DIY Subway art idea

 

Making DIY Subway art was a way of recycle and re-purposing those big paper shopping bags, and when your re-usable ones get broken in, you can do the same. Send a message, put in a sentence or use smaller sizes pieces and a large frame to make ‘ransom note art’ or memo board. Putting all the store names together I don’t really like, to me it comes off as materialistic and therefore tacky, but ok for a sample.

So I searched to see if I could find some samples, most of them look like this… Now I live in NY state about 30 minutes or so away from the City…I’e NEVER seen Subway ‘art’ look like this. See the source image

The way they did theirs in the DIY link I would have done mine sideways and to the decoration in the board used. (Anything pink would have went in the pink background, all the others in the black part. (Then if the rest didn’t fit in the black part of the board I would have either put them on the others side (vertically as the final creation is shown) or made a second one.

I’ll have to see if I can find a thick poster board to make one or 2 of my own. This way I can still put the ribbon on the edge but just use that tact gum to hang it on my wall (plaster walls stink for hanging things esp. when the wall gets cold)

As I KNOW I have souvenir bags (like from a few stores and Restaurants in Toronto, as well as some other assorted brand ones I’d rather not use to giveaway. SO I absolutely LOVE this idea. I also have a magazine type thing that can be used to add some flair to it as well.

(will have to see about taking a few pictures once I sort out pictures on my phone and transfer them to a flash drive.)

If you do not have any of these sort of shopping bags Like from big Department stores like Macy’s, lord and Taylor etc you an always look for words you want to use in a search or make them yourself in word or image maker (Like Paint shop pro) so you have the colors and fonts you want and what size font would suit the size of your over all ‘art’ or board you want to hang.  However you like.

Not sure if the plastic ones are used but as I said that’s up to you. if you have doubles why not cut out the letters repeatedly and make a ‘Ransom note’ looking message as well. You could always change it week by week or month… (anytime you get bored with it)

 

Brooklyn library sketchbook museum

I came across The sketchbook Project  in one of the Mailing lists I follow. Sadly when I clicked to share article here, it sadly didn’t include the link when I did. Looking at the information, SADLY you have to pay for one of 5×7 sketchbooks (to  me it looks smaller in the video etc)

Honestly I love the idea, but the fact a ‘starving artist’ has to pay $30 for a 5×7 book which doesn’t even look hardcover is ridiculous. Let alone we are not keeping it either. If anything they should charge $5  (at least that I’d be willing to pay for a sketchbook I don’t get to keep) and should cover the cost of materials. I might go for as much as $15 being they have the special barcode (but really they don’t have to do much other than scan it for check out and check in. I’d agree to $30 to make the digital version. Or better yet why not just be able to so the sketch then just hashtag the library/ project  and the barcode they send.

They should just send you information (including the size, a page limit) and let you PICK OUT OR MAKE YOUR OWN 5×7 sketchbook.

I don’t like anything to have the same cover as anyone or anything else, not sure if you are aloud to decorate the cover in anyway. Though I would guess so.

(I think making your own is better) though they do mention that each, an although all the sketchbooks are the same, but say they are custom. They do each have a different barcode on each to track how often its taken out and where to. Everyone ANYWHERE no matter the country can make their own sketchbook. I think the article I saw said you get up to 6 or was it 10 months to finish it and send it back..

 

IF you check out the bottom of their site, you will see they are also doing an tiny sketchbook project and a pen pal painting exchange.

Have a creative family member with a birthday coming up? Why not give them the gift of being seen?

The Czur Shine ultra portable scanner

No matter what your craft be it sewing, kneedle work (yarns), drawing painting and even scrapbooking, plus there’s more….

you can use a scanner in some form for your craft. Be it to just scan patterns, copy a specific part, or to get a better image (and lighting) of

Your photo, drawing, painting or the jewelry you made to upload to your website shop or blog.

Its a bit more money, but if you are someone  in school that needs to use a reference book (in other words, you can’t remove it from the library) but you can scan the book safely and take home a digital version. Same for any story you write a(or illustrations) scan them and make your digital book.

back them now https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/shine-ultra-next-gen-portable-powerful-scanner#/

as I think the prices might be higher through Amazon!

upcycle those gift wrappings

A Blog I follow posted theirs (Links included)  but I found or though of a few of my own

See the source image

Make Tags for gifts

13 clever ways to reuse tissue paper

Loved this idea from the above to make Stained Glass jars– looks nice with candle inside

There’s also Party Poppers, decoupage bowls, and making flowers & pom poms and even an advent calendar

You can also lightly dye clothes with it. How to Dye Fabric With Tissue Paper (I Made It at TechShop!)

Dyeing Silk Scarves with Spectra Art Tissue

Moments of Mommyhood: Tissue Paper Egg Dyeing  (find more I looked up on Bing for Tissue paper dyeing and How to dye with tissue paper

See the source image

What to do with Leftover wrapping paper (or what you unwrapped)

Love this one.. use it to accent the inside of your Medicine cabinet or your book case use as liner.

