Print Making with Bubble Wrap

When making circles with bubble wrap, I decided to make a bubble wrap printer:

Supplies:
Old empty bottle (I used plastic bottle)
Bubble Wrap (use recycled envelope package with bubble wrap inside)
Tape (masking or other heavy tape)
Scissors
Paint


                                             1.  Cut open a bubble wrap envelope.

2.   Gently pull the bubble wrap away from the envelope.

3.  Wind the bubble wrap around the plastic bottle

4.  Fasten bubble wrap to plastic bottle with heavy masking tape.  

5.  Paint onto bubble wrap with paint brush.

6.  Use bottle as rolling pin and roll over mixed media paper or journal page.

7.  Viola, bubbles galore.

 8.  Use this as a background in journal pages, collage and other artwork. 

                                          Happy Print Making!

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Soul Sucking Job vs. Dream Job (Explore Your Options)

Google Images

The good news:  It was reported this past week that there was a slight turn around in the U.S. economy.

The bad news:  You're still working in that soul sucking job to pay your bills.

Sometimes we have to do things we don't like in order to survive but have you explored all of your options?  Is there a way you could learn to make money online?  We have an opportunity right now to use this down time to start a new career.

Were you "let go" from your job?  Why not start researching how to become an entrepreneur?  Can you make a hobby into something profitable?

Be Resourceful.  This is how many companies and industries began, by someone stepping up and trying a new thing.  It's time to stop letting corporations get all the profits.  We can quit our day jobs and become our own bosses.

Watch the trends you may find a niche that you can fill and begin a small business. 

Possibilities I've noticed in the trends:

• Design business.   More and more designers are breaking out on their own with online websites.  How about starting your own series of designs? 

 If you make three pieces per series you will have a nice product line in no time.   Keep in mind that their are endless markets to design products for.  Paper goods (paper plates, cups, napkins, party goods) rubber stamps, housewares, cards, umbrella's, fabric.  Check out how your design would look on one of these sites Spoonflower, Vista Print, Zazzle.  The list is endless.

lovevsdesign.com

• Art. 

This is probably one of the greatest time periods for artists.  Especially Mixed Media artists, because it has finally become a legitimate art medium.  Galleries unfortunately are closing fast.  The good thing is that the internet has opened up great opportunities for artists to make their own e-commerce websites, sell on Ebay, open an Etsy shop and more. 

Pintrest

• Weddings:  

Less people are getting married these days but when they do it is a bigger event than it used to be and there is a lot of money to be made .  Couples are striving for big extravagant affairs. Every part of a wedding is a business in and of itself.  Cake making, favors, wedding planner, invitations, photographer, florist, dress designer.  When I got married I made my own head piece because I wanted something original. You can take any part of the wedding ceremony and turn it into your own business.

• Party Planning and events coordinators and crafters.  

Besides weddings, parties are big business and more people these days are looking for original, creative ideas.   Check out this adorable party planning site. 

Kara's Party Ideas

• Publishing your own book.  

 Waiting to get published is no longer necessary (although it would be nice.)  Many people are selling e-books or publishing their own books these days.  You can also make a digital PDF version for your book to be downloaded from your blog or website.  

lovevsdesign.com

• Travel the world and get paid to do it. 

A lot of people are blogging and documenting their travels for profit.  You can put together a tour video, make a book on the best site-seeing spots and which ones are tourist traps.  Make guides and maps.  Are you doing something completely different in travel like spending a year in an RV across country?  This is definitely something people are interested in because they wish they were doing it.  Sail around the world, live in another country, hike the Appalachian trail, hike the El Camino de Santiago trail.

Pintrest

Don't let a bad economy scare you into sticking with safety and never living your dream.  Explore the  possibilities that are available to us right now.

HAVE NO REGRETS!

What do you know how to do?  What do you love to do?  Can you combine these things to start a business?   Research possibilities, make an action plan and go for it!

Use your fears as fuel to execute your plans.

