Monday, March 31, 2025

Opinions, Commentary & Progress?

 

All Kaleidoscopes by inkspired and KaleidoCam 

Time to write another blog!
I love picking an interest, researching, learning new things and then putting it all together for a blog.


Spring is finally peeking out!
My daffodils are starting to bloom, and the tulip leaves are poking cautious tips out, hoping the bunnies don’t notice.
What shall I write about?
I always have 2 or more subjects that I’m working on, and today is no different.
First, I check my stats.
Who has been looking at my blogs? 
Which ones have been popular?
In the last 24 hours I have had people from 23 different countries check something out.
Wow!
Child in traditional Russian costume, Pinterest

That’s really cool.
Then
I notice the list of blogs visited.
Easter eggs,
Recipes,
Mermaids,
Free paper dolls -
All things I love to blog about.
Except 1. 

Card by inkspired

It’s an opinion piece. One of only a very few I have ever written. There is enough doom & gloom in this world without my contribution or time discussing everything that is wrong.
I want people to remember to laugh!
To see the beauty that is all around us, no matter where we are.
I want to remind people that they are made in the image of GOD!
Wow! What an idea!
But then there’s that pesky blog I wrote a little over a year ago.
What was I thinking?

Miss Chelsea Manalo, Miss Philippines, Miss Universe contest 2024

I remember exactly. I wanted to share some fabulous gowns worn to a popular awards show recently.
I love fashion. The colors, the fabrics. Oh yes, and even the ridiculous ensembles some people wear. (Seriously? She decided to wear that in public?)

Only last year there was a Righteous Indignation Movement that overshadowed the festivities for me.
You know the one.
The war instigated by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians.
Neighbors. Children.
Homes were destroyed. Families were murdered. Relationships broken.
Everyday life- never the same.
But Hollywood was indignant.
Israel dared to fight back. They dared to demand the innocent hostages returned (remember, not soldiers. Mothers. Children. Young sons and daughters).

One thing Israel has taught the world throughout history is…don’t mess with them. They are serious.
Or was that God that taught that lesson?
Oh let’s not get into religion right now. 

So here we are. One year later.
Hollywood is still Indignant.
Hamas still tortures and enslaves innocent people.
People are still upset that Israel dares defend itself.
And I am still sad.

More children have been harmed, on both sides now. Families are still torn apart. And we continue to have Fashion Shows.
But indignantly, of course.
When we think about it.

I know a woman. She lives by Gaza. That’s over in Israel somewhere. You know, it’s in the news. Anyway, she was home on the night of The Invasion by Hamas. Her niece watched her husband (this woman’s nephew) be shot and killed. Then her oldest daughter was shot and killed. In front of her, while she hid with her 2 smaller children. Only they were found. 
Events get sketchy after that.
The niece and 2 great-nephews disappeared.
After some time they were found on a list of hostages. They were being held by Hamas terrorists.
Their crime?
They were born into a country named Israel.
And they were home That Night.
Skip forward a year later.
One. Year.
Israel agreed to ‘trade’ them for many terrorist criminals.The disproportionate number boggles the brain.
This woman now has part of her family back. They are severely traumatized. The children and niece will need years of serious, dedicated counseling. The woman near Gaza has lost her home, and her business (both were bombed and made ‘unlivable’). Her niece has also lost her home and source of income. And her husband, and her oldest child. She wasn’t even able to bury them.

The news from Palestine is still being controlled by Hamas terrorists. The World is still believing everything they spin as fact. Hollywood is still Indignant, but not as much anymore. There are new things to protest about now. Murder is old hat. Re-naming a body of water is more ‘catchy’. Bashing government officials is more satisfying than…
Where was Gaza again?

And I am still sad.
God please keep the children safe.
Heal the wounds inflicted on your people.
Protect the innocents.
Provide for them an umbrella of safety and love.
Amen.
(So be it).

Til next time,
inkspired

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Mermaid paper dolls

 Hello!

Original Paper Collage Painting by inkspired

All paper collages are hand cut from recycled junk mail - catalogs, flyers, magazines, etc.