Still have a large roll, hang it for this kiddos to draw on

2 things you can do if you have a shredder… Use it for packing away ornaments and so on or use it as confetti

There’s even a couple for what you can do with the roll

 

Use it to

  • write  letter  to someone,
  • make your own COLORFUL handmade paper
  • make Party Invitations
  • decorate a cigar box or wrap it around a pringles can, coffee can etc to use as a gift
  • Same box or cans but for you as a centerpiece (you can stash stuff in or use as a bank
  • Make money envelopes for holidays and birthdays
  • place settings and name card.
  • cut to 12×12 or smaller squares and use for origami
  • make ornaments
  • party Loot bags
  • Use to make Programs (like for a recital)
  • How to Make a Paper Fortune Teller: 15 Steps

See the source image

 

GIFT BAGS

you can recycle them to be covers for school text books

How to Recycle Gift Bags | RecycleNation

Creative Ideas to Reuse Gift Bags and Make Other Useful Things

How to Recycle Gift Cards & Gift Wrap | Earth911.com

https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-gift-cards-gift-wrap

Yes. Gift boxes are often accepted by curbside recycling programs. Gift bags are a little more difficult to recycle, but you should be able to find a drop-off location that accepts them. Also see if your community has recycling events for collection of holiday decorations and similar items.

The Shredded banksy

When I first heard about this I also saw the video at the same time and they didn’t get to saying it was shredded the moment it was sold.

I stood in HORROR at it. All I could do was mouth WTF?

My thoughts wee all over the place, Painting Terrorists, is there some art world prank war, HOW the heck did that just happen and likely another 10-25 thoughts that bombarded me.

So what’s up with it? I thought any of you that like to paint, draw sculpt might like to give a read if you have not come across this article yet

The Banksy art that sold for a million

 

Make a pocket letter

A pocket letter is like mini scrapbook. This is a cool idea for when you are away (on vacation for a rainy day while at camp) put some of your souvenirs  and photos together send one to yourself and to whoever you wish was with you! I’m sure you can think of many things and ways to fill the pockets. Did you go to the beach? Include some of the sand in a little baggie (like a 1/2 -1 inch size. If you include some small shells be sure to use a bubble envelope.

 

Image Transfer

Depending on what you are working with there are 2 ways to do this

The first is if you want to ‘trace’ something into your journal or on a report etc. I learned about this recently.

This one is great for those of you that journal, or might want to make your own picture but can’t quite get it just right so you can use a few different images to put it together to create it

Get some GRAPHITE paper  this can be erased after you have gone over it in the color you want.

make sure when you purchase in a store it says graphite as Carbon will not erase.

 

Transfer an image to wood, clay etc by using

a printed image, and some baby oil!  as seen here

http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/shop/image_transfer.htm

How to Stay Creative

life hacks: ANY thought you have for anything, Write it sketch it or a bit of both just so you can retain it when it’s more convenient to really write it out, draw or paint it. This is to keep the reminder of the vision you had for it, and to retain it.

I carry some sort of pad with me at all times, (even if it’s just my little palm sized planner, I figured this way when In a bind, I can at least make a quick note or the basic plot idea, character name or poem I got an idea for

 

Here is what I have for my Pocket journal (via amazon) and it literally fits in my back pocket or a tiny purse etc!

 

Here’s a cheaper way to go 

I can even make one for you, $5 (for materials and includes postage) or see if the journal or Post-it pads are of interest to you. Have something  specific in mind,

Tell me what text and colors you want  Zazzle account. 

Travel writing and art kits

Travel Art Kits. ...maybe put a flap over the top of the pencil holder so that they won't fall out. i love this idea though!

This is great for those that go on weekend road trips or long vacations. Why not (if you do not already) get a journal lined or a blank page (sketchbook) and write (and or) draw your adventures. This will help keep all the tools you need with you and right at hand! Pen, Pencil, eraser, glue stick or tape, some colored pens, pencils or markers to color in your doodles. Even a pocket for an extra memory card for your phone or camera as well as USB drive.

I have and usually use a Vaults locking Pencil box like this one

my problem is…I don’t have the room for the book (unless maybe its one of the smallest moleskine ones

Vaultz Pencil Box

Here’s a larger sized one  they call a medicine case which oddly enough I believe was cheaper than the pencil case!  Here’s a locking Clipboard which may be of some help if you want to draw or write when there’s nothing to lean on There’s also a ‘wooden’ sketch box I came across but sadly they don’t show what the inside is like this is where the idea came.

There are other more tecno based journals and pens called smart pens and books… Like Fly fusion , Livescribe and now Moleskine has them as well

from… http://sketchbookblog.tumblr.com/post/936932032/dressing-up-your-sketchbook