Creativity = Rebellion

Rebellion means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. The merriam-mebster.com online dictionary defines rebellion as

               1: opposition to one in authority or dominance

               2 a : open, armed, and usually unsuccessful defiance of or resistance to an established government  

                  b : an instance of such defiance or resistance 

I find a  sense of truth in the art of peaceful rebellion. True rebellion does not seem fed from destruction but from the creation of something whether something tangible or a concept. We create and therefore we take a stand against or for something, even in the smallest forms. We rebel against a world that might otherwise take away our individuality or our sense of self. We create and something new emerges, even in the creation of a new version of something else We create because we chose to grow and because we chose not to destroy. We create because it fills us with pieces of ourselves and our abilities.

In honor of this mind set check out this article about entitled A Rebellion of Substance and Style: The Arts and Crafts Trail.

Bottle Cap Locket Instructions - "Peace is Golden"

I love love love trying new things. Jewelry is pretty high on that list. This love brought me to the Bottle Cap Locket. (In my house, getting my hands on bottle caps doesn't seem to be a problem.) I already have some ideas for variations of this.

Supplies (I used):
2 clean bottle caps
Gold thread (for the "chain")
Small bit of gold ribbon, 1 1/2 - 2 inches
Pearl wire
Paper
Craft Glue

Tools (I used):
Pliers (Oh, look! My pink handled needle nose pliers)
Needle and thread
Hot Glue Gun
Scissors

1) Using pliers (found this works better than a hammer, which does often leave the in weird shapes), bend down the sides of the bottle cap to leave a nice edge. For one locket, you will need two bottle caps.

2) Paint outsides of bottle caps to preferance. I used gold spray paint (it sure has been getting a lot of use!). Just for cleanliness factor I usually spray paint things inside of a box. This keeps the over spray and the colored mist from getting on this I would rather it not. Let dry.

3) While the bottle caps were drying I cut my "chain" from the gold thread, taking three pieces of thread cut to the same length and laying them against each other. I placed a knot in the center of the three, connecting them to each other. I then placed two more knots midway between the middle knot and the end for a total of three knots. I wanted the more loose feeling for this, but I could have braided or used macrame knots here instead if I had so desire.

4) Once the bottle caps were dry I carefully attached one end of the golden ribbon inside one of the bottle caps with hot glue (you could use a craft glue instead). Then attached the other end on the inside of the bottle cap with glue as well, leave a small piece in between, maybe 1/2 inch in length. Make sure these are secure and dry/cool before moving on.

5) Fold the bottle caps on the ribbon in half, so that the bottle cap bottoms meet and line up evenly. Taking the needle and thread hand sew across the top of the bottle cap, making the ribbon piece into a loop to hold onto the 'chain'. Knot and tie off when secure. It will look a bit like a clam here.

6) Using pearl wire I hot glued a ring around the edges of the locket and trimmed a few apart to make a design in the center as well. (You can use any kind of embellishment or use a white craft glue instead, but I like hot glue and the immediate bond with short drying time.) You know have what looks like a locket.

7) For this locket, I chose to include pictures on the inside and opted instead for one side to include a peace sign made from the gold thread a piece of paper cut to size with a clear drying white craft glue to secure. For the other side, I have the message "Peace is Golden" secured with and under a good layer of the clear drying white craft glue.

I found my original inspiration for this project at www.cutoutandkeep.net. Make one for yourself or one as a gift.

Opps!

 Sometimes you get a great idea or want to try something new and it turns out great and something... it doesn't.

I'm always on the lookout for new projects, new materials, new ideas, and new ways of trying things. While looking through somethings at home I realized that the blue plastic ups we had used for some things were made from number six plastic and decided to try these for a necklace or bracelet made using shrinkie charms. I figured the colored plastic would make an interesting look to the final project and started the drawing and cutting process. I even cut a strip fro the cup that I thought might be shrunk down and bended into a ring or attach a yarn to make a bracelet. I was optimistic. I was wrong.

I followed the instructions of something I had done a couple hundred times, at the very least. My optimism was mislaid this time. The plastic curled in weird ways and wouldn't lay out flat when when I tried. The long strip I but shrunk in one direction but not the other. Most of them ended in such a weird twist not just twisting, but also changing circles into long misshapen not quite oval things. I'm not sure what happened. It might have been the process that goes into shaping the plastic into cups or the coloring process but it just did not work right.

From a pile of hopeful charms, I ended up with only one that is even usable and the rest just a pile of twisted melted plastic.

Sometimes things do not work out. Sometimes the greatest ideas end up in a pile of twisted plastic. Sometimes we spend time and effort on something that just does not work out. It doesn't mean I've given up or ever will. Sometimes the mistakes come out even better than what we thought they would as we find something new. Most times it helps us grow and learn. Art and crafting is all about learning, growing, and taking on new challenges. We learn, we grow, and sometimes it works out better than others. Through the errors we learn new things and get ready to take on new challenges. I mean, what's the worse thing that can happen, a pile of twisted, melted plastic? I've seen worse after a dinner with the family.

