Show Your Creativity with These Graduation Invitations

Students everywhere are looking forward to graduation, and now is the time to be thinking about invitations. As I read through this, I couldn't help but think that it sounds like a great option for creating some personalized invitations you're sure to love:

One of the most wonderful things we can do in life is to be creative. Connecting to our creative sides helps us reconnect with our inner child and can help us feel renewed. Creating and designing is exciting and fulfilling. Our minds are stimulated and engaged. When we have finished designing something, we feel ready to turn our attention to our less creative and inspiring to-do lists again.

It can be difficult to find time to be creative, however. A few weeks ago, I had to help a friend start preparing for her college graduation. It was a very stressful time for both of us. I had graduated the semester before and was frantically looking for a job to pay the bills. My friend had finals and projects to work on. She also really wanted to send out graduation invitations. Initially, I didn’t think this would be a good idea. We were both stressed to the max, and I didn’t think we could find the time to take photos and design invitations.

My friend was adamant, however, and we found a way. One of our friends is majoring in photography, and she agreed to take pictures of my friend for free. It was great going out and shooting the photos. We both felt a huge rush of relief being outside and just having fun.

Then we had to find a stationery company to print our cards. We looked at dozens of websites, but we finally settled on Basic Invite. My friend and I really liked their simple graduation invitations. They are pretty and elegant, and they match my friend’s personality really well. Searching through all of Basic Invite’s graduation announcements was another great way for my friend and me to relax.

Once we chose the invite (the Gemstone Grad Graduation Announcements, above, for those of you who were wondering) we got to the fun part. Basic Invite lets you customize your invitations. You can choose the colors you want your invites to be, from blue to red to yellow, and anything in between. Many of their invitations even have foil options. All of their foil is available in either gold, silver, or rose gold. You can also choose if you want your foil to be raised or not.

Designing the invitations was a joy. It felt great to let our imaginations run wild and come up with the craziest color combos. We had trouble deciding between a couple different color combinations, so we decided to have Basic Invite print out a few samples to help us come to a decision. The samples arrived in the mail a few days later, and we were able to decide which one looked better IRL and chose the paper quality we liked best.

Once we settled on the color scheme, we went to print our order. Basic Invite has over 40 different envelope colors to choose from, and we were able to choose envelopes that matched my friend’s invites perfectly. We also took advantage of their address capturing service. My friend shared a link to her Facebook and Instagram profiles and had all her friends and family input their addresses. Their info was saved on my friend’s Basic Invite account. We selected the option to upload the addresses to the envelopes, and just like that, the hardest part of sending out announcements was finished. And, the envelopes are peel and seal, so we didn’t have to worry about eating gross envelope glue when we mailed the invites out.

If simple grad invites aren’t your thing, you might take a look at some rustic graduation invitations or these Hollywood graduation invitations. Our photography major friend can’t wait to use those when she graduates next year!

 

For anyone who needs invitations printed out, but doesn’t feel like they have the time, I really recommend Basic Invite. I think taking the time out of your day to do something both productive and creative will be a big help to you emotionally. You’ll feel better after creating something unique and beautiful, and if you need to get invites anyway, you might as well kill two birds with one stone, right? I hope you can reconnect with yourself and knock something off your to-do list by grabbing a few invitations from Basic Invite. You won’t regret it.


Right now Basic Invite is offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51

Doodle for Google

I love this! I always love seeing the artwork submitted for the Doodle for Google contest every year. There are some really talented kids out there! This video shows a bit of what it looked like when the finalists got to visit Google and interact with the Google artists. And they worked with the winner to add animation to her doodle. Visit Google today to see it.


To find out how to your student can enter this year's contest, be sure to visit Doodle for Google. The theme is "When I grow up, I hope..."  and the deadline for entries is March 18, 2019 8:00pm Pacific Time (PT).

What is Art?

I don't tend to think of myself as artistic. People who can take pen, pencil, paints, canvas, or other art material and create something that other people can see the beauty in, those people are artists. People who can sing, perform Shakespeare in front of an audience, write poetry, crochet blankets, make jewelry, or knit a sweater are artists.

The first definition of art on dictionary.com is:

the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.

"Of more than ordinary significance" I like that. Art should lift us above our daily existence and show us something special.  It's possibly the best way to share how we see, hear, feel, or otherwise experience the world in a way that others can (hopefully) understand.

