Do Epic Shit!

For some this statement might be a little too bold or distasteful but I have to say it is my motto this year. I have always known I was meant to do something great I just didn't know what. I believe I've found what I'm meant to do. The reason I pay it forward every chance I get is I am hoping that one day if I ever need help someone will pay it forward to me when I need it. Plus it's just the right thing to do.  I grew up very poor. When I say poor in sure you thought yadda yadda we all think we grew up poor. But let me tell you there were days we had absolutely no food. There wasn't any in site and somehow we made it. 

I wasn't the richest kid growing up and I'm by no means rich right now. I am rich in love and friendship and that's all that matters. I believe I have way more than I "need". I want to be able to help people in need. Here is my vision: (follow me here) I want to be able to provide our kindness and generosity to women who are homeless and have been batered. If they are just simply having a rough patch, yep I wanna help. It's not limited to women we can help men and children also. As a nurse I see so many kids with terminal illness and nothing to do. Maybe we can provide him with an art kit that he doodles on while getting chemo or in the hospital. 

With all of that being said I have 3 other magnificent ladies that have joined with me. We need all of the help we can get. Please contact me if you are interested. It could be something as small as sending an old box of crayons, paper, glue, scissor. Anytjing you can donate will make someone else's day. I also need you ladies to keep you eyes open and ears to the ground for people that might need something. Let me know and we can get rolling.

Thank you so much for taking this journey with me. I am blown awa everyday at how generous you all are.

Love,

Tina

Happy Monday!

I felt like this post summed up my feelings the past few days. I am sure we all understand.

I found out tonight that my daughters best friends mom has had to start aggressive chemo. It just makes me so sad. Morgan and her friend are handling it very well. Morgan told me earlier that Nicole is doing great with the news and I asked why she said that. She then proceeds to tell me how she would be freaking out if it was her mom. Kids just grow up too quickly nowadays. I know I have talked about my injury and pain a lot but this out things in perspective. I'm blessed it's only my back and that I don't have to have "that" talk with my kids. Life is just so precious and short.

On that note I want to bring up that I have had a few members from our group that felt another group member was being rude to them. I read the post and agreed that what was said was uncalled for. Please remember that this group is for us all to share our live of art and life. We are blessed to have it. Not everyone is going to agree with your beliefs. I ask that each one of you remember that, that is the great thing about art. It doesn't matter if your religious, liberal,republican, gay or just plain boring. Your personal beliefs are just that personal and not meant to be pushed on others. Art is created out of imagination and love. Share your art not your belief or judgement of others. 

We are embarking on a new journey of possibly opening a nonprofit group to pay it forward with our art. I will share more details as it develops. It's a lengthy process and will take me some time. In the meantime we are going to keep paying it forward as we have been it with a new twist. We are working with a women's shelter to provide art gifts for therapy for the women at the shelter. 

If you know if anyone at all that needs something even if it's just a pick me up please let us know. 

Enough for now. Keep creating art and sharing it and your friendship with all of us..

Hugs,

Tina

Birds and Blooms

Hello friends,

I am so thankful we have this group and blog in order to spread the word and love of our group. We currently have 5 separate ladies working with homeless women and a mother in need. This is truly the work I feel I should be doing. I am reminded each day now that there are wonderful people just like myself that just want to share with others our love of art and life. If you ever know anyone in need please privately message me and I'll see what we can do.

Aprils Art Mail swap's theme has been decided. BIRDS AND BLOOM! Anything to do with birds, blooms and spring is fair game. This is right up my alley. I am going to start now and try to make every one of our members something even if it is small.

Thank you for all you do. Please remember to invite new members everyday so we can continue to grow.

Tina

Happy mail swap changes

We are making some changes to how we do our mail swaps. 

1. Under the files tab the swaps will be separated by month. This is the list where people sign up that want to participate in that months swap.

2. There will be a sign up cut off date. This will be March 15th for the April swap. This gives everyone time to start working on their happy mail.

3. Your addresses need to be listed under the mail swap address file. If you can't edit the document let me know an I will add your info for you.

NEXT- if you know anyone in need please let us know. We have a wonderful group that loves to help and you would be amazed at what we can make happen for anyone in need. 

Thank you for all being so kind!

Love,

Tina

It's been one of those day azz

Today has been one of those days. Keep your heads up my friends. Please invite all of your other friend on here. We are growing. We also have some very special Ladies that help behind the scene and they are Cher, Patti and  Valerie. Thank you for all of your help.

Now is the time to tell me if you don't have a march swap partner or need one. 

TTFN,

Tina

Hello For the Love of Art Friends (the name is still up for debate),

I really wasn't expecting to have to change the name of our group so I'm not taking the name change lightly. I am trying to take my time and give us a name that will last and make us unique and stand out.  I will make a decision and announce it tomorrow.

How is the happy mail swap going? Did anyone not get mail in February? I have a few extra packets put together if not. Next month will be here before we know it.

If you get a chance check out the for sale section. A couple of our artists have art and stencils for sale.  Just looking and giving feedback is greatly appreciated. I have been selling custom journals and I know I appreciate the feedback.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Tina

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Happy-Birthday-Colin/310060645683253

This a request from a great friend with a big heart.

Hi ladies... Can we all go to Happy Birthday Colin. It's a page on fb.. please read the story about this child who is bullied everyday and made to feel unliked and unwelcome... His mom is asking people to send him a birthday card. It is a movement that is sweeping the Nation!!! I think that that ALL of the ladies that are a member of this group have huge caring hearts... Please join me in sending Colin a birthday card before his birthday on March 9th... The address is:
Colin 
P.O. Box 756
Richland, NO 
49083-0756

Lets make this little boys birthday! 

Tina

Do what you love and love what you do...

I have to give credit that this beautiful picture was the amazing Robin Mead. Please check her work out. If I could I would have it everywhere in my house. Her colors are so beautiful and rich.  You can find her shop here:  www.robinmeaddesigns.com

I finished my first journal today. I wasn't for sure how I would feel about it but it turned out to be fun and just made my day. I actually sold it 10 mins after posting the pictures so that made me even happier. I want to be able to customize the inside to look exactly like what the buyer requests. Hey- a girls gotta dream. Maybe I will get as good as Robin Mead and then there will be no stopping me. :)

I am more thankful everyday for this group and have met some of my soul sisters here. I hope that you feel the same way. If so, it's all worth it in the end. As Cher told me tonight "Do what you love and love what you do!"

Tina

Look For the Rainbow...

Happy Monday my friends...

So much has happened over the past three days. I don't really know where to begin or if I should even rehash it but I feel compelled to say this much. Our group is a group that welcomes any and all artists. Your art, no matter what it is, is appreciated by most here. I hope that everyone feels comfortable in posting and sharing with us. I want to say thank you to all of the members that have pulled together to make it a wonderful community and always have a positive and encouraging words.

If there is anyway I can make this a more nurturing environment I am always open to suggestions. If you want to see something just let me know. I will do what I can to make sure this happens.

This weeks topic for discussion is Modgepodge/Gesso/Primers.. What are they? When do you use one and not the other? Can we make our own? I found this quick blurb on the difference. http://painting.about.com/od/artglossaryp/g/defprimer.htm

Have a great week my friends.

Tina

Those who make you happy

Happy Saturday Friends,

Week 7's challenge is up and it looks like it's going to be great. I have so many ideas and refuse to let myself start until I think about it for a little while. I am like a kid with severe ADHD when it comes to my ideas and art. Sometimes I start a project and then think of something that would have been better two days later.

I am taking the class finally that DLP offers. I signed up today so I am waiting for their approval to join and start. I will let everyone know what I think about it when I finish. I feel its ironic I'm taking this 7 weeks in.. I told you ADHD... I couldn't wait to get started with my journal.

I want to remind everyone to go back and send me your addresses for the first giveaway. I have some great goodies I would love to share.

Last but not least I want to thank each and every one of you for joining this great group. In the first week we have 119 members. I feel very blessed that like minded friends now have a place to come together and visit, share love and laughs along with some art education. Don't forget to add pictures of your art this week.

I know most people enjoy Sunday's with their families so I will not be posting a blog on Sundays for this reason. Enjoy your family and friends and you will hear form me again on Monday.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

March's Swap Details

Hello everyone,

There have been a lot of questions about our March swap so I thought I would give you some details. Please remember this is totally up to you and you do not have to do what I say. I am just making suggestions. I want to make sure everyone gets something so if life interferes (which we all know can happen) just let me know and I will send mail in your place. 

Theme: Everything and anything Green
Cost: There is not price that must be spent. Whatever you can afford send. 
Buddies: Everyone was assigned 2 buddies just to make sure everyone got something. If you want to do more feel free. 
When: Start mailing on March 1st and can continue through the month of March.

Message me if you have any questions. 

Tina 

Our first giveaway!

This group is for all of us to share our love for art. If there is something you would like to see just let me now. Please spread the word and get our group name out there. The more people we have the more knowledge we will have. 

