Making a journal by hand is satisfying and can only enrich your art journaling experience. In Thursday's live class, you will learn how to create a piano hinge journal using paper, and bamboo skewers from the kitchen! It doesn't look effortless to make, but it's pretty easy!

​Ten or more sheet 8/5" x 11" heavy copy paper or card stock, or ten sheets heavyweight drawing paper, watercolor paper 9" x 12."
Bamboo Skewers 12" long ( The ones from the grocery store for shishkabobs)
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler
​Glue stick
​Two sheets 12" heavyweight decorative scrapbook paper for covers

Feathers have deep meanings across many cultures, and because of a feathers’ connection to birds, they have often been a symbol of freedom. A bird soars through a never-ending sky. The mind can also soar transcending physical barriers into a world full of beauty, peace, and wonder.

​We will be creating colorful feathers for Thursday's live class! Paper feathers are fun and easy to make. They can decorate your home or add a finishing touch to gifts, journals, and they make a beautiful bookmark. During class, you will paint, doodle, cut, and write on your paper feathers.

1 sheet 8x10 or larger 140 Lb or 300 lb watercolor paper or thick paper.
Watercolors, metallic or shimmery watercolors, acrylic paint, and colored pencils if you wish.
Pencil for tracing
Markers
Scissors
Bone folder

​Before class, you will need to prepare two sheets of thick paper or watercolor paper by drawing a few feathers. I have made a drawing for you to download, print, and trace if you wish to use it, otherwise, draw out some feather shapes onto the papers. The feathers don't need to look realistic.

​Find a light source to put the thick paper over the feather drawing, and trace the design onto the paper. Paint a loose, colorful wash on one of the sheets covering the feather sketches. You can have bold colors, or soft, whatever you prefer. Just paint loosely and let the colors blend on the paper. Let it dry so you can detail it in class. You will be painting on the other sheet in class.

​Painted cactus are the perfect plants because they don't need water or sun, and they will never stick you! This coming Thursday, we will learn how to paint cactus on smooth rocks and create a mini garden.

​First, you need to find some reasonably smooth rocks in various shapes and sizes. If you are creating a cactus rock garden, find stones that work well together, and arrange them unpainted in the dish or pot you plan to display them. Sand is the perfect planting medium for the cactus rocks. Sand is available at home improvement stores, garden centers, and craft stores.

Smooth rocks in various sizes
Cactus pictures
White gesso
Craft paint in an assortment of greens, white and black
Small bristle brushes, and detail brushes
Dotting tools
Q-tips
Water
Paper towel
Acrylic sealer

​Find images of cactus as a visual guide. You will find a wide variety of shapes and colors. Succulent photos are a great resource of inspiration too. It's not necessary to paint realistic cactus, but the images are a way to inspire you to paint in the style you want.

​Wash and dry your rocks thoroughly before priming with a coat of white gesso. After the gesso has dried, base coat the stone with green craft paint. Basecoat the stones in different shades of green color since cactus comes in many shades of green. Let the paint dry thoroughly before Thursday's class. See you then!

​The last month or so has been inspiring because of the great people who have been coming regularly to the Crafting Club. It's exciting to see the creative projects coming out of the live events, and I am looking forward to seeing us all have fun, and grow creatively together.

See what we have done in just over a month! Most of these past class projects are from our regular member Alexis from Payson, AZ. Her work is beautiful and inspiring to us all. We would love to see what projects inspire you, so please feel free to share and let us know what kind of crafts you would like to do.

​Something is addicting, and oddly satisfying about making rolled paper beads. As a child, I remember how much fun it was to make paper bead jewelry out of brightly colored construction paper. Childhood craft techniques haven't changed much over the years, but now there are more tools and materials available to make the process more efficient, and the final product more beautiful. Making paper beads is easy and, are made out of ordinary and inexpensive materials. 

Bamboo Skewers

• Paper strips at least 11" long: Magazine pages, scrapbook paper, or office paper
• Scissors
• White glue
• Xacto knife
• Monofilament line (fishing line)
• Small Clips
• Empty shoe box
• PC Wood Hardener from hardware store
• Gloss acrylic glaze such as Polycrylic or bead glaze
• Paint markers, paints and pens
• Straight edge ruler
• empty glass jars

During the live class tomorrow, you will learn how to make a paper bead roller, and all the techniques to make pretty beads that can be made into jewelry and more. Make sure you register for the class by clicking on the live event button up on the right of this page, or you can register right here:  Click here to register, and after you submit your registration be sure to click "add to calendar" so you are reminded to attend the event!

If you miss this class, or any of the other live events, you can always find them on the On Demand page. See you tomorrow!

"Several years ago, I developed a meditative art technique inspired by the Zentangle method developed by Rick and Maria Roberts. I loved the relaxation benefits "tangling" had to offer but had difficulty remembering the steps and sequences. I also wanted to create something that started with splashes of color. After a lot of experimenting, the Kumomi method was born! The word Kumomi comes from a combination of Japanese words meaning cloud gazing.

​When we look at random shapes such as clouds, we sometimes see familiar things. It's our brains trying to make sense out of chaos! Cloud gazing is very relaxing as we watch clouds float by and change shape as they go forming into elephants, birds, angels, and just about anything. The configuration takes form then drifts away quickly. Kumomi is the essence of cloud gazing. The shapes are painted loosely on paper using a combination of colors.  The colorful shapes are outlined with a fine-tipped pen while we look to find something familiar. The final step is to bring out detail with lines, shapes, and doodles.

For several Saturdays this summer, I'll be teaching mindful crafting techniques for relaxation, and well being. Kumomi will be in the first session so be sure to register so you can join all the relaxing fun! We will be doodling, mandala making, and other mindful art and crafts!

This Saturday, June 6th, I will introduce you to the art of Kumomi in a live event. I promise it will be fun as well as relaxing. Below is a list of items you need to get started. If you don't have everything, please feel free to watch and enjoy the process so you can try it at a later time.