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The Perfect Collaborative Art Party Game

December 16, 2022 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

Do you have an artist who loves to create with friends! It’s my bet that he/she would LOVE this collaborative art party game!

Over the years our art studio was in business, we hosted hundreds of birthday parties. We found that even after the individual projects were done- the artists would want to keep creating. We always had a coloring station, magnets and play-dough available, but we quickly became known for this fun art game that we held at the end of each of our parties.

We would play an art version of i-spy

Have you ever sat in a restaurant or a doctor’s office and needed a way to entertain kids, while they are waiting? I-spy is a classic game and one you have probably turned to in a moment like that.

Kids get into it and have fun-without even realizing you may just be making the most of some idle time. It’s fun. It forms a connection and you learn a lot about how your child thinks, what he/she notices, and enjoy each other’s company in the process.

We would create a recycled art collage to use for our art version of i-spy. If you want to learn more about how we created this collage, you can view the 5 Reasons Why Creating With Trash Matters post or this quick video lesson from Erica.

How to play i-spy as an art game

I always demonstrated a couple of rounds of leading/playing i-spy first. The idea is you call out things you spy, and they can only be on the i-spy board. The importance is to have a creative collage that is full of different items to make a well rounded, entertaining game. A few idea categories to think through and call out as you play…

  • shapes
  • colors
  • item’s uses
  • item’s location
  • funniest

After I did a few rounds, I would let any artists who wanted to think of one to call it out. If everyone was excited to call an “i-spy” item out, we would just take turns going around the table with everyone getting a chance.

We would play this for as long as kids were really interested. Want to see this game in action? I convinced two of my kids to play with me in this video, so we could demonstrate it to you! They are getting a little old for it, but once they were playing, they still had fun!

Paint that i-spy board

When the fun in the i-spy game is winding down, you can breath new life into the game by allowing the artists to paint the board together! We always just gave out the leftover paint from individual projects and each child a brush. We tried to encourage that teamwork happens in art too. They could each start by painting what stood out to them.

It was so fun to watch the artists paint such unusual items. They’d paint in the items, on the items, around the items and get to see how the paint moves, absorbs, and takes to each item.

We use tempera paint, just in case paint gets on clothes, as hands start reaching. I promise you will know the moment the game is ready to end. You simply say, “on the count of 3, it is time to end and then brushes need to be placed down. 1-2-3 brushes down!” and then it’s time to wash hands. Your artists run off laughing and talking about the fun they just had.

It’s not everyday that artists get to paint a bottle cap, straw or broken shell. Let alone do it with friends after talking, studying and playing i-spy with those items. This i-spy game really is the perfect collaborative art party game. From creating the i-spy board to playing with it and then painting it, you breath a lot of extra life, engineering and fun into those recycled materials.

Sometimes the birthday child would want to take his/her collage home and sometimes we would share the picture and kindly toss the piece.

Isn’t that the beautiful thing about the process being the focus of creating and playing in the arts? If the focus is to have fun, play, and learn as you go then there is no pressure to save the final product. It can just be tossed!

I hope this game inspires you to play a creative art game at your next party or artist has a slumber party. If you need a little extra encouragement, check out this 5 minute video demonstrating a game in action. Let me know, if you try this fun!

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Why Should I Create with Trash?

December 5, 2022 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

Let’s talk about trash! There are 5 reasons why I think you should create with trash! Trash is anything you might normally throw away or recycle. It has served its purpose, but what if it could serve a second purpose!? You could get more mileage out of your goods and your money?? That is a win!

Follow along with Erica and Reagan in a new video where they teach these tips or keep reading to be inspired how you can create FREE fun at home this holiday season.

Let’s dive in and see, if I can convince you to create with trash. We go through a lot of it everyday, and I believe that we can creatively be intentional with what we re-use.

Have you ever turned a spaghetti jar into a flower vase? Or a soup can into a pencil holder? These are some quick ideas to get you thinking of how you can repurpose something to serve you again.

In this post, Reagan and I make a collage out of trash. A collage is sticking a variety of different objects together to cover a backspace. We use cardboard and a tin pan as our backdrops to hold our collages in this example.

Now, let’s talk about why creating with trash matters!

1. Trash Turns into Art

When we work with new and unusual items it taps into a different area of our brain. As a result, we are learning. We are experimenting and can enjoy the process. We are doing something we have not done or maybe seen done before. We aren’t creating towards a finished product, but we are having fun and learning in the process.

2. Trash is cheap

There are so many assumptions and stereotypes that art is expensive. It doesn’t have to be. We all have supplies (yes, like trash) that we already have paid for and can use to create. When we create, we are bringing something to life. That is art.

