General – 24 Hour Art-a-thon

That’s All Folks!

March 22, 2015Melissa 3 Comments

Now the 24 Hour Art-a-thon comes to an end!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this challenge and made it a fun and awesome experience! So much amazing art was created by all. You are all truly talented.

Thank you so much to my co-hosts Rhonda, Ruth and Sarah for helping me to host this challenge and not thinking I was crazy when I suggested it so many months ago! You three are an amazing bunch of remarkable and talented women and I am very happy to call you friends!

Now on to the prizes!

The Grand Prize Winner is……Michelle Visser and her two awesome daughters! You will be receiving all that you see below!

Strathmore Mixed Media Journal Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt Pens 2 Uniball Signo White Gel Pens – Given by Melissa	Martha Stewart Journal Canson Make Your Own Manga Book Canson Make Your Own Comic Book – Given by Rhonda
Cut Press Board Book A set of Various Color Gelatos A set of Black & White Gelatos – Given by Ruth	Calligraphy Pen & Ink Set Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tissue Wrap Art Minds Plaster Wrap – Given by Sarah

The following winners won prizes from each host. All winners will receive an email or message from me sometime this evening after I have some much needed sleep or at the latest Monday morning.

For my winners you can choose something from my prizes listed on the prize page or wait till Monday when I make a list and take pictures of everything I created during the art-a-thon to choose from. However the “White Rabbit” is on a first come first serve basis since there is only one.

Prompt 1 – Host Melissa
Winner – Amy Hightower Mosely
Prize – Not Yet Chosen

Prompt 2 – Host Rhonda
Winner – Anita Mistry
Prize – A surprise

Prompt 3 – Host Sarah
Winner – Jamie Joslyn
Prize – Handbound Journal

Prompt 4 – Host Melissa
Winner – Aubrey Oddbreed
Prize – Not Yet Chosen

Prompt 5 – Host Rhonda
Winner – Trisha Doran
Prize – A Surprise

Prompt 6 – Host Sarah
Winner – Aubrey Oddbreed
Prize – Mini Framed Monster Portraits

Prompt 7 – Host Ruth
Winner – Melissa
Prize – Surprise

Prompt 8 – Host Melissa
Winner – Beverly Jensen
Prize – Not Yet Chosen

Prompt 9 – Host Sarah
Winner – Evelyn Havertz
Prize – Handmade Doll

Prompt 10 – Host Rhonda
Winners – Trisha Fettig and Jennifer Rothstein

Prompt 11 – Host Ruth
Winner – Rhonda
Prize – Surprise

Prompt 12 – Host Ruth
Winner – No Winner

Please keep creating awesome art and having fun!

Promt 5: Inspired by a song…

March 21, 2015Rhonda Chase Leave a Comment

By now it’s afternoon for everyone stateside. Hopefully you have already made something (anything is encouraged but not required.) Stop by and see us/chat with us on facebook or leave a comment/post here. Make sure to say Hi somewhere if you want a chance to win a prize.

I have never tried to create something inspired by a song… at least not that I can think of. I normally have to listen to something while working to distract my left brain while the right side is creating. On this occasion I was thinking one song… over and over that is purposefully inspiring the creative process. What will you make?
Post it here! 🙂

Here is the song a few of us are using for this prompt. Kelly Clarkson’s “Heartbeat Song” from her new album “Piece by Piece”.

Tips to Help You Survive the 24 Hour Art-a-thon

March 18, 2015Melissa Leave a Comment

The art-a-thon will soon be upon us so I have decided to create this post to offer you some tips to help you “survive” the 24 hours. Even if you don’t participate the entire 24 hours these tips will also help you.

1 – Get a good nights sleep.

Especially if you plan to stay awake the entire 24 hours. Sleeping at least 7 to 9 hours will ensure you have the energy to tackle the next day.

2 – Have a good breakfast.

A good breakfast will give you more energy for the day but avoid a very heavy meal. Heavy meals may make you feel tired and stuffed so you may not want to do anything.

