Aloha Friday - Art

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday! Every Friday (well, ok, almost every Friday) I ask a simple question--nothing that requires a lengthy response. 

Here's my question...

Tell me about one painting, artwork, sculpture, figurine, or other work of art in your home?  When/how did you get it?  Why do you like it (or, if you don't like it...why do you keep it around)?

Please leave your answer in a comment below.  And, if you have a blog and would like to post your own question you can leave your link at An Island Life.

COUPONS

Save on items from my shop with the following coupons:

AT MY CAFEPRESS SHOP*
$10 Off orders of $50 or more
Use coupon code PICNICRED
Expires August 5, 2010




AT MY ZAZZLE SHOP* 
15% Off T-Shirts
Coupon Code: BTSRULESHIRT 
Through August 8, 2010

12% Off Business Cards
Coupon Code: BIZCARDNOW10
Through September 30, 2010

10% Off Invitations
Coupon Code: INVITATION10
Through September 30, 2010

15% Off 2 Or More Posters
Coupon Code: 15OFMYPOSTER
Through September 30, 2010

10% 2 Or More Mugs
Coupon Code: MUGDEALFORME
Through September 30, 2010

 ----

*DETAILS
These offers can't be combined with other offers or volume discounts.

CafePress offer Excludes CafePress marketplace purchases (e.g. all products added to cart from URLs beginning with the following (i) http://shop.cafepress.com, (ii) http://t-shirts.cafepress.com and/or (iii) http://www.cafepress.com/sk/), gift certificates, Flip Minos, CafePress Groups and bulk orders.

Define ART

Scoutie Girl, a blog I just discovered, had an interesting question they were throwing out to artists and crafters.  "Let me know how you define handmade versus homemade – or any other this versus that you’re passionate about."

This is an interesting question because  defining the products I sell has been a difficult process for me--and not one I've worked out completely.   The actual physical products I sell through CafePress and Zazzle and Printfection can hardly be considered hand-made OR homemade.  I don't silk-screen the shirts myself, I don't hand-kiln the mugs and tiles, and the posters are prints, not originals. 

But the designs are MINE.  They are made by me...the result of my own creativity.  So, am I, and all the other many artists who print through Zazzle, CafePress, Spreadshirt and all the other PODS part of the indie world or not? 

This comes up most often when I'm trying to find places to advertise.  This listing is for "independent artist."  Do I count?  At some indie listings my shop has received a welcome, at others it's been denied.  I sometimes feel like I'm sitting on the fringes of the indie and corporate world, with my feet dangling on both sides.

And is this art, what I do?  That's another "this versus that" question that comes up in my mind often.  My Scribbleprints started at doodling (which is art, in some sense...my children's paintings and even my toddlers scribblings are art in their own way), and worked their way into something I'd call art without question.  But my humorous designs are a different story.  The pure font designs certainly aren't.   (Yes, words can be art...but these are just typed in a graphics program, not calligraphy).   Even the humorous designs that took some artistic skill to create don't feel like "art" to me.   They're an expression of my wit...and as different from art to me as a joke is from a poem. 

There are many other "this vs. thats" that stumble through my mind.  Is what I do a business or a hobby?   Are my scribbleprints "drawings" or "digital art" (since they start on paper then are scanned and edited and reworked and sometimes made into something else).  Defining can be hard to do.

Water Color Fun With My Kids

Had fun painting water colors with my kids last week...

My 5 year old painted the green tree on the left, and my 7 year old painted the one on the right (a branch with leaves and a birds nest is sticking out the side...if you were wondering).

Here's some more they did...

The abstract pastel on the top way by my two year old.  The bird and the lightsabers (with flowers and tree...because those totally go together *grin*) was by my 7 year old.  The blue painting was by my 5 year old--"it's night" he told me.

I had fun painting too.  I attempted some fruit.  Most didn't come out but my son said this was "the best apple ever."  (Kid compliments warm my heart).

And I tried my hand at a t-rex...this was fun (though I ran out of room for the RAWR!)

Aloha Friday - Art Memes

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday. Every Friday (well, ok, almost every Friday) I ask a simple question for you to answer--nothing that requires a lengthy response. 

Here's my question....

I'm looking for some art related Mr. Linky or other meme on family friendly blogs...especially any kids arts or craft related memes.  Know of any?  Please share!  Don't know of any?  Then share your favorite meme of any sort other than Aloha Friday...cause you know, I already know about that one.  :-)

Please leave your answer in a comment below.  And, if you have a blog and would like to post your own question you can leave your link at An Island Life.

Fun Cards and Bookmarks Giveaway

If you've followed this blog you probably know that I have a shop through Zazzle where I sell printed items with my art. One of the things I sell there is business cards.