3. We Learn

When we work with unusual supplies, we are placed in a position to learn.

We learn about the artist. What are they making? They must care about that!

We are also figuring out how things attach, work together, and so we are being engineers. In the process, we learn about 3d creations. Paper is the cheapest form of “typical” art supplies, which is just flat. When we work with trash, we can create bigger sculpture projects.

4. We Have Fun

When we create with trash, there are no expectations of what we need to make or how something needs to turn out. What a freeing feeling to be able to take risks without judgement and just play!

5. There are no souvenirs

The clean up, when we are done creating with trash, is super easy! Just throw all the extra stuff away or take it to the recycling center. It was going there anyway! There is no need to store any extra supplies.

We can then enjoy our creations, but we can also toss them when they end up taking up too much space and need to move on. We didn’t invest a lot in them.

We had fun. We created. The supplies served their purpose and now they can move on and we can create more.

What do you think? Did I convince you that the next time you feel an itch to create something to first stop and look in your recycling items? The kids are coming home for the holidays. I promise you, if you save some trash, invest in a hot glue gun and scotch tape that you will have hours of what feels like FREE at home fun to do together. It’s such a fun way to connect and see your artists’ brain at work being an engineer and imagining the possibilities!

Are you curious at what you can do with your newly created trash collage, after you create it? Reagan and I will be showing you a second part to this idea in a new video going out in our newsletter this week. It’s a collaborative art game that is fun and teaches TEAMWORK.

If you aren’t on the list, sign up today to be sure to get it or comment below and we can get you signed up.

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Ready to Hear Yourself (your truest self!) Again!?

November 25, 2022 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

Friends!

Today is the day! I’ve teased you for a while, that I have been creating an online course and today is the day you can get involved. For 3 days only, I have marked down an early, bird purchase to grab my course for just $55!

I have created an online digital course to help exhausted, mentally worn down, busy adults, parents and caregivers reclaim some life. This was me. Maybe it is you? In this course, you will go from feeling overwhelmed and mentally exhausted to feeling empowered and excited, while experiencing new confidence and enjoyment of daily interaction and intentional journeying together with those you love for the long haul.

Ready to Hear Yourself (your truest self!) Again!?

This course walks you through 5 daily habits that can help you regain the life you are PRESENT in (your mind is where your body is), while building a connection with your kids that goes the distance.

 

This is where you come in…

For the next three days, I’m opening up 10 spots to enroll in my ($99) course at a massive discount (get it for only $55 right now) in exchange for less than five minutes of your time once per week over the next 5 weeks.

The course-which goes live January 2023-has been written, but I will be taking the next 5 weeks to film, edit, create graphics, printables and slides with insight…from YOU!

I’ll send you a short and sweet email each Wednesday morning with no more than 3 questions. All you have to do is vote multiple choice for your favorite idea or answer a simple question.

And on January 12, after I have opened up enrollment to the public at the full price, you’ll receive the finalized course (and any bonuses I offer during my launch)!

So, are you in??

I’d love for you to be part of this experience and new venture for Spoonful of Imagination! It’s been a year long process of implementing these habits in my own life (that I roll out in my course, with lots of stories and applications), getting to a place to share, and dreaming that being vulnerable with my journey can help you in yours.

 

If you’ve been struggling to enjoy life daily, and intentionally show up for yourself and kids, but feel like life is racing by and you’re left reacting to it rather than intentionally choosing and imagining the possibilities this is your chance to get in at the lowest rate I will ever sell this course for. Plus, you get to have a say in what will be included in the course!

Click here to enroll today at a special discounted rate: $55

Did I mention, you’ll have lifetime access to the course? That means if January is crazy for you, you can watch and follow along whenever is good for you!

If you have any questions, shoot me a message back! In it with you friends. Thank you for letting me share my new venture with you. It’s my dream and prayer that this course helps you re-imagine a life that you feel empowered and excited to show up for every single day. You matter. The world needs a FULL version of you!

Imagine the Possibilities,
Erica

Click here to grab one of the 10 spots now. Early enrollment officially opens today 11/25 and goes until Monday 11/28 (or until it sells out)!

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What I am Thinking about my 40th Birthday!

November 10, 2022 By Erica Deuel 4 Comments

my 40th birthdayRecently, I was asked if turning 40 was harder or easier than turning 30. This made me pause and wonder more what I was thinking about my 40th birthday, and I am excited to put those thoughts into words with all of you.  Life is a journey and as Peter Pan says, “to live will be an awfully big adventure.” How cool I’ve now been adventuring for 40 years.

