Nicky's Notebook

Love Letters

2011-11-12T23:38:00.001-06:00

I always seem to have moments where I just need a crafty project. Whether I have time or not, I pick up supplies and try to do something creative to relieve stress.

Chipboard letters are my favorite craft supplies. They are so useful for a wide range of projects and never hard on the monthly budget. I have already made letters to hang in my house, book shelf A Z holders that I gave as a white elephant gift, and letters that I gave as a gift for my artistically talented mother-in-law to use in her new studio.

This month I am making baby gifts using chipboard letters from Hobby Lobby, scrapbook paper, glitter, glue pins, Mod Podge, and scrapbook 3D stickers.

Helpful hint for using glitter. If you don't want glitter to follow your gift like flu germs make sure to use Mod Podge. Start by using a glue pen, cover the glue with glitter, once the glitter dries use an air can to remove the loose glitter. Finally, when you are satisfied with the look and layering of your glitter, paint a layer of Mod Podge over the glitter. It holds the glitter in place while allowing the sparkly magic of glitter shine through.

I only have one letter to share because I forgot to take a picture of the letter I made for today's party.

In this letter S, I used Martha Stewart craft glitter blue to decorate the edge and write the word love.
(not pictured) In the letter M, I used Martha Stewart craft glitter, brown to decorate the edge. I used small chipboard letters to spell out the name.

The projects could be used in several ways. As a wall decoration, a door hanger (just add a ribbon), a coat, towel, hat hook (add a knob or hook), a bookshelf holder, and other ways that I have not yet discovered.

I feel great after a little creative thinking.

A Creative Experiment with Modeling Paste

2011-07-20T20:12:00.000-05:00

I wanted to do something something creative this week. I started with a canvas and modeling paste that I had from previous projects. I wasn't real sure what I wanted to do when I started, and in the end this was the result.

I am not sure how I feel about this project. It started out to be really fun. I put the modeling paste on first. I thought it would be fun to layer paint in the cracks and crevices of the texture. Since I didn't have much modeling paste to work with, I had to go with something small. I started with a plan to have blank space for lettering and decided on the quote once I finished the project.

Looking back on the project, I feel like I should have picked the words before starting. This way I could decide on a theme, inspiration. I am not disappointed with the impromptu project, but I feel that it is not exactly the style I hoped to accomplish. Somewhere in the midst of the project, I changed directions. Instead of something edgy, I created something a little feminine.

All in all, it is delightful to have impromptu creative projects. Sometimes, they turn out perfectly as planned, and other times the project changes into something unexpected.

Small Things
mixed media on canvas.
Text: We cannot do great things on the Earth, only small things with Love. Mother Teresa

Summer Calligraphy

2011-07-15T07:27:00.001-05:00

I have made it my mission to do more painting and calligraphy this summer. I have done a little work between my time off of teaching and my summer job. A new calligraphy book has inspired me to go beyond the traditional styles.

I am learning to be let the paint get messy...see my sunflower picture for reference. It is a little challenging but fun.

Nicky

Beginning Book End Project

2010-12-05T15:04:00.001-06:00

These are the beginning stages of book ends I am making. I love playing with the chipboard letters I found a Hobby Lobby. So many different ways to play and so much fun.

To make a similar project. You can use:
chip board letters from a craft store.
Modge Podge
scrapbook paper.
paint-acrylic or spray paint to match your paper.
I layered the scrapbook paper and tore the edges. To emphasize the torn edges, I layered torn white paper under the scrapbook paper and painted the tips of the torn edges. Apply two or three layers of Modge Podge over the paper when it is all glued and layered. This will seal the paper in place and apply a glossy finish. This project I took from a chipboard decorating article I found. It is simple and a lot of fun.

Love Letters

2010-11-26T13:11:00.001-06:00

This has been a busy fall, and I was in need of a little craft project.

Making Snail Mail Fun

2010-07-26T16:09:00.000-05:00

When I was a child my grandmother would always make each envelope or package a work of art. I loved the silly underwater fish singers, bugs and snail mail, and Santa themed Christmas packages. Her artful creations were expressions of her love.

I believe her expressions of love created my love of art, drawing, and painting. Today, I like to carry on her tradition by sending a little envelope art when I have a need to get creative or when I really want to share something special with my friends. I got really creative last night right before going to bed and created three envelopes: one for family, one for a friend, and one for a bill. I guess I got a little carried away, but at least they will be extra happy to receive my money.

3. front and back

Veggie Words

2010-07-22T23:23:00.001-05:00

I got a new job today. It will be my first year as an official teacher in central Texas.
I took this picture this summer as our garden was producing an abundance of odd shaped
but delicious cucumbers.
Today I share my word of the day as I prepare for the roller coaster of
new information, new lessons, and excitement that await me this year.

I'm Back

2010-06-23T23:08:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'm Back! I am currently free from schoolwork, testing, and traveling. Even though I am focused on finding a teaching position for the fall, I am feeling a need to get creative again.

Coming up this summer: continuing the competition with Luke, my husband, to create a portrait, new paintings, and the posting of a painting that took me too long to finish, calligraphy, home projects, and homemade journals.

