Momathon Blog

Thinking Spring {Creating Mood Boards}

Hello, friends! Today I'm thinking about spring. Flowers, vivid colors, hearts, and sunny images fill the mood board above that I'm using for a project I'm working on.

Do you create mood boards? In a way Pinterest is one gigantic moodboard that inspires creative pursuits in art, decorating, and, of course, cooking.

A few tips to get a mood board started
Probably the best thing I've learned over the years when creating a board is to let go and avoid second guessing the images before you place them on the board. In other words, grab what you like now and you can analyze why later. Another tip, write a list of words that you associate with a project and use these words to get you started and guide you in your selection of images for your board.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out a few of my favorite posts by bloggers this week.

1) Finding a note in my mailbox always makes me smile. Now you can share some love via a new photo app that turns your iPhone images into snail mail. Check out the Printic App post via Victoria at sfgirlbybay.

2) Feeling crafty? Create sweet Friendship Bracelets via a super easy tutorial from Joy at Frock Files.

3) Celebrate spring and make adorable tiny Easter egg terrariums via Brittany at The House That Lars Built.

4) Try a new spin on decorating Easter eggs and make Sprinkle Easter Eggs via a cute tutorial by Kelly at Studio DIY®.

Happy weekend! xo Chris

 

Images: The mood board above includes photos and illustrations by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

 

Hello, March!

Hi, friends. I can hardly believe it is March already—almost Spring! It was sunny and sixty-something here yesterday, but the snow is blowing down off the mountain today! Yikes! That's Colorado weather in March.

Do you have Spring fever? I've got a few DIY and craft ideas to get you in the mood for spring and all the loveliness of March.

1) Visit a greenhouse. Even if it is just for ideas and not shopping for plants. A little hot house humidity does wonders for the soul. The GREEN-crazy photo above—sans fancy photo filters—was taken by me at a local nursery.

2) Make a moss shamrock wreath via the oh-so clever Brittany at The House That Lars Built. 

3) Celebrate the awesome friendships in your life. Ideas all month-long on Joy's sweetest blog Frock Files. To start it off today, her post is all about the art of making a care package.

4) Turn plastic Easter eggs into a funky modern spring bouquet via my favorite idea girl, Haeley at Design Improvised. Her easy-peasy craft tutorial sounds fun to do. A great activity to get the kids involved.

Have fun! 

PS. Since I started writing this post we now have over an inch of the white fluffy stuff on the ground. I'm living in a snow globe!

DIY Inspiration: Sewing with Sarai Mitnick at Colette Patterns

My mom was a home-ec teacher so I started sewing—or really playing—with one of her older Singer sewing machines when I was about six or seven. She stored a big box of fabric remnants in the closet for me to use in my sewing creations. When I wanted to make something really adventurous, I remember going to my neighbor to get fabric remnants from their daughter's fancy and often sparkly prom dresses. 

Fast forward a few years—don't ask me to specify—and I still love to sew. One of my sources of inspiration are the "little sewing epiphanies" via Sarai Mitnick at Colette Patterns. Her book Colette Sewing Handbook is an amazing guide for sewers of almost any skill level to create your own unique wardrobe: 

"Five simple fundamentals can help you perfect any sewing project: a thoughtful plan, a precise pattern, a fantastic fit, a beautiful fabric, and a fine finish. With these five core ideas,The Colette Sewing Handbook shows you how to start sewing the wardrobe of your dreams." 

 

I'm a fan of the classic lines of Colette patterns. My favorite patterns by Sarai are the double-breasted Anise jacket and the simple slim Clover pants—so amazing because they both go with practically anything. (See images above.) Sarai even ranks the sewing level needed for her patterns. The jacket is best for intermediate level sewers and the pants are beginner and above skill level. 

Even though Sarai's sewing handbook says on the cover it is for the new seamstress, I think the detailed information she gives about how to finish a garment places it on the must-have list for sewers of ANY skill level.