This past weekend I turned the big 4-0. We celebrated in the most low key, family way.

I don’t like surprises or having lots of eyes on me, and I just wanted to intentionally enjoy my family. The older I get, the more I want the simple things in life. It’s been the work of the last few months to get to a more sustainable, enjoyable place. The ability and gift to sit in a chair and not be wondering of what you should be doing or what needs to be done, but can rest peacefully is the hard work of coming out of an intense season.

On this birthday, I just got to play, be agenda free, and be in the moment. That was the best gift of all. To me, it showed that I had grown.

What I am thinking about my 40th birthday

handmade birthday cardsOne of the biggest lies and fears I had when closing the studio was how it felt like I was going backwards. At the time, I was being asked, messaged, and emailed regularly about how to open an art studio. I processed and responded to these requests the best I could, but I always was thinking “whoa, I’m not sure. I’m still trying”.

Inwardly, I was also processing how to shut it all down. How do you quit and go back to your roots when the world pushes forward movement, position, and sees only the good?

How I Celebrated My 40th Birthday

On my day, I threw on my Halloween costume and went outside with my family. I was present all day just being with them mentally and physically. It’s in these moments that I am continually reminded I have done the RIGHT hard work.

My head and my heart were at the same place.

This is my 40th birthdayI’m Feeling Free on This 40th Birthday

Matt has told me several times that when he’s asked how I am doing now he responds with ‘she’s the healthiest I have ever seen her’. Wow.

We’ve now been married for over 18 years. We see each other every day and go to bed together every night. For the man, who knows me most, to say that means a lot. I’ve done some hardwork to reconnect with Erica. The Erica before all the expectations and responsibilities; and as a result, it’s made me more free.

I feel more alive.

I feel more light-hearted.

I feel more playful.

I feel more energized.

I feel more confident.

I feel more available.

I feel more content.

I feel more hopeful.

Life is a journey, and I am so thankful for every road and turn that has led me to this beautiful life that I have renewed eyes to soak in the small moments and everyday gorgeous, simplicities.

To celebrate my day, I wanted to adventure with my family. We tried to do a ropes course, but as northern Indiana would have it- most were closed already for the season. We opted to do an escape room, dinner out, and a Target run to celebrate my birthday on Saturday. While we were gone, a huge tree fell in our yard. Luckily, nothing was really hurt except the door to our fence.

We woke the next day, on my actual birthday, and had a relaxed morning of donuts and the sweetest gifts-including my fresh Target haul all wrapped up (still in the Target bag :)). We then went into the yard and climbed the tree, cut the tree, burned the tree and were literally outside all day as a family.

In Moving Forwards, I am Largely Connecting with My Roots

My day was a dream day. As a kid, I always would choose to go camping or do a hike to celebrate my birthday. Being in nature is one of my happy places. I was back doing that sort of thing with my family to celebrate.

There’s something so so satisfying about burning wood. I love it. Can you relate??

I could sit at a fire and feed it things all day long, and I got to do just that. Being outside, off devices and playful with my crew made for an amazing day.

I rescued some wood slices to use in projects and Matt made them our plates, as we cooked over the fire. It was so fun, un-rushed, and relaxing.

The gift and simplicity of a fun day to remember is what my heart longs for now.

Simple Gifts on my birthdayIn conclusion, turning 40 was much easier than turning 30. My 30’s were all about growing the life I now get to live. I grew kids, we fostered other kids, we moved hundreds of miles, we began a new business venture,  and it was a very busy, exciting (while also exhausting) life. There was constant change.

I learned in this bridge from 39 to 40 how far I can extend myself, before I don’t feel like me. I am coming back into me, and I am here for it. I think my 40’s are going to be some of the best.

Feeling more like me is one of the best gifts.

There’s Hope in Living

If you are still in the hard years, giving your all and coming up drained, don’t give up.

There’s things you can do even now to begin a healing journey. I’ve been doing the hard work of processing my story and writing up daily habits that helped me go from overwhelm and exhaustion to a more empowered and intentional life. I can’t wait to share more, but for now…STAY IN TOUCH. In the next two weeks, I will be sharing more and have an opportunity to work with all of you. It’s more behind the scenes of my journey, but it’s really largely for helping you with yours.

My journey is not done, and wherever you are within yours, I would love to help cheer you on. We are made to do life together, with people and cheerleaders in our corner! Stay tuned and if you aren’t on my newsletter yet, jump in for this weekly goodness. This is where I will share it ALL in just a few short weeks.

Thanks for celebrating my birthday by reading this long post about where I have been, where I am now…and where we can hopefully, go together in the coming weeks. Living is an awfully, big adventure.

 

 

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