And this is where I think, "But I'm not an artist!" I have some very talented people in my family, people who draw and paint, write poetry, and play music. I have a very talented son who can make Shakespeare understandable. I love to watch him on stage! And my daughter can crochet an amazing blanket in an unbelievably short amount of time. I have absolutely no idea how she can take a bunch of string (yarn) and create such gorgeous things. I'm not sure where my kids got their artistic talents, because their dad and I have none of that. It must have skipped a generation and come from their grandparents, though that doesn't explain my musically talented brother and the serious photography skills of my youngest brother. (I'm sure my other brother has some great skills with that truck he drives, but I'm not sure that's art. Or is it?)

Another definition under 'art' on dictionary.com reads:

the principles or methods governing any craft or branch of learning: the art of baking;

So truck driving absolutely can be an art. We already know that it takes some serious skill, and most of us would never dream of driving one of those big trucks, let alone trying to back one up. In fact, I know a truck driver who does not back up. She lets her partner and husband do that. But she's very skilled in all kinds of other artistic things.

But let's get back to that last definition of art and the example used - "the art of baking" - I bake! And I cook. And apparently that can be viewed as an art. Which would mean that I am artistic after all. I may not be able to take a blank canvas and create something you'd want to hang on your walls, but I can definitely create something you'll want in your belly!

It's not quite the same as this video I saw on Facebook the other day, but in a way it is. The artist takes the sounds she hears, and sees as colors, and creates gorgeous pictures. I can usually read a recipe and know what it's going to taste like before I've even tried it, which is why I'm always changing recipes instead of actually following them. They're more like guidelines, anyway.


So now that I know I actually am artistic, what am I going to do? Oh yeah - feed people!

What will you do with your artistic skills?

Doodle 4 Google Voting Open

I love this every year. Young people are given a theme - this year it's "what I see for the future" -, and they design a Google doodle. These kids are crazy creative!

Judges have selected State and Territory finalists, and public voting is now open to choose five National Finalists. Check out the gallery of submissions and cast your vote before March 6, 2017 at 5:00 pm EST.  Click on the doodles to learn more about the artists' visions of the future and vote for your favorite.

That is easier said than done. I just looked through all of them, and I'm not sure I can actually pick a favorite. There are lots of good ones. Like I said, these kids are crazy creative!

Be sure to check all the doodles out and let me know which one(s) you like best!

Make it a Brighter Year

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Astrobrights Papers by Neenah Paper for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I bet you've noticed that Back-to-School supplies are already in the stores, and I also bet the kids are not to0 happy to see them.  Like one little guy said on the news, "School's not ready for me yet; it's summer."
But soon it will be time to go back to school, and there's just something special about getting all those brand-new school supplies - whether the kids want to admit it or not.  To make it even more fun, try buying some AstroBrights Paper this year.  AstroBrights Papers come in 23 bright colors, and they're sure to make any school project stand out from the crowd.   AstroBrights is about creativity and getting noticed, and the kids may find themselves itching to get back to school so they can start using it.  There are so many possibilities - Summer vacation scrapbooks, book reports, art projects, etc.  Moms can even get involved by creating an after-school chore chart using AstroBrights.  I wonder if that will make the kids more apt to do their chores without complaining?  Probably not, but at least it will look good hanging on the wall or refrigerator.
 
AstroBrights is also giving you a chance to support your local elementary school by entering the "Give a Brighter Year" sweepstakes. You can win a cash prize and school supplies valued at $30,000 for the school of your choice.  If you've got kids in school you probably know that teachers often buy a lot of school supplies for their classrooms out of their own pockets, so this prize would be so great for your school.  Even if you don't have kids in school, please consider entering for your local elementary school.  They would very much appreciate it, and you could be helping the future leaders of your community.  At the very least, you'll be helping to encourage creativity and a love of learning - and that's a good thing.  To enter, visit the AstroBrights papers Facebook page and click on the "Give a Brighter Year" tab.  You'll have to Like the page and use the Sweepstakes app to enter your info.  Sweepstakes ends on September 10, 2012 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. and is open to legal residents of 50 U.S./D.C. and Canada (excluding Quebec).
 
