Sharpie: Uncap What's Inside: #2

Hey guys, before I start today's post I would just like to say that I hope you had a very Merry Christmas filled with joy and laughter. Anyway, I'd just like to start off with something bigger today, and something that was done by someone who definitely had a lot of time on his hands. For most people, a sharpie marker is off-limits of going anywhere near their car, but for artist Chris Dunlop,it's the perfect touch for his 1999 Ford Mustang GT. He, for one, is definitely not afraid of making mistakes, and his incredible results show that he made his sharpie's well spent. It's definitely clear that standing out is not a problem for Chris, and the car is both unique and creative. Looking at the pictures, I want you to think. Look at the sharp clean lines. The abstract work. And the amazing results of using something as simple as a black sharpie.

 As for me, the car is amazing, and so is the fact that it's a masterpiece of just two neutral colors. I think that it teaches you that to make art, it doesn't matter if you have dozens of colors of just one. In fact, I feel that the fewer the amount of colors, the more interesting the piece looks. I just love all the small detail and effort that shows on every inch of the car. Now I want you to look at the picture below. Do you see the fine details between the arrows? See how the arrows just pop out from the rest of the piece. I feel that the car just has so much o look at, even though it is made up of only 2 colors. Now that I've told you my opinion about the car, I would like to hear your! Just tell me anything that you think about when you see the car, or what you feel is nice and unique about the piece in the comments below! That's all for now, bye!

Sharpie: Uncap What's Inside

Hey guys, I back to talk to you about personalizing some of the gifts for you, or your special someone. Lately, I've been obsessing over Toms shoes, and I just thought that it would be great if you could get some designs for the same price as the classic ones, which also has a touch of your personality in it. For shoes like converse, you can just do it online, but you can only choose from the online varieties; but are they exactly what you would call perfectly unique? Today, as well as my next few posts, I will show you the amazing creativity of a Sharpie marker, and as the logo says, we will uncap what's inside! Sharpie's come in many different varieties and colors, so you will always find the one that you're looking for! The best color to start with is a white canvas` (like shown above), because then you have a greater range of colors that will show on the shoe. Don't worry if you aren't the best at drawing; I will be giving advice and tips on making simple designs to succeed turning cute shoes into completely unique ones, with just a matter of a few minutes to hours. Let's get started!

Tips:
- Being a beginner, you might want to start with an old pair of shoes... just for practice.

- Think of something that you feel deeply about, or just freestyle! Either way, don't think too much, the results will just come together without you trying!

- Have a color combination that compliments each other, like the picture shown on the left. It will become easier now that you have at least an idea what colors you want!

-Every mistake you make can easily be fixed, just be creative!

Here's a video to demonstrate designing a shoe:

 

 

Now I know that the shoes in the video aren't Toms, and I would just like my point to be that any shoes will do in this project. These shoes in the video are $8.99 at Wal-Mart, which is about 1/5 the price of Toms! The video is by drstrangeclock, so if you liked this video, make sure to check her out on You Tube! I really think that designing your own shoes represents your personality, and can turn really cheap-looking shoes into a piece of art! If I were you, I would buy some shoes from somewhere else, like Wal-Mart, Target, even Forever 21, and then decorate them, so that you won't have to spend as much money. Although, buying cheaper shoes is a good idea, I would just like to tell you that Tom's donate to a really good cause and donate a pair of shoes to a child who doesn't have one for everyone bought (which is why they are pretty expensive.) Anyway, that's all for now. I hope you liked my post, and if you have anything to tell me, then write it in the comment section below! Bye!

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Hello everyone! I'm back, with, finally another art related post! This tutorial that I'll be showing you today, is another Christmas related craft, and it is very much something that you can hang on the Christmas tree! This is also, coincidentally a green project, which can go a long way. I know that ornaments aren't very expensive these days, but wouldn't your tree be so much special with some homemade decorations? The ornament that I'll be showing you today, is very simple and takes about a maximum of about 5 minutes to make. The craft calls for a minimum of materials and is a perfect craft to keep kids busy. So if you want to make something like the craft continued, keep on reading.

I thought that this video that I found on You Tube was really interesting, especially since its such a green project. I really feel that the ornament gives a nice Christmas feel and it would be perfect for any tree. The materials that this craft calls for are probably just scattered around your house already! For the paper, anything is fine, from this paper that you decorate yourself, to spare Christmas cards. I hope you like this craft as much as I do, and hopefully try it out! Please let me know what you think about this post in the comments section below! That's all for now...Merry Christmas!