But my "business" cards aren't just for business. I've used them for pregnancy announcements, scripture cards, bookmarks, and more.

I love browsing Zazzle to see all the creative uses others have come up for these too...and even made a squidoo page all about the creative business cards I found.  What's cool about Zazzle cards (in addition to the fact that they're created by hundreds of independent artists), is that most are completely customizable. That means you can put your own photo on the back of a cool artistic design you found, or change business cards into a baby shower keepsakes, wedding or baby registry cards, save the date cards, party favors, gift tags, and more! The possibilities are endless!

TO BUY
Use coupon code  BIZCARDNOW10 for 12% business cards by Scribbleprints or any other Zazzle Artist through September 30, 2010!

TO WIN
You can win a sampling of un-customized Scribbleprints bookmarks and inspirational cards (with a few fun stickers thrown in for good measure). Just check out my business cards and tell me your favorite design is in a comment below. Make sure to leave an e-mail address unless it's not in your blogger profile.


EXTRA ENTRIES
I know this is a small giveaway to be fussing with extra entries for, but I'm offering them anyways. One extra entry for each of the following (make sure to leave an extra comment).

1. Visit my Squidoo of creative Zazzle Business Cards and tell me which one you like the most.
2. Browse some of Zazzle's business cards and comment with the URL of one you think I should add to my creative business card list. 
3. Follow my blog or fan my facebook page.
4. Play Free Rice and tell me one word you were quizzed on.  You'll earn some free grains of rice for the hungry while you play.  (Just cause that is so cool). 
5. Help me decide on which design to choose for my own business cards (pictured on this post).  You can leave your answer either there or here, and either will get you an extra entry (I'll add the comments on that post to the tally before I choose a winner).  
6. Blog about this. Get two entries for mentioning this giveaway and including a link to this post on your blog.  1 extra entries for each product picture you include (maximum 5 entries - can be any products from my shop, not just bookmarks - see below for an easy way to do that). 1 extra entries if you mention the 12% sale.  7 possible entries in all for blogging. 

BLOGGERS - EASY PICTURE LINKING
It's easy to add Zazzle product pictures to your post...just click on the product, and under the product look for the "Link" hyperlink--click on it and a pop up with copy paste code will come up.   Once your post is up comment with the URL below.





OTHER IMPORTANT INFO
One winner will be chosen at random and one winner will be hand-picked by me to get a sample pack of bookmarks and stickers on July 28.  If your e-mail isn't listed on your profile you will also need to leave your e-mail or a link to your blog where I can leave a comment for you letting you know if you won--or, alternatively, you can check back here as I will edit this post to announce the winner on July 23rd.  Winner must claim prize within a week or forfeit it.

Aloha Friday - Help Me Pick New Business Cards

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday!   With Aloha Friday I ask a simple question for you to answer--nothing that requires a lengthy response. 

For this Aloha Friday I wanted to ask your help with something.  Zazzle has a 50% off coupon on business cards, and I was going to get some new business cards my shop. But I'm pulling my hair out over design details...little nit-picky things that drive me nuts!

Here's a couple versions I'm considering...

Version 1 

Version 2

 

 OK, so here's my question (or questions)....

Title in all caps, or not?  Blue background in the center "square" or not?  And which tag line at the bottom do you like better (or, share another tag line idea).  Any other suggestions appreciated too! 

 Thanks!  Oh, and though I know you'ld help me out anyways, I'm giving an extra entry in my current giveaway for answering this. :-)  And if you have a blog and would like to post your own Aloha Friday question, you can go over to An Island Life and add your post to her linky list!

July Giveaways

Every month I try to track down any giveaways I can find for the shops I sell through (CafePress, Zazzle and Printfection).  Here's the ones I've located so far...there may be more added as the month goes on.   If you win you can get something with my designs or designed by any of the other wonderful artists and CafePress or Zazzle (haven't found any for Printfection).  To find my items in the CafePress.com marketplace just search for galesgiggles or scribbleprints. To find my items at Zazzle just visit my Zazzle shop!

Giveaways below organized by end date:

Ongoing
Zazzle Avery Binder - Given Away Every Friday to one wedding vendor reviewer at Wedding Bee.

July 4
Diabetic Snacker - CafePress Tote Bag

July 7
Adventures of the Domesticated Mama - CafePress T-Shirt

July 10
The Art of Random Willy Nillyness - CafePress Tote

July 12
Mama of 3 Munchkins - CafePress Tee and SIGG Bottle

July 14
Peaches Reviews and Giveaways - CafePress Tote

July 25
Bonggamom - CafePress Apron
Organic Girl - CafePress T-Shirt

July 26
Mama Bytes - CafePress Mug and Tote