For some fun - and prizes - be sure to check out the "Make Something Astrobright" design challenges on the Facebook page.  The current challenge is to find something amazing that could be made even better by using  AstroBrights papers, and there are new challenges coming on July 30, August 13, and August 27.  You could win a Visa gift card, and at the very least you get to make something.  I'm not even artistic or crafty, and they've got me wanting to make something!  If you create something awesome, be sure to enter the contest and use the hashtag #goastrobrights when you share it on Twitter, Pinterest, or other social channels.  Be sure to share with me, too because I'd love to see it!  And, yes, you can search that hashtag on twitter or hang out on the AstroBrights Facebook page for ideas and inspiration.
So what are you doing?

1. Buying AstroBrights papers when you do your Back-to-School shopping.
2. Entering the "Give a Brighter Year" sweepstakes for your local elementary school.
3. Making something awesome and bright for the "Make Something Astrobright" design challenges.

Now, go!!  (Good Luck to you and your school)

Financial Literacy Poster Contest

Did you know financial experts agree that starting early in life is one of the keys to later financial success?

In an effort to increase interest in financial literacy to our nation’s youth, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) is once again sponsoring the 2011 Be Money-Wise National Financial Literacy Poster Contest and has chosen “Be a $uperhero! $ave Money!” as this year’s theme. The contest is a great way to get young students thinking about how to manage money effectively, and offers them a creative outlet to demonstrate their knowledge. The contest also provides the opportunity for local and national recognition for student artwork, and rewards the winners with US savings bonds as well as other prizes!

Do you have a child or children in mind that you feel has the talent and creativity to win? All school-aged children in grades 3-12 are eligible to enter with local and national winners to be chosen from each of three grade categories. Students from public, private, and home-schools are welcome. Entries will be judged by expression of the theme (above), artistic style, creativity, and must be submitted through an NFCC Member Agency for judging. *The submission deadline for poster entries is in February 2011, varying by each specific member agency.

National finalists will be judged in Washington, DC in mid-March and placed in contention for three national awards, one per each of the three grade categories. An overall national winner will then be chosen from the three category winners. The winner will be presented with the national award plaque as well as a $500 savings bond during Financial Literacy Month in Washington, DC at the JumpStart Coalition’s Annual Awards Dinner in April!

Visit www.moneywisepostercontest.org to find rules, entry forms, and submission details.

Think Before You Ink

Did you know there's a site dedicated to the Ugliest Tattoos?  I just checked it out, and there are some crazy tattoos on there.  They leave you shaking your head and wondering what those people were thinking.  Or if they were thinking at all.  Also, you'd think the tattoo artists would have said, "No, Buddy, that's a really bad idea." and refused to do it.  But then, they gotta make a living, even if it means bad art.  Someday, these people will be using a lot of tattoo removal cream or getting laser treatments to remove that ugly 'art'work.

So, save yourself some trouble.  If you think you want a tattoo, make sure you think about it long and hard and make sure you love it.  Make sure it's something you will love for a very long time.  And, if you're known to change your mind a lot, stick with the temporary tattoos.

Venetian Carnival Masks

If I asked you where to buy Venetian carnival masks, would you know?  You know the type of masks I'm talking about, beautiful masks once worn in Venice society by noblemen and servants - to keep their identities and activities hidden.  When you think about it, I'm surprised more celebrities don't wear these.  The paparazzi might still be able to take their pictures, but it would be hard to prove who's actually behind that mask.

OK, just a thought.  Maybe nobody still wears these masks while going about their daily business, but they are recognized for their beauty and craftsmanship and are collected for use and display by people who appreciate fine art the world over. And they are still worn during the world famous Carnivale in Venice.

Whatever style of  Venetian Face Masks you're interested in - Bauta, Columbine, Medico Della Peste, or Moretta - you can find them all at 1001 Venetian Masks. Each mask is hand selected and made by Master Artisans and is 100% authentic – no imitations.  1001 Venetian Masks is a family owned business, providing a great selection of Venetian masks and exceptional customer service.  Please be sure to check them out.  These masks are gorgeous!

The Artist

There were 6 different pieces of artwork on the fronts of the graduation programs this past Sunday.  Two of those 6 (1/3 of the artwork) were done by our very own Cory.  Yep, he's awesome.
 

