Creativity Inspired by Paint Brush Muses

Hi!
We all could use a little inspiration from time to time to stir the creativity from within. I created this set of paint brush muses to help me out.

The largest one screams for me to not be afraid to use color. The second one  reminds me that my art is beautiful and to create from my heart. The third one says for me to think outside the box, not all art needs to be so black and white.

Here's how I made these fun little muses out of used paintbrushes, acrylic paint, and Creative Paperclay®.

Supplies
Creative Paperclay®
Paintbrushes for muses
Multiple colors of acrylic paint
Gesso
Tacky glue
Palette knife
Clay carving tolls
Clay sanding tools
Matt acrylic sealer

Instructions
1. Take a ball of clay large enough to fit on the flat of the brush just below the bristles.You are making your face on the brush.

2. Form the shape of a face. Now you can carve the details of your face into the clay, make 3-d facial features, or paint the facial features on.

3. Remove your face from the brush using a pallet knife slipped gently between the clay and the brush.

4. Lay flat to dry or dry in a 180 oven till the clay turns white.

5. Sand your faces.

6. Paint your brushes and clay faces with gesso.

7. Use tacky glue to adhere the faces to the brushes and let dry.

8. Here's where the real fun begins! Use any colors or patterns on your muses. Let your muse's personality form with each addition of paint. Finish with a matt sealer when your paint is dry.

 I hope my muses inspired you to make your own creative posse. Thank you for visiting!

Happy Creating,
Shari

January Tip by LuLu Lancaster

Hello and Happy January!  This is LuLu Lancaster and I have a design Tip for you ;)

I have cleaned out my studio this last month and purged things that were not useful. Rearranged and tucked away things I thought I may not need immediately. I set up my work table with stations and what I use all the time within easy reach. Guess what is front and center? My Creative Paperclay® it is true!

My Tip this month is to Play to Dream and to just get your hands in the clay. :)

I have to say that Creative Paperclay® has become one of my most important tools in my Art toolbox. 

Almost every piece of art I create has this amazing air dry clay incorporated in it somehow.

Whether they are full sculpts or small accessories, paper clay is my go to clay.

(tiny gargoyles,pumpkins and bones)

I am a spur of the moment, not big on planning, just like to get going kind of person.

 Creative Paperclay® is perfect for immediate satisfaction. Just start with a little lump of clay and start playing.

(small frames)

I tend to grab a package of clay and just dig in. I love having an assortment of little sculptures at my disposal. I create in batches and let the last little sculpture dictate where the next one will begin. 

(spoon,bottles and bunny head soup)

The next time you are scrapbooking, mixed media, sculpture or what have you, you will have many little original treasures to choose from if you just start to play.

(gargoyles,pumpkins and bones incorporated into graveyard scene)

Let your imagination guide you. Use up the whole pack and see where it takes you!

Thank you for reading along ;)

LuLu

http://facebook.com/lulusappledolls

Looking for Inspiration

Hi, there!! Carole here with a tip on sources of inspiration. I find there are times when my idea well has run dry. This is when I need to search for inspiration. Here are my top sources for inspiration when my creativity has zoned out.

1. Pinterest—But, I don't just look for clay projects. I especially like looking through Architecture, Art, and Design boards.
2. Catalogs—Especially ones from museums and ones that have jewelry offerings.
3. Toys—I find that lots of kid's toys can be recreated in clay or serve as a springboard for a project.
4. Journal—I keep a journal of ideas. All kinds of notes and comments go in there. Not every note is project related, but I'm sure to find something in my journal that will jump start my brain.
5. Online—Natalie Kalbach's Creative Jump Start is loaded with ideas. This is a must-have for all your creative types. 
6. Walk—No matter where I walk—going from room to room in my house, an walk outside or a stroll through the mall—I'm sure to see at least one thing that sparks my creative imagination.
7. Blog Posts—I start reading through past blog posts right here on the Creative Paperclay blog. It doesn't take too long before inspiration strikes.
8. Creative Paperclay—I just knead a ball of clay. Move it in my hands. Let the clay do what it wants to. Pretty soon I've got a real project underway :) 

How do you find inspiration when your creativity takes a vacation?