ART THERAPY DAY 3:

I made my own mind map for an online business.
It was good to let myself wander around the page and just write whatever came to mind.  I'm going to mind map more ideas to see what comes up.

What job would you love to try out just for the fun of it?  



Pick one of the above suggestions or come up with your own idea and make it visual.  



Create a "Mind Map" and plan the steps in creating this dream.  What does it feel like to be in charge? 



 
Do you like planning?  


Come up with some other businesses not on the list.  Add them to the side of your map.  Maybe later you can map these businesses out as well.  Something profitable may pop up that you never thought of before.



Remember to have fun!

Cut The "To Do" List In Half And Live Your Dream

ART THERAPY DAY 2:

Barn deconstruction by Denise Mulligan

Is it just me or is time speeding up?   I feel like my "to do" list is forever growing.  My tasks are an insatiable infant that demands more feeding more frequently.  "Stop the world, I wanna get off" resounds in my mind like a meditative mantra, except that there's nothing relaxing or beneficial to my well being.


Who's fault is it though if I'm always saying "Yes" to every request asked of me.  It's up to all of us as individuals to say "no more".  I would love to but... 





We must be in charge of the "to do" list and how fat it grows.




The act of painting and creating art can help us relieve stress.  It also helps me if I have something in my mind that I would like to create.  I'm more likely to add "new painting" to my list in place of more mundane tasks that can wait instead.  








Not one of us can fly through all of the demands of the day without pause and think that we will feel full and satisfied with ourselves.  We need to make the time.




Take your time.  Stop multitasking.  Multitasking has been proven NOT to work.  All we become is scattered having no focus as we get a lot of little things partially done.

• Distraction: Creating art can take our mind's off of what’s stressing us.  When we’re finished being engrossed in our art, we will have a clear mind to envision some things that we would like to have in our lives.  What comes to mind when creating?  Write down conflicts you feel, issues that are unresolved or new ideas that may come up while creating.

•  Flow:  Being completely engaged in something to the point of being in a near meditative state. It carries many of the benefits of meditation, leaving you much less stressed when you’re done. You can experience ‘flow’ when you’re doing creative activities. 

• Paint in abstracts.   Not sure what you want?  Make abstract paintings.  Abstractions let us express feelings related to the past or stressful experiences.  It allows us to process our emotions and heal.

Art Therapy lesson 2.


Make an abstract painting to describe your feelings about a current stressful issue.  If you don't paint then doodle.  It doesn't have to be on canvas.  You can paint in a journal or on watercolor paper.  If you're a writer make a poem about an issue you'd like to resolve.


Processing our secret places gets us clear on what we want rather than on what no longer applies to our lives anymore.    Unleash the demons hiding in your mind and feel free again. 





If you liked this post would you leave a comment down below?  I'd love to get your feedback if you tried day 1 or 2.   Did the exercise help you in any way? 

What Do You Really, Really, Really Want?

On the Prairie by Denise Mulligan

I manage.  The cleaning is never finished, but has it ever been finished?  As soon as the laundry is done it forms piles again.  After you fix and tidy, the troops come home to wreck and conquer.  Sometimes, I'm doing laundry at night and thinking "Do I really want to do this now?"  No, I don't, but if I want to spend my day creating then sometimes I have to sacrifice my comfort.  At other times I have to let the cleaning go.  I'd rather get caught with a messy home rather than live a boring, colorless existence.


I'm most energetic and creative in the morning, this is when I do my art.  If I wait until after the cleaning is finished I will never see the canvas.  If I'm tired I won't feel like creating.  A few cat hairs on the sofa is worth having the time to make art.  I'm okay with wearing my jeans for more than one day.   I can live with less than perfect to have art as my companion during daylight hours.




Would you like to take the plunge?   Come on....jump!   Have new dreams surfaced since last time you looked?  Sometimes the dreams we held long ago no longer fit who we are now.   What do you still want to do that you haven't achieved?  What new dreams need a spotlight?