Let’s have some fun with mermaid paper dolls!

Unless noted, these are all free for you to download and print for your personal enjoyment. Let’s play nice and not try to sell them or mass produce any.



Unfortunately most I have found on Pinterest with no identifying info on who drew them or where you could find them.

As always, I try to give credit where it is due. If you know information about any of these please let me know so I can give credit.


Some of the paper doll clothes do not have tabs, so be sure to add those when you are cutting them out.

Artist: Milka Tertsunen; ArtStation


Cory Jensen is a favorite paper doll artist of mine for two reasons. He is incredibly talented, and most of his paper dolls he offers for free! Here are a few of his:


Paper dolls by Cory Jensen

By Cory Jensen

Here are a few more versions of The Little Mermaid; many are styled after Disney’s Ariel.

By Cory Jensen

Unknown

By Cory Jensen

‘Irina’ Collage Art Doll by inkspired

Paperthinpersonas.com


If you like these paper dolls the artist offers free ones when you sign up for her e-mails.

Artist: Audrey Kaiser


Print out your mermaid twice. The first one glue to thin cardboard, like a cereal box. Or you can print onto a heavier weight cardstock. Then cut out. Draw a stand on first if you want, and cut as one.
The second print is printed on paper. Cut the costumes out, remembering to add tabs if there aren’t any. If it needs to be colored, do this before you cut out.


Paper dolls by Cory Jensen

I thought we needed some mer-men to compliment our mermaids.
Here is a jointed merman by a different artist-
Artist: Shawne Johnson



Here is another jointed PaperDoll, a mermaid, you can put together with brads, eyelets, or string.

PheeMcFaddell.com

Here is one by the same artist that you can color yourself-



This next one is just the mermaid. I thought it was such a great, simple design that you might like to draw some outfits for her. 
Print her out. Go over the major lines with a black Sharpie. Place on a window, with a plain sheet of paper on top. Trace the main lines. Now you have the basic shape and you can start creating outfits to fit!

Make a few copies of the basic shape. Draw your clothes slightly larger, and don’t forget to add tabs. Since she is a mermaid, draw a stand so she can stand alone for playtime. You could draw a piece of coral or seaweed for her to ‘sit’ on.
Have fun!
www.finfriends.com/printable-mermaid-easter-paper-dolls/
Posted on Pinterest by Crafty Annabelle

Now it’s time to go take a break and drink some water and eat goldfish crackers!


The next 2 mermaid paper dolls are by the same artist, but very different styles-
Artist: Julie Allen Matthews

Artist: Julie Allen Matthews 


Next I have 2 more by Cory Jensen-


Paper dolls by Cory Jensen

The next 2 paper dolls are Lucia and Rina, drawn in manga style-



Artist unknown

 I’ve covered many different styles of mermaids for you. Now the hard part - which one to pick to print and play with first?


‘Til next time,
inkspired

You can find me on Pinterest as
Karen Kloberdans









Thursday, March 13, 2025

Shamrock Shenanigans

 Hello!

Card by inkspired, with hand inked ‘Polished Stone’ background


Let’s have some Saint Patrick’s Day Shamrock fun!

Found on Pinterest

 Did you know a shamrock always and only has 3 heart shaped ‘leaflets’?
I didn’t!

Card by inkspired, with Polished Stone background

A clover can have 3 or 4 ‘leaflets’, but they’re not always green!
Clover comes in white and purple too.
I didn’t know that either!

Here’s a fun Shamrock maze:
Best Coloring Pages, Pinterest

Here’s a fun 4-leaf clover puzzle!

TheTypicalMom.com

4 leaf clovers are found 1 in 10,000 give or take a few dozen.
So if you find one, you are considered lucky!
Here’s a fun way to add some ‘luck to your room -

Poshmark

Spiral Shamrock spinners

Cut a 4-6” circle. Starting at one edge, cut in a spiral design to the middle. Cut out a 4 - 6” shamrock or 4 leaf clover from green cardstock. Write message in white or gold pen. Attach Shamrock to one end of spiral card. (Glue, staple or tape). Attach other end to the ceiling.

