Another birthday gift

Todd's birthday party was yesterday... that post is coming soon, but I still have to get a few pics off of our phones before the photo story can be completed!

Today, Todd is at a party for one of the girls from his class. For this party, the invitation stated that it is a "$5 party" so he was to creatively wrap $5 and that was all he was allowed to give. We came up with an idea this morning to creatively turn $5 into artwork. I wonder if she will keep the coins like this, or if she will peel them all off to spend. Since the picture didn't look complete with just the $5, there is actually about $7 here, but I didn't care! Scott helped Todd make this art, and I think they did a great job!! They are attached with Stampin' Up! glue dots, which will just peel off when she wants to spend some of this money, and it is on a painting canvas, so she can technically use that again, as well.


I also thought she should have something more, and since her favourite colour is blue, I asked Todd if he wanted me to make up a tote to use as the gift bag, and then she can use that for a piano book bag, or whatever she wants to carry in it. I made it in less than an hour, just in time for the party!!

An Art Exchange

Elise requested a painting day. I felt up to doing some art, so I said sure. I had thought of doing a sailboat, but realized I actually paint better alone. I decided to paint something a little bit simpler, so I didn't have to concentrate so hard on what I was doing. This also gave me the energy to answer her thousands of questions!

When Elise suggested that whatever I painted should be given to her, and the art she came up with would be given to me... I thought that sounded like a fair trade. She, however, felt cheated because she finished TWO pieces for me, while I only completed one :)

From Elise to me:

She did this piece first. I actually got to have a lot of input into the order of colours. Although, at one point, I suggested green, and she quickly nixed that. Said it just didn't go! She's the artist, so she should know!!

The second painting reminds me of something Emily Carr might have painted. I love the colours Elise used. She had fun mixing colours for this one. Her goal was to make brown by combining different paints together. She was quite happy with the results! I think this one will get a frame.

From me to Elise:

And, here is my painting that she said she will hang in her bedroom. I used watercolours, and she chose the colours I used. They don't even come close to matching her bedroom colours, but I'm getting the vibe that she wishes her room was orange. Maybe next time I redecorate her room :) I have quite a fun little girl, and I really enjoyed our artistic morning!

Scott's Art

I don't have any of my own artwork to share today, so I thought I would show you a few of my favourite pieces of Scott's artwork from grade one. Since grade 2 starts for him in exactly a week, it seemed like a good time to show it :)

Corduroy the Bear

Thumbprint art

An Inukshuk that he made during Olympic fever!

First and last day self portraits!

My Artistic Mother

One of my favourite things about myself, I inherited from my mom... art. Here are a couple paintings she did years ago. These paintings were both in my Grandparents' home. My Grandma died just over 4 years ago, and my Grandpa died earlier this year. So, my mom got some of her artwork back when their house was sold, and I thought I'd share it with you... probably the first time she's been showcased on the Internet :)

The first one is a painting of the woods near her childhood home in Northern Ontario, when they would go and gather sap for maple syrup. My dad put a new frame on it, and it is now hanging in my parents' house.

This next one is one she did in High School, and I have just become the proud owner of it! I think it will go in our guest room.