Everyone is born with creativity. But those people who appear to be super creative have a secret. They know that creativity has to be developed and exercised to come easily. I am on a quest to immerse myself in creativity of all kinds. I hope you will join me!

 When I was small, my parents had a trendy piece of wall art that lit up. It was a kind of light box with a photo over the front. When it was dark and it was lit, it made a neat glow in the room. 


Here is my own version of light up wall art. It also makes a neat glow in the dark. It looks good in the daylight too.


Here is what you need to make one (of course, change colors and design to make it your own):

• a framed artist canvas 15" x 30"
• fabric: white, black, floral (1/2 yard each will do the trick)
• white posterboard 20" x 30"
• Fiskars Everywhere Punch: square
• staple gun
• scissors
• yardstick
• pencil
• white craft glue
• duct tape
• string of white lights (mine had 50 lights)

 Make a pattern or punch randomly like I did.

 3. Glue posterboard to front of frame or front of canvas.


 Design Tip: I did not think ahead, and punched too close to the edges. The frame shows through. It does not look horrible when finished, but if you are a perfectionist, you will want to start in farther when you punch. This would not have been a problem had I been working with a white canvas instead of just the frame.


 4. Lay white fabric on work surface. Lay frame on top of fabric. Trim fabric about 1 1/2" wider than frame on all sides.

 5. Wrap the edges of fabric up around the frame. Staple in place. Stretch fabric a bit as you staple.



 8. Glue to side of canvas that does not have the punches. Think about spraying with Scotchguard to make it easier to dust later on.





 9. Fill the back of the canvas with string of lights. Tape them to the frame to hold them in place.


Design Tip: If you use a thicker framed canvas, the lights will fit better, and the canvas will hang flatter against the wall.

 I am having the most fun in the studio right now working on requests from Niece 1 and Niece 3 for their dorm rooms! Niece 3 will have as much in her dorm room as I have in my house. When I went to college...in the stone age, I took my clothes. The end. Her room is going to be a reflection of her. Or my studio. Some handmade touches will make it feel homey.


These fancy lamps are popping up everywhere with price tags starting at $50 for small side lamps. Don't get the checkbook out yet. They are easy to make yourself, for much less money. Niece 3 now has this turquoise and black lamp in her dorm room at the University of Michigan.


 I got this lamp, complete with shade and bulb at the Salvation Army Thrift Store for $9.99.  And, it works. But, no plain lamps for us!


This is a good beginner project. You need the lampshade, a piece of fabric big enough to cover it, Mod Podge (I used the matte finish, but it also comes in gloss and sparkle), a paintbrush, a pair of scissors, a hot glue gun, and a craft boa. You can add acrylic paint like I did, but it is not a deal breaker. Maybe you have some pretty fabric that needs no extra decorating.


Work with the shade sitting on the lamp. Brush Mod Podge on the shade. Work a section at a time, making sure you leave no dry spots. Place the fabric over the wet Mod Podge. Smooth the fabric out with the brush until it is smooth. Keep working, adding Mod Podge and the fabric over it until the shade is covered.


Using scissors, trim the fabric around the top and bottom edges and the final fabric edge on the shade.


Then, to make the lamp easier to dust later, brush a coat of Mod Podge to cover the shade. Let it dry completely.


I added big black dots made with black acrylic paint and a large Spouncer. A Spouncer is a round sponge on a handle. Any craft store worth its salt carries them in 3 sizes. They make painting dots fast and easy.


This black feather boa was in my craft cupboard.  Deep in the cupboard. SO deep, it looked like it had been dead for 10 years. It was squished and scrawny.  A few minutes in the dryer fluffed it right out. I hot glued it around the base of the shade. Do you know you can buy feather boas in many colors at the craft store? They are inexpensive too.


TIP: Don't glue the boa around the top of the lamp. It gets pretty hot when the lamp is on for awhile. You don't want your lamp to be a fire hazard. 


I did not have to paint the base because it was in good shape. So, for minimal work and $, Niece 3 has a one-of-a-kind lamp for her room. I hope she hates it and gives it back!   


Restyle with your Vitamin C!

Whether you are actually in the garden having a party, or just pretending, these lights are fab! I painted a string of 25 big outdoor white lights with flowers, ladybugs and bumblebees.

 You need:

• a string of lights
• Folk Art Enamels Paints
• small brushes (a flat and a liner)

 Do this:
1. Decide what you want to paint on the bulbs. You might practice on paper a couple times if you need to.  Then freehand the designs onto the bulbs. I painted all sides of a bulb and then dangled it inside a glass until it dried. In some instances, like yellow and pink, I needed to either paint two coats, or one really thick coat.

Outlining in black covers a multitude of sins and makes your design pop out.

2. These paints require baking in the oven for permanence, but you can skip that step. When you plug the lights in and they get hot, it is just like baking in the oven!

You could make lights for any occasion. Princess lights with tiaras on them would be cute.  I am thinking about doing a set for my niece with her school colors and logo.  I am sure you will have lots of ideas.

Take your Vitamin C and see what happens!