Here’s another Spinner idea:

CraftCornerDIY

Use the same basic directions, only use a much larger piece of cardstock for your base circle. Attach several shamrocks to each spinner from top to bottom.

Iris Folded card by inkspired

Here are a couple leprechaun puppets you can string together either with string, brads or eyelets.

Leprechaun Puppets

Artwithcrystal.com


ThePurplePumpkin blog

Next I have for you some 
Recycled Postage Stamp Wall Art.


On a blank piece of paper, cardstock or poster board draw a shamrock lightly in pencil. Make it as large as you want. 8” can be a good size to start with, and easily framed.
Sort through a bag of used postage stamps. Pick out all the ones that are primarily green. Arrange on your shamrock shape. Set aside. Brush on about 3” x 3” square inside the shamrock shape with glue or Mod Podge. Press stamps into glue. Continue with small sections until the entire design is covered. You can finish coat it with a layer of Mod Podge or clear acrylic spray.
You can do this with any shape, any holiday pretty much!
Here are a few shapes to help you -


TheTypicalMom.com
 
Winterandsparrow.com

You can use these basic shapes for lots of different crafts.

Fabric Sachets & Pillows

Cut 2 from fabric and 1 from batting. Sew together, insides out, with a 3/4” seam allowance, leaving a 1 - 2” opening. Turn right side out. Stuff with batting and hand sew closed.

Depending on the size you now have a decorative pillow, or a scented sachet for your drawers (add a few cotton balls soaked in fragrance oil inside of batting, or use fresh herbs in a net pouch, inside of batting.

Betty Home Decor, Etsy 

Shamrock Pins

Make them smaller, sew on a pin to the back and you have cute pins to give all your friends.

Cut them a tad larger and catch a piece of braiding or ribbon in the seam, to form a loop. Attach a clip and you have a cute accessory for your backpack or purse.

Card by inkspired

Fun Fact:

McDonald’s Shamrock Shake 

is 55 years old!


If you have followed me at all, you know I have a love affair with beads. Here are a couple bead patterns to make:

Bead earrings and bracelet

I believe this is from PandaHall.


Kandi Patterns

Fun Fact:
The 1st USA St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Boston in the 1760’s!


I found 2 similar versions of tissue paper suncatchers, so I’m posting them both.

Tissue Paper Suncatchers

CraftCornerDIY


munchkinsandmilitary.com

Cut out 2 shamrock shapes. If you have a Cricut it works great for this project.

Lay 1 shape on top of sticky side up sheet of clear contact paper. Next is the fun part. Start placing tissue paper shapes on top of the sticky contact paper. Shades of green and yellow are perfect. When your shamrock is full place 2nd shamrock outline on top, and finish with a second sheet of contact paper. Trim edges. Hang where the sun can shine through it.


Here are a couple more games:

HOMEMADEHEATHER.COM
CuteColoringPagesForKids.com


These pipe cleaner shamrocks are fun to make, and you can tuck them all over the house for a touch of whimsy:

Beaded pipe cleaner shamrocks

Onelittleproject.com

Cards with Polished Stone hand-inked backgrounds by inkspired


Fun Fact:

9% of Ireland’s population are redheads.


Here is a clever use of paper mache’ letters and pennies:

Lucky Penny Letters

Marzipan.com
Spray or brush copper paint onto paper mache’ letters. Doing a small section at a time, spread glue or Mod Podge generously on dried surface. Place pennies in rows. Alternate ‘heads’ or ‘tails’ as desired. Let dry. Finish with a couple coats of Mod Podge to seal.



So why Ireland and shamrocks and Saint Patrick?
Saint Patrick was a captured slave at age 16, in the 4th century. After 6 years he escaped and returned to Great Britain. He then went back to Ireland as a Roman Catholic missionary.
It is said he used the common shamrock to illustrate the Holy Trinity of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

Digital art by inkspired

Let’s make some garlands to decorate the house and classroom.

Shamrock Garlands


Irish flag colors garland
This simple garland is cut in the colors of the Irish flag.
Cut shamrock shapes from white, orange and green paper. String with baker’s twine or heavy thread or string. You can glue the shamrocks on, or punch holes and thread them onto the string. You could even tape them in place.