Monica Lee interviews Sarai Mitnick 

I love a good behind-the-scenes story about artists and finding out how creatives get their start in the biz. That's probably why I'm a huge fan of Monica Lee's video interviews at SmartCreativeWomen.com. Recently she interviewed Sarai Mitnick from Colette Patterns on how and why she started her own pattern company.  

Be social. Get the latest Facebook updates from Monica Lee at Smart Creative Women and Sarai Mitnick at her page Colette Patterns.

IMAGE: The sweet double-breasted Anise jacket and Clover pants via Colette Patterns.

 

Holiday DIY: Free Printable Christmas Tags

Add some vintage charm with calligraphy-style artwork featuring a Christmas dove, reindeer and a snowflake with this set of 8 tags (4 unique designs). The downloadable PDF includes a set of tags designed by me that feature a holiday greeting paired with black and white vintage artwork that is hand tinted by me in a light minty green.

Attach the tags on a gift box or bag with a piece of twine or ribbon. Or tape the tags to a gift or a plate of cookies. Easy to print and cut out. 

This set of tags will look great printed on any of your favorite card stock paper—plus printing the tags won’t drain your printer of gobs of colored ink. The only color featured on the tag is a light mint green.

This printable holiday gift tag PDF includes:

• 8 gift tags (approx 2.5" by 3.5" rectangles)
• Finished tags have printing on one side and are blank on the reverse side for you to write on.
• Tag greetings include "Peace" "Merry Christmas" and "Love and Joy."

To use this printable, you will need:

• Computer and Printer
• Sheets of 8.5" x 11" card stock paper
• Paper cutter or scissors
• Adobe Reader (If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it for free at get.adobe.com/reader)

The downloadable PDF (see link below) contains 1 page that includes 8 tags—2 tags of each of the 4 designs shown above. 

Dogs Are My Fave

Some people knit, I doodle. And I love to doodle all types of animals—especially dogs. Frenchies are extra fun to draw. I guess it is something about their wise expression. 

More dogs in my doodles:

Dog Doodle: Lucy

Daily Doodle: Dogs in the city

Waiting for my coffee to brew

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Image: TO ERR IS HUMAN graphic includes a dog illustration and design by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

Paris Is Always a Good Idea

It's no secret I'm a bit obsessed with Paris... I doodle about Paris.

 

I like to say bonjour, je t'aime, and l'amour. I even created free printable gift tags featuring French and English sayings that are available to download here.

I also created an I Heart Paris Eiffel Tower Printable box for my Etsy shop that is featured on the Paris-Paris Etsy Treasury. 

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Images: PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA artwork by me, Chris Olson. French and English sayings PRINTABLE TAGS created by me. I HEART PARIS box by me. Feel free to Pin them Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

Social Media Doodle App

Yesterday I mentioned a new app for doodle lovers. Doodle.ly for iPad is a sketchbook app that turns your iPad into a doodle canvas for sharing on Facebook and Twitter. You can see what Doodle.ly doodlers are creating here. If you like to doodle on paper, then this is a great app for you—and your kids. Check out my list of things I like about the app below. Plus I have some suggestions for ways get the most out of doodling using this app.

Polka Dot Love

Happy Monday, friends!

Did the weekend treat you well? My weekend zipped by much too quickly. I'm starting out a bit slow today. Sorting through my emails. Walking my three dogs—yes, three! And baking a batch of blueberry muffins. Yum!

Sharing a bit of doodle-ly letter love—with polka dots—today. Is doodle-ly a word? I hope so. I like to say it ;) 

Not only is doodle-ly a word, it's an app! I'll have more on this app tomorrow. 

Image: The DOODLE-LY POLKA DOT ART at the top of the post is by me, Chris Olson. The app image on the left is from iTunes. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

DIY: 3 Steps to Create Ribbon Letters

If you like to scrapbook or add embellishments to note cards, then including styled hand lettering is a fun addition. One of the easiest lettering options to try is ribbon lettering. My mom first taught me the ribbon lettering technique when I was a kid. The OH HAPPY DAY letter art above started out just black and white, then I added the color. (I was was inspired by @jordanferney blog called OH HAPPY DAY.)

