DIY Drying Rack

Living in Costa Rica it is sometimes difficult to find the materials that you can easily find in the United States. A Drying rack for my classroom was one of those things. I considered getting one from the States and bringing it down but I looked on line and the prices with shipping and everything was out of the budget. So, time to get creative. What I did was buy 3 boxes of these wire cubes...

...and started assembling.

So I followed the instructions to make 5 cubes (with the top open). Then with all the extra pieces, I slid them in each square and used 3 zip ties to hold each one in place (one on the right, one on the left, and one in the back). I wanted a bunch of thin slots and a few bigger ones at the top for 3D projects. I ended up leaving the bottom one open as well for cleaning purposes. 

I love it and use is all the time! (Sometimes not even use it for drying things but just organizing papers or student's projects haha).

Budgeting Envelopes

Whenever I can organize and decorate something it becomes fun. Plus, I am more likely to do it and stick with it. Budgeting is one of those things. I am a big fan of the envelope method. So naturally I make envelopes for everything and decorate them. Every month when I get paid I pull out the envelopes and I just want to fill them with money :)

I tried the ones that have the months and a line and you write the total spent in each month but that didn't work for me, I just put the money in the envelope and write everything down in an excel spreadsheet. Some of the envelopes are savings and some I use constantly during the month (like utilities, groceries, etc.). For the envelopes that have a specific amount that is put in each month I write the amount on the envelope, so I remember when I am filling them.  

Here is how I decorated some of my envelops.

I trace my envelopes instead of printing a bunch out but here is the basic shape if you are interested in this type of envelope for budgeting and want to decorate and personalize them. Feel free to print it out and use it. :) When printing it out use a heavier paper, the thin computer paper wont last very long, and if you are taking the time to decorate them, you will want them to last. 

Just fold the 4 flaps and glue the three bottom ones, leaving the top open to put all your money in. :)

Doorway Murals

Doorway Murals

Back in 2013 I was asked to paint some murals around the doors of a Sunday school hallway at a church called Grace Community Church in Nashville Michigan. I was thrilled of course! Each of their Sunday school rooms has a theme, so each doorway goes along with the theme inside each room. It's really quite a neat idea if you think about it, a creative way to decorate Sunday school classrooms. It took me about a week to complete and I would totally do it again! :) 

Right side of the hall:

Left side of the hall:

I LOVE PAINTING!!!

The Faith Through Art Project

Vision: 

To create and share art that glorifies God.

Dream:
1) To write and illustrate children’s material that is a tool for teaching children about Jesus at home and in church ministries.
2) To create and organize a workshop designed to bring people together by creating art that glorifies God and shares their faith.

Investment:
I am excited to announce that I have been given a $1,000 matching gift to launch the Faith through Art Project. However, in order for me to receive this gift I must raise the full $1,000 by March 20, the first day of spring. Would you prayerfully consider helping me launch these projects by helping me to acquire this matching gift? 

To send a matching gift go to the website: REArteCR

Faith Through Art Event

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord... It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ~ Colossians 3:23-24

Goals:

1. To create the first of 3 paintings that represent how God provides for our basic needs: clothing, water, and food (Matthew 6:25-34) by 6/16
   
2. TopilotmyfirstFaithThroughArteventby8/16
   
3. TopromotemyfirstFaithThroughArteventby
   10/16 
   

 Grace Community Church, Nashville Michigan

Children’s Material

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6

Goals:

1. To write and Illustrate the preparation phase of Christ’s life for children by 1/17
   
2. To pilot the material in 2 local churches and 4 homes by 2/17 (English and Spanish speaking)
   
3. To have the material available to download on the website in English and Spanish by 4/17 
   

To send a matching gift go to the website: REArteCR or contact me directly

Art Journal

For the past few months I have been reading a book called The Creative Call with a friend. Which, if you are an artist I recommend and if you are not an artist I also recommend. It is a great book that explains how everyone is an artists (not just visual, musical or literary but this also includes cooking, gardening, photography, quilting, weaving, etc). Each person expresses their creativity differently and this book will challenge you in the area of art that you do best. This book as challenged me to start an Art Journal (the author of the book calls them day books, but I prefer Art Journal). Here is the cover and my first page.

I found a blank paged notebook at Universal and covered it with paper then with plastic to make it last a little longer. 

Here is my first page, I decided I would make some rules for how I was going to proceed with my art journal. I saw a layout I really liked so I took the idea and made it my own.

Goal: To draw or write in my art journal every day in 2016. Look for some art journal pages later this year. :)

REArteCR.com

I am excited to announce my new website!!!  If you have not checked it out you should.

REArteCR.com

My website has all sorts of cool things. There is a Gallery tab that beautifully displays my drawings and paintings. An Accessory page, which is still under construction. Several tabs about the new art ministries I am starting: Faith Through Art, Children's Material, and Children's Books. Still a work in progress but I think I am off to a great start :)

I am most excited about the Faith Through Art ministry... check that one out!

Christmas Clocks

Growing up, Christmas was a special time and gifts were supposed to be something well thought out, special, and something the person actually wanted or needed. Lets be honest, we have all gotten at some point or another a gift that when we opened it we thought, "Thanks... another piece of junk for the closet?". So, I try to make as many unique or special gifts as I can, sometimes they turn out well and other times not so much. This year, I made a few clocks. They turned out awesome! Or at least I think so. :)

Clock #1: Chicago Cityscape
This was a gift for my sister in law who lives in Chicago.

Started with a piece of plywood, my Dad helped me cut it and make the hole to insert the clock mechanism. Then I sanded the wood a little and it was ready to paint. I started by painting a base coat on the sky because the wood was pretty dark. 

Once the sky had a base coat I started a base coat of Lake Michigan.

Finished up the sky and lake. 

Then painted in the silhouette of Chicago.

The last step was to insert the clock mechanism and all done!

Clock #2: Cross - Gal. 2:20

This was a gift for my grandparents.

 

First I took out the clock mechanism and sanded it to get it ready for the paint.

This one went pretty quick because it was a painting I had done before with a Group Painting Class for Grace Church in Michigan. I painted the background and added little dots to make it easier to tell the time.

Once the background painting was finished and dry, I added the verse Galatians 2:20a ( I really like this verse and I think it fits well with the painting). And lastly I reassembled the clock. 

Clock #3: "Just Go"

This was a gift for my sister in law who lives in Alabama, my brother kept telling me how much he liked the original drawing so I thought they would like this one made into a clock. 

Unfortunately I don't have any picture of the process of this one. It is a chalk pastel and gets pretty messy, so every time my hands were clean to take a picture I forgot. Sorry!!! I really like how this one turned out though, the glass is actually bubbled (it's kinda hard to tell from the pictures).