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Simple DIY planters Idea

Since Spring has sprung, I have been feeling like my house is in need of some life and so I decided to buy some house plants. ( I went with Cacti because I figured they needed the least amount of attention) I searched and searched for the perfect planters and couldn’t find them. So naturally, I decided to make my own. I bought this set of three wooden planters at Michael’s craft and chose three colors. Right now, I am really into the corally orange-ish red color, so I got that, a lime green and a turqouise. (also a darker blue for an accent color).

I repainted them about three times until I kind of got something I liked- I still wasn’t sure about them until I put the cacti in the planters and then I thought the simple and rustic designs kind of went well with the cacti. Painting the cacti planters made me want to branch out a little. So, I bought another plant (this one requires more attention- so we will see how long it lasts 😦 )

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a mirthful minute pt. 3

I am really in need of a good laugh today. Thought maybe others might feel the same way. And just to warn you I am a sucker for wiener dogs and cat pictures

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Mirthful minute pt.2

I just had to post this pic of my poor little dog Henri! I found his old Halloween costume and made him
Wear it around for a little while. He was so miserable. It was shortly after pulling this sad face that I managed to capture on camera, that I decided he had enough torture for one day! It’s the little things in life right now that are helping me get through more difficult times.

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Love my job!

This is a student’s drawing I came across and had to bite my lip to stifle a laugh. I had to ask him to draw something appropriate for school but secretly thought it was funny. These are the little things that make me smile and make my day better.

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a mirthful minute.

If there is one thing I love about the internet- it is the never ending supply of funny pet pics. I love nothing more than to google cat pictures or pet videos. Thought I would pass two along that I laughed out loud at today.

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The Happiness Project.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Lately, I have been reading the Happiness Project, a memoir by Gretchen Rubin. I picked it up, after much hesitation since I had been seeing it everywhere and was a little weary of it, for a couple of reasons. My personal life took a drastic and unexpected turn about a month ago and I was forced to reevaluate my life. I realized that I had not been happy and was not living my “best” life. Every day life had gotten ahold of me and I had stopped enjoying the little things like spending time with my loved ones, taking time to reflect and relax, and doing new and exciting things. This sparked an idea I had to come up with my own bucket list. Well, not a bucket list, but a “life list.” I started compiling a list of things that I wanted to do (not necessarily before I died) that I had been missing out on. My list included simple things like: “cooking dinner more,” “buying a bike”, “spend more time outdoors.” Things that I have always wanted to do and always told myself I would do, but never got around too. I started compiling them in a journal and it kind of took on a life of it’s own.

So far, my list is 72 items and counting.

The first thing I did on my list, was the most physically noticeable and required the least amount of effort on my part: #18: cut all my hair off! Now, let me explain why this is a big deal. The last time I cut my hair more than an inch every two months or so, was when I was in the 3rd grade (over 20 years ago!) Of course, this was pre-puberty and my peers were merciless. Even adults made comments on it. My brother told me years later that his teacher asked him that first day I came to school after my hair cut, “who is the new boy at school?”

I tried finding my year book photo but this is the closest pic I could find…another bad hair cut idea of mine (the perm)

Needless to say, I was scarred and scared to cut my hair after that so I let it go and it got looooooong.

So one Sunday morning a couple weeks ago, I was having breakfast with an old friend and told her I wanted to cut my hair. She got excited and we called around to different salons and took the first open appointment. By lunch time 21 inches of my hair was in a baggy and most of my hair was gone!

It really is amazing how doing something as simple as cutting your hair can make you feel like a new person and spark you to make changes.

Has anyone else read the Happiness Project and/or made a life/bucket list?

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journal art

I’ve been doing a lot of journaling lately….I used to do it all the time, and have had a diary or journal since I was old enough to write. But, in the last few years, my journals have gotten less and less inspiring. They are usually filled with To Do Lists, important info, and work data. I wanted to get back to when I used to actually enjoy writing and creating art in my journal. And while, the circumstances for my delve back into my enthusiastic journaling were not exactly positive, I have remember just how much of a calming effect and a release of tension they are for me:

Does anyone else like to journal? Does it have the same effective on you? Send me pics and I will post them on my blog (one day, someone will actually answer me and it will be awesome!)

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art lately: geometric art

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date April 4, 2012
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some art from my journal…I am loving triangles and simple gemoetric shapes right now.

I will be the first to admit, that I rarely, if ever, have a original art idea. I always see pieces that I love and admire, and usually want to buy for my house so I can stare at them forever but cant afford them so I create my own version, and more versions and they are not exact replicas by any means. I don’t think I am an artist, I think I am just really good at copying other people.

I did this one on an a sheet of music from an old family chorus book I got at the thrift store.

This one was with watercolors and sharpie in my journal.

I call this one “Triangle Lady.”

And here are some of my favorite geometrical prints I have found on various sites:

I LURRV THIS ONE: “Sami Woman Print” by lisacongdon

“Her Colorful Coat” Original drawing by heartpumpsart

“The dimensions of a Volcano” by Judy Kaufmann

“If I could I Would Give You the Entire Universe” print by artist: Meredith Schwab via her etsy shop dittydrops

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tattoos: I want them, I GOT one.

