Bunches of stuff.

Thanks so much for sharing all those wonderful Easter traditions. We will definitely be adopting some of those. Another one that my friend Lori shared with me yesterday involves baking white cupcakes, adding white frosting and then creating a nest for the top by dieing shredded coconut green and placing small candy eggs on the "grass." Totally doing that one.


Thanks also to many of you for letting me know that Autism will be the subject of Thursday's Oprah: The Faces of Autism.


I also wanted to share a card set that has been really inspiring me lately. It is called Wide Open by Randi Feuerhelm-Watts. I think I came across it from a recommendation on Amazon (you know how they will recommend ones for you based on past choices). It is a visual delight. Lots of cool ideas for opening your eyes to the world around you and recording it. I also really like that her concepts & her writing are as interesting as her art journals.


I have not worked in my art journal for a long time. It is calling to me (and it is getting louder).

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39 thoughts

  1. Erin says…
    04/04/2007

    Thanks for letting us know wbout the autism special. I'd LOVE to see some of your work in your art journal. One thing we will be doing again for Easter with our children is reading the Easter story from our bible, as well as their kid's bible. Happy Easter!

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  2. cami says…
    04/04/2007

    I've been working w/ this card set for about a month and I've actually started painting because I was so inspired. Love this author. Glad your recommended her!

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  3. Christa says…
    04/04/2007

    This doesn't obtain to this post but I just saw on CZ's blog that she got one of your kits already! IM SO JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!

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  4. Kim Danielson says…
    04/04/2007

    I went to bed last night thinking I should start an art journal of my own, cool that you should speak of yours today. I seem to dwell too much on the process of doing anything, I just need to get started! :)

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  5. Becky says…
    04/04/2007

    I bought that card set not that long ago...it really is pretty inspiring.

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  6. Danielle says…
    04/04/2007

    Can I just say that you are the coolest? I know you get this every day a million times in your comments, but you are really inspiring in so many ways- both artistically and what you have done for the autism cause. And on top of all that, you just seem SO COOL! I crack up whenever I read your scrap pages or b log entries about liking beer, because I so agree!
    I was thinking about Oprah yesterday and betting that you would end up on her show for all the good work you have done. Wouldnt that be awesome? Anyway, thanks for continuing to inspire!

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  7. chantille says…
    04/04/2007

    Ali, do you have Lori's recipe for the Easter cupcakes? Sound too cute! Enjoy your weekend

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  8. Debbie says…
    04/04/2007

    I just picked up the card set Wide Open!! I love it. I haven't gotten into it. I can't say I will us the journal it came with seems too small. But I know I will use it for something.
    Happy Day!

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  9. Molly Irwin says…
    04/04/2007

    Ali, thank you so much for the art journal advice. When we met, we talked about this and I've found great sources on your site and elsewhere. I started a journal a few weeks back, entitled "six weeks" (40 days) a lenten observance. It has been really satisfying to explore the topics of my beliefs, weakness, areas that I want to improve, and the gifts that I've been given in this free and visual context. Every page is unique. Each day, I'm not sure from what direction my inspiration will come, yet somehow it does and I dwell on the subject throughout the day, concieve a form and after my kids go to sleep I work it out on paper. Most are amaturish, and some I am completely surprised by, but each page/each day is special somehow. Possibly the best thing is, my daughters (5 & 7) are seeing this side of me and are doing their own versions of "daily art" and journaling. That is so sweet to see. Thanks so much for dropping the idea into my head. Happy Easter to you and your family! Molly

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  10. corinne delis says…
    04/04/2007

    Your art journal says: "Start with the week one assignment!"bwhahahahahaha!
    corinnexxx

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  11. kristine says…
    04/04/2007

    Your Oprah comment almost made me jump out of my skin. I emailed them a while ago to let them know about the great things you were doing with Autism Speaks and your impact on 'Life Art.' Keep waiting! Hmmm, maybe if we all sent in a request..... :) Hope you have a great Easter!

