Cardboard Stampede Or: How to make a cardboard horse.

I haven't been much in the mood for anything these last few days.  Probably because I injured my knee at work this weekend, but maybe not. 

Anyway, since I have nothing new to show you, I thought I would post a really cute idea I found.  Actually, this really appeals to me and I am not much of a horse lover. 

I think this would be a lively craft to do with young children over a long time period.  You could truly get inspired as you went along.

So, without further ado, I will leave you with this lovely tutorial I found and I hope you try it!


In 2006 I started making cardboard horses. They were a self imposed assignment, a daily creative task intended to motivate and loosen me up, little experiments, paralysis prevention. My plan was to make a cardboard horse everyday, Monday through Friday until I had 100. I did and exhibited the group at Tinlark in Los Angeles  in 2007. I’ve made 3 patterns, two adults and a colt, to share and I hope you make a cardboard horse or two or three or maybe a little family or maybe your own stampede!
What you will need:
pattern
cardboard- you can use any kind – I think a medium weight is good, I’m using cardboard from a gift box.
scissors
manicure scissors
pencil
hammer and one nail
buttons
thin wire
pliers
paint and brushes, glue, paper, fabric, lace etc. – whatever you like, whatever you’ve got.
First download and print the patterns, cut out the pieces and trace them  onto your cardboard.  I like to use a pair of manicure scissors for the difficult small bits – corners etc. I included an optional tail and mane in the pattern.  I’m foregoing those for this horse and will add a tail and mane of antique lace.
(Click the images for a larger view)

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You can finish your horse with collage or fabric or pencil  – the possibilities are endless – but if you choose to paint  then paint both sides to prevent curling. I’m using latex paint for the base, adding some dapples from my water color box and some splatters of ink, you can use a stiff paint brush or old tooth brush. I used a fine sharpie pen to draw on a very simple  eye and mouth.

Next I’m adding the antique lace mane and tail using a glue stick ( or elmer’s glue if you prefer).
Once that is dry we’re ready to assemble.

Arrange the legs with the body sandwiched between and use the nail to make a hole through all three layers. You’ll need to put a piece of wood or heavy cardboard underneath to protect the surface you’re working on. Thread the wire through the button holes and then pass both strands through the legs and body. Thread both wires through a small button on the back,  pull it tight  and twist to secure and trim the extra wire with pliers. Add  another piece of wire for hanging by twisting it around the buttons. I like to give all my horses a name, this is Sebald, horse #101.

I’ve hung sebald amongst the snowflakes with horse #71 winston.
You can share your horses here if you like:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1315046@N23/
I’d love to see!

Missed my pottery class!

Cover of Shutter Island: A Novel

I actually missed my class this week.  I didn't forget about it, I simply missed it.  I had so much company from out of town-my neice and my grandsons, that I was just too tired to go.  I feel bad, but I also think I needed the rest. 

I did go to another movie this week and this time I saw "Shutter Island".  I had read the book, so the movie was a little anti-climactic.
Since I already knew the story line, I simply enjoyed the scenes.

Everybody keeps saying how they felt that this movie finally "got it right" in presenting the mentally ill, but I don't agree.  I know that in the '50s there was not much in the way of mental health treatment to be found, but I certainly don't think that patients were sent off to live on an island because of their illness.

My sister said last night that we certainly have been seeing alot of movies lately and I have to say she is right.  We have.  I don't know why, but it seems to be the thing to do right now.

My neice was here visiting and I gave her my face painting!

My neice, Molly, was here from Oklahoma to visit her mom and I.  She is a dear young woman and I love her very much.  While she was here, she helped me so much that I wanted to give her a present.  So I asked her what she wanted and she asked for my little face painting I made in my online class. 

So now my painting will be displayed at her home and I know she will be well loved and well cared for there.

In case you don't remember, here she is:

Here is a post I found on The Polka Dot Pixie and thought it was a perfect repost for Easter.  So, here it is complete with instructions and pictures to make the cutest little chick.  Make several and give them to your kids, your neighbor's kids, your grandkids, whatever.  Maybe just make some for yourself.  This is so cute!

Please visit The Polka Dot Pixie blog, too, because there are really great posts to be found there!
Happy Crafting!  Happy Easter!

