Halloween Cram!

So if you are still busy and you don't have a halloween costume, you can try superfast Candy Fairy costume. Not only is it fast, but it is made of materials almost anyone can find at home!
You will need:

• cardboard
• a small piece of wire
• glue (preferably hot glue)
• Paint
• Cellophane/tissue paper/wrapping paper/
• Candy wrappers, ribbons anything shiny

Here are the steps:

1.  Make a wire loop (14-16 gauge)

• Cut circles out of cardboard (1 inch, 2 inch, 3 inch diameter)
• Paint or cover the circles in cellophane/tissue/wrapping paper
• glue a big circle on to the sides of the wire loop
• attach the other circles to the big circle
• add ribbons, sparkles, or leave as is
• Give yourself a round of applause!

To add to the costume, grab a bag of candy, eat it and leave all the wrappers in the bag.... then have a friend dress up as the tooth fairy!

Demon Wings with Welding

I found this interesting technique on instructables.com. Not only is this the only pair of wings that could truly appear evil, but ethernight is also very original... so far this is the only tutorial using welding!

Quite impressive: instruction can be found here!

DIY Feather Wings

I have been fortunate enough to come by several more fairy wing techniques that are different from the stocking wings I've shown before!

 Not only are these wings great for pink and fluffy angels, but I can also imagine that some black or red feathers could transform  any costume into a true fallen angel. Instructions are found here!

DIY Halloween Costumes

So I went looking for cheap, DIY, crazy Halloween costume ideas and this is what I found.

The instructions to this crazy piece can be found at http://www.instructables.com/id/Burtons-Mad-Hatter-Hat/

Fairy Costumes-Stockings and Wire

Edit | Settings | Delete

Are you sure you want to delete this post? This action is permanent. Yes, delete postNo, keep post

I know some of you like to buy your costumes, while others like to make them. Here are some ideas for great fairy costumes. Having done a lot of research and projects in the field, I can sincerely recommend the following instructions:

---

Simple Black- From Threadbanger

---

Best I've Seen by Emilie Autumn

---

These are more simple, but are also very sturdy and pretty.Fancy Fairy The strap and wing attachment is very clever and I prefer this one because you can tie it under your costume for that "invisible" look. Plus it doesn't chafe. 

Have fun with the costumes. I'll be back with some more fun ideas for Renaissance and Halloween costumes later. Thanks.

3 Recyclable Ideas

 

• 
  
  Sometimes ideas just pop into my head, but I can not realize them due to time issues. I've always loved junk art, vintage and eco-conscious creations. So here are 3 ideas--I hope you find them use-full.
• 
  

  ---

• 
  
  The ideas come from rummaging around in the recycling!
• 
• 
  
  Plastic and paper shapes can be turned into pendants and jewelery. For instance, that little yogurt box can have the bottom neatly cut out to make a great round pendant.
• 
  
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  
  But some more skilled craftsmen have gone further in converting plastic and paper to decoration. Gulnur Ozdaglar  has created these marvelous pieces!
• 
  
  
• 
  
  
• 
  
  I also found a variety of interesting cardboard and plastic boxes. With the right skills they can be decoupaged, infused with dyes, covered in mosaic, or-- if you got what it takes- cut and carved.
  The cardboard ones can also be covered in tissue paper and used to give gifts, keep jewelry, or ship items if you sell them on e-bay or etsy.
• 
  
  
• 
  
  Family Fun- displays this one!
• 
  
  
• 
  
  For cheaper scrapbooking or beautiful decoupage! Try some old cards. My mom keeps lots out of sentimental value and sometimes because they are really pretty. What a better way to utilize the cards then to cut out the beautiful shapes or words and glue them to beautiful photo-pages or boxes. Or some of the cards can even be used as background papers.
• 

Making Bangles 1

Are you sure you want to delete this post? This action is permanent. Yes, delete postNo, keep post

If you don't know what constitutes eco-friendly art, try Collages. A great Eco-friendly collage can be made over a large cardboard, wood, or paper surface. The fashion for big bangles is a perfect source for inspirational green-ness! Here is what I do!

---

A can wrapped with duct tape-- approximately the width of the bracelet I want!

After placing layers upon layers of strips of paper, cardboard, newsprint and glue on I cut the long band in half to take it off, and then in half to get two separate bracelets.

The bracelet is glued back together and several more layers of paper is placed on top-- sand-papered and ready to roll!

As an alternative- you can buy pre-made wooden bangles at a store!

In order to make each one unique and eco-friendly I do the following:

• Use unused materials (old silk flowers, fabric, scrapbook paper scraps)
• Recycle- newspaper, catalogs, magazines
• And-- use up buttons, beer-caps, birthday cards, goody-bags and anything else that would otherwise have no use!

Here are some of my designs

Love the Mascareri!