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  12. Jessica Stoops says…
    04/04/2007

    Ali-I would love a recipe or picture of the nest cupcakes. My son and I made reindeer cookies at Christmas and it was so much fun. Looking forward to hearing which Easter traditions you will doing:) Jess

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  13. Stephanie Homburg says…
    04/04/2007

    Darn that "writing a book thing" for keeping you from working on cool stuff like the art journal! :)

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  14. Kim says…
    04/04/2007

    Thanks for recommending that art set! I feel a purchase that I don't need but will probably use coming on! (:
    Have a great Easter! Hope you can try to weave in something about the resurrection while you're at it. (:

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  15. Amber Grumbles says…
    04/04/2007

    Ali,
    I just got my Wide Open and I am totally inspired too! Amazon recommended it to me and then when I clicked on it, it showed me more!! 3 books later I have lots of reading material!!!
    Do you have a fav card yet? I love the lady that took the picture in the woods with her soot feet. Totally cool. I would SO not do it though!! LOL
    I have to say Kaleidoscope is really great too! The other I bought was Visual Chronicles. VC has lots of journaling ideas. It is one of those books that are awesome but you have to READ it not just look at the pics.

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  16. kristin says…
    04/04/2007

    cupcakes and art journalling...
    what could be better?

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Kristy says…
    04/04/2007

    I have so many questions about art journals!! Where to even begin? I would love some advice on how to get started or maybe an AEzine??
    Kristy
    http://www.kristygussio.blogspot.com

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Lanne says…
    04/04/2007

    I made exactly those cupcakes for the teachers at my sons school - and piled them all up on a cupcake stand... big hit.. super easy! I used M&M eggs (they have choc eggs, covered in a candy shell and are speckled..very cool. not sure if you can get them in the states).
    http://onceuponastoryboard.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/03/26/easter_cupcakes_2.jpg

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  19. Lanne says…
    04/04/2007

    Opps posted the wrong picture in the link.. try this one it is a lil clearer.
    http://onceuponastoryboard.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/03/26/easter.jpg

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  20. noell says…
    04/04/2007

    I really enjoyed looking over Randi Feuerhelm-Watts' website. You always direct us to really great places.
    Lately I've been thinking about how I want to take more artistic risks and part of the reason that I sometimes don't feel satisfied with some of my layouts recently is because I'm playing it safe. Looking at that website reminded me that I want to start an art journal. I think that will help me with my the risk issue.

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  21. Alisa Noble says…
    04/04/2007

    I've got that card set too. It's really great. In fact, yesterday I was considering combining ideas from Wide Open with some from Wrecked Journal. Thought it would be interesting to see what would emerge from the pages of my art journal then.

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  22. Laura Reaux says…
    04/04/2007

    What a cute idea for the cupcakes! I think I will make them Friday... we are having an Easter egg hunt for the little ones in my family.
    SO great that Oprah is doing this show tomorrow. Thanks for letting us know.

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  23. sue s ellsworth says…
    04/04/2007

    i love your art journal(s)
    where do you get the inspirations? and supplies - i enjoy your blog, newsletter and all you do for the world of scrapbooking - you are very inspiring

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  24. Miranda says…
    04/04/2007

    BEFORE YOU DYE THE COCONUT!!! Target has *candy grass* that is so cute, and completely edible! It's in the Easter section, Amy from Inspire Co. tipped me off to it- she used it on cupcakes and they looked adorable. Happy baking! :)

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  25. Susan Gilman says…
    04/04/2007

    Wanted to share a cute idea my mom did with us each year at Easter when we were young (I have 4 sisters). We had a big picture window in our living room....she would buy a bag of those circle cotton puffs used to remove makeup or maybe nailpolish? (flat--almost like felt)...they came in an pack of assorted pastel colors (just like cupcake liners). She would draw bunny faces on them with a black marker (dots for eyes...a triangle nose...and whiskers). We would cut out ears and bowties from construction paper, and glue them on - then we taped them all to the window - dozens of them--all colors--all combinations of colors of ears and bowties. I loved that craft project each year! (I have no idea how the TAPE was removed each year--guess my mom had a secret "goo be gone" concoction!) I think this would work with patterned paper too (like the fabulous DoodleBug ads!) Enjoy!
    PS CANNOT WAIT for the new CK KIT!!

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