Math as they do in America.

Sharing this Elle and Lou Post @
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Communication in the Office - a true gift

Work dynamics are interesting to watch.

This probably explains the reason why "The Office"

 has enjoyed so much success all over the world.

I am so incredibly lucky to work with the best people.

Our office is casual, and happy, 

a place where you can speak your mind without fear of offending others

 or stepping on toes.

We laugh constantly and

I must say if you have a thing for political correctness....

it is probably best that you are not a regular visitor.

Maybe it is because there are are only 5 of us.

Maybe it is because we support each other,

and come to work with a positive attitude and are prepared to laugh at ourselves.

 I guess to some degree we are like minded-we are all about visual art.

In any case, 

when we began the term, I decided chocolate was in order!

So, I found a 1970's book,

sprouting outdated ideas about what an office involved

and how we 'communicated'.

I mod-podged the images onto the canister of chocolate

and placed it on our staff- kitchen table.

Like a good family,

I think work mates can come together around food.

What does your work place look like?

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Cinderella and Prince Charming Luggage Tags

My love of retro papers, microfiche and eco-cycling have been a marriage made in heaven

at least I think so :)

His and Hers luggage tags for the Bride and Groom to be.

Can you think of a Cinderella and Prince Charming, planning a long haul flight?

Valentine's Teacher Gift: Heart Bookmark

If you are looking for a simple, super quick Valentine's gift idea

for a teacher, friend or lover...

this is it.

 It works with any type of paper all you need is a square shape.

Old atlas pages work well,

 but these are just

origami style prints.

 To learn how to fold a heart go here.

Then a square of cardboard holds the bookmark well

and gives you room for a message.

My children wrote a personal message to their teacher on the back too.

There it is in a nut shell.

All up it takes about 10 mins.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Linking Elle and Lou up with these sites:

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