Love, love, love reusing stuff

As you might have guessed,  I love using things that I find, to make new things. Upcycling, recycling, just taking junk and making it fun and pretty.

You can pretty much turn anything you find into something new.  Sometimes I find something really cool and I have no idea what I'm going to use it for.  But,  eventually there comes an idea!  Sometimes it's as simple as inspiration,  other times it's a full out project!

The world has so much to offer.  Everything can have a second use. It just takes imagination and creativity!

Here are a couple of videos showing you how I've taken some things that a person wouldn't think twice of discarding and making something fun. It's always great to create!

                           Box in a Box

TP Mini Album

Itty-bitty Book

                                       link:

                  Kathleen's Idea Mini Book

I just love making books.  Especially little ones! Check out my link for the tutorial on how to make this one.

This book could be used as a little journal or memory book of  baby faces!  Talk about a cute brag book! It would also make an adorable alphabet book for tiny fingers. Let your mind soar and see what you come up with!

When you put your imagination cap on,  the possibilities are endless! Mix up the papers to make it whimsical or dramatic. Select a ribbon and button or go for lace and a metal finding.

Oh!! It gets me so excited thinking about the endless possibilities that I want to run and make more right now! Have fun with this project!

Beautiful Afternoon For Free Art Friday

Beautiful Afternoon For Free Art Friday

Check out the new video! Spreading love and joy can be done in the simplest fashion. Random acts of kindness can occur everyday,  holding doors open for people, picking up a tab, even a simple smile.

Free Art Friday is a random act of kindness done by artists.... or just creative people, like me!

A gentleman in England coined the phrase and it has gone global.  This wonderful man is a street artist (former elementary school teacher), who gives his art away for free. He has inspired people all around the world to participate. I have met artists in Australia and all over the states just by getting involved with FAF.

He maintains his privacy by simply going by his artist street name... My Dog Sighs

We had the pleasure of meeting him at a gallery in Chicago.

I started our own chapter in Grand Rapids. I call it Free Art Friday Grand Rapids Style.

I hope this inspires you to "drop" art in your community to make someone smile and to just spread the love.

Happy Free Art Friday!

More Fun on YouTube!

I've been busy! I am really loving making YouTube videos!  It's great reference for me so I can see step by step the things I like to create.  Sometimes creative block happens and this will provide inspiration for me. I hope it does you as well!

              Kathleen's Idea Bi-fold ATC

       Kathleen's Idea Surprise Gift Box

My New YouTube Videos

I'm so excited to share with you my two new videos on you tube! Along with this blog I've always wanted to make a tutorial video.  So here we go!

Kathleen's Idea Happy Banner

Kathleen's Idea Little Dress Banner

Leave me some feedback! It's always welcome!

Free Art Friday Madness

Have you ever been to The Outlet? Oh my gosh, if not... get there! The deals are there! It's located on Cottage Grove off Madison SE. They're open Wednesday thru Saturday. Crafts, sewing, floral, scrapbooking... all at way below retail prices plus sales every week and a secret word that gets you an additional 50% off one non sale item!
We dropped out first piece off there!

Another piece we dropped was at the river. We braved the flies at the fish cleaning station. Hope a real sportsman finds it!

Love Bogey and Bacall! So this piece had to go to a very classy area. The 616 Lofts seemed to fit the bill! Nice busy area and the piece was snatched up in 5 minutes! Love giving away free art!

This last piece was a favorite of mine and I love the way the framing turned out! It's made with a collage of vintage magazine illustrations and lovely text printed on tissue paper, then affixed to dominoes! So a neat mixed media piece that will make a woman at the YWCA feel empowered!

Old School Writing Desk

For my first post I'd like to share my most recent project.  This is an old handmade writing desk.  See below for the before pics. I'm happy with the way it turned out that I had to show you the final project first! 

I used spray paint for the three layers of color. I started out with an old school house color green, then am old schoolhouse blue. To finish it off its coated with bisque. 

I then went back and sanded the edges, legs, seat and back spindles to create a worn look. 

Here is what it looked like originally. 

 

I'm Here!

This is an exciting journey for me.  I have always wanted to share my love and enthusiasm for art and craft with others!

Way back in the day,  I was a Girl Scout leader and I loved showing the girls new ways of looking at the world. Now is my chance to share with people closer to my age who may actually see the world differently as I do.

Come along on my journey with me. I will show you projects and ideas and observations of my world.