3 – Take breaks!

Breaks are very important. Stepping away from your art for a few minutes will let your hands rest. Taking a short nap when your starting to feel tired may help you recharge your energy so you can continue.

4 – Make sure to have snacks and meals.

Make sure to have snacks on hand but try to avoid having too many sugary snacks. If you eat too many sugary snacks you will eventually crash from the sugar high and not feel so good. You should also make sure to have lunch and dinner but as with breakfast avoid eating a very heavy meal.

5 – Do the best you can.

If the best you can do is a few hours, thats ok. If you’re only able to create two art pieces, thats ok. If all you are able to do is socialize with the other participants and hosts, thats ok. If you can’t achieve all the goals you set for yourself, thats ok. Just do the best you can, have fun and enjoy the experience!

6 – Don’t stress over the prompts!

If you get stuck on a prompt don’t worry about. Don’t force yourself to do a prompt you don’t like; it will only make you unhappy and you won’t have fun. Instead create something else. The prompts are there to inspire you but if they don’t its perfectly ok to create whatever you want.

7 – Have fun!

I’m so excited…

February 22, 2015Ruth Hinman Leave a Comment

and I just can’t hide it… and I know… I know… I know… I know that I want you to come and play with us!

Ok… I’m only partly sorry for planting that song seed in your brain.

So I’ve been getting myself ready because I really AM that excited, and I wanted to share a little bit of how my brain works.

I have found with time that having a plan helps. Sometimes this means I only need a week with a single focus. And sometimes it means I need more than just a little box on a bigger page, and so a day will have TONS of information, as with the Art-a-thon which needs much more than one little box.

sometimes a day needs a whole page

Sometimes ideas occur in the 10+ hours I’m not at home every day, and at those times I write on whatever I can find. I’m sure my co-workers think I’m nuts, and they might be right. I have 11×11 post it notes, and all manner of other papers around me all the time, I’m a receptionist, paper is kind of how I get my job done.

because 10 hours away from home looks like this on paper

Working from the plan I start to compile the “ingredients” I need for certain projects, whether this means making them or buying them or just sorting them out of the wall of bins I have in my studio.

As I get items I need for particular projects I will put them together. Last summer I bought a bunch of baskets and now use them to organize my brain. Quite literally.

seuss cards, star purses, cabochons, 50 year old pearls, glass beads, pretty backgrounds… even a canvas and ALL of the paper plans and ideas. ALL IN THERE.

And because I really am SO excited… here are some little sneak peeks at what I’ll be working on during our time together on Saturday, March 21st…

sneak peek 1

sneak peek 2

sneak peek 3

And in the mail this weekend, some invitations. I’ve made a couple of different batches of cards and postcards from my old artwork over the past few years. I used up the original batch sending out invitations to some friends because I want them to come and play with us. I just used sharpie markers on the already printed cards. Homespun and still kind of cool looking, I think.

invites a’la my own postcards

I can’t wait to see you there!

How does YOUR brain work? What projects do you want to work on with us? How are you organizing yourself to maximize your time? Do you organize yourself at all? Not everyone does. I’m jealous.

-12Squared

Coming in 2015!

December 8, 2014Melissa 2 Comments

We are excited to announce our very first 24 Hour Art-a-thon! It will be held on March 21st at 8 am. Hosted by Melissa of Unwavering Imagination, Rhonda of Chase’s Creatures, Ruth of Twelve Squared Creations and Sarah of Wonderstrange.

It will be 24 hours to have fun and create as much art as you can. During the 24 hours prompts will be given every few hours. There will also be mini challenges and prizes. Signups for the art-a-thon will go up mid February. More information will be posted as we get closer to the art-a-thon date.

If you wish to keep up to date on the 24 Hour Art-a-thon please subscribe to our blog by entering your email in the subscribe section located on the sidebar to the right.

We hope you join us for the art-a-thon!