Book Page Banner

Homeroad

Use pages from a damaged book. You can run these through a color copier and print a shamrock on each page. You can also use a Cricut machine to cut out shapes from either paper or fabric. Glue these shapes onto the book pages. Finally, you could also use a stencil and acrylic paint to paint a shamrock on each page.
Fold the top of page over 1 inch. Sandwich a string in between folds and glue in place.

Fun Fact:
Ireland has no snakes, moles or weasels!

Vintage card

Next I have an inexpensive door wreath:

Puzzle Piece Wreath

Dollar Store DIY

You will need a jigsaw puzzle, acrylic paints, a paint stir stick, cardboard, scissors and glue. Optional ribbon for bow and hanging.
Cut cardboard in shape of shamrock. Paint puzzle pieces a variety of shades of green. Snip end off paint stick, and paint in rainbow colors. Layer puzzle pieces on top of cardboard cutout shape. Glue in place. Continue layering and gluing until you have several layers deep. Glue paint stick rainbow in place. Seal with acrylic spray sealer or Mod Podge. Add ribbon bow if desired. Attach ribbon on back for hanger.

Card by inkspired

Here is another great 4 leaf clover bead pattern:

PandaHall.com

Fun Fact:
Hallmark printed the first St. Patrick’s Day postcards of shamrocks 1910-1915.


These clothespin leprechauns I thought were pretty cute. Put a pin back on them and you have a great St. Paddy’s pin. Add them to a wreath. Glue a dowel or chopstick to the back and use as a plant poke or seasonal addition to a flower arrangement.

Clothespin Leprechauns 

I wish I knew who to credit this idea to.

You will need wood clothespins; a couple colors of green acrylic paint; felt scraps in green, yellow and black; a scrap of reddish brown yarn and glue.
(I like Aleene’s Tacky Glue).
Follow the photo for ideas of colors and felt placement.
A tiny silk shamrock tucked into the hat band would look super!

Found on Pinterest

This next wreath works up quickly and is super easy. You can add more decorations to it as you want. Sometimes plain and simple are the best, though.

Ribbon wrapped Wreath
Just Us Four, Pinterest

You will need a styrofoam wreath and 2 kinds of ribbon; glue and straight pins.
You could also use crepe paper to cover the wreath base.
Using a straight pin, pin beginning of base ribbon (or crepe paper). Start to wrap around wreath form, being careful no styrofoam shows through. End by pinning tail in place. Now go back and carefully lift ribbon at beginning and glue in place. If it looks like it doesn’t want to stay, use a pin to temporarily hold until glue is bonded. Repeat at end.
Start thinner, decorative ribbon in same way, wrapping more loosely. Glue both ends, tucking under ribbon so end cuts do not show.
Attach decorations with glue, holding in place with straight pins until glue is bonded.  Add a ribbon loop to the back, gluing and tucking ends under.
(A heavier glue like Aleene’s Tacky Glue is essential for this project.)

Vintage sheet music, c.1911

Fun Fact:
The Chicago River has been dyed green every St. Patrick’s Day since 1962.

Here is a nice pattern to make a felt 4 leaf clover. Add these to a hat band, a lapel or decorate the above wreath with a cluster of them.

Felt 4 leaf clover
Molly and Mama


Did you know you can use your Cricut machine to cut felt?


Zentangle art
Use a simple outline of a shamrock or 4 leaf clover. (See above). Fill in with Zentangle doodles. Color with colored pencils if desired. Here are some samples of what I did:

Original Zentangles by inkspired


Here is a cute leprechaun to color:

Christina’s Creations

Fun Fact:
Several of the original Apollo astronauts carried clovers with them for good luck.

I hope you are inspired to try a few of these projects. Crafting is a great way to lower blood pressure, exercise a different part of your brain (which helps prevent dementia) and make a ho-hum place fun to be around. It is also a perfect opportunity for multiple generations to interact positively.


‘Til next time,
inkspired

Kaleidoscope by inkspired and KaleidoCam