How can you begin to walk closer to your dreams?  Take one baby step.  I began by taking a little online class.  It overflowed into a daily art schedule.  Ruminating on our dreams supplies the vision.  Action creates a wave that has momentum.  Journal, paint, write a novel.  Can you let go of the dusting or cooking for an hour today?   Nurture yourself have some time with the muse.  Can your family have soup and sandwiches for dinner so that you get a little writing done?  




Art Therapy is a fantastic way to unlock hidden dreams. It allows for greater awareness of what we really want for ourselves.    It makes us aware of what may be missing in our lives.


ART THERAPY:
Just for the record I am not a licensed art therapist but I do see the value in art therapy.  I've created  a series of posts to inspire us to get creative.

Day1:  Begin


Start with a baby step.  Envision yourself having your dream.  What would it look like?  How do you feel doing it?  Picture some details of what your day would look like while doing your dream.   Got a good picture in your mind?  Are you feeling happy, energized?

Make a vision board.  When we were kids we all made collages.  Cutting and pasting with feeling and intention creates magic.  Manifesting dreams on a physical level sets them in motion.  It's also fun to relax and listen to your scissors cutting, feeling the glue, making a mess.  Hang your vision board on the refrigerator, your desk, or anywhere that you are able to admire it daily.


Tell me, what are your specific dreams?  Do you have one?  Are there murmurings of new dreams in the back of your mind?  Let me know in the comments if you have a specific dream or if you are determining what your new dream will be. 


No clue?  Make the vision board and see if a picture begins to emerge.  Are there any repeating patterns, colors or themes?  Your dream will reveal itself when you slow down and let what comes up, come up.  Begin today! 


BTW, my email has been hacked or has a virus.   If you would like to email me please do so at denisemulligan17@gmail.com.  I haven't been able to log into my yahoo account for days.  Yahoo says they're working on it.  I hope it's resolved soon. 


Thanks for stopping by!  I'd love to hear from YOU!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

I love Valentines' Day!  I love all of the small holidays especially this one because it is all about saying "I love you"  to someone.  It doesn't have to be romantic, it's a day of love.
When my boys' (husband and sons') come home from school and work, I'm giving them a Valentine's treat.

First, lemon cupcakes...

Then a gift wrapped in bright papers.

And of course Valentine's chocolate.

I'm also cooking a delicious dinner right now.  I can smell the rosemary, Yum ...so good.

This is what it looks like before.  I chopped sweet potatoes, carrots, lemons, onions, garlic, rosemary, drizzled olive oil over it, salt and pepper.  Put it all in my iron skillet.  I added chicken breast (not shown in above photo as that would look disgusting) cut in half, on the bone, skin included.

I rubbed salt, pepper and olive oil into the skin.  Cooking at 350 degrees probably for and hour and 15 minutes.  Maybe less as it is cooking in the iron skillet.


I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day whomever you're with.  And if you are alone you still can be kind to yourself. Enjoy a little chocolate or treat yourself to something special.  And if nobody tells you, let me be the first today to say... I LOVE YOU!  Happy Valentine's Day.

Soul Train

I was very sad to hear that Don Corneilus the host of the American television dance show "Soul Train" took his own life this week.  He was 75 and ill.  I don't know what his exact illness was, but it's sad that he shot himself.

Even though I was a little white girl growing up in the 1970's, Soul Train was my favorite Saturday morning television show.  My sisters and I would dance and sing along with everyone who appeared on that show.  Boy, did he get the greatest acts to appear on it.

In his cool, baritone voice, Don interviewed and introduced us to the latest and coolest singers.   Barry White, The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross.  I can go on and on and on.  American Bandstand had nothing on Soul Train.

This show shaped my musical tastes and influenced my dance style.  These were the people that I wanted to emulate.  I have great memories of making a dance train in the den with my sisters.

Don Corneilus was always cool and calm.  I loved to hear him interview his guests.  It was a great show and I'll never forget it. As Don always wished for us I now wish for him forever and always...LOVE, PEACE, AND SOUL!

My Heart Goes Out to You

This is for all of you lovely people that have given me such love and support.

I love YOU!

Happy February!