Are you sure you want to delete this post? This action is permanent. Yes, delete postNo, keep post

For the past 2 years I have occasionally toyed with the idea of learning traditional Arte dei Machereri, or the art of mask making. The origins of this beautiful art are of course in Venice, but the repercussions of this art can be seen in everything from Mardi Gras to modeling and marketing.

So far I have created four successful masks, and several more that were complete and total failures. You can see some of my masks painted into one of the still life's that I have done in the Paintings section. Below are several do and don'ts when it comes to mask-making.

DO:

• Use an exacto knife
• sandpaper around the edges
• PLAN it out a little bit
• paint the back of the mask
• use very thin and tiny strips of paper on your last layer for a more delicate and smooth look
• use beads, sparkles, fabric around the edges if they are rough
• reinforce the area around the nasal bone with a lot of paper

Don't:

• Pile on many many layers at once, let it dry a little then add some more
• Forget the sandpaper
• Take the mask off the form before it is completely dry
• forget the glaze (modge pogde or collage podge works fine)

Romantic Ideas

Are you sure you want to delete this post? This action is permanent. Yes, delete postNo, keep post

Hey I know valentines day has passed and there is very little to be worried in the area of romance, but its no reason to forget your creativity and cease being romantic... "Seize the Day" and do something incredible, use your brain power to come up with something new and from the heart, for that is what makes a relationship romantic. I was brainstorming the other day and came up with a couple of interesting ideas. Take a look and see if anything inspires you...

• Make an ABC list of your love's personality, attributes... include loads of praise of course (this actually works for friend's birthdays too)
• Give them something useful (coffee tumbler, blender, socks??) but stuff the present with loads and loads and loads of love notes-- around 99 or so! (I've actually done this) It takes a while, but is totally worth it.
• Set up a scavenger hunt for a present, put a chocolate or a flower next to every clue.
• Give your special someone a crown (paper works too) with the words queen of my heart on them, and see if they will wear it on the date.
• Climb trees and put post it love notes all over the branches (this way you don't hurt the tree by scratching into it) you can always come back and add some more.
• Take pictures randomly with a camera.
• Make a huge pile of leaves in the fall and roll around in it, take a nap if you will.
• Read books out loud to each other, on the phone or in person.
• If you write your loved one a poem, illustrate it, or decorate the page with pretty swirls, dots, or stripes.
• Tie two ties together and wear them around your wrists-- ha now you are tied together with ties.
• Write I love you with your hands on your loved ones arms or back when in an embrace
• Send love letters with newspaper cut out letters and the words secret admirer instead of a signature, but always include a return address
• Write love letters- once you start, it is beautiful.
• Say I love you often!

 

Sweet belly-dancers

So with all those sweet sweet workshops going on this semester here in KC (February 6th was the Shiam Ali thing, April 17th the Troupe Duende Warrior Weekend, and May 28th a Workshop in Topeka. ) I felt like researching into amazing belly-dancers that all the world should know about!

Starting with Silvia Salamanca, who actually visited KC this autumn! She mixes tribal fusion with powerful flamenco! Her performances contain wilderness and energy. Not only does she exhibit her physical strength in the dance with 12 yard skirts, but she employs her eyes and hands as a way of conveying her power. This Spanish dancer sets the stage on fire with her grace and passion! Visit her website to learn more about her!

I have recently watched a video by Anasma, a Vietnamese lady who grew up in Paris and lives in New York! . She works with a very interesting Belly-Dance-Hip-Hop Style. You can find her Liquid Fusion and Wave Explosion videos on the World Dance New York website!! I really enjoy her fluidity and layers. I would seriously recommend her 2 lessons to anyone studying advanced belly-dance and especially tribal fusion. Her performances are stunning, her costumes inspiring, and her attitude welcoming. I have spent the past month working with the first 20 minutes of her 1st DVD. It is loaded with information and moves. She also has a very unique warm up, which would be helpful to teachers in belly-dance fitness. So look up her performances when you have the time!

Scraps Collages and Diaries

Are you sure you want to delete this post? This action is permanent. Yes, delete postNo, keep post

After reading and flipping through some books on Visual Journaling I have discovered that this is an art-form that will express my ideas well. While I will not forsake any technique work, I think that by keeping a visual diary of my life, I will be more inspired.  While throwing my thoughts on to the paper I was able to express my emotions with words, torn paper, pictures I drew or found, and screaming colors and associations. It is like scrap-booking but it does not necessarily have to match and look tidy, it should look like your head and heart and soul. It felt like a self portrait, a depiction of things I can't communicate but wish to nonetheless throw out.

Some great resources for all those interested:
Spilling Open: The Art of Becoming Yourself By Sabrina Ward Harrison for inspiration
Visual Journaling Going Deeper than Words by Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox for a more theoretical psychological approach.

You can also find some great examples at visualjournaling.com

The 3 Examples pasted below are some cool journals I found by an artist Teesha Moore you can find her at http://www.teeshascircus.blogspot.com/