Inspiration to Create Birthday Cards

I'm a greeting card collector. I love browsing the aisles of greeting cards and over the years I have found many favorite greeting card artists that I LOVE.  My most favorite is artist: Masha Dyans. We used one of her card designs as inspiration to create watercolor birthday cake cards. I love her designs.  They are simple, unique and whimsical. Who wouldn't be inspired by this delicious rainbow birthday cake?

Here is a collection of some of our birthday designs we did in Masha Dyan's style.  We used watercolor paints and folded card stock to create the cards (you could use any type of paper).  Before we began, I explained to my daughter that an artist designed these cards just like we did when we were drawing owls. We often have this discussion and she always asks me if an artist designed something.

This is my favorite one by C.  I love the expression and movement in her beautiful birthday cake.

Here is one of mine.  I like mine, but feel I need to put a little more life in it as compared to C's card above.  Children always have more expression in their art work and that is why I love children's art!

Here is just a sampling of Masha Dyan's work that I have collected.  Isn't it FABULOUS?  If you want to check more of her work out go to her site here.  She has a facebook fan page too here.  Besides greeting cards Masha also does home decor and apparel.

Most recently I found out Masha has done a children's book too called: Razzle-Dazzle Ruby.  Here is a video preview of it and I can't wait to see it in person!

Happy Birthday to all my friends and family with birthdays coming up! (You might just receive on of these cards.) The more I look at Masha Dyan's work I am inspired. 

What Artist(s) Inspire You?

The Chocolate Muffin Tree Is One Today!

It is hard to believe one year has passed since I began this journey! It has been FUN, but a lot of work!  I've enjoyed inspiring others to be creative with their children.  It is something I have strived for since my daughter was born.  I remember coming home from the hospital with my daughter and wishing we could create something! (maybe not that soon...but not that far off) Even before I was an Elementary Art teacher, I felt so sad if I saw kids that had no creative materials in their homes. I would ask, "Where are your crayons? your paper? play dough? anything?"  It would break my heart if children didn't have one of those materials in their home.  In my first days being an Art Teacher I worked in inner city schools where I would see students steal sheets of construction paper, pencils, and markers.  Sometimes I just wanted to let it slide by and let them have those materials, but then I would have no materials to work with if I let this happen! After working in urban schools,  I worked in the opposite end of the spectrum: Rural! The rural children had more, but on occasion there would be some students that would try to steal some supplies too.  Sadly,  I was laid of from my rural Art teaching Job because of budget cuts. The saddest thing is that I was replaced with a Non-Art Teacher.  I spoke up for myself,  but it did no good when money is an issue in a school district and where there is little support in the community.

If this "layoff" didn't happen I wouldn't be here writing to you right now! Inspired by Artsy blogs such as The Artful Parent, Paint Cut Paste, and Frugal Family Fun, I began my journey on this day one year ago.  I followed these blogs just like you might be following me with your children doing activities each week from these blogs.  These blogs were such inspiration and I felt like these were the type of Moms I strived to be!  I struggled as a working Mom to feel like I was a good Mom and felt like if I did what they did with their kids that somehow I would be a better Mom.  Being a working Mom was very difficult for me and I so wanted to be the Mom that you see reflected in The Chocolate Muffin Tree! So here I am, now realizing it is a lot of work being a Mom Blogger (Thank you to all that inspire!) and that is also a very fulfilling too! I inspire more people all around the world....more than in all the years I have taught Art! For those of you who have followed me all they way through.....Thank you! and for those who are recent followers Thank you too! I hope to continue this journey! Thanks for your support!

Some Ways to help Bring Art and Art Supplies to the less fortunate:

Find a child near you that is in need of Art supplies and donate to them! (ask local art teachers and I'm sure they could give you some names) Recently I met an 11 year old girl, through a neighbor,  that was definitely an aspiring artist in need and I gave her a simple gift of colored pencils and a sketch pad. You could see her eyes light up instantly with this gift!  I hope to give her more art supplies in the future.

A great article about ways you can donate supplies to classrooms through Adopt a Classroom and  Donor's Choice:  Donate Supplies to A Classroom in Need

A way to donate art supplies for kids around the world from: Oxfam America Unwrapped

Research online and you will find many local organizations to help kids through the Arts!

Have you ever donated Art Supplies to those less fortunate?

(please share any other great ideas or organizations)