Stand Out!

I have taught art to both children and adults for years. It has always made me sad when people get frustrated that their project doesn't look like someone else's. 

STOP IT! 

printable art at smallfrynotables.etsy.com

Really! Don't worry; I don't really yell it at my students. I just think it loudly. Anyone that really knows me will say I have no problem standing out. I always stood out as a kid, both intentionally and not. Moving from small towns, to big cities and places that took forever to understand the slang, lol. My mom was excited to move to a new place because you could start over and be whomever you wanted to be. I was just fine being me. 

Don't get me wrong. I am in no way perfect and I am always trying to grow and learn new things. I just don't have to be someone else to do it. I am fine with having people not always agree with me. We can all be mature in our differences. I probably don't want to spend a lot of time with them anyway, so it is a win-win! Besides, when someone challenges your thoughts and ideas, it does one of two things. It either makes you stand your ground in how you feel, or it opens your mind to new possibilities.

I believe God made each of us unique. We are not supposed to have the same hair color, skin color, body style, roaring laugh, or magnificent athleticism. How boring would this world be if all art was the same? If every one looked and sounded the same? If we all drove the same car and had the same dog?

You don't have to be obnoxious to do it. Just enjoy being with yourself. If you don't enjoy it, why should someone else? Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?

Tweet

Let the Battle Begin!

Wow! It is scary to think how fast 2011 slipped by. I am not great at resolutions, but I love to start fresh. I am going to make more of an effort this year to stop and smell the roses...and coffee, mmm, love coffee...oops! Man, I can get sidetracked! Anyway, I want to make sure I appreciate the time I am given on this earth instead of wondering what happened to it. I want that for my family as well. Not a resolution, a WILL DO. :)

We just passed my son's 13th birthday. What a milestone (sobbing). He wanted to do up in an exciting way. Along with a lot of his friends, he is enthralled in airsoft. For those of you who have not ventured down this road and don't have a clue what that is, air powered guns that shoot plastic bbs. Much smaller than pellets and paintballs, but I am a strict mama on the limits of the gun's power or fps.

So he and his army of guys planned out their battle plans, home bases and everything else. He had his clear ideas for his invites and loved the outcome. (Now available in the smallfrynotables etsy shop.)

After they wore themselves out, they just chilled around a fire roasting hotdogs and smores and just doing their guy stuff. They all seemed to have fun and my guy was very pleased, which I have come to realize is a bit difficult for a teen, lol.

Tweet

Getting Back in the Game...

Well, I dare show my face (or avatar) again after quite the little break. So much has been going on around me that time just got away from me. Now that summer has beat my door down, I'm trying to get into a new routine. I have been quite busy and have so much to share...but one thing at a time. :)

Stocking my smallfrynotables shop has been a blast and I am looking forward to adding so much more! Please stop by and check it out. Here are a couple of items you will find there...



If you like what you see, please "like" Small Fry Notables on facebook, as well! In fact, if you drop by now, please write something on the wall you would like to find for your upcoming Independence Day gatherings. You might find it as a FREE download next week!

Another thing that has consumed me is...couponing! I never thought I would do it, but once I started, it has become quite addictive. I thought I did well with my bargain hunting before, but I have blown myself away, lol. I always love a challenge.

Well, tootles for now, but I won't stay gone long!

Tweet

The Sweetest Celebrations...

Yummy, candy-coated colors with visually edible details that make them so enticing for a sweet celebration.

Tweet

A Perfectly Cute Cupcake Invite!

A Perfectly Cute Cupcake Invite!, originally uploaded by smallfrynotables.

My youngest just turned 10 years old! My babies are both now in the double digits. It goes by so quickly.

My kiddos are both great with coming up with ideas and running with them. We needed a theme that was great for multiple ages of girls. My daughter had just finished taking a cake decorating class with our homeschool group and we thought that would be a "sweet"idea, lol.

I wanted to make some special invitations for her big day and had an inkling of what I wanted. One afternoon, while demonstrating some techniques for one of our art classes, I did some cupcake doodles and loved them so much I wanted to include them on the invites! So the cupcake graphics and paper layers are all hand drawn and painted and the invites are digitally created and printed on glossy cardstock.

We were both so excited about how they turned out and think it was a great peak at the party to be. I will post more picts of the favors and activities later so stay tuned!

I linked up to the following parties:

Ten Buck Tuesdays @ Young Nesters

Creative Share Wednesday @ Trendy Treehouse

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

The DIY Show Off

Friday Free For All Party @ Sassy Sites

Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative

More the Merrier @ The DIY Home Sweet Home

Tweet

A Dino-Mite Party Idea!

Here is my FIRST treasury on Etsy! WooHoo! This was really fun to put together. I just love these dinosaur items for a little boy's party! I do really like the cutesy kind of dinosaurs, but the "big" boys tend to think they are too babyish. These are that perfect medium between cute and downright scary!

Tweet

Dino-Mite! Party Invitations

dinosaur-invite-2, originally uploaded by smallfrynotables.

I made some invitations for a little boy that is having a dinosaur birthday party at the studio soon. I had so much fun with it, that I ended up making a series of eight different invites. I wish my young man was still at an age to enjoy these...Oh well, at least I get to make them for others! I will be adding these to the online store soon as well as smallfrynotables. These would be cute for a baby shower to if you were looking for something not quite as traditional. They are all 5.5"w x 8.5"h and printed on glossy cardstock with recycled kraft paper envelopes included.

I joined the party at:
Market Yourself Monday - Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Toot Your Horn Tuesday - A Silly Little Sparrow
Frugalicious Friday - Finding Fabulous
Feature Yourself Friday - Fingerprints on the Fridge
CraftOManiac Monday Link Party
Tot Tuesday - My Delicious Ambiguity
Marketplace Monday - Finding Fabulous
Take-a-Look Tuesday - Sugar Bee

Tweet