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Large Abstract Painting- enjoy the process

January 31, 2018 By Erica Deuel 2 Comments

Large Abstract Painting- enjoy the processDo you ever have natural instincts towards something, but you can’t always fully explain it until you keep learning in towards it!? Whew. That’s a bit confusing. Let me explain.

I have always loved helping people to create. I let my kids paint before they could really talk. I always viewed it as a sensory, exploratory time in letting their imaginations go. Now, that we started and run an art studio in our town it has had me lean further into my philosophy of how we run our classes and workshops. I believe in the benefits of the process. This little phrase “process art” describes a lot of what I have always acted on, but now I can explain it.

There are so many good things that happen in the art process. Kids get to explore, experiment, discover, take risks, problem solve and so much more! While all these things are happening, kids can be developing self-confidence as they make decisions and see what happens. They get to create without worrying about it being right or wrong.

I love all of it.

One day I looked at my bedroom window and realized my husband had pinned up some shirts over the window to be able to have a blackout curtain to take a nap. Well, that’s a no go! I realized we needed a curtain. I didn’t just want any curtain. I wanted a fun, colorful one. These can be expensive. In my attempt to be thrifty and reuse what we already had, I rummaged through our linen closet and found a curtain that we used in our foster care bedroom at our last house…over three years ago. It was time that thing got put to use again.

I combined my love of color + creating + process art and came up with a fun, abstract painted curtain for my bedroom. Here’s how we did it.

Large Abstract Painting- enjoy the processI love color, so I gathered my usual color scheme. I used leftover latex paint from when we painted our studio. We had a great selection of samples and colors that we had used to paint the studio’s walls. To use what I had and save money I chose to not use fabric paint. Please note: this did make my curtain more crisp and stiff.

My goal was to just make something better than a shirt being pinned up to my window. There were little expectations because I knew anything would be better than that. I laid out our old gray curtain on an old rug, poured the paint into small cups that my little artists could easily hold and move around, gave my kids paint shirts and let them have at it. My instructions were simply this, “Ok, two rules! Cover up the gray and have fun. Go!”

Large Abstract Painting- enjoy the processLarge Abstract Painting- enjoy the process

Large Abstract Painting- enjoy the processLarge Abstract Painting- enjoy the processLarge Abstract Painting- enjoy the processOh man. There were so many smiles, laughs and brainstorms as they created side by side. As they filled in the gray…

They decided they wanted to paint all the way to the edge.

They wanted to spread out the different colors.

They wanted to all work on it.

They stepped on it.

They never really stood back and analyzed it.

They just kept going.

We instantly loved it. It was so fun to stand back and just enjoy their process as they created. Sure there was the moment, where I had to scurry to wipe up the floor a bit when they walked off of their masterpiece in painted socks, but it was worth it. My kids created a piece, I couldn’t buy and it was an experience we couldn’t replicate if I hadn’t just given them the supplies and stepped back.

But, I wanted in on the fun too. I drizzled a few colors on top to make it a bit messier, and it was complete!

Large Abstract Painting- enjoy the process

Large Abstract Painting- enjoy the processLarge Abstract Painting- enjoy the processLarge Abstract Painting- enjoy the processThe hardest part of this whole project was waiting for it to dry. We might have driven back over to the studio (where we painted it) to pick it up a few hours latter…only to realize it wasn’t dry yet. We ended up letting it dry overnight and then brought our masterpiece home. My girl tried to claim it as a blanket. Haha! It would not be a very good blanket since the material was thin and now also stiff. It was the perfect curtain though.

Large Abstract Painting- enjoy the processI hung it in my room. My husband no longer needs to pin a shirt up to our window. Success! I love how the colors on the curtain add a fun pop of color to my gray walls and light colored bed quilt, yet it combines with my headboard perfectly!

Large Abstract Painting- enjoy the processWhat do you think? Do you enjoy the art process too? Would you ever try a large scale abstract process art project like this!? If you don’t want to do it or it feels intimidating, don’t do it…kids will gladly step in and make it happen for you! 😉

If the curtain is a little out of your comfort zone or style, no problem. Here are a few of my favorite kid projects that can really encourage process art:

Painting a ceramic piece (with tips on how to paint with young ones)

Empty Paint Bottle Sign

Paint a Blueprint

I hope you’re having a good week! If you try any of our projects, tag me on social media with #spoonfulproject.