Acorn Elf Cloth Doll

Hi There I am LuLu ;) I am a new member of the Design Team. I would like to share with you how to make a simple cloth Art Doll using Creative Paperclay ®
With Halloween behind us and Christmas fast approaching I thought an Autumn Acorn Elf bridging the gap would be fun!

Supplies you will need

1.Creative Paperclay®

2. a face mold 

You can make an easy face mold using a pre sculpted face and 

http://amazingmoldputty.com

3. tools

scissors

xacto knife

dental tool

wire cutter

needle and thread

fine grit sand paper 

pencil

4. 18g galvanized wire

5. cotton muslin

6. cotton batting or polyfil

7. Tacky glue

8. assorted fabrics, trims, wool for hair and acrylic paints

9. acorn tops

First Let us Create the head, arms and legs.

Using a presculpted head Create a mold from Amazing Mold Putty.

Fill the mold with Creative Paperclay ® leaving some hanging off the sides. You will use this part to gently pull the face from the mold.

After approx. 10 minutes gently remove the head. The Creative Paperclay ® may have hardened a bit on the outside and that is fine.

Using your dental tool define the facial features adding nostrils and lip features.

Trim the remainder of Creative Paperclay ® from the edges of the face.

Cut lengths of wire to run from the top of the head to the base of the torso.

Placing wire at the back of the head place enough Creative Paperclay ® to form a nice rounded head.

Finish by adding the neck and pointy elf ears.

Sculpt arms and legs

You will only need the lower limbs.

After your pieces have dried use a fine grit sander and gently sand smooth.

Part 2 creating the cloth body.

Take your dried and sanded pieces and lay them on 2 squares of muslin fabric.

with a pencil draw a basic body shape without arms.

Cut out the 2 pieces of muslin. Sew 2 pieces together to create the body, you can either hand sew or machine sew the muslin pieces. Without turning inside out stuff very full with cotton batting or polyfil.

Insert head by putting wire down through the torso into the batting.

 Fold down the front and back fabric at the top by the neck.

using your tacky glue run a fine line around base of neck where fabric meets.

sew the fabric around the neck to secure.

Cut two  rectangles of muslin slighter longer than the arm length.

Using the tacky glue place the arm at the end of a rectangle and "roll" the sleeve around the arm.

sew the fabric around the arm to secure

Add tacky glue to the upper part of the legs and insert into the the leg portion of the body.

Sew the fabric around the leg to secure.

Now you will add the arms. Take the rectangle fold over the shoulders, sew at the shoulder repeat for other side.

Now you are ready to paint and dress!

Paint the faces :) basic acrylic paints work wonderful. Water them down a bit for a blushed look :)

Dress your new Elf with old trims and scraps of fabric 

Be sure to add the acorn top on her head with a bit of tacky glue.

Thank you so much for following along. 

I hope I have given you some inspiration to create your own Acorn Elf from Creative Paperclay ® Please visit me at my blog LuLusapplesauce and at my Facebook Page LuLusAppleDolls

Feeling Fall by Rachel Whetzel ::a reminder::

Instead of a tip for you today, I have a reminder.
I'm feeling fallish... Fall is one of my favorite times of the year... I love everything about it. The cool crisp air, fires in the hearth, falling leaves, colors, and I love Halloween.
I get inspired every year to add to my "witch's apothecary" with bits of this and that... but once in a while, what I WANT to put there, doesn't exsist.
And THAT is where Creative Paperclay® modeling material comes in.
When the stores don't have it, REMEMBER, you can MAKE IT!!

I'm working on a jar of slugs. :)

Don't FORGET!!

 We'll be having a Halloween Link Up on October 5th, here on the blog!  

Be sure to get your creative juices flowing, and come share YOUR Halloween projects with us!

 

I would love for you to visit me at my "house" too!! Thank you so much for reading!!  ~rachel  

 

ALSO

 check out the DESIGN TEAM CALL!! Throw your hat into the ring!