3D Frenzy

I had a very strange dream last night, most of what I remember was light in all different colors and shapes.  I was very moved when I woke up I wanted to make some kind of 3D art with the ribbon I have from my love of wrapping presents.  I woke up in a fantastic mood and needed to create something that made me equally as happy! I added ribbon that said 'party' on it, because I felt like I was at some kind of light show party in my dream.

Materials:
black construction paper
different colored ribbon
glue, tape, scissors

Delightfully Divine

My husband's birthday is coming up and every year I make something carrot-y for his birthday.  Typically a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, or carrot and cream cookies.  This year I decided I would try something brand new, he loves peppermint, so I wanted to  take a chocolate cookie recipe and infuse peppermint into the mix.  I normally just follow the recipe as printed, but I figured why not push myself this time.  I also had a few marshmallows left over from s'mores, so I threw on a  top just a few cookies for a marshmallow frosting.  I think that turned out pretty good! I would definitely try something like this again, perhaps for Christmastime.  I definitely think that rolling the cookies in them would be an easier cleanup for the cookie sheet, but hey, live and learn!

Materials: ( I adjusted the recipe amounts because I didn't have the full amount of all ingredients)
1 1⁄4 cups butter softened
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3⁄4 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
*peppermint oil - just a drop! (I added)
*peppermint candy pieces - crushed (I added)

Relaxing Waves

For my new experience I took a yoga class.  I was unsure about how I was going to like it, especially after trying the visual relaxation techniques tried in class.  I was extremely surprised how much I enjoyed myself.  I love the idea of strengthening my body without lifting heavy weights.  I enjoyed it so much that I went back two more times already.  When thinking about how I wanted to express myself after the experience, I realized that while I was in class I was constantly focused on my breath.  It reminded me of the waves how they always go in toward the sand and out into the sea.  I felt the need to draw waves, but not beach waves, just wavy lines, in all colors to show the many types of breathes we take.  Some are dark and deep, steady and focused, shallow and breathy.  the colors represented all the ways that I breathe.  It seems simple, but it is very impactful for me.  I colored in some of the lines with various colors to give it a deeper, more 3D look.

Materials used:
white paper
20 colored pencils

Home

August 21

Today I was making sangria, when I noticed the wine cork sitting on the counter and thought it would be interesting to paint with them.  I've never painted with anything outside of a paint brush (that wasn't for class) and I thought it would bring a new texture to the paper.   I was inspired by the thought of recently selling my childhood home, how much I loved living there, and the fantastic sunsets I would see nightly.  After I finished the sky and grass, I started looking around the house and found some nails that would give me a smaller circle for birds.

The experience was really fun, it was much more relaxing that I anticipated.  Some corks (synthetic ones) worked much better than the actual cork corks.  The synthetic ones didn't soak up as much paint as the other ones.  The nails worked great, even paint distribution all around.  I also decided to add my house in felt for additional texture.

Materials:
12x12 textured paper
various acrylic paint colors
corks
small nails
felt
scissors

glue

A Beautiful Sunset

August 20

This was made at 11:30pm on Thursday night (8/20), my best friend did something so stupid she could have seriously hurt herself.  I was so mad at her I decided to cut up some CDs I had around the house to let my anger out.  I never realized how hard it would be to cut CDs! I didn't have a plan on what to make with the CDs, but after I calmed down a bit, I wanted to create something I find peaceful.  I decided to make a sun with its rays the colors it would be if it were setting at night.

Materials:
4 Cds I had around the house
scissors
yellow acrylic paint
blank canvas turned on its back

Wedding Bliss

August 18

It was recently my 1 year wedding anniversary with my husband, and I figure it is time to stop being lazy and make our wedding album so the pictures are not just sitting around the house.
I scrapbooked my bridal shower and our wedding day  ! I was inspired mostly by the blank book staring at me, and this class gave me the energy I needed to try this out! It took a lot longer than I thought, I didn't realize how meticulous I would be, wanting everything to be perfect.

Materials:
Blank scrapbook
stickers
photos from the wedding and bridal shower
recipe cards from the bridal shower

Visionary delight

August 17

I created a vision board to hang up in my bedroom, it gives me something relaxing and hopeful to look at every day. I was inspired by all things that encourage me!  I love to look at things that make me happy and relaxed, and also things that encourage me and motivate me.   It is printed on 8x11 paper and is hanging on a wall I look at every morning.

Materials:

blank paper that I printed on after I made a collage in Paint