Seeing Beyond the Impression

Looking beyond the obvious impression of rubber stamps stretches the imagination.  If you have a collection of rubber stamps pull them out and encourage your mind to embrace something new.  Photographed below are a few of my favorite images from Stamps by Judith & Heather.

Using the adorable cat during the Halloween season is the obvious impression, however with a little imagination paired with some cutting with fine detail scissors

the cat has become charming for any season. 

Don't you just love the expression on the cat's face? 

Not to mention the abundance of confidence under that daring red hat!  :)

Visit www.retrodolly.net for more information on the creation of this Artist Trading Card.

Ride into the Sunset

Art journaling is becoming quite a popular activity among members of the art community. Using mixed media techniques to express emotions or to record special events is a new way to "scrapbook." I would like to encourage you to give art journaling a try. Swing by the local thrift store and choose a hardcover book with a firm binding. Your next stop is the craft store to buy white Gesso. Gesso works as a primer. Open the book and prime a few pages. Once the primer is dry you are ready to roll. The sky is the limit. You can read more about this journal entry over on my blog: www.retrodolly.net

Visit www.retrodolly.net to find out more about the various techniques used to create this colorful layout.

Stamp Socks to Eliminate Pairing Nightmares

This quick and easy craft will be fun for the kids and helpful to mom or whoever does most of the laundry in the house!

I'm hoping that stamping each family member's socks with a shape or color just for them will make it way easier for my mom and I to fold laundry. Read on here for the full tutorial!

I Got Tired & You Carried Me Home

This mixed media page from my art journal was inspired

by a parent/child relationship.

Check out www.retrodolly.net for the inspirational story

behind this elegant art journal creation.

This story is sure to encourage you as you face a new week full of new opportunities.

Mommy & Me

Children have a way of growing up way too fast!

Here is an idea to record some of the memories that fade to quickly; like their handwriting, darling spelling errors, and most of all absolute pure love!

This journal is also a way to remind your children how much you love them, no matter what! Don't wait another day to make a lasting memory!
Visit www.retrodolly.net for more photos and details.

Recycled Toilet Paper Tube Robots

Swing on by for my tutorial on these cute little recycled toilet paper tube robots!

Ruffled Lamp Shade

Add a bit of ruffle to a lampshade...

all you need is a few scraps of fabric and a glue gun!!

xo Melodee at PolkaDot Notebook

Tutorial on How to Make Truffula Trees

Want to learn how to make these adorable truffula trees from The Lorax by Dr. Seuss?? Head over to Surviving a Teacher's Salary to check out her tutorial!

Totally Glamorous!

Stamping on fabric made creating an art journal page lots of fun. When creating an art journal background be sure to use lots of layers. Layers showing various colors, textures, and images make the overall layout very appealing.

It would be wonderful for you to visit my home page to read more about the details in creating this vintage pattern art journal page. Leave me a comment and let me know you stopped by. I would love to visit your blog too! :) Have a groovy week!

www.retrodolly.net

Science Fun!

Hello Crafty Community,

I have been busy making things for the classroom. In Science we are about to start talking about rocks. I made my own rock box and wanted to share it with you because it is kind of crafty and fun. To find out how to collect and create your own rock box, for your budding geologist, stop on by the Science Lab.



Dental health craft

These are some "teeth" I made for the dental center. I got some plastic bottles, cut them and painted with white paint. I made teeth for different sizes so kids could sort them by size, too.

Do you have a favourite dental craft to share with us? 

Alphabet "Eye Spy"

Regardless of a person's age, a game of "Eye Spy" can be loads of fun. This dearly loved, thrill of the hunt activity was incorporated into the making of this Artist Trading Card. Do you remember the requirements of an ATC? If not, you can find the details right here: http://www.retrodolly.net/archives/848. Has anybody tried making an ATC? If so, I'd love to see what you have created. I am currently swapping cards with other artists around the theme of the alphabet. My latest creation includes a whimsical little guy with short clues on the back of things to hunt for. You can check it out over at http://www.retrodolly.net/. Stop on over and take the "Eye Spy"challenge, it's more difficult than you think. :)

Heart Art Fish

  We made these yesterday.  they are so cute.  i ran some on pink and some on red, cut the sheets in half so they could have both colors.  Add a wiggly eye and you're set.  You can get the blackline master at Time 4 Kindergarten's Teacher's Notebook Store

How to Make Your Own Art Sand - Non-Toxic and Edible

I have a great tutorial on how to make your own craft sand (edible AND non-toxic!) over at Surviving a Teacher's Salary! Come on over and learn how you can save money and make your own craft sand - in less than 20 minutes!! 

Want to find more fun crafts, activities, and experiments for kids? Come on over to Surviving a Teacher's Salary to see our educational selection! We're also on Facebook and Twitter!

Start An Art Journal

Have you heard of Copic Markers? These markers offer smooth color lay down with the ability for smooth shading perfection. They are loved by crafters and mixed media artists because of their performance and versatility. This marker system, along with other art media, was used to create this art journal page. For more specific details on how this page was created please visit my blog www.retrodolly.net. Be sure to leave me a comment when you stop by because it's a great way to begin our Crafty Community friendship!


Art journaling is the most popular form of mixed media today. It is a creative process that provides healing and restores hope. I would like to encourage each of you to begin an art journal. Your journal can begin using a sketchbook and colored pencils or (140 lb) watercolor paper strong enough to handle paints, water, mod podge, and other messy mediums. You will find this process a wonderful way to love yourself and appreciate your journey!

Pine Cone Fish Craft for Kids - Great to go with "The Rainbow Fish" Book!

