Today's Daily Dose of Inspiration

Happy Earth Day! Be inspired to recycle, reuse and repurpose!

While polymer clay is not the most environmentally conscious craft, I do make an effort to do use recycled materials in some of my other crafts. I like being able to show my kids how you can make something new from materials you have around the house. I use cardboard from Caprisun boxes as a painting surface for some of my paintings.  It's a nice sturdy surface to paint on and it gives an interesting texture and sometimes the lines of the corrugated cardboard show through which I love.  Plus it's basically free!  Here are some examples:

I also like to use product packaging, catalogs and magazines to make my "Full Circle Trees". Here's one I made from a couple decks of playing cards:

Here's one made from a popsicle box:

And here are 2 from my new candy box series:

Here's a little treasury featuring some other great re-purposed items:

Take a little time this week to think about what you have around your house that you could re-purpose into some amazing art! Pay close attention to how you can transform different materials. Look at the different shapes of things that you throw in the recycling bin. Pay close attention to the colors and graphics in product packaging. All of these things can also spark inspiration without having to re-purpose, but it's a great feeling knowing you're saving something from the landfill and turning it into a masterpiece!

Today's Daily Dose of Inspiration

Be Inspired by the Texture of Wood

 Be inspired by the many textures of wood.  Take a walk in the woods this weekend.  Gather some sticks and bark and be inspired.

 



  Bug trails leave the most incredible textures.  My boys say it looks like alien writing.



 The small middle branch has had the bark removed by an animal and the teeth marks left a lovely texture.

Today's Daily Dose of Inspiration

Sorry about all the flower heavy posts, but it is Spring after all!



This one looks like it's dancing.

Today's Daily Dose of Inspiration

Things about this photo that may inspire you: Yellow, White, tiny, multiple, flowers, tightly grouped, feminine, Spring, happiness, repeating pattern, bouquet

A treasury list I made inspired by the above photos.

Today's Daily Dose of Inspiration

These photos of mica shining in the sun have inspired me to add some unexpected sparkle to my creations today.  I love the idea of creating something that looks flat from one direction and then sparkles or shines from another. Or perhaps it sparkles in just the right light. 

Today's Daily Dose of Inspiration

Today's Daily Dose of Inspiration

They Spoke to Me

New Treasury inspired by my favorites:

Back for a Little Dose of Inspiration - Happy Spring

After almost 5 years of blogging about inspiration, I haven't been taking pics or blogging in a while (obviously since this is the 1st post of 2012).  I kind of had the winter blahs and just didn't feel "inspired".  Sometimes the best thing to do when you're not inspired is to step back and take a break.  Inevitably inspiration will return.  It has for me.  The freshness of Spring and it's wonderful colors have enticed me to get the ol' camera out again.  Here are some lovely pics I took that seem to embody Spring.  I hope they inspire you!  Happy Spring!







Here are some new Spring items: