Day 28- the most beautiful thing in the world

What is the most beautiful thing in the world? Friends. Not just any friend, true friends, friends who you can turn to for anything. In the first few weeks of course I have not made friends like that, but I have been surrounded by friends like that for a few years now. I want to hang a photo of them by my bed. And being me this photo has to be encased in a frame I designed.

To make this I had a simple wooden frame from a craft store (it was a dollar, yay!), white paint, mod podge, colored glitter (high quality, small, I used an aqua color), saying for the top, sequins, and paint brushes.
I started with putting a base coat of white paint on the frame. Then, I sprinkled the glitter on top and spread it with a paint brush. On top of this I put modge podge and more glitter. I then put sequins around the inside edge. Creating the glitter effect might sound long but is so worth it. Place your saying at the topic. And finally, put a picture of people you love in it. Enjoy!

Day 27- Usefulness

There's nothing better than being useful. So shouldn't your crafts be useful too. It is always inspiring to use something everyday that is beautiful. It makes your day seem better and fuller. So I decorated push pins and magnets.This is a project that would be great when you are feeling down and want something you can use that will make you smile. There aren't many materials needed for this project: push pins, magnets with sticky back, decorations: cool buttons, foam pieces, and stickers, and a hot glue gun with glue. This is all up to the creater. You simply glue what you want where you want. It rocks. And these are things you can use for years.

Day 26-names

Are names really that important? Are they our definers? What purpose do they serve outside of identifying us in conversations? I DON'T KNOW! But I like my name, and in a dorm full of girls who I don't know yet my name is starting to seem even more important. Because of this I decided to do something that not only tells what room I am in but makes people talk. A really decorated initial. This is simple fun project that I should have done with my roomies help, but I just made her one ooops. DO THAT DIFFERENTLY! To make them I simple went to my local craft store and got cheap pressed wood letters that are our initial. Then, I painted them and decorated them with buttons and foam shapes that described each of us. It is a simple and fun project that you should probably actually do with your roomie.

Day 24- 25: meditation

I have really needed to do things that calm my mind and let me focus on staying sane. For me that usually means mandala time. Mandalas are a form of artistic meditation. I usually color but you can also make your own. They are designed around a circle with intertwining parts. They are a symbol of the fact that all humans are intertwined. I love mandalas. Here is a link to a site that is called the mandala project that describes them more http://www.mandalaproject.org/About/Index.html. The one I am working on is in shades of blue and purple because they are calm colors and I need calm. I suggest everyone picks up a mandala and centers them self. Eventually I will frame it and hang it by my bed. Here is a link to a site with ones to print. http://www.coloringcastle.com/mandala_coloring_pages.html and another http://www.hellokids.com/r_262/coloring/mandalas-gallery-coloring-pages/.
May this help you find your center,
Sarah

Day 23- Confidence

Confidence is beautiful. Confidence is strength. Confidence is a must have. Starting college confidence. Audrey Hepburn once said, " A confident girl is a beautiful girl". Today I was inspired to make my self a collage with quotes about confidence and femininity. I think every girl should have one. I am going to hang mine on the door to my closet because it is the first thing I see every day.
To create it I used a piece of card stock as the base. Then, I decoupaged cool organic pressed paper on the bottom for the border. Next, I added paper with different quotes in cool colors with designs. I then decorated with stamps. Finally, I wrote a few personal words around what I had already done. I will refine it at some point.

Finished product.

Days 21-22- Celebrate The Moments

So these last few days have been days of celebration. Which is amazing! Life is a celebration! Birthdays, new starts, new friends, and laughter. What isn't a celebration? So these few days I have been making cards for friends. I won't post photos until I have sent the cards though. Card making is awesome. I get enjoy glitter and cool quotes. Cards are a great way to express feelings, and reach across long distances. Making cards is simple and cheap and there is endless amounts of creativity you can put in to it. There is nothing like a card in the mail saying you remembered someones personal day of celebration!

Days 19 and 20- fostering future creative moments

if you want to be inspired you have create a space that lets you be inspired, which is what my room mate and I are still working on. It is hard. Being organized in a small space is difficult. Well for me being organized is difficult. But I have realized recently that to be creative you must let your environment reflect that. Not only does your space have to reflect you, it must be a place where you can be quiet and think. Wow that is difficult and in half a room. But imagine how difficult it would be to foster your creativity when you are homeless. I don't think that I, and many others, can fully process life without moments of creativity. It is an amazing coping mechanism. That is why I have mad respect for art therapist. And this amazing organization deals specifically with assisting with creative moments for the homeless- http://www.theartprojecthouston.org/. Check it out!
In my own environment this is what I have done:

 I put chalk board stickers on my desk drawers.

Full room. It is still in the messy stages

 out the door I go!

 Different materials for common objects

 1st drawer of craft supplies

 2nd drawer