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The other night we collected TONS of pine cones at our local park. We decided to "descale" some of the pine cones to make fish! We used needle nose pliers to grab the "scales" individually on the BOTTOM of the pine cone. You'll want to find a pine cone that looks like this on the bottom so that you can easily pull the pieces off.

Once you get about 1/4 up the pine cone it gets really difficult so we just switched and started pulling pieces off of a new pine cone at this point.

Put all of your "scales" in a dish!

Since my kids are small I lightly drew a fish outline on their papers for them. My oldest son got pretty creative and used glitter glue pens to trace the outside of his fish - I was pretty impressed! Then we just covered the entire inside of the fish with liquid school glue and laid the "scales" from the pine cone inside!

On one of the fish we glued a few pom pom balls above it to look like bubbles were coming out of it's mouth. We glued a googly eye on each fish and cut a small red pipe cleaner for the fish lips! 

Once everything is dried you can also let your kids paint the fish "scales" with different colored paint and make it a craft to go along with the book The Rainbow Fish! 

Want to find more fun crafts, activities, and experiments for kids? Come on over to Surviving a Teacher's Salary to see our educational selection! We're also on Facebook and Twitter!

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Sweeten Up Your Wardrobe: Simple DIY Doily Stencil T-Shirt

Whether you're a Valentine's Day person or not, this T-shirt craft is too cute and quick to pass up! Kids will love this simple way of creating their own, unique shirt.

Although I do have a fair number of red shirts (it's our school color, and every Friday is school spirit day), I don't have any Valentine's-specific ones. So when I saw this craft idea in the February issue of Disney's Family Fun magazine, I knew I had to try it and share it with you all!

Read the full tutorial on my blog here.

Alphabet Trading Fun

Artist Trading Cards are pieces of art measuring 2 ½ X 3 1/2, which is the same size as a playing card used in decks of cards. This is a great way to repurpose those decks of cards that mysteriously end up with a card missing. Thrift shops are also a great place to snag piles of playing cards for just a few pennies. Artist Trading Cards are created to trade. It’s fun to make tags, mini books, or wall art with the cards received from other artists. I am currently in an alphabet ATC swap and here is my contribution for letter "F".

ATC's are fun for adults or children to create. You can read more about Artist Trading Cards along with step by step instructions on how this Funky Friends card was created over at http://www.retrodolly.net/.

Pine Cone Flower Craft for Kids

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Here is an easy and cute pine cone flower craft for kids and even great for handmade cards or scrapbooking! You'll need paper, one green pipe cleaner per flower, pine cone "scales" (use needle-nosed pliers to pull off) and a pom pom in your choice of color. 

I started by glueing my pom pom ball on the paper. While it was drying I positioned the pine cone "scales" around it to make my flower shape and then glued each one down with liquid school glue. Then I took my green pipe cleaner and twisted it to make a flower stem - you can do this with our without the "leaves" on it depending on what you want it to look like! Then I glued down the "stem". 

These would be such an awesome idea for a spring craft, a Mother's Day gift, or a Get Well card!

We'd love to have you stop by to find more crafts, activities, and experiments at Surviving a Teacher's Salary! We're on Facebook and Twitter too!!

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Valentine's Burlap Candle

Valentine's Day is fast approaching!!

here's an inexpensive little candle craft for ya...

xo Melodee 

New Author Christy Shaw

Christy Shaw is our newest blog author and she is excited to be part of our growing Crafty Community. She will introduce herself below:

My name is Christy Shaw and I enjoy sharing my enthusiasm for creativity on my personal blog http://www.retrodolly.net/. Retro Dolly is a nickname I received from an elderly man in my church, it stuck, and I love it! The name captures my eclectic personality and affirms I was born in the wrong era. I enjoy being a mother to my beautiful daughter, who I lovingly call Mini Dolly, making sure she explores every creative opportunity to develop her own personality. I have enjoyed years of teaching fourth grade and have now accepted a position as teaching pastor at a church in my home town. I love organizing and sorting, 80’s music, driving fast, clean sheet night, thrift shopping, high heeled shoes, and am totally obsessed with vintage jewelry! I’m afraid of the dentist, dogs, and close talkers. I hate to cook but love to eat Mexican food.

My passions for “artful expression”, along with tragic personal experiences, are my primary motivation for maintaining an active blog. It’s my desire to encourage others to pursue creativity as a means of art therapy. My blog consists of neat & clean projects demonstrating crisp corners and perfect symmetry along with mixed media projects that demonstrate a grungy mess with a touch of personality. You will find projects to do with children, unique ideas for your next party, organizational tips.

My love for COPIC Markers has allowed me to find a different level of relaxation through coloring, shading, and air brushing, all while listening to my favorite tunes. Rubber stamping and digi images are the perfect platform for COPIC coloring and I can’t wait to share some of my favorites. Extended COPIC training inspires me to be a continual learner of new techniques and color trends. These markers were put to use quite often while I was a design team member for Eat Cake Graphics. My dream of becoming a published artist came true when my complimentary issue of Stamper’s Sampler arrived in the mail! Boy, was I shocked!

I consider this opportunity to hang out with you on Crafty Community an honor and it will be great fun to get to know each of you!

Check out my new craft corner!

Come by my blog and see what I made!

IKEA Hackers Crafts!

Have you seen this website?!?

{click on the image to get to it}

It is a website that allows everyone who purchased an IKEA item & personalized and/or repurpose it!!!!

They share their creations with others!

There are some awesome crafts & projects on there!!!

Here are some fun ones!

          Work Space for 2                     Inexpensive Wall Decore                       Lamp Makeover

  

Catch All Cork Board Calendar         Doll House

 

Check them out!

Have you done something like this before?!?