Saturday 7 November 2015

Recycled Projects - Promarker Pen holder


When ever I walk into an art shop and see all the great supplies one of the things that I have wanted (needed) is a holder for my pens.  In the past I have dabbled with pro-marker pens and I must do a review on them as they are really great to use.

I have a good supply of them but they were always hidden in my draws and I didn't always make enough use of them because they were out of sight.

They originally came with a set of holders/stands like these - 




but they are not practical for the space that I have taking up too much space on my desk.  I am going to have to find an alternative use for them at some point.

Armed with my new skill for making things out of cardboard and recycling, I decided to make myself one of the stands that I normally see in art supply stores.



I selected the supplies that I had to hand and worked out what I would need.  I ended up using 4 almond milk containers and 4 juice drink containers - obviously you can use the size and dimensions that suit you.



It took a bit of thought to get it to stand the way that would enable me to see the pens clearly while not taking up a lot of space, and I decided to go with the flow and let the final shape evolve rather than being prescriptive as to the look.


I created a section where I could place odd shaped items or pens that I was using at the time on a particular project.  Once I set the intention of what I wanted I began to figure out how it needed to be constructed.  You can literally make so many things out of recycled materials that can be of use around your studio.


I decided to put an additional shelf on the top and then added paper tubes to create a rounded effect on the edges.  It was then covered with paper mache


  I covered it with gesso first then painted it with white paint.  I obtained a great crackling effect using the white household paint


Where I added more paint I got a greater effect.


I then applied gold rub- on in selected places, and then covered it all with pva glue


Here is the side view of the stand with the pens


The top shelf houses the most used pens or the ones that I am using on a particular project.  Because it is made from cardboard it isn't heavy but it is sturdy, which is very important.


Some of the promarker pens came already labeled with the colour at the end, and some didn't so I am in the process of adding the colour stickers at the end of the rest of the pens.

This holder can be designed to fit any sized pen, you just have to decide the length that you require.  All in all I am really pleased, it takes up hardly any room, all the pens are accessible and being made from recycled materials means that it didn't cost a penny apart from the glue and paint....why don't you try it yourself.!





Friday 6 November 2015

Gratitude's and Celebrations Journal - Week 86 - Grow...


Gratitude and Celebration Journal - Amanda Trought
Thank you for joining me for another Gratitude's and Celebration Journal, where I have been making my weekly journey within my journal to create, but to also look at those things that I am grateful for and also take time to celebrate the life that I have been given.  This week is about growing, there are many things that we learn through our growth...


Having spent my time in the journal each week has been a great way for me to discipline myself.  I can often be impatient at my progress and want to 'do it all now'!  The years and experience has taught me that patience and making sure that you do a good job (the best of your ability) are things that you cannot rush.


Mixed Media Art - Journal - Amanda Trought

How many times have you tried to rush something only to end up having to do it over?  My journal is a way for me to learn patience, there is no time frame where all the images have to be painted and each day I have to spend some time developing the image that you then see at the end of the week.  Some weeks other things have got in the way and so you don't see a post.  But I am extremely proud of myself for taking it this far......86 weeks worth of insights, celebrations and paintings.

Mixed Media Art Journal - Amanda Trought

I was reminded these past few weeks about connections and friendships that we can make, and how some people just go above and beyond what they have to do in order to be a blessing.  We have found our new neighbors Sarah and Haddy to be such people, not forgetting Jacob - who gives out such a delightful giggle when I threaten to tickle his belly!

Mixed Media Art - Journal - Amanda Trought
Our lives have a purpose and meaning and we are all interconnected.  What I do today will have an affect on someone else around the world, and therefore we have to treat each other with a bit more kindness (you will reap what you sew) so why not start today.

Gratitude's and Celebration Journal - Amanda Trought

I celebrate and I am grateful for growth, lovely neighbours and the new lessons that life will show me as time goes on.

I am on a creative journey in my journal and hope you come along and join me. Why not start your own journal, keep it as simple or complex as you wish, but do something!