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Easy Narrow Nightstand (for that small nook)

August 18, 2016 By Erica Deuel 2 Comments

DIY_narrow_nightstandThis room just makes me happy.

There is color EVERYWHERE!

I’ve never been afraid of color, but lately I am having more and more fun going bold and mixing prints and styles to create something of my own. In this room, we have handmade and store-bought. There is new and rustic. There is color and then neutrals (or a color that acts as a neutral), and somehow it all works together to create a beauty that I love.

This room’s finishing touch was actually started years ago. Let me explain.

narrow_nightstandShortly, before we moved to Indiana, I repainted an old dresser to give my J a new dresser. As I was getting ready to throw his old busted dresser out, I just couldn’t part with the drawers. It was an old really heavy, painted too many times dresser that needed to go, but the drawers seemed like good boxes. I knew I could use them for something someday. So, as we moved to Indiana, we loaded up these empty, someday project drawers to come with us. Can we say hoarder!?

It was worth it.

old_drawer_projectShortly after we moved into our new house, and started settling in, I remembered my drawers. I dug them out of the garage and gave them a fresh coat of paint. I thought if I added a few little wheels they would make awesome under the bed storage for my boys’ bedroom. This was about 18 months ago…about the time we got our pup. Who is now a full-grown German Shepard mix.

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drawerI ended up paper mache-ing some wrapping paper to the bottom of the drawer and adding new handles, but that’s where the project came to a stall.

My drawers did go under the bed, but they weren’t being used. It was more of just a new, clean place to store my someday project (rather than the garage). They sat here until a few weeks ago when a new inspiration struck. I needed a small, narrow nightstand to go between the twin beds. I wondered, “could I use one of these old drawers as a nightstand?!” I hurriedly pulled one out and placed it between the beds. The size was perfect. But since there is a vent in the same spot, the nightstand couldn’t get pushed up against the wall and be a snug fit. It fell and the lamp broke (nothing a little super glue couldn’t fix). This is where I roped in my talented husband. He added shelves to the drawer and hung it up on the wall for me. Garage_work_shop

creating_small_wood_shelves

creating_small_wall_shelves

Ryobi_nail_brad_toolHe’s a genius. He placed the shelves right above the screws from the handles so no one would get scraped reaching for something off the shelf. This was a quick project but needed some thought and calculation. He used my Ryobi Nail Brad and whipped this up much quicker than I expected.

creating_small_shelves

Ryobi_nail_bradHe cut two 14 inch long 1×2’s and attached them to the wall. These provided a sturdy hanging option for the drawer while providing a little bit of space off of the wall. He was able to sink one screw from each of the support boards into a stud in the wall. Since the drawer wasn’t wide enough to span across to studs, he used drywall anchors to attached the other screws.

hanging_a_shelfOnce the supports were in place, I helped him hold the drawer up to the wall. He used the brad nailer to quickly attach the drawer to the supports. Then, he went back and added a few screws for more support.

hanging_bedside_tableOnce my drawer was hung, I painted the shelves the same teal as the flowers on the wall for an extra punch of color. I then styled the shelves, replaced my lamp on its new sturdy base, and my nightstand was complete!

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hanging_nightstand

hanging_DIY_nightstandI love how this nightstand is narrow. It doesn’t take up a lot of space between the two beds, which allows for maximum floor space. Yet, it allows for a little lamp to be placed. This is our foster bedroom/guest room, so it is not currently in use. But now we are ready. Guests can place their phone to be charged or a bottle of water right beside their bed at night. I love it.

narrow_nightstandThis room has so many surprising fun elements from the wood chairs hanging on the wall all the way to the huge painted flower mural. Having a drawer converted to a nightstand just completes the look. Yes, it might have been cheaper to just find another drawer in Indiana rather than fill up more space in our moving truck from Georgia, but then I wouldn’t have as good of a story.

Have you repurposed anything recently!? I love to repurpose items. Turning our kitchen chairs into a bench is one of my favorite projects to date. I really loved this little dresser that had broken shelves that I turned into a fun piece too.

There are so many possibilities, if we use our imaginations! I’d love to chat with you about your projects! Find me on Instagram, @ericadeuel, and say hi!

Thank you so much for checking in! I will be back with a room round-up post full of links to the various projects soon!

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The Summer Wedding Gift Guide

June 13, 2016 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

Summer is here. With summer can come a string of wedding invites. There is something pretty special about two lives coming together to become one.

