Crafty In Cobb

Summer Camp Registration at the Art Place is almost here. As a parent I am a HUGE fan of their summer programs. The summer instructors are experienced and keep the kids busy. The classes are small and often have 2 instructors. Getting in and out of the building and parking lot is easy. It's safe - parents/guardians must sign their kids out at the end of class. There is always some kind of event at the end of the week - either an exhibition or performance so your kids can proudly present what they made all week. Registration for Cobb County residents is March 9. Residents outside Cobb have to wait until March 10. These classes fill up fast. They are very well priced BUT they do not do after-care. If you work full-time these camps will be difficult to coordinate. http://tapmarietta.com/art-camp/ My son Lewis has attended art camps at TAP for the past 3 summers and loves them. Every year there are 3 kinds of camps for children ages 4 and older. Lewis did all 3 last y...

So you have a really good sized picture frame and something to put in... but it just looks so plain. What do you do? You could paint it another color. Easy but still plain. Maybe you want a frame that's more unique but you don't want to pay what a custom framer will charge to make that for you. One very simple way to update a frame is to do decoupage. What is decoupage? Decoupage (pronounced   "dey-koo- pahzh") is the art or technique of decorating something with cut-outs of paper, linoleum, plastic, or other flat material over which varnish or lacquer is applied. (Dictionary.com) Remember this guy?   This colorful collage was demo'd last week. Here's a link to the post: http://craftyincobb.blogspot.com/2016/02/crafty-lion-collage-how-to-make-your-own.html Well, I want to frame it but don't it to be flat and plain. I want it to compliment the artwork. Because it's a paper artwork I've decided to co...

I completed this colorful mixed media collage yesterday and am pretty pleased with how it turned out. It helps that it's my 5th version, which is a tendency I have. Making variations on a theme until I can't stand it. This is a great rainy day activity for anybody and is a great project to do with kids. Would you like to try to make one? It's all a matter of materials and steps. If you want to have a go read on... MATERIALS & TOOLS Colorful Paper - not too thick so that the paper can absorb the adhesive really well. The colors I used are taupe (I cut this one 12x12" and worked on that surface), mustard, grass green, lime green, burgundy, red violet, red and white. You don't have to follow this exactly. NOTE: Keep the paper thin. No to cardboard and thick paper; Yes to magazine and newspaper. Paint - white and brown Adhesive - I use Blickrylic Polymer Gloss Medium but good old Modge Podge will work fine, too. You can get the latter at any craft stor...

It’s time to get your craft on. And by craft I don’t mean making pinecone wreathes. I mean thinking in a crafty way about your day. We all juggle a million things – jobs (even if it’s our partner’s job), housework, kids, pets, friends, hobbies and all kinds of little things that make life seem like it’s flying by. Well, it is…. Until it isn’t. Things don’t have to go by so quickly. It’s all a matter of perspective. I say slow down. Yes, slow down. Let some things pass you by. Appreciate the little things that give you a second of serenity. Put your feet up and watch your favorite TV show, including the commercials. Play a game with the family. Take a hot bath. Do the laundry tomorrow. Make PB&J sandwiches tonight and give yourself time to go for a walk. Say “no” when you need to and “yes” when you want to. Don’t go to bed thinking about work or what you didn’t do.   Enjoy the life you have and live in those moments. Stop thinking about tomorrow all the time. This blog is...