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date April 2, 2012
No Comments on tattoos: I want them, I GOT one.

Okay, I have to expain what the design means because that was an important part to to me. The half circles and small vertical lines or dashes form the Native American symbol for rain. (I found that info here: http://horsehints.org/IndianSymbols.htm) and looks like this:

or this…..

and it stands for: change, renewal, and fertility (not so sure about that part yet).

Underneath the lines are what look like the letter “V” sideways. But, it is the Runes’ language symbol “kenaz” which literally translates to “beacon.” It stands for: vision, revalation, knowledge, creativity, and inspiration. (I found that info here:http://www.sunnyway.com/runes/meanings.html).

These meanings are all very representative of what I am experiencing in life now and I have always wanted to get this tattoo on my forearm so that I have a constant reminder of the important things in my life. Also, I guess my personal life is in the shit-er right now and drastic times call for drastic measures right??

Butch drawing the design on with markers first

Butch’s drawing of my design.

I went to Certified Customs http://www.certifiedcustoms.net/ in Denver Colorado and my Tattoo artist’s name was Butch. He was awesome. They closed at 12am but he said he would tattoo me after his last client (usually, they are appointment only–but I was desperate)

Everyone there was really nice and pretty friendly for it being 2am on a Friday night, and them being tattoo artists.

Can you tell its starting to hurt now? Yeah, it was. But, it was good pain.

my best friend Cassie on the left and my new friend Blair in the red.

woo hoo! Finally done! Both of us looking worse for the wear.

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DIY greeting Cards Idea

I got this fun idea for the above mini greeting cards I made from seeing something similar at etsy.com by Kathy Panton (http://www.etsy.com/shop/KathyPanton?ref=seller_info).

I love the brightly colored maps she used. They are the most vibrant map hearts I have found so far.

So, for Valentine’s Day, I decided to go all out for my colleagues and make mini-heart cards- I love when friends give me beautiful cards that double as art- so I thought this might be a nice gesture…turns out I love making them…

and of course..super easy to make. All you need is some patterned paper (I got mine from Paperchase).

and some blank note cards. (and scissors and glue). They are quick DIY projects with big impact!

There are alot of fun and lovely ideas using cut out hearts. Here are a couple more that I want to try soon…although I think I should invest in a heart shaped whole punch, to save myself some extra time!

Like this one by Katie Mccaw at KatieMccaw.com:

Using a heart punch, she cut out hearts from every card she received from her wedding shower and wedding.

And, this upcycled heart garland I found via etsy.com:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/90153988/garland-scalloped-hearts-from-upcycled

Also, make sure to check my other blog o happy day for more diy project ideas and home decorating ideas.

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The Dot & Ish Childrens’ Books Art Lessons

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date March 30, 2012
No Comments on The Dot & Ish Childrens’ Books Art Lessons

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds is not only one of my favorite childrens’ books, but it is also one of my personal favorites. As a teacher and an artist, I find it incredibly inspiring for both children and adults.
The Dot is a story about a little girl named Vashti who doesn’t have much faith in her self as an artist. One day at the end of art class, Vashti has yet to draw anything but her art teacher encourages Vashti to “make a mark, and see where it takes you.” Frustrated and annoyed, Vashti slams her pen down on the paper creating a small, single dot.” Her art teacher sees something more than just a black dot and Vashti comes to art class next week to find her dot framed in gilded gold and hanging behind the teacher’s desk. This sparks Vasthi’s creativity and her belief in herself. From there on out, Vasthi can’t be stopped!

I love it because it inspires the reader into believing in themselves. So, for the last art class, I read the book at the beginning of the class to the students and then let them go crazy with markers and pens. They took their assignment very seriously and came up with some beautiful and unique “Dots”:

I was so impressed with how much they loved the book and how excited they were to do this activity. If you need a filler or an opener for an art class, I would def. recommend it. Just read the book, and let your kids go crazy with blank paper and markers.

Also, worth reading to your kids is Ish also by Peter H. Reynolds, and it has the same sort of artistic inspirational message. Reynolds has a great website that is full of ideas and activities. He also answers questions from students: http://www.peterhreynolds.com/dot/

And of course…I had to do some of my own Dot inspired artwork:

watercolor crayons

acrylic paints on a moleskin journal

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my life list pt. 1

Due to certain recent depressing and drastic circumstances in my life over the last few days(which I wont even bring up here in my happy place…but if you want to feel better about your life…go here: http://www.blessedrthecracked.blogspot.com) I have decided come up with an ever growing list of things i want to do…I wouldn’t call it a bucket list, b.c they aren’t all things I want to do before i die; they are all things I want to do to live a happier and fulfilling life. This is what i was up working on all night since I cant sleep (due to those depressing and drastic circumstances mentioned earlier): the first page of my little “life list”:

(although I am trying to think of a better name for it) I thought my artist friends might enjoy this…Does anyone else have a “bucket list” or a life list of things they want to do soon? I would love to hear them! (and not only b.c. I can add them to my list).

If I was more organized (That day will never come) I would love to do artistic journaling- but my life and my (lack of) organization skills tends to make my most recent journal entries scribbled words and to do lists. Not so inspiring.