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  In case anyone wanted to sculpt their own little party chick ... here is the way I made him. To begin, you will need paper clay, sculpting tools, water, a small flat paintbrush and a Styrofoam egg and ball, paper tape and 20 gauge floral wire.
Begin by twisting and shaping wire into bird feet and legs. Cover with paper tape.

Soak Styrofoam egg in water and then cover with paper clay, smoothing and shaping with your hands and paintbrush. Insert legs into bottom of egg, and pose in any fashion you choose. Indent Styrofoam ball with smooth barreled paint brush handle or a smooth barreled pencil. Shape Styrofoam to create a head shape.
Soak Styrofoam head in water and cover with paper clay forming a smooth surface with hands and brush.
To create the face, form two small balls and 2 small cone shapes. Flatten balls in to "puffy pancakes" and attach to head, one on each side, to create cheeks.
Attach cone shapes to create beak. Smooth face with paintbrush and water. Shape beak with sculpting tools and paintbrush to create a smile.
Using paper clay, create a small barrel shaped neck to attach head to body. Smooth with paintbrush and water.

Adding a wire here also adds extra strength to your piece. You can tilt the head to the side to add some personality.


Shape wings and attach to chick body with paintbrush and water.







I didn't take pics of the painting process, but I recommend that you let the chick dry for a least week before painting. I always gesso paper clay before painting with good quality acrylic paints, and finish the pieces up with a matte acrylic sealer, which is then antiqued with watered down burnt umber paint. After I attached this chick to a hand painted paper mache box, I added just a touch of glass glitter here and there to give him a little sparkle.


I hope you have fun with your creations! If you decide to make one I'd love to see the finished pics!

Here is a link to the original post

Another face started

Here's the next face in my new picture--my practice picture.  This time I tried to get lighter skin and I wanted her to resemble a flapper from the 1920's.  I have only done the first layer of her face.  She is far from finished just like her sister.  I decided that I would get all five faces started before I would start on any finishing layers.  That way I can try to give them all cohesion and unify them with my choice of napkins to add.

My second pottery class and a movie!

Image by chomiji via Flickr

Well, yesterday I attended the second class of my throwing pottery classes and I have to say that I'm really not too sure that this is my thing.  I can center the clay without any problems.  I can open the clay quite fine.  However--that's where my expertise ends.  I can not for the life of me understand or complete the steps to "pulling" the clay up to form anything!  I tried to make another cylinder (the first class) and only with the help of the instructor did I accomplish it.  I tried to make a bowl (this class) and after several tries ended up with a very questionable, small bowl shape.  I still don't know what to do with any of these things that I have done, either.  I will not give up though.  I really want to "know how to throw clay" even if I cannot do it very well.

Maybe the next class I take will be a hand building class.  Who knows?  That I do know how to do.

Now, on to the movie.  My friends--Rebecca, Andy, Dennis, Laura--and my sister all went with me to the IMAX to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D.   I really enjoyed that movie.  It was beautiful and entertaining.  I plan to see it again for sure.  Johnny Depp is great but those enlarged eyes really got to bothering me by then end of the movie.  Afterward, we all went out to eat at a Brazilian restaurant.  We really had a great time.  So, I guess I had a real PLAY DAY for the first time in my whole life!

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I've started another painting

Just getting started on this one

This one is for practice but I like it

I wanted to take a minute to post a picture of my newest painting.  It is just in the "roughing out" stage, but I wanted to have a visual of the work in progress.

I am using the long one to practice my face painting skills I learned in my online class, so it really isn't a new picture, just practice.  But I really like it so far.
The first lady's face is just  really started, there are several more layers to add, but I thought I'd show her here.  She really reminds me of ladies I have seen in old photographs from the 1800's.  I think it is because of her hair.  I'm thinking of giving each face on this page a distinct look from a specific time period.  I just don't know if I can do it, but that's what practice is for, right?

The top one is going to be really nice if I can pull it off.  One of the videos Sharon put up in our class was on how to paint skin other than for a fair skinned lady.  I hope to use her teachings here and have this lovely lady be very dark skinned.  We'll see.

I think she looks like an old photograph, don't you?

This online class has really been great and I highly recommend it.  You can still join the fun.  Visit us at All Norah's Art on Ning.  The cost is minimal and you will learn so much about painting faces with acrylic paint.  I can't wait for Sharon to come up with another class so I can take it!

I told you about my new pottery class I started last week.  Well, I found an online class that is about hand-building faces.  I can hardly wait to sign up for that one, too.