Want to try some lettering? First, don't worry about rules. Have fun! Play with letters, doodle a bit, and see what styles you like. The best part of ribbon lettering is you can make the letters as unique as you want. Plus you can try it with printing or cursive handwriting. Check out my tutorial below.

 

The graphic I created above gives the 3 basic steps to create each letter. One tip to make the lettering stand out is to make the foundation for each letter a bit wider than you normally write. The wider your letters, the more noticeable the ribbons will be. The narrower or tighter your letters, the smaller your ribbons will be.

When you get to step 3 above, you can draw the ribbon edge line on either the outside or the inside of each letter. If you draw the line on the outside of the edge of a letter you will need to add a little "bridge" to close the top and the bottom of the ribbon. Does that make sense? If you have any questions, just add them to the comment sections.

Have fun! And if you want, try this activity with your kids. That is how I learned to make interesting letters—with my mom. xo Chris O.

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Images: OH HAPPY DAY and 3 STEPS TO CREATE RIBBON LETTERS images are by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

DO YOU LIKE TO DO CRAFTS WITH YOUR KIDS?

You might be interested in the following "quiet time" craft activity to do with kids:

Fill in the Loop Doodles for Kids

Hello, Summer!

Does it feel like summer at your house? The sky is blue and the heat is sizzling here. Happy Summer!

The June floral pattern above by me, Chris Olson.

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Artists: Wall Art Design Challenge at UncommonGoods.com

 

Do you dream of selling your artwork at UncommonGoods? Now is the perfect time to enter your original artwork in a contest sponsored by UncommonGoods for a chance to produce a limited edition run of prints to be sold by UncommonGoods this summer.

GRAND PRIZE: $500 + 5% royalties on a limited edition of 100 prints

DEADLINE: April 26, 2012 at 11:59 PM

HOW IT WORKS: According to UncommonGoods: 

We'll pick our favorite entries to share with customers on our Community Voting App. Our guest judges will choose a winning design from among the top vote-getting entries. We'll announce the winner in May. Your art should tell a story, be intelligent, and show your creative individuality. Take a look at some of our other art for inspiration. We don't have a set aesthetic - we want to see yours.

QUESTIONS? UncommonGoods is an online retailer that specializes in handmade, eco-friendly and uniquely designed gifts and accessories. You can find out more about the mission of UncommonGoods.com here. Find the contest rules on this pdf. You can send an email to: art-contest@uncommongoods.com

(Diptic image above features the following artwork as seen on UncommonGoods: PLACES IN AMERICA WALL ART, SONGBIRD BOX PRINT, DO WHAT YOU WANT WALL ART, YOU SIMPLY GLOW WALL ART)

Free Printable: Easter Bunny Gift Box

 

Hello, friends. Today I'm offering a free printable Easter gift box file for you to download. The digital PDF file includes one Easter pillow box designed by me and featuring a vintage card. Great for filling with candy or other surprises for an Easter basket. 

Printables are easy to use. All you need for this craft is the free downloadable PDF file, 8.5"x11" card stock paper, glue or double-sided tap, and scissors. You can also embellish the box with glitter. After I printed copies of the boxes at home, I added a hint of white glitter to the bunny ears. 

 Link to the downloadable PDF and directions for printing and assembling the box in the steps below.

A wonderful whimsical birthday card by my big brother

 
My brother Eric has been creating amazing illustrations since he was in kindergarten. My mom says one of his elementary school teachers loved his work so much she let him draw all day instead of doing his schoolwork. Not sure if this was the best teaching method, but fortunately he managed to pass that grade and go on to excel in almost anything he tried. Fast forward a couple of decades and he makes his living creating amazing things in his art studio. And one recently landed in my mailbox—a wonderful whimsical birthday card featured in the photo above. Since he knows I am a slave to several adorable dogs—even providing special doggy car seats for my canine crew—the card he created makes me smile.

