Personalized Wall Decor Giveaway

I have a new line of children's wall art I am working on and what better way to promote it than to have a giveaway!  I am having this contest on both Facebook and Twitter, and if you follow me on both... you double your chances.  The winners will receive a name, personalized in whatever theme they would like (up to a $60 value).  These make GREAT gifts. And as always, gift wrapping at no extra charge. 


To participate on Facebook:

Suggest Creative Flair Art to your friends. When your friends “Like” the fan page, have them write the name of the person whom they received the suggestion from on the wall. THIS IS THE ENTRY! The more names I receive the more entries you get. Both people will receive the prize! If you already are a fan, simply write the name of the person who suggested the page to you. Contest ends when I reach 350 fans.

To participate on Twitter: Be the 500th person to RT my link. Must be a follower to win. No more than 1 RT per hour!

Good Luck!

New Line of Kids Art

When I had my kids, it seemed all art decor revolved around art decor that was a bit "babyish".  Granted I did have babies, but I needed something they could grow into and fortunately for me, I know how to draw.  But for those who don't have any artistic talent (so they claim), I have a line in my Etsy store that is just great for the kids rooms.  They are fun and colorful.  The originals done in soft pastels, which offer vivid colors with a very "soft" look.

I have also extended the line to include thank you cards and return labels, perfect for birthday parties. Check out the complete line on my Etsy shop.  More products are added every day.

Etsy Shop

Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups

Recipe courtesy of DisneyFamily.com- 2010

Fruit rolls are a big 'kid favorite' and very easy to pop into lunches or backpacks for kids on the go. These rolls are 100% fruit with no sugar or artificial anything added. They're also cheaper than their boxed counterparts, coming in at just 17 cents each. If you don't want to roll them, the fruit leather is just as good cut into squares or other shapes.

Hands-On Time: 10 minutes
Ready In: 8 hours and 40 minutes
Yield: 12 roll-ups
Cost Per Serving: $0.17

Ingredients

8 ounces dried apricots or other dried fruit1 1/2 cups water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Line a 12x15 inch baking sheet with aluminum foil; coat foil with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Combine apricots or other dried fruit with water in a heavy saucepan and simmer for 30 minutes or until fruit is very soft.
4. Drain excess liquid and pour fruit into a blender. Puree until very smooth.
5. Pour fruit onto prepared foil and spread evenly, making sure there are no holes.
6. Place sheet into oven for 25 minutes. Without opening oven, turn heat off and leave oven door shut for 8 hours.
7. Remove baking sheet from oven and gently peel fruit from foil. Set on waxed paper, right-side down, and press down.
8. Cut into 12 even strips, lengthwise. Roll each strip with the paper side out and store in plastic bags until ready to eat.

Ursa Jig (The Dancing Bear)

O, my little bear, shaking her groove thing.
I once saw a bear standing like this, it is not a common event.  In fact, it was under an unfortunate circumstance.  While we were living in Lake Tahoe, we had a bit of a bear problem.  She tore apart side vents, scratched at wood doors and even found her way into the house. During this one particular episode, I wanted to scare her away from the house, so I took our BB gun and shot her in the rump.  That made her angry.  Before running away though, she stood up on her hind legs and I got this vision in my head to remember her.  Of course, I added the groove in her step, but a bear has LOTS of fur and when they stand that fur has to go somewhere.  Gravity takes over and you get a full round bum.

I want to do more of these bears.  Maybe a full line of them in various colors and scenery.  I did do one other version and entered into a wine tasting event poster contest. Whether it wins or not will         be up to the judges.

Ursa Jig- Prismacolor art pens on watercolor paper
               11x14

Ursa with Wine- Gouache on watercolor paper
                 11x17

Ian's Army Rocket

Ian, my 6 year, drew this picture at school the other day.  Ian is not one to sit and color, or create pictures and will sometimes complain about art lessons.   He consistently comes home with schoolwork that he has barely colored.  NOT, something an artist mom likes to deal with.  However, every once in a great while, he sits for a period of time and creates something really cool.  In fact, when he brought this home, I thought it was accidentally stuck in his folder from some other kid that made the drawing.

I thought I'd share this piece because it was an interesting picture depicting an "army rocket", as he called it, taking off.  He wanted to show action so he drew a little piece above the rocket.  Very clever.  I asked him why he chose to have it raining and he simply said, "it was a gloomy day".  Yet the sun is coming out in the corner, shining it's rays.

I am a happy mom to display one of his art pieces.  Where the inspiration came from I may never know.  It could be that he has a cousin in the army in Afghanistan, it could be that he was in the pretend rocketship at school.  It could be just a boy's imagination.

Arbol at Pedregal

This drawing was created about a month ago when I decided to take the boys to listen to some Celtic music in the park with some friends.  We planted ourselves on the grass and there was this wonderful twisted tree right in front of me.

Fortunately for me, I had some Prismacolor art markers and bristol paper with me.  I gave all the kids some crayons and paper and we all decided to draw to the music.  I started with the outline of the tree and drew in the abstract colored background, colors that I found throughout the area.  The kids were fascinated watching the whole process and it turned out to be an excellent afternoon.




Original 9x12- $50.00


Also available in limited edition giclee print.
Contact artist for details.






Interested in a smaller version......
check out this Wearable art necklace,a small print,signed and dated on the back. The print is enclosed ina copper frame in between glass, all handmade.

Welcome to Creative Flair Art

Welcome to the blog site!  I needed a place where I could go into more description about some of the pieces I create and although I am NOT a writer, writing about them just completes the circle.


Please be patient while gather all these thoughts and check back regularly to see what's new.

Hearty Potato Soup

Recipe Courtesy of Southern Living 1998

Ingredients

• 6  potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (2 1/2 pounds)
• 2  medium onions, diced
• 2  carrots, thinly sliced
• 2  celery ribs, thinly sliced
• 2  (14 1/2-ounce) cans low-sodium fat-free chicken broth
• 1  teaspoon  dried basil
• 1  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  pepper
• 1/4  cup  all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2  cups  fat-free half-and-half
• Italian Bread Bowls

Preparation

Combine first 8 ingredients in a 4 1/2-quart slow cooker.

Cook, covered, at HIGH 3 hours or until vegetables are tender.

Stir together flour and half-and-half; stir into soup. Cover and cook 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve in Italian Bread Bowls, and garnish, if desired.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

207

Fat:

0.3g

Cholesterol:

0.0mg

Sodium:

365mg

• 
  

Meatball Sandwiches

Recipe Courtesy of Real Simple 2005

Ingredients

• 4 rolls of any kind
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 12 to 20 precooked meatballs (depending on size; 
• found in the freezer or refrigerator case in most grocery stores)
• 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• pickle spears (optional)

Directions

1. Warm the rolls on a rack in a 250° F oven. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet, over medium heat. Add the meatballs. Cook until brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the sauce, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until it begins to bubble, about 3 minutes. 
2. Remove the rolls from oven and slice lengthwise. Spoon the meatballs and sauce onto the rolls, then sprinkle with the mozzarella and Parmesan. Serve with the pickles, if desired.

Chicken Cutlets with Tomato saute

Recipe courtesy of Real Simple August 2008

• 
  

  Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds small chicken cutlets (8 to 12)
  • kosher salt and pepper
  • • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 1/2 pints grape or cherry tomatoes
    • 3/4 cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc)
    • 4 scallions, sliced
    • 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon leaves, chopped

Directions

1. Season the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches, cook the chicken until browned and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side; transfer to plates.
2. Add the tomatoes to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until they begin to burst, 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Add the wine and simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the scallions and tarragon and serve with the chicken.