Gratitude and Celebration Journal


Wednesday 4 November 2015

Quote Wednesday - Maya Angelou



I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel... Maya Angelou

Each Quote Wednesday I share a quote with a painting or photograph that I have created. Quotes can be so inspiring and uplifting it is a good idea to meditate on the words and make a point of saying something encouraging about your life! 

Do something great and share your favorite quote in the comments below. Join me next week for the next inspiring quote and image. Blessings!

Monday 2 November 2015

Material Mondays - Moon and Stars Wall Hanging

I created this piece a while back and only just completed it.  It is my Moon and Stars wall hanging.  It truly is a mixed media piece and incorporates clay, fabric, card, paint, and beads and jewelry findings.


I have really enjoyed incorporating clay more and more into my work and you may have seen some of my art dolls on my site.  This allows me to combine the clay with fabric and create some interesting pieces.


The beads and jewelry findings were great to add, and if you wanted you could add pieces of jewelry that you may have laying around.


Wall hangings make great gifts and can be done in so many different ways.  Also check out the card hangings that I created.  I had promised to create a tutorial and will be working on that very soon.  Also check out some of the previous projects I made for Material Mondays

Check back next week for the next project, subscribe and do leave a comment, it would be great to hear from you.

Blessings!


Friday 30 October 2015

Gratitude's and Celebration Journal - Week 85 - Hope

Hope is something that I can never tire of writing about as it makes it way through our existence.  We hope and wish for better things to come, we look at our day to day and are grateful for that which we receive, it gives us a new dimension to hope.


I can think of many times through my life where I have hoped for a different outcome, wanting so badly for things to go my way, and not understanding the eventual outcome.  My hope that my mum would make a miraculous recovery and the dementia to disappear, or that my brother would be healed from Cancer and live to see old age with his big sisters, while chasing around after his grandchildren, but I have had to reassess the hope that I had with the present I now see.


Hope caused me to look at things in a different light and perspective.  With a slightly different eye and as painful as it sometimes was, situations didn't always play out as you intended them to.  When I looked from an objective perspective it enabled me to see where there was room for change that would allow me flexibility and growth.


I have learnt so much through illness and death of those people around me that I love and thought would be here forever, and I now see the world with new eyes, still hopeful, not taking it for granted, but expectant.  As you reflect on aspects of your life what key things are you learning?


I am grateful for life's lessons, for the hope that we have within us that can change the course of our lives.  I celebrate the life that we need to make more of and those wishes I made as a child and the ones that have come to pass.

I am on a creative journey in my journal and hope you come along and join me. Why not start your own journal, keep it as simple or complex as you wish, but do something!


Gratitude and Celebration Journal

Wednesday 28 October 2015

Quote Wednesday - Chodron



To be fully alive, fully human and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the next...Pema Chodron

Each Quote Wednesday I share a quote with a painting or photograph that I have created. Quotes can be so inspiring and uplifting it is a good idea to meditate on the words and make a point of saying something encouraging about your life! 

Do something great and share your favorite quote in the comments below. Join me next week for the next inspiring quote and image. Blessings!

Monday 26 October 2015

Material Mondays - Mixed Media Necklace

It has been a while since I posted to the Material Mondays and I thought I would kick off with something that I had great fun in making.

Mixed Media Necklace


It is a mixed Media necklace that uses broken pieces of jewelry, embellishments, beads and things and then is wrapped in fabric and then painted and is very light to wear. I have been finding it so refreshing giving new life to some of my favorite pieces of jewelry that had previously broken.

I hadn't done any jewelry type projects for a while so this one satisfied the mixed media side and wanting to do something slightly new.


I have a few different things that I will share with you for the Material Mondays that over the course of the months I have either been itching to try or have started and they got shelved.  I think we all have those times where we create and either get bored or distracted and start on something else, I can't be the only one.  Sometimes I really have to reign myself in so that I can get a project complete.  At the end of the day you have to be happy with the way you work and I think that I have found my pace.


Do come back for Material Mondays to see what I share next week.  You can check out some of the previous projects HERE.  I am hoping to get some videos going to show you how you can put your own pieces together so stay tuned!