Eric's illustrations have been featured in so many places I've lost count—from designer clothing sold at Target to fine china at Pottery Barn to book covers like A Book of Ages and Role Models. His illustrations have appeared in the New Yorker, McSweeney's, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Spy, Oprah, the Atlantic, Harper’s, the New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Gourmet, Wig Wag, the Believer and other publications. You can check out his work on his blog er-h and his illustration website.

Move over Instagram, make room for the Camera Awesome app

I've experimented with loads of photo apps to turn your iPhone or smartphone a better camera. The new Camera Awesome free app from SmugMug joins my list of personal faves for camera versatility and high performance, a list that includes the Instagram, Adobe Photoshop Express, and Camera+ apps. All of the apps listed here are free except the Camera+ app that costs $1.99. However, I will warn you the app is so much fun it is very tempting buy extra bonus features for the Camera Awesome— each set of nine additional (totally awesome) effects is 99 cents. The Hancock effect adds a layer of script and you can see it above.

The photo included in the post today was taken and/or processed with Camera Awesome. I tried to pick a very ordinary subject—a string of lights—and see if the app could "Awesomize" it. And, yes, that is the term the app makers use. Since I am a Photoshop geek, I wasn't sure if this iPhone app would be as versatile and tweakable as a I wanted. Turns out it was a great deal of fun to use. The so-called boring string of lights (I stood on a chair to take this shot) turned out kind of magical with the Hancock filter. I have to add one thing that I really love about this app, you can upload any photo in the app to post process. Here are my thoughts on the new app:

Camera Awesome 

• Camera app works with the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S (an Android app is in development)
• Full-featured and full-powered camera app
• Free app comes with 36 free effects: presets, filters, textures, and frames
• Option to upgrade and buy more presets, a total of 297 presets available
• Image stabilization, burst mode, camera timer, and more
• Fast burst option for active shotss—camera can capture photos in quick sequences
• Works in video mode 
• All your photos can be shared on social media through the easy built-in sharing feature
• Option to use SmugMug photo archiving at full resolution 

DIY: 50 "Weekend Knitting" Projects

Melanie Falick's lovely knitting book will keep you busy and inspired for many weekends.

Knitting is therapeutic in so many ways. I love to keep busy with my hands doing a handmade project while watching TV or sitting outside watching my kids and dogs play. Picking out new yarn colors and textures that will go together for a specific knitting a pattern is a fun twist on picking out a paint colors for my illustration and design work.

Quick knitting projects always appeal to me and author Melanie Falick and photographer Ericka McConnell have assembled beautiful book with both easy-to-do as well as some more challenging projects in Weekend Knitting: 50 Unique Projects and Ideas. The book also includes a sweet selection of favorite weekend recipes and even movies that feature knitting.

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Image: WEEKEND KNITTING PROJECT graphic is by me, Chris Olson featuring photos from Weekend Knitting. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

Other handmade craft posts you might enjoy: 

DIY: Make It Sew Modern

35 Projects Using Fabric Scraps

Sewing Projects for a Handmade Weekend

Feed your creative soul with the craft book Weekend Handmade

Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake (and Hug a Puppy)

Hello Friends! Hope you are having a lovely weekend. Remember to keep a happy thought in your heart.

Photos/Images by me, Chris Olson.

Photos: On My Desk Today

Thinking about the 5" inches of snow that came as a fluffy surprise yesterday. Plus Mardi Gras and those amazing masks. The book on my desk is a childhood favorite: Snow by Roy McKee and P.D. Eastman. Here is what’s on my art studio desk today—a collection of items I am using in my illustration and design work. Check back next Friday for another collection. 