Christmas Classics: December Christmas Contest

Hey everyone, since Christmas is just around the corner, I decided that today I would talk about some amazing Christmas movies, some new, and some true classics. Where I live, Christmas means sipping hot cocoa, snow, and staying warm and cozy. So this holiday, curl up on your couch with a nice, warm blanket, some popcorn, and one of these amazing movies!

A Christmas Story
Who can forget this hilarious classic! From Ralphie in the bunny suit, to the BB gun for Christmas, this movie was entertaining to everyone, young and old! First viewed in 1983, even in 2012, this movie is arguably one of America's favorite holiday classics! I know that many of you have a lot of memories attached with this movie, and I would like you to tell me your favorite memory in the comments below! 
Today however, I would like to talk about something that many of you may not know. A Christmas Story is now on Broadway, created by Peter Billingsley (Ralphie) himself! 'A Christmas Story: The Musical' runs through Dec. 30 at the Lunt-Fontaine Theater on 46th St., NYC. Take your family and go see it to make this an unforgettable Christmas. Who's playing the role of Ralphie, you may wonder. Well, according to Parade magazine, 12 year old Johnny Rabe will be standing on stage in the bunny suit. Here's what he has to say about his role: "It's cool to be playing such an iconic character. I mean a lot of people know Ralphie. They know the gun, the glasses, the cheesy smile, the daydreaming." From A Christmas Story: the book (published in 1966) to now "A Christmas Story: the musical" (now in 2012), I think that we can all agree that this story has come a long way in the past 46 years.

Elf
Just like A Christmas Story, Elf is another unforgettable holiday film, that has quite a bit of comedy as well. Ever since 2003, this film has filled houses with laughter during the holidays. This comedy holiday film stars Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, and Zooey Deschanel. This 97 minute movie is available in stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, and Five-Below. I know that this film has become many people's favorite, and it just so happens that it's my English teacher, Mr. Poole is a big fan of this movie, too! I would like you all to watch this film and write a review of it in the comment's below!

A Christmas Carol
Who can forget Scrooge and the three ghosts of Christmas? Whenever you're in a bad mood, start this film to get into the true meaning of Christmas. From the book by Charles Dickens that started it all, there have been plenty of variations of this story. Whether it be the Disney, or the Muppet's version, you'll find the perfect version of this story for everyone! You can buy a version of A Christmas Story  at places like Staples, Wal-Mart, Amazon, etc. I'm sure that most people have watched at least one version of this story, so I'd like you to tell me either a memory or a review of it! Remember to make sure you name which version of the movie you saw!

I hope my movie guide helped you, and hopefully you'll love the movies that I have posted about!


 

A Moment of Grief

Today was a terrible day for America, especially in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, where 26 lives have been lost today. A man who was a teacher of the school's son, went there to murder his mom, after killing his dad, but ended up taking 26 other lives with him, including his. 20 kids, between the ages of 5 to 10 , and 6 adults, won't be able to spend the holidays with their family this year. "They had their entire lives ahead of them — birthdays, graduations, wedding, kids of their own. Among the fallen were also teachers, men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children." as President Obama said Apart from those 26 people murdered, the elementary school, of 600 student are in shock, deeply saddened, and filled with fear. My best wishes are for everyone who knew someone in this shooting, and the families of the 26 people murdered.

Once voted the safest place in America, Newtown Connecticut is now the place of the second deadliest school shooting. Just two weeks before Christmas, this tragedy has and will be unforgettable. 20 little innocent kids won't be peeking under the Christmas tree and opening their presents, filling their house with laughter. What was supposed to be a Christmas tree sale, today the school is surrounded by police, families, and a cloud of sorrow above them all. All around America, flags have been lowered to show grief for those involved in the massacre in any way possible. In the comments below, share your thoughts on the massacre and a message that you would like to say to the families who's loved one's have died today.
Information found from WNBC on television, and these two links:
http://news.yahoo.com/man-kills-26-conn-school-including-20-kids-212835177.html 
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-statement-newtown-shooting-3-15-p-m-195212145--politics.html

Christmas Gift Ideas for the Family!

Christmas is just around the corner, and that means one thing: shopping for gifts! Now I know that shopping close to Christmas can be quite tedious, especially if you don't know what to get the person! So here's to everyone, whether you're doing Secret Santa, or you're shopping for your family, here's the perfect gift guide for you! The gifts that I'll be showing you going to be quite cheap (No more than $50), and at least one of them will be perfect for that person. Let's get started on our guide!

