creativenachos.com Blog

I love art. I love going to museums and seeing the works of great painters and sculptors but I also love meeting artists of all kinds and learning about their process, their life. I find that there is little more I love more than feeling the passion an artist or writer feels for their work.

On the Thursday Sweet Treat, I started an “Artist Play Date” which allows me to learn something from an artist I admire. Today, Allover Art shared a tutorial for pendants that I now want to try and she is having an awesome giveaway.

I’d like to invite you to see her work (follow this link to today’s post and giveaway http://thursdaysweettreat.blogspot.com ) AND I’d like to ask for you to share some of your favorite artists with me here.

Who moves you? What artists and writers inspire you??

Can’t wait to hear from you!

The little fairy that spread love worldwide. Her hearts even fall down upon the inside of the card.

The winner of our contest is Dorothy! Please send me your address so that I can send along your cards. And Anna is a runner-up because even before Dorothy said little hearts, Anna said that the little fairy with heart-shaped wings was spreading love but she just did not specifically say what she was sprinkling. Congratulations to you both and I’d like to extend a BIG thank you to all of you for playing – especially Kat’s grammar school class. Let’s all give them a BIG round of applause!

I believe it was Trish who left a comment about this fairy spreading hope. That was the exact feeling I felt when I was creating this card. It is also something I think we need more of given the current state of things in the world.

I think I feel most hopeful when I feel fully alive or is it the other way around? Either way, today I decided that I would pay close attention to the things that stirred me…you know those things that give you goosebumps or that little excited feeling right in the center of you. Some of the things I found that move me and spark a bright feeling of hope inside are:

-When I make big dishes of imaginary food with my daughter…hahaha…actually when I play, read or do pretty much anything with her.

-Books - like the adorable, old editions of Beatrix Potter books my brother gave to my daughter. I had them when I was young and loved them. However, I love and am inspored by pretty much any books – children, teen and adult – that are well-written.

-Dancing – closing my eyes and letting my body move to music…

-Color – I LOVE color and how it mixes together. I love bright, warm colors.

All of these things have a theme. They revolve around learning…new ways of playing, thinking, moving or seeing things. When I learn or am inspired, I am filled with hope and, much like this fairy, I want to share what is within me.

HOPE….I even like the word….what fills you with hope?

Whenever the holidays come to an end, I like that little bit of downtime. However, not very long after, I find myself asking the question, ”So, what now?” This January, I’m starting the year off in a playful mood. So, what do you say? Let’s PLAY! It’s time for the first CreativeNachos DoodleStars contest of 2009. Are you ready??

Tell me what you think this cute fairy is sprinkling.

The first person to guess the right answer will win this card (and I can promise you, you will love it when you see the whole card) and 2 of the following printed cards with hearts you can touch! The contest ends on Tuesday, January 6th at midnight!!

Let your imagination run wild!!

Judy!!!

She was the first person to correctly answer The Great Penguin contest question.  Judy, please send me an email indicating where you would like me to send your 8 assorted cards YAY!!!

The question has been asked – will I be making any New Years cards and the answer is yes. They will be listed in my shop within the next week. I will have birthday, friendship, thank you notes and much, much more. I will let you know as things make their way into the store. In addition, if there are cards or gift items that you would like custom made or things you wish existed as gifts send along ideas. I’d love to hear them!

Once again, I am in awe of all of you. Your imaginative answers to The Great Penguin contest inspired me. I want to create every scene you came up with! However, no one came close to the right answer. SO, I am extending the contest to the end of the day today and giving you a bigger clue. What could the penguins be looking at behind that big, black box??

I will announce the winner tomorrow. I cannot wait to hear the answers today!!

For many years, I have dreamt of creating things for others that bring joy to their lives. Today, I come before you filled with so many emotions ranging from fear and elation to happiness and thankfulness as I share the first step in bringing my dream to life by introducing you to my company, DoodleStars. My shop, which is currently selling 2 Holiday Cards in packs of 10, is located on Etsy and can be found at http://doodlestar.etsy.com 

DoodleStars was founded on the belief that we are all little stars and if we celebrate ourselves and those we love, we’ll start something, something big. We will start a positive chain reaction – like the ripples we send out into the world when we share a smile, only bigger. If all we are doing is celebrating the small moments that make life memorable then who has time for all the negative stuff? There is only time to live and live well.