This weeks topic for discussion has been Geli plates and prints. Thank you to everyone that posts links for everyone to watch and learn from. The weekly themes will switch out on Saturdays. Next weeks topic is going to be PAINT OF ALL KINDS, techniques, tips, and tricks. We will be covering gel paints, acrylic, watercolor and any other type we have questions about. 

Please keep in mind that just because we have covered the topic once doesn't mean it's gone forever. It will come back up. May we then choose to just discuss a specific type. I think it's better to start broad and narrow it down as we go. Don't forget to add your ideas/topics to the list. If you can't edit it just PM me or Patti.

I have had some questions on our happy mail swap and the reason we assigned people was to make sure everyone got something fun in the mail. I am by no means telling you what you have to do. If you can't get to your happy mail for some reason such as life just let me know and I will have extras ready to go. 

I want to encourage everyone to post pictures on our page of your art. Any and all kinds are welcome. I am going to be making an album per month. If you can add them there, if not just add them to the timeline. Posting to the month album will help keep our page organized.

Finally we have our first give away. I'm starting small but we could really give away any type of art supplies. The ways you put in for this will change from week to week. Some will be very specific and other random. Maybe I will have my daughter pick best stick figure drawing one week or something along those lines.  This week we are going to be giving away a sheet of stickers to the first 3 people that like and comment on our blog. Also if you can donate to the giveaway supplies any help is appreciated. It can be that is related to art. I hope to give people the chance to work with something they don't have. 

Best regards,

Tina

Our Second Day...

We have officially made it through day two. As some of you might have already seen an Admin form DLP messaged me and said their group focuses purely on the projects and that she is sending members to us that have ideas. One member suggested a small art supplies swap. Such as sample paints, stickers, different pen, pencil or marker. I think it's a great idea I just don't have the specifics worked out just yet. 

I do know however I am going to be doing a bi-weekly give away to one of our members. I was thinking about weekly but it just seemed a little much. The giveaway will be art related and will hopefully help some of us get products we wouldn't have in our home. 

The Happy Mail swap is on it's way. Our theme for March is Green. I have assigned everyone 2 partners to swap with. If I missed someone just message me and let me know. I want to make sure everyone gets something to make them smile. I am working on any and everything green. Doodles, paper, stickers etc. 

We are taking ideas on topics to dive into ever week. Feel free to find that document and add your ideas. If you can't find it just PM me and I will do it for you. 

This group is a beautiful work in progress. Don't for get to post pictures of your art and ask a ton of question.

 Happy Wednesday my friends! Remember to Choose Happiness. 

Tina

Welcome to For the Love of Art Swap Blog

I recently decided to join the Document Life Project which in a sense was an art journal throughout the entire year. Now keep in mind I hadn't done art since I was junior in high school but always loved it. I was never really good at it but the older I have gotten I realizes it's not about how good you are but the fun you have making it. Yesterday we unfortunately had a member express her opinion that when we asked questions, talked about mail art swapping or our heath was us being disrespectful to the group. Because of this I decided to open a group where we can discuss and talk about all things that are art related and positive. 

So far these are some of the things we will be doing.

• Happy Mail Swap- We will have our members give us ideas on what they would like to swap each month. I mean whats better than getting beautiful happy mail. 
• Topics list- Members are encouraged to let us know what they want to hear or learn about. I am keeping the list and will make sure that we cover each and every topic. We will be posting links and blogs to help the visual learners like myself. 
• Sale/Swap Board- I personally have tons of art supplies I no longer use so we will have a sale/swap board. You can post items you are looking to sale and swap along with a price. It is up to you to negotiate the deal and transfer of money. We are simply offering a forum for you to be able to post it on.

I will also be doing a blog for our group. Lord help me since this is the first blog I have ever done. I want to document how beautiful each and every one of you are. I have seen so many kind gestures and kind words flow the past couple of days. These should be acknowledge. 

My goal with this is to be able to discuss anything we want about art using any tools we can provide. Not everyone is as financially blessed as some so e will make sure everyone is able to get what they need in order to participate in the great group. Please let me know of any ways you can think of to improve our group. REMEMBER this group is word of mouth so please spread the word and invite as many people as you can. There is so much knowledge amongst all of us.

Please understand up front that these things will not be tolerated and the member will be immediately kicked off if any of those occur:

• Negative comments
• Bullying
• Making fun of anyone, artwork or questions anyone might ask.

Give me your feedback and let me know your thoughts. That is how we are going to ensure the success of this is to make sure it is meeting everyone needs. 

Best regards,

Tina Canupp