Gift Baskets: Mom, sister, friend
 Gift baskets are a great gift, especially if you fill it in with the things they love instead of getting a ready-made one! All you need is a (woven) basket, and some tiny little gifts/stocking stuffers (good things come in small packages!). Baskets can be found pretty much anywhere, and they range in sizes. Also, they're really cheap. I found one in Bath and Body Works for $6.50! Some things that you can place inside include body lotion, stuffed animals, chocolate, etc.

Edible Arrangements: Parents, adults
How many times have your parents passed down chocolate because they want to stay "healthy"? Here's the perfect little treat for them, which is perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth! Edible arrangements, as many of you may know arranges fruit, some dipped in chocolate, others cut into shapes, and creatively decorates them and places them into a basket! Edible arrangements is a store, so you can either order from there, or online. There's actually one on my way to school, and it's definitely a place that I would like to visit! The picture above is an example of a fruit basket from edible arrangements. I think that this is an amazing and delicious gift to both give and receive!

Jewelry and Handbags: For her
Jewelry and handbags are a perfect option for any girl. Unlike clothes, it usually comes in one size, so you don't have to worry about that. Also there are many varieties and colors to choose from. For jewelry, you can get earrings, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, etc. And that too, it gold, silver, platinum, diamond, etc. I know there are many choices, but my favorite kind of jewelry is a locket. I have always loved lockets, and have always wanted one!
Handbags are also a great choice, which comes in many selections (cross body, tote, etc.). Some great brands to choose from are Vera Bradley, Coach, etc.

Giftcards: For him
I know that most girls always think that it's really hard to find gifts for boys, so I decided to make my last section of my post to be about gifts that would be perfect for boys. Straight off, when in doubt, I always go with a gift card. Some places that the gift cards could be from are Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart. Other gifts that you can give them are mp3 players, video games, and watches.

I hope my guide helped you all with your Christmas shopping! Bye!  

Wordle Holiday Cards!

Happy holidays everyone! I know it's a little early, but why wait for something so exciting? Now today till Christmas, I will be posting unique holiday gifts and ideas, to make this holiday a little more special. Now since this is my first post on this topic, I'm going to start with something easy...a card! A great gift for anyone is a card, especially when it's homemade because it came from your heart. Also cards are commonly made, but have you seen one like the one above? My guess is that you probably haven't, so if you want to learn how to make it, stay tuned!

Okay, So to create these amazing collages, read the instructions below.
1. Make sure that your computer has the latest version of Java software, because you will need it to do this. If you don't have it, update or get the newest version.

2. Click the link to get on the website: http://www.wordle.net/

3. Click create and choose a topic, in this case, Christmas.

4. Type every word that pops into your head which relates to you topic (noel, Santa, carols, etc.), leaving a space between words. If you are typing a phrase, put a dash between each word.

5. If you want specific words to be bigger in the collage, type it once, then put a space and type the word exactly the same way. Every time the word is repeated, the bigger it will appear in the collage.

6. Once you're done, press go and your collage will come! You will be able to change font, the layout, the colors, the background, and much more!

7. Once you're done, you can choose to print it out, of share it with the web. For a card, just print it on half of the paper and then fold it so that one side has the collage and the other side is just blank. Just remember to have fun with wordle!

I hope that you guys enjoy wordle and use it again sometime, whether it be a birthday, a get well card, or just for fun! I think that many people don't make cards because they think they can't draw or write well, but this is just typing up! Also, the results are always neat and clean, and don't forget unique! I for one, have a lot of fun using wordle, and have made quite a few myself. Having experience, I would like to tell you that I truly recommend it to everyone! Please comment on you experience with wordle! That's all for now, bye!

Here's a wordle that I've made...

Magazine Clutch!

Well, today I decided to do a craft that ties all my other projects together! Today we will be making a clutch out of recycled magazines! If you guys made any of my other crafts, then what better place to hold them in then a clutch you made by yourself! The magazines that we will be using can be whichever color you want, and as colorful as you want! Anyways, since the holidays are coming up, you probably are getting a lot of magazines, whether it be store catalogs or Parade magazines...and many of them, you probably don't want. So even though recycling them is great, why don't you reuse them and turn them into something cute, chic, and colorful? If you want to learn something totally unique and useful, stay tuned!

 
This video was found on You Tube by someone called TheBlissMiss so be sure to check her out if you enjoyed this video. I must say, that this tutorial surprised me on the results of this clutch! Also if you are looking for a quick little gift for the holidays, this is a great homemade gift for just about anyone! Honestly, the craft calls for a minimum amount of supplies so I really can't see why anyone wouldn't make it! Anyway, I hope that you liked this tutorial as much as I did, and I hope you comment to tell me what you think about my post. Also feel free to give me suggestions on my next post because I will be starting a new topic! That's all for now, bye!