I love celebrating weddings. I went to one a few weeks ago that my husband officiated, and I was sitting there one proud wife. Weddings are special….and the new life of a couple starting a new season of together is pretty incredible. They should be celebrated. (please note: you can click any image for more details about that item)

blessed_wood_sign

In the morning, when I riseWhen it comes to gift giving, I love to give handmade gifts. I love the time the gift shows with having either made it myself, or the thoughtfulness of finding it from another small crafter that screamed “them” to me. If you really think of the couple’s taste/style and nail it, these gifts often go the distance with the couple rather than something that breaks down or loses value as style changes. These gifts show thought.

A few questions to ask yourself when considering buying a handmade item or making one as part of a wedding gift:

  1. What is their style? Funky, vintagy, simple, colorful, etc.
  2. What do they like to do? Hike, travel, camp, host parties, etc.
  3. What are they about? People, serving, traveling, landscaping, etc.

If you look at the couples gift registry, you can also get ideas for what they like. Speaking of registries, those are important too because obviously it gives you an idea of what the couple needs. That’s why I love to pair either an item from their registry with a handmade gift or a gift card to a place they registered. In this simple way, you are getting them something they need/want, yet something fun that reminds you of them. It’s like a paycheck with a bonus.

For me, signs and embroidery hoops are a few crafts that I love to use as part of my gift.

courage_wood_signIf you sew, it could be a quilt. When Matt and I got married we were given pillow cases embroidered with our initials. It was pretty special.

We had friends that were real trendy and loved to cook, so I made a memo board out of an old frame and chicken wire for their kitchen. They were able to clip recipes, shopping lists, and anything else to it.

You could paint a flower pot for their new home with the house number on it.

You could get a mug made with one of their first pictures on it and pair it with coffee items on the registry.

There are so many possibilities! Use your imagination and think of the couple. Summer nights are a great time to create a gift. But let’s be honest, sometimes you love the couple, have great intentions to be crafty, but things get busy and life happens. If you need a few quick ideas for a gift, there may just be a few in my shop. Click any image to be directed to more details about that item.

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love_is_patientHappy wedding season! Marriage can be hard. Celebrating the wedding day is amazing…but continuing to celebrate and nourish their love way past the wedding day is way more important than one day in the scheme of a lifetime. May we all have eyes to encourage those young and old marriages around us. Marriage is a gift!

Vincent Van Gogh Card

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Rainbow Craft for the Little Ones

April 28, 2015 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

rainbow_kids_craftColor can move us. It is a reason why it is so hard to pick paint colors for rooms. We want to pick a color that inspires us and creates a certain mood. Rainbows contain so many colors and they all fuze together to be beautiful. It is my Reagan’s favorite color. She might occasionally say purple or pink, but if there is a rainbow option…she picks it. It might be a popsicle. It might be a shirt. It might even be a pair of shoes.

We are always looking for fun little seasonal crafts to do as part of our homeschool day, and the other day we had a play date and this little craft was the perfect one. Making these rainbows incorporated so many elements: painting, cutting, and even sorting.

The first step was to staple a paper plate in half. I then let the kids paint the plate as a rainbow.

rainbow_craftWhile the rainbows were drying I broke out my ribbon stash. I wanted these rainbows to kind of have a wind chime or dream catcher feel, so what better way than to add some more textures to them!?

I love ribbon and have collected it for a while. I often use it in projects, but I find myself buying it even without a specific project. It was time to let some go.

The kids were so excited to dig through and find different pieces/colors that they liked. I showed how each piece could be a slightly different length and let them just start cutting.

ribbon

ribbon_craftAs well as having pieces of ribbon cut for their rainbows, they were also making ninja masks. It was quite fun to watch them enjoy and be inspired.

kid_ribbon_craftOnce they all had a good pile of cut ribbons, I had them line them up in the order they wanted. I then hot glued them in place while also adding a little loop at the top so they can easily be hung.

kids_DIY_wall_artThey turned out so cute! The kids were so excited about them.

rainbow_activityWe hung the boys’ rainbows where we do school, but my little Reagan wanted hers to hang right above her bed! I now ask her every morning if she had rainbow dreams.

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kids_spring_craftThis was such a fun little craft. I love seeing their art around our home!

If you are interested in other pieces of these rooms, you can find more information here…

Feather Wind Chime

School Desk

Fabric Bunting

Rainbow Dash Decal

Stenciled Purple Wall

Do you have a thing for color too or are a rainbow fan? I hope you get a chance to create with your little ones this week! It just might make their day AND yours!

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