DIY: 35 Projects Using Fabric Scraps

If you're like me, then you probably have a box or two (or three!) of fabric scraps you wish you could use in handmade projects because you love them so! PortabelloPixie blogger and fabric designer Sandi Henderson comes to the rescue with her book Sewing Bits and Pieces: 35 Projects Using Fabric Scraps. The book includes chapters with projects for the kitchen, bed and bath, children, party, crafts, and adults. My favorite projects are the party lights using fabric scraps with lantern lights, the Mary Jane slippers, and the tattered rose headband.

Images: Sewing Bits and Pieces: 35 Projects Using Fabric Scraps.

Happy Thoughts from Winnie the Pooh

Hello, Friends! Seems like only yesterday I started blogging, but this is my 1,000th Momathon Blog post. Wow! I decided to post a happy thought to remember this week. Enjoy your day. And remember to take a friend to lunch too!

 

Image: Wisdom by Winnie the Pooh. Art by me, Chris Olson. The role of Pooh played by the handmade and much-loved Honey Bear. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

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More reasons to love books:

The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World

The 25 Most Beautiful College Libraries in the World

On My Desk Today: Castles, Crowns, and Frilly Things

Thinking about castles, crowns, and frilly things. Here is what’s on my art studio desk today—a collection of items I am using in my illustration and design work. Check back next Friday for another collection. 

And, yes, I really do wear that tiarra! It's very effective in getting the attention of my kids.

It's almost the weekend. Looking for some DIY inspiration? Check out my book reviews--loads of photos--featuring a selection of decorating books here. 

Valentine Doodle: All You Need Is Love

 

Hello, friends. Hope your Valentine's Day is filled with sweet surprises because you're simply the best!

(Valentine doodle art by me, Chris Olson.)

Free Printable Gift Tags: English and French Sayings

Hello, friends. Handmade tags are wonderful to have on hand to attach to a gift so today I'm offering a free printable gift tag file for you to download. The digital PDF file includes 9 designs I created. Great for packaged gifts--and several tags with a L-O-V-E theme are perfect for Valentines. The 3" x 2" tags include the following sayings in a versatile graphite hue font: happy birthday, cheers, to, and I love you. Plus these sayings in French:  bonjour, je t'aime, and l'amour. The Valentine-y tags also have light pink hearts. The back side of the tags is left blank for you to write on.

All you need is the PDF file, 8.5"x11" card stock paper, a printer, hole punch. To attach the tags to a gift use ribbon, yarn, or twine. You can also embellish the cards with glitter. I added a hint of pink glitter to the hearts after I printed them.

Here is a link to the PDF file that you may download and print. Please use these for personal use only. Thanks!

Polka dots, flowers, and best friends

 

Hope you are having a lovely weekend. I'm thinking about sweet things as I plan some projects for the next week. Happy things like polka dots, a dog sitting at my feet and a pink bouquet always get my artistic juices flowing. What about you. What is your muse?

(Art by me, Chris Olson)

Purrrfect design starts with a sketch (video)

The smartest--and smallest--details start with a sketch. Watch the design for a new fashion line come to life with a whimsical cat in the Jason Wu promo. Purrrfect!

 The sketch of Milu the cat comes to life on the desk of fashion designer Jason Wu. 

Equal parts mischief and cute, Milu the cat is the muse for this new line at Target. Perhaps his feline inspiration comes from the two cats Wu adores at home named Jinxy and Peaches.

The new Target collection by Jason Wu will be available from February 5 to March 6. His stylish and affordable items range in price from $19.99 to $59.99 for clothes and $19.99 to $49.99 for accessories.

(Photos from the Jason Wu for Target promotions.)

Thinking about my garden

 

 

Today is cloudy with temps hovering around freezing. I am wishing for spring with cheery flowers in pots on my deck and a row of daffodils in my garden. One of my favorite parts of gardening is planning. I have always had a fondness for dark flowers. That's why I started playing with my paints and sketching a black flower. Who knows... Maybe it will end up in my garden too.

Flower art by me, Chris Olson.