The artist wants you to know:

These two pieces are a type of art called Print-making, which is actually one of my LEAST favourite projects out of the year. The type of Print-making we do is relatively simple, we're handed a linoleum tile and we carve away. The Glee stamp, titled "By Definition" is this form of Print-making. I carved all of the whites out leaving a LOT of area. You then put ink on the tile and stick it on a piece of paper. Which leaves you with an image. The other Piece is a style of Print-making I wasn't familiar with. it's called "Reduction Print-making" which is Print-making in layers. I had to carve the stamp in layers, taking the whites out first and then as i went on, I had to carve more and more. I ended up with four layers of ink on this piece, and it requires quite a bit of brain power. But I think it looks quite like a Converse, don't you? This print was named "Canvas". My head actually hurt when working on this. But they both turned out quite well and the art teacher told me to go have them printed on the programs, so I did. Luckily these weren't all Inked by me. Gotta love school copiers. ~Cory

Cory's Shoes

Practically from the time he bought these white Converse, Cory has wanted to paint them. Tonight he did it, and they turned out AWESOME:

The boy is so talented and creative! And now he has these one-of-a-kind shoes.

Teen Writers

I was checking out the list of free stuff tonight and came across this site.  The offer is for a free issue of Teen Ink.  It's a magazine entirely written by teens and distributed to thousands of schools nationwide.  Students can also submit their own work - creative writing, art, or photography - for free.  Cory took a creative writing class in school this year, and the class put together a book of their work, which is really neat.  This looks like the same idea, only better.

I'm not sure my request for the print magazine went through or not, because I kept getting an error message.  It looks like there is plenty to see on the Teen Ink website, though, and I'd like to go back and read some of it.  And maybe see if Cory wants to submit some of his work.

Worth Mentioning

Cory finished his clay unit in art and brought home all the stuff he made. One of the things he made, consisting of several pieces, was a 'dinnerware' set. It turned out really pretty, all blue and orange - not exactly Illini colors, but at least the right colors. When Beth saw it she really liked it, and Cory told her that he had made it for her, and she could have it if she wanted. She got all excited, and she even hugged him.

Siblings, they may like to fight over sharing bath fixtures and just generally everything, but every once in a while they surprise you.

Clay and HTML

Check out this cute little creature Cory made from clay tonight. He's not sure what it is, but it is cute, isn't it? It almost makes me want to try making something from clay...

As I was inserting the picture here I remembered that Cory wanted me to show him how to insert an image with html. But he was busy playing with clay and forgot to remind me. He's taking a web page design class this semester, but the teacher really doesn't teach them much. So he figures if he's going to learn anything, I'll have to teach him.

I know how to insert images, create links like this one to Westgate, make lists, insert lines, and all kinds of other stuff with html. It's really not difficult, and the teacher could teach them all that in the first week or two of class - and then use the rest of the semester to learn even more. It won't happen though. It's more like a study hall for credit. With computers.

St. Augustine Artwalk

America's oldest city certainly doesn't sit back on her laurels and enjoy old age. She's got it goin' on. The first weekend of every month in St. Augustine, Florida is all about music and art. It's the First Friday Weekend Art Walk, and it's FREE. From 5-9pm, the art galleries offer free self-guided tours of their exhibits. Admission is free. Parking is free, and the St. Augustine Sightseeing Trains and Old Town Trolleys offer complimentary shuttle service to most of the galleries.

Due to the cold weather setting in here in Wisconsin, my first attraction to the St. Augustine Artwalk was that it is in Florida, where it's warm. But then I started visiting some of the web pages of featured St. Augustine artists to see what kind of artwork will be on display. This is some nice artwork. No, I don't really understand art. I just know what I like to look at, and this sounds like it would be a great way to check out some artwork in a fun and relaxed setting. With over 20 galleries participating, you can enjoy not only the latest exhibits, but also music, entertainment and refreshments.

Did I mention that it's FREE?

Art My Way

For my son, Cory - the musical and the artistic one in the family.

I just went to ArtMyWay.com and created this image. It was easy. They have several different categories to browse. Once you find the artwork you like, simply personalize it by adding your own words. Their artists have already figured out which font looks best and how many letters will fit in the space, so all you have to do is type it in and 'update the art' to see how it will look. Once you are happy with the way it looks, you can share it on your blog, email it to your friends, or even order framed prints that you can hang on the wall. I'm going to use this one to leave a comment over on Cory's MySpace page. I think he'll like it. Of course, since he's way more creative than I am, he'll probably be able to come up with some even better personalized artwork. Seriously, I'm looking forward to what he creates.

Creating an account on ArtMyWay.com is free. You can use their artwork or upload your own.