We are not just stars; we are little doodles as well. We are these imagined dreams that have come to life. There is something freeing in that idea. If we are these shining bits of creativity then it goes without saying that we can create whatever we dream. That’s what I’m doing and I want to create things that inspire you to dream big and start doodling today!

This company that is founded on fun and celebration launches with holiday cards that celebrate the magic that happens when you let your imagination run wild. You have been seeing bits and pieces of them. Here is The Gingerbread Man Escapade.

The inside message reads: “Hope you catch the spirit of the season. Merry Christmas”

AND now the winner of our Gingerbread Man contest was Lorrie!! Congratulations, Lorrie. Please send me an email with the address you’d like me to send your cards to.

The winner had to correctly answer the question of what was happening to the Gingerbread Man. Lorrie was the first to do that but there were others who got it right. Our runner-ups were Claire and Bridget and they will receive 2 holiday cards each so please send me your addresses and I will send out your cards!

Here is another card which is for sale at my shop and here on my blog as well! Polar Bears Playing Under the Stars

The inside of this card reads: “This holiday have fun with someone you love. Merry Christmas.”

These cards come in packs of 10 and are available right now! Tomorrow another design will be released as will the winner of the The Great Pengiun contest. At that time you will be able to purchase a variety box of holiday cards!

Thank you for all your support. You all are a large reason I finally took this leap. I plan on doing much more and sharing it all with you. For now I ask that you let me know what you think of the cards, pass along this information to friends and of course enter that Penguin contest which ends tonight at midnight.

Thank you for being in my life and inspiring me to make my dreams come true. I can only hope I do the same for you one day!

Love today and always,
Natasha

© Reproduction rights remain with Natasha Reilly, all rights reserved

Welcome to the first week in December! This is sure to be an exciting one. First, the Gingerbread man contest mentioned in the previous post ends tonight at midnight so you still have time to tell a friend or make second guesses. The winner will be announced tomorrow in a very Special Edition of Creativenachos so be sure to stop by.

I had such a tremendously good time basking in the richness of your imaginations that I am hosting a 2nd Nacho Contest, The Great Penguin Contest.

Please look at the picture of the penguin and tell me: a) what he is looking at and b) what “Oh Please, oh please…” means.

The Great Penguin Contest begins today and ends at midnight on Tuesday. The winner, who will receive 8 assorted holiday cards that people are sure to love, will be announced on Wednesday!

You all have the most incredible imaginations and are filled with such fun that I cannot wait to read your answers!
 

How was Thanksgiving? I have a nice hangover but not from alcohol. Instead it’s that hangover caused by delicious food and lots of laughter and good fun. I feel like I worked out for days. Huh, if laughing is tiring me out perhaps its time for the gym. Hahah, nah! I hope your holiday was great.

CreativeNachos will have a major announcement next week. Now, I know today is Black Friday and some of you may want to get your shop on but I have a favor to ask. There will be some limited edition items available for purchase next week – WOOOHOOO-  so if you haven’t gotten those holiday cards just yet, I ask you to wait just a few more days. I may have something you might like . For now, here’s a teeny, tiny preview.

I have been SO inspired by Lorrie’s giveaways at Our Name is Blog and Rowena’s recent giveaway at Warrior Girl, You’re a Warrior Mama Now that I am holding my own. Thanks for the inspiration, Lorrie and Rowena. I’m ridiculously excited!

In the comments here, tell me what do you think is happening to the naughty gingerbread man in this picture and the person to get it right OR get closest to the correct answer will receive a special holiday treat – 5 free holiday cards that I guarantee you’ll love. The contest ends on Monday, December 1st!

Go ahead, guess and then tell a friend!!