Beaded Rings

Sometime ago I was wondering through our local Dollar Tree looking for candy and treats to put inside my carrots for Easter and I came across a 'Bead Ring Kit' for a dollar. It came with over 2500 beads and about 120 inches of memory wire. I figured for that I couldn't lose, even if the instructions were horrible or non-existent. Well, I was right on the instructions, but I am now armed with new wire and little beads. (Oh, the possibilities!)

I came up with a way to make a couple beaded rings. (A red flower with green band & pearl-like center, a pearl cloud burst on blue, and a fiery peace sign.) It took a little bit of trial and error, some creativity as I laid the beads out on a re-used black tray (from my recycling bin). The tray gave me a work space that I didn't have to worry about beads rolling away. It took a little playing, but I managed to figure out a way to make them. The rest of the wire and beads will be used... just not exactly sure what for yet.

Flower Ring

Fiery Peace Sign Ring

Wooden Dove

The wooden dove is from a pattern of my grandpa's. He made them and he helped us make them.The wooden dove is made from one piece of wood with a small wooden heart attached with clear fishing line. I have two that he helped me make that hang in my windows. They serve as a reminder that we need Peace on Earth everyday.

April is National Poetry Month

In honor of April being National Poetry Month I wanted to share this video. It's just something fun. (Create anyway you can.)

Camp Crafts - Part 3

Sand Art

Yes, there are still more camp crafts to share. (Multiple summers at more than one location it's bound to happen.) Hopefully you will find inspiration or memories with at least one of these.

The tiger is a sand painting that used pre-stuck templates that were peeled off one by one then covered with colored sand, color by color, until everything was filled. You can also use a paint brush and glue for the same effect with coloring book pictures or your own design. If working with younger kids you can find much simpler designs, but I love tigers and grew up with posters and pictures of them on my walls (much to my younger sister's dismay at times).

The teddy bear picture frame in the picture was decoupaged using torn pieces of tissue paper and Mod Podge with a piece of lace as a hanger. I had a stash of these that ended up painted and decorated in all sorts of ways. There are a few that hang on my mom's Christmas tree painted and with pictures of us kids. Some got ribbon or lace hangers while others had magnets attached to the back. (It still amazes how often the projects of young kids end up looking at lot a show girl to the adult eye, with feathers and glitter and splashes of color.)

Teddy Bear Picture Frame

The paper box is a simple little thing that can be made from pretty much anything. It was another one of those things I learned years ago, but shared with a lot of kids to keep trinkets, treasures, or to put gifts in. It involved two pieces of square paper, one piece slightly larger than the other for the lid, a pair of scissors to make a couple slits, and the no how to fold them. Over the years I have made them in all sorts of sizes and using various paper to make them.

The peace sign medallion was made using a woodburner to burn the letters into the slice of tree, then stained. Wood burning was a popular thing for a lot of the kids to do, but took a lot of care in making sure everyone was safe. There is something strange about basically handing a bunch of nine to 14 years old branding irons and pieces of wood and saying, "Have fun!" Yet somehow, they with careful instruction they went home unmamed and unbranded (at least from the Craft Hall). I'm a stickler for safety and wouldn't tolerate any less from my campers or the counselors that I worked with everyday. The peace medallion was probably inspired by one of the many theme weeks or a themed dance one of the camps had. ("Hey man, give peace a chance. Won't ya?")

Peace Sign Ornaments

In the last few years I started to make new ornaments for Christmas, for myself and often for friends & family. This past year I chose a Peace Sign ornament (time to promote 'peace on earth' anyway we can).

I started with a simple salt dough recipe, which you can find all over the web. (Check out these for some recipe ideas - http://giftideacenter.com/Holiday/Christmas/dough_ornaments.php
  http://www.artsncrafts-ideas.com/salt-dough-recipe.php.) Of course, you could use any clay you prefer (I often use a Sculpty for projects). I formed the dough into various peace sign designs free form with the aid of a narrow knife in some cases. All the peace signs were baked until a light brown and baked thoroughly (check out the directions for the salt dough or other clay and follow drying instructions).

When cool, the peace signs where painted with a multitude of mixed rainbow, tie dye themed marbled colors. (Retro Rocks!)  I used a green marbling (greens, yellows, white), orange marbling (orange, yellow, red, white), pink marbling (pinks, white, a touch of red). I wanted a nice rainbow of colors to go with my mix of shapes, sizes, and designs. I painted one side, let dry, them painted the other.

When all the peace signs were dry I used hemp cord attach as hangers. Now they are ready to hang.

You can check out this also on http://www.cutoutandkeep.net at http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/peace-sign-christmas-tree-ornament.)

Maybe it's time to set up that hippy themed tree.