Instagram Crush

 

 
 

Is it possible to take too many pictures? I don't think so. My iPhone and a few dozen photo apps is a "good thing" as I think Martha would say. A favorite of mine is the free photo app Instagram that includes custom designed filters and borders such as XPro-II, Earlybird, Rise, Amaro, Hudson, Lomo-fi, Sutro, Toaster, Brannan, Inkwell, Walden, Hefe, Nashville, 1977, and more. Social media folks like the fact the app includes an option for instant sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, Foursquare, and Posterous.

Photos above taken by me. Post processing via Instagram app. The dog featured is a shelter dog and I used Instagram to help him find a forever home. 

On my desk today

 

Here is what’s on my desk today—I am assembling photo cards for holiday gifts. Check back next Friday for another collection.

Photo by me, Chris Olson. 

On my desk today

 

I'm thinking about the holidays and oranges in the Christmas stockings... Here is what’s on my desk today—a collection of items I am using in my illustration and design work. Check back next Friday for another collection.

Photo by me, Chris Olson.

If you like this, PIN it:  

On my desk today

Here is what’s “on my desk” today—a collection of items I am using in my illustration and design work. Check back next Friday for another collection.

Photo by me, Chris Olson.

If you like this, PIN it:  

Custom banners and more at my new Etsy shop

 

     

Hi friends! I opened a new Etsy shop with my friend Carolyn. The new shop is Salt and Paper Designs by on Etsy. We create personalized stationery, business cards, blog banners, Etsy shop banners, avatars, online ad graphics, and more.

My newest item in the shop is Penguin Etsy Shop Banner & Avatar Set featured in the photos. I would love to have you check out our store, and drop a note and tell me what you think.

Want to know what new items we are adding? You can follow our shop on Twitter: @saltnpaperetsy.

 

On my desk today

 

Here is what's "on my desk" today--a collection of items I am using in my illustration and design work. Check back next Friday for another collection.

Photo by me, Chris Olson.

On my desk

Have a wonderful Veteran's Day!

Here is what’s on my desk today--a collection of items I am using in my illustration and design work. Check back next Friday for another collection.

Go ahead, doodle on the walls

 

The Frames wallpaper in the The Land of Nod collection is perfect for every kid who loves to draw--on the walls or on paper. Made for doodlers and young Picassos, hundreds of blank picture frames in a myriad of shapes and sizes cover the wallpaper. All you need to do is hand your kids (or the grownups) a box of markers. (Frames Wallpaper, $45.00)

Have fun!

(Photo: The Land of Nod)

Back for seconds: A version of this post was published earlier by me.

 

My daily doodle: Four cats

 

Cats are kindly masters,
just so long as you remember your place.

~ Paul Gray

(Cat illustrations by me, Chris Olson)

It's the little things...

 

 

Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

And remember to enjoy the little things!

Mixed media art by me, Chris Olson.

Watercolor Wednesday: Doxie Moxie

 

Happy Wednesday!

Watercolor art by me, Chris Olson.

Daily doodle: Wordless Wednesdays

 

Daily doodle by me, Chris Olson. You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles. 

Draw a monster today

 

It's hot! It's stormy! Perfect time to draw a monster.  

I call it monster therapy. Gather a bunch of markers or crayons and some paper--any size. Even Post-It Notes work.

Now here is the fun part. Pretty much anything goes. Expert doodlers and newbies will enjoy this project. All you need to do is scribble, doodle or draw the craziest monster you can think of. If you want, add some glitter, feathers, and stickers too.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out the monsters on the blog by my friend–and bestselling children's author/illustrator–Nancy Carlson.

* Monster doodle above by me, Chris Olson. You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles. 

 

Daily doodle: fashion matters

 

 

Fashion matters, even during stressful times. In the morning I sometimes just throw stuff together and walk out the door "ready" for the day. Wrong.

I've noticed that taking some time for myself to think about what to wear that day--no matter how busy I feel--really does end up making me feel better. 