I have been planning to make homemade journals for some time. I have plans for different styles, I have tutorials from blogs, copies from books, and instructional videos. I just need to try it out. I will blog on some of my trials, errors, and favorite techniques.

I am hoping to have a creative summer. What are your creative, summer plans?

Earth Day and Art

2010-04-22T22:52:00.000-05:00

After a long day at work and a long evening in class, I am finally free to say happy Earth Day.

I wanted to celebrate Earth Day by sharing the work of Yuken Terya. I hope you enjoy.

Missing the Muse

2010-04-01T23:08:00.000-05:00

I miss this website called Inspire Me Thursday which hasn't been up since December. It was a wonderful website. I am not sure what happened, but I miss the sharing and the themes that always kept me thinking about something creative. I hardly posted, but I have a journal full of ideas inspired by the weekly motivation.

I don't have a theme, but I am interested on what is inspiring you to be creative or what projects are taking up your time.

This weekend, I will be making bookmarks for the 4th grade class that I have been observing and teaching to thank them for their kindness. I will be sure to post my newest project when I am finished.

Easter Craft Project

2010-03-19T19:49:00.001-05:00

I was asked to get a Kids on Mission group to make centerpieces for our church's community Agape Meal.

I used a simple green gift bag, easter basket paper, artificial flowers in yellow, green, white, and pink, craft paper, pipe cleaners, and craft feathers. It was a fun project.

Teaching and Practicing

2010-03-05T07:01:00.000-06:00

I wrote this poem after I created and presented a lesson plan on 5th grade elements of poetry for my Teacher Prep class. I was so excited about the poem I read "My Grandmother is Waiting for Me to Come Home" by Gwnedolyn Brooks and the practice I developed for the kids that I felt the need to practice it myself. Here is my poem writtten to someone special.

MY DOG SLEEPS WHILE I AM GONE
by Machandra "Nicky" Stokes

My dog sleeps while I am gone

He is wrapped in a ball
Tucking his black glossy nose
Into the blanket of his fluffy, furry tail

My dog sleeps while I am gone
slumbers in silence and satisfaction
Of a fine meal finished
In the morning hours

My dog sleeps while I am gone
and awakes with a wagging whirling tale
that says good evening favorite friend

My dog slept while I was gone
he jumps and jumbles his steps
at my arrival
hails his hero of the day

My dog slept while I was gone
now
he wants to go away
to walk or play
or just stay by my side
in the kitchen as I cook
chicken
he inspects the pieces
tossed

My dog sleeps again
warming my cold feet
for a night
in the quiet darkness
I hear a sort of snore
a sigh as
Samson sleeps again

2010-02-23T18:16:00.000-06:00

Snow Day in Texas!!

My husband and I got a half day off of work and had a great time playing in the snow.

Color Quiz

2010-02-16T22:58:00.000-06:00

Got this quiz from another really great blog called How About Orange. I decided to include my color on my blog page. According to the True Paint Color Quiz Yellow is my color. Here's the description:

You are quite the powerful thinker. It’s this talent that allows you to overcome a plethora of great obstacles. Luckily, this doesn’t affect your ego and you give off a pretty easy-going appearance. You enjoy the finer things in life and also have an attraction to art. If you can help it, you try not to rock the boat. But you also can’t stop yourself from searching for new ideas, methods or styles.

I hope you will take this very short quiz and share your color in the comments section. Have Fun!

Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better

2010-02-05T06:38:00.000-06:00

I had an idea this week that should give me and my husband a creative way to spend time together. We are going to have an art contest...just between the two of us. He has just posted the rules on his blog http://lukeslens.blogspot.com/, so I am doing the same.

1) We both choose and agree on a medium, subject, and location.

2) We apply our creativity and post it on our blogs.

3) Rinse and repeat.

So look for the results as we hopefully improve our craft...and not destroy our marriage! :)

Welcome Home Baby Part 2

2010-02-02T22:39:00.003-06:00

One: Welcome Home Baby, Mommy and Me

Two: Welcome Home Baby, A Day with Daddy

acrylic on canvas

I have finished the last two of the Welcome Home Baby series. They are already waiting to be viewed by the Senter's baby soon. I am very fond of these pictures and the other elephant pictures that I have dreamed up over the past few months. Elephants are very charming, expressive creatures.

Welcome Home Baby Part 1

2010-01-27T22:17:00.000-06:00

My friend is have a baby in February. Her nursery is beautiful and I am working on a set of three paintings to match her green, brown, elephant themed room.

This series is called Welcome Home Baby. I especially love the sides of this painting. However, I couldn't capture the hidden mouse in the grass and the bird flying in the sky with my camera.

I am still working on the second painting and have yet to finish the third. However, my deadline is quickly approaching and I am determined to finish this project on time. More coming this weekend.

Welcome Home Baby, Happy Family.

acrylic on canvas.

