Sock dolls

These are such a cute idea plus it's recycling! Some of these are made so well with great character.. I think I will definitely be trying this.. A way to use up all those stripy socks I used to collect..

Mouse sock doll

Cat sock doll 

Elephant sock doll

So cute! Love the buttons.. Not for the babies though..

How to make a sock doll..

Glove squirrel

Em's Magazine Beads

I have made a few necklaces using beads made from magazines. Similar to Afri-Beads I have blogged about before. The key is to find pages from magazines that are mainly one colour but with writing etc. to create interest. The necklaces I have made have been 2-3 pages, usually using two colours and two different sized beads. I then cut the page into long triangles (see diagram) and use a skewer to roll them around covering in PVA glue. I also spray some oil on the skewer so the bead slides off at the end.

They have all been gifts so I haven't got photos for all of them. These are the two latest ones I have made. It takes a fair while to complete them, however I am definitely getting faster.

Em's Envelopes

I have blogged about making envelopes from recycled material before. Using my previous post this as inspiration I have made a few envelopes, using an old envelop as a template, out of an old calendar that had great images. I only wish I had thought of using it earlier in the year before I threw the other months out. I great way to use what would otherwise be rubbish. I need to make a few more because I feel these are too precious to use and keep saving them for something..!

Gibbs Farm- land art

Gibbs Farm, Auckland, New Zealand, holds an unusual collection of sculptures by various artists, including renowned natural sculptor Andy Goldsworthy. This huge unusual and interesting sculpture by Neil Dawson sits high on the hills of the Gibbs Farm creating a delicate cartoon-like illusion as if it has blown up there gently and could easily blow off again, yet still being large and strong.

Horizons

Zander Olsen- Tree line

Zander Olsen has created his site specific series Tree Line by wrapping trees in white and photographing them lined perfectly up to the horizon to create an interesting perception of the environment, almost artificially cutout. I particularly like the ones that use the foreground and background horizon to let the trees blend into the background giving it a look of being either cutout or reversed.

‘This is an ongoing series of constructed photographs rooted in the forest. These works, carried out in Surrey, Hampshire and Wales, involve site specific interventions in the landscape, ‘wrapping’ trees with white material to construct a visual relationship between tree, not-tree and the line of horizon according to the camera’s viewpoint.’

Tree Line

Paint/art Party

What a great idea for a kids party! And a great way to incorporate a rainbow theme too! Some great activity ideas using paint or other crafty things.. Mural, paint easels, blind painting (like pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey to try and colour in the lines), finger painting, sidewalk chalk, butchers paper and crayons on table, decorate cookies etc..
Then food ideas are also endless.. Of course lots of rainbow lollies, ice-creams on sticks called paint brushes, cupcakes, paint palettes, paint tins..

Paint party ideas

Invite and Delight- paint food ideas

Paint tin lolly jars

Paint palette cupcakes

Paint brushes- could just be ice-creams too

Invite and Delight- Feet painting

Invite and Delight: Painting activity- masking tape easels, could be blind folded too

Paint Pallet garden

Paint party
Delight and Invite: Art themed party
Tangled party- Great paint/art food ideas!
Art Party
The Partiologist: Art party
Art Party Ideas
More Art Party Ideas

Recycled material bracelets

Recycled jewelry! The list of ideas is endless! Making jewelry or any wearable things from recycled material is always fun and exciting, especially when people ask is that made from...? Love it! So many ideas.. here are a few bracelet ideas..

Bookspine cuffs

Rainwheel- cuffs made from painted old leather belts

Elke Munkert Tennis ball bangles

Metal ruler bangle from jacqvon on Etsy

Tape measure bangles

Tea cup bracelet- Lindsay Pemberton

Fabric covered water bottle cuffs

Vintage wooden button bracelet

Braided zipper bracelet

Denim and thread

Recycled Magazine Eco Friendly Bangle Bracelet - Urban Jungle

Liz Hall- 'Tribal Series Mosaic Bracelet'-
Brass cuff, polymer opal, faux wood, black and white cane slices, silver beads embedded in black grout.

Sweater bangles

Craig Alan- People as pixels portraits

At first glace these portraits look as though they are arial photographs of people placed carefully to create the image, however Craig Alan has painted each person into place to bring the image together. Amazing, looks very realistic and so clever! I love this kind of art. Using dots, pixels etc to create the image. Almost pointillism..

Leonid Afremov

Leonid Afremov is a Russian impressionist artist who paints with palette knife and oil on canvas to create these stunning colour and light masterpieces! He uses a bright and beautiful signature colour palette and magically represents rainy Parisian nights, flowing dancers and streetlights among other subjects. I love the his style! And would love to see one on my wall! Here are a few of my absolute favourites. I love the night street scenes, umbrellas and rain and abstract dancers showing movement and just his colour choice!!

An artist I would be willing to pay money to buy his artwork! Check out his extensive work on his DeviantArt page!

I would love either of these in my house!

Rainy Encounter

The Melody of the Night

Sailing With the Sun

Midnight Blues

The love of Flight

Aura of Autumn

Stroll In the Fog

Balloon Show

Moulin Rouge

When Dreams Come True

Rain of Fire

Night Enigma

Night Cafe

The Soul of the Rain

Hesitation

Lighthouse

In the Rhythm of Tango

Flamenco Dancer

Waltz