Bill Cunningham, New York Times On the Street fashion photographer, says it best in the movie Bill Cunningham New York:

Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.

* Doodle above by me, Chris Olson. You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.

Sand between my toes

The summer heat wave is here. Time hit the beach, sit back, and relax.  

Doodle above by me, Chris Olson. You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.

Your vacation begins now

 

Sigh... My collage art class with Claudine Hellmuth is almost over. What am I going to do for fun now? Perhaps a vacation?

Looking for something artsy to do this summer? Check out the classes at Big Picture Classes. Or follow artist and workshop instructor Claudine Hellmuth on Twitter–@collageartist. Her tweets include loads of clever craft ideas and great links to DIY projects and tutorials.

Collage by me, Chris Olson

Summer vacation doodle

 

Taking an online art course is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. Here is the collage I completed yesterday for a collage class taught by the fun and super creative Claudine Hellmuth at Big Picture Classes. You can follow Claudine on Twitter at @collageartist.

(Art by me, Chris Olson)

 

Summer collage

 

 

Summer is the perfect time to try something new and get creative. So this month I am testing out collages in an online class taught by the fabulous instructor Claudine Hellmuth at Big Picture Classes. The boating collage above is my first attempt. Lotsa fun!

Art: by me, Chris Olson

Hello, June!

 

Doodle by me, Chris Olson. You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.

Daily Doodle: Don't forget to be awesome

 

 

Happiness is a direction, not a place.

~Syndey J. Harris 

 

 

Doodle by me, Chris Olson. You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.

Daily Doodle: Pug and spider

The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout.

Down came the rain, and washed the spider out.

Up came the sun, and dried up all the rain,

and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.

 

Illustration of the pug and spider by me, Chris Olson. You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles. 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Qualities of a Successful Freelancer

Watch the clever stop-motion video by Creative, Inc. co-authors Joy Deangdeelert Cho and Meg Mateo Ilas here. You can read more about the movie in Joy's blog Oh Joy!

According to Joy and Meg, the 9 qualities of a successful freelancer are: 

1. Strong business sense
2. A love of your art
3. Curiosity
4. Confidence and a strong vision
5. Good listening and observation skills
6. Good communication skills
7. Ability to handle criticism and rejection
8. A positive attitude and professional demeanor
9. Good work habits

According to their website at Chronicle Books:

"Freelancing pros Meg Mateo Ilasco and Joy Deangdeelert Cho explain everything from creating a standout portfolio to navigating the legal issues of starting a business. Accessible, spunky, and packed with practical advice, Creative, Inc. is an essential for anyone ready to strike out on their own."

Their book, Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business is available at Chronicle Books.

More best advice from mom: Take turns

I grew up with two older brothers and as kids we were constantly arguing about who got to sit in the front seat of the car, or who got to take the newest (and coolest) sled down the hill first, or who got to pick the TV show next. In my countdown to Mother's Day, today I'm remembering the best advice from my mom whenever I needed to take a step back and think about what my siblings or my friends would want: "Take turns." This advice never grows old–even at work or with my grown-up friends and family–life is sweeter when we take turns.

Thanks Mom!

In honor of Mother's Day, this week my "Mom Says" doodle art features my favorite sayings from my mom. You can find all of my "mom says" art here. You can see even more of my doodles at Momathon doodles. 

Illustration above by me, Chris Olson.

 

Best Advice from Mom: Stand Up Tall

In my countdown to Mother's Day, today I'm remembering the best advice from my mom whenever I was feeling down: "Stand up tall."

In honor of Mother's Day, this week my "Mom Says" doodle art features my favorite sayings from my mom. You can find all of my "mom says" art here. You can see even more of my doodles at Momathon doodles. 

Illustration above by me, Chris Olson.

 

Daily doodle: Easter bunny slippers

I love this drawing by my daughter. She makes gel pen drawings look amazing!

Doodle by K.C.