Aspire One

2009-12-28T16:10:00.003-06:00

For Christmas my brother-in-law and sister-in-law gave me a book called 200 Projects To Strengthen Your Art Skills. I am excited to begin and plan to post images of each project. Aspire One focuses on implied lines and my attempts at gestural lines. Gestural lines were much more difficult than I expected as it requires movement, a fast hand, and practice of unrestrained sketching. No planning, no erasers, and mistakes are a valuable addition.

I felt my mind in battle with the ideas and practice of uncontrolled sketching. Now, I ponder Madeliene L'Engle's thoughts on creativity and God. I wonder at the comparison of this particular activity and my relationship with God. This need for control in both areas leave me unable to reach full potential. It seems so simple to just let go; however, I find that practice will be necessary.

"Our truest responsibility to the irrationality of the world is to paint or sing or write, for only in such response do we find the truth." Madeleine L'Engle

Pictures in Aspire One: Sasha Cat Naps, Samson and Delilah

A Handmade Christmas Project

2009-12-27T20:39:00.000-06:00

I had to create a fun display for a cookie exchange party, and I decided to keep it up in my living room for a fun and glittery christmas decoration.

2009-11-05T11:34:00.003-06:00

HOPE, watercolor and ink

summer 2009

I did this awhile ago, but I saw it again today and thought I would post a message of hope.

Inspire Me Thursday Post

2009-10-25T17:27:00.000-05:00

Each week inspiremethursday.com posts a theme/subject to creatively express. Here is my digital collage of this week's theme. This was made with a combo of Corel Draw and Photoshop. This was a great exercise and I really like the way it turned out.

Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler.

2009-10-18T22:31:00.000-05:00

To Milton, in the movie Office Space, the stapler represents his need to feel appreciated and his need to have a place to call his own. I understand Milton a little. I work in an office where my desk is out in the open and available and often used by anyone when I am absent. Even this week, I came back from a vacation day to find problems with my computer because a child used my work area as a gaming station.

Needless to say, I came home with a great desire to make a few changes to my personal workspace. After moving into our house, over three years ago, I still haven't settled into a working area to call my own. I have worked on our card table, ironing board, dining table, and kitchen counter.

I spent all day cleaning off my bookshelf and reorganizing fruniture in order to make room for a creative corner to call my own. I organized all my stuff on a shelf, convinced my husband to build me a real desk, hung a bulletin board, and starting looking for the perfect lamp.

I can't wait for my creative corner to be complete.

So, I don't have any pictures to post, but I wanted to keep this blog somewhat current.

Self-Esteem

2009-10-04T21:46:00.000-05:00

When life gets chaotic and everything seems to go wrong, I have been known to put on my walk boldly face, make hard decisions, and move on. Yet on the inside I recover much slowly. I question everything I do, wallow in self-pity, and dwell on my imperfections. Fear takes over and every attempt to be creative stops.

This week I read a quote by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, "The enemy of joy is the litany of "not good enough" that picks away at what is or what might be, finding the imperfections, real or imagined.

In response, I decided to create. I clipped newspaper words that express my family, history, fears, wounds, imperfections, joys, and passions. I was able to finish this cathartic exercise after pondering these two scriptures in Bible study and in worship this morning.

"...and [God] created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them..." Genesis 1:27

"God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

A Day of Practice

2009-09-05T23:15:00.000-05:00

I have a calligraphy mentor who teaches a small group at my church. I started learning from him last year. I have always loved writing and drawing letters, but I never had technique. Ed Knipper, our small group calligraphy leader, taught me a lot in a short period of time. Most of all he teaches that practice makes perfect. Tonight, I practiced a few styles, then made a stample sheet. Afterwards, I got a little creative with the pen on yellow paper. All in all, it was a fun night of practice.

Though the lettering may be a little sloppy, I really like how the flower turned out on the third picture.

Text for third picture: Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin.

Matthew 6:28

First Successful Sewing Project

2009-08-29T13:24:00.000-05:00

Okay, it may not seem like much but with my lack of sewing skills curtains became a major project. The inspiration came when I went searching for curtains. I quickly found out that I wasn't going to find anything but fruit themed valences. So I came up with a great idea as I was walking around Hobby Lobby. My friend Jeni told me that sewing was pretty easy, not so much for me, but I took her encouragement and gave it another try. I chose a beige "looks like linen" material with sage green and brown ribbon.

Something Free

2009-08-27T14:59:00.001-05:00

I just found this cool link today. I love free stuff and art stuff and this makes my normal day a super day.

Go to: http://artellaland.com/giveaway-Exersighs.html

For: Exersighs: A self-esteem workbook for writers and artists. A 10-page ebook of guided exercises and inspiration, with 16 exer-sighs-es to boost your self-esteem effectively and immediately, triggering momentum for your next creative project, and breaking down blocks FOR GOOD.

I am currently working on a sewing project for my house this week, Curtains. Still creative, but not much to show online. However, the lack of interesting subject may not stop me from posting pictures of my first successful sewing project.

A New Project

2009-08-23T14:07:00.000-05:00

I am a little nervous starting this blog. I am an amateur with limited time for practice. At the same time, I want to be able to share my creative side with friends and family. I enjoy art, and I hope that this will provide encouragement and accountability to keep me working toward being a better amateur. So, here goes....