I would love to have your comments, and if you haven't already subscribe to my blog make sure you do so that you can be alerted for any new posts.  Blessings!

Wednesday 21 October 2015

Quote Wednesday - Stephen Covey



I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.....Stephen Covey

Each Quote Wednesday I share a quote with a painting or photograph that I have created. Quotes can be so inspiring and uplifting it is a good idea to meditate on the words and make a point of saying something encouraging about your life! 

Do something great and share your favorite quote in the comments below. Join me next week for the next inspiring quote and image. Blessings!

Sunday 18 October 2015

Word for the Week - Philippians 1:6


.
...He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.... Philippians 1:6

As you meditate on the scripture and enjoy the image think about the many gifts you have been given, the many challenges you face, and the fruit that will come from the work of your hands. 

Words and images for the week, to bless, encourage and inspire you to be all that you have been called to be. 
What will you do with what you have been given today?


Saturday 17 October 2015

New - Recycled Projects Returns - Cardboard Bookcase

Welcome to a long overdue Recycled Project, and I look forward to sharing with you things that I create out of the things that we would normally recycle and give no thought to.

I will be doing a mixture of Art and Creativity and DIY projects that take my fancy.  If you want to see some of the previous projects you can find them HERE and there are a few more dotted around the blog which I will be gathering together into one place - though that's for another time.

Cardboard Bookshelf

I recently finished this bookcase, I am really proud of myself for making it.


It has truly been a labor of love and quite challenging at times but I persevered and here we have it finished, painted, distressed and ready for the purpose it was built. 

It started off as empty cardboard boxes, I got the basic plan from a youtuber HERE, with my limited Spanish followed along then went and added my own flair

Putting it together was fun


I added a shelf on top and a draw for smaller books
  

I made the feet out of masking tape tubes after they had been used on the structure


After covering most of it with paper, I decided to make some paper tubes and decorate the bookcase with these


At the home stretch with painting, sealing and then embellishing with a gold rub-on


My bookcase is ready, this is how the draw turned out


I couldn't decide whether to leave it in the bedroom or the studio which it was originally made for.


It is great to see something that would have been thrown away become so useful.  There are some amazing things that you can make with cardboard, and I will be sharing more here on the blog.  I will also be putting together the video of the process of making bookcase and I hope you give it a try.


Leave a comment and let me know what you think!  Watch out for other creative makes!



Wednesday 14 October 2015

Quote Wednesday - Albert Einstein



Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds...Albert Einstein

Each Quote Wednesday I share a quote with a painting or photograph that I have created. Quotes can be so inspiring and uplifting it is a good idea to meditate on the words and make a point of saying something encouraging about your life! 

Do something great and share your favorite quote in the comments below. Join me next week for the next inspiring quote and image. Blessings!

Sunday 11 October 2015

Word for the Week - john 15:7


If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it shall be done for you..  
John 15:7


As you meditate on the scripture and enjoy the image think about the many gifts you have been given, the many challenges you face, and the fruit that will come from the work of your hands. 

Words and images for the week, to bless, encourage and inspire you to be all that you have been called to be. 
What will you do with what you have been given today?

Wednesday 7 October 2015

Quote Wednesday - Wally Amos



It doesn't matter how many say it cannot be done or how many people have tried it before; it's important to realize that whatever you're doing, its your first attempt at it....Wally Amos

Each Quote Wednesday I share a quote with a painting or photograph that I have created. Quotes can be so inspiring and uplifting it is a good idea to meditate on the words and make a point of saying something encouraging about your life! 

Do something great and share your favorite quote in the comments below. Join me next week for the next inspiring quote and image. Blessings!

Sunday 4 October 2015

Word for the Week - Isaiah 43:2



When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.. Isaiah 43:2

As you meditate on the scripture and enjoy the image think about the many gifts you have been given, the many challenges you face, and the fruit that will come from the work of your hands. 

Words and images for the week, to bless, encourage and inspire you to be all that you have been called to be. 
What will you do with what you have been given today?
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