Pinecone Decoration

It's the holiday season.  Time to decorate your space for the holidays.  Here's a simple decoration that can be put together.  Take a couple glass containers.  Fill each one with pinecones.  Toss in red & green ornaments.  Or you can add glass beads.  Place the decoration on a table, fireplace mantel, or the kitchen counter. 

Crystal Forest

I created this crystal forest as a concept graphic design for a project.  I used triangles & diamonds to create the crystals.  I added a sun in the background.  Different shades of colors were used to enhance the design.

Calendar Art

It's almost the end of the year.  If you've purchased a calendar with pictures, don't throw it away.  Instead pull out your favorite pictures.  Then frame the picture for an instant artwork.  You can also place the picture inside a shadowbox.  As the seasons change, rotate the picture with another one from the calendar.

Seashell Decoration

Seashells can be arranged in glass containers to make a nice table centerpiece.  Choose a glass vase or container of your choice.  Carefully place the seashells inside the vase or container.  Try to mix seashells of different varieties. Place the arrangement on a table or desk.  Sand can also be added to the bottom of the glass before adding the shells.

Lotus Flower

 

Often I begin sketching small objects. I eventually turn the objects into something else.  That's how this drawing was created. I began with a lotus flower then I turned the flower into a swan.  I added more flowers, water, and a sunset to complete the picture.

Chalkboard Art

Sometimes just changing an artwork with a new piece can change the look of your room.  A chalkboard can be a fun way to create a new art either daily or weekly.  Purchase any size chalkboard that can be hung on a wall.  Draw your favorite design using colored or white chalk.  Then rotate with a new art the next day. 

Gift Wrapped Shoeboxes

What can you do with empty shoeboxes?  You can create your own customized storage boxes.  Take your favorite gift wrapping paper.  Wrap the lid of the box.  Then wrap the entire box.  Add a label on the outside of the box for your storage items.  These boxes can be used as gift boxes too.

Iris Garden

 

 

I took this picture at a local botanical garden.  I love the way the sunlight danced on the petals of the iris flowers. It was a perfect picture opportunity.

Artistic Address Labels

The next time you address an envelope consider designing your own address label.  Pick up a package of white address labels at your local office supply store.  Write your mailing address on the labels. Leave enough room either to the right or left of your address.  Create a simple design such as a heart, star, flower, sun, or any design you like.  Stick the label on your envelope then mail away.

Sunshine Card

I love summer! Here's how to design a fun summer card.  Purchase a pack of smiley face stickers & cardstock.  Place a smiley face sticker towards the center of the card.  Draw lines around the sticker.  These lines will be the rays of the sun.  Draw clouds in the background.  Write a summer greeting on the inside of the card.  Send the card to someone special. :)

Penguin Sketch

Sometimes the easiest way to begin drawing is by sketching.  Once you draw the basic features then you can add more details.  I drew this penguin for a project.  I began with the outline of the penguin then filled in the rest. 

Designing Gift Bags

Gift bags are great to use when giving a gift.  You can create your own designs on gift bags.  Purchase several gift bags in different colors that are not designed.   Draw patterns, add stickers, rubber stamp designs, add glitter, write Happy Birthday, or glue on embellishments.  These are a few ideas that you can use. Plus it will be a one of a kind gift bag that you designed.

Local Art

Do you need art to brighten up an office or a room in your home?  The next time you purchase artwork, consider purchasing from a local artist.  You can find great artwork at your local art fairs.  Many artists will also do custom work for you.  Art fairs are a great place to shop since you will find a variety of unique work.

Butterfly Origami

 

I enjoy watching butterflies dance in the sky during the summer.  I created this origami butterfly using scrapbook paper.  I found that using scrapbook paper keeps the folds in place so that the wings stay up.  Create your own butterfly origami using colorful paper.

The Color of Lavender

Lavender's considered to be a soft & soothing color.  How can you incorporate this color?  Paint a room using the lavender color.  Or place lavender colored flowers in a vase for a dinner setting.  Add yellow flowers for a contrast.  String purple, lavender, and blue colored beads to make a necklace.  Design invitations using lavender colored cardstock.  How does this color inspire you?

Scrapbook Paper Origami

I recently had an opportunity to make origami animals using scrapbook paper.  Scrapbook papers are great to use since they are square & much larger than normal origami paper.  Plus you can find a variety of patterns & colors.  The paper's easy to fold especially if the origami requires a lot of folding.  Try creating a few origami designs to use for party favors.

Sunset Watercolor

I created this ocean & sunset combination using watercolors.  If you use watercolors, lightly stroke the areas with water so that the colors are retained.  After completing your work, outline the objects with colored pencils to give the objects definition.

Cottonball Art

Here's a fun way to add texture to your art.  Take a cottonball.  Stretch the cottonball.  Spread out the fibers.  Take light blue cardstock.  Add some glue to the back of the stretched out cottonball then place it towards the top of the cardstock.  This will create puffy white clouds with the sky as the background.  Draw details such as flowers, mountains, etc. to complete the picture.

Greeting Card Bookmarks

The next time you receive a greeting card, remember to save it.  You can make nice bookmarks from greeting cards.  Cut out your favorite image from the card. Then mount the image on a colorful cardstock.  Cut the cardstock to any shape.  Use the bookmark when you read your next favorite book or give as gifts for those who love to read.

Bamboo & Rocks

I like the combination of bamboo, rocks, & water.  The combination gives a feeling of tranquility.  I created this artwork using watercolors.

Flower Stationary

Spring's almost here! How about welcoming the spring by sending a letter to someone on your own designed stationary?  Take any sheet of paper.  Using a single hole puncher, punch a hole towards the bottom of the paper.  Skip an inch, punch another hole.  Continue until you have a few holes.  Draw the petals of a daisy around each hole.  Color the petals.  You can also design the envelope the same way.

Fire Colors

What colors inspire you?  I like the combination of colors that create a fire.  Shades of orange, red, & yellow give warmth.  Try using this color combination when drawing a sunset, campfire, or a candle flame.

Snowflake

 

Here's an easy way to draw a snowflake. Start by drawing a large "X". Then draw a large "+" through the middle.  Then draw smaller lines in different directions.  Try drawing different patterns using just lines.

Button Jewelry

What can you do with the extra buttons that come with the clothes that you purchased? Turn them into jewelry!  String the buttons on a leather or cotton cord that fits through the holes.  Add beads of your choice.  Perfect for gift giving or wearing.

Silver Lining

On a few occasions, I have caught a glimpse of the silver lining of the clouds.  The sun light just behind the clouds paints a perfect picture.  Here's a quick way to draw some clouds with your own silver lining.  Take a sheet of black cardstock.  Draw some white puffy clouds with a white pencil.  Use a silver marker to highlight the outline of your clouds.  You can also use orange chalk to add highlights of the sun.