Saturday, January 17, 2015

Canvas Easter Bags

Canvas bags are perfect for Easter egg gathering. They're sturdy and the kids won't have to worry about their eggs spilling out. They have two flexible handles that also make them easy to carry.

If you'd like a coloring activity for you kids to do too, then this bunny tote bag will do the job. The text can be replaced with your own message, child's name, etc. The bunny rabbit is pictured on the budget tote and you can select a different handle color. This bag style measures 15.75"h by 15.25"w.


This cute plaid bunny rabbit is content with who he or she is. The text says, "I love plaid." The text can be easily customized.


This Impulse style tote features my painting of three pastel Easter Eggs laying in the grass. It has a front pocket, and measures 13.5"long x 18.5"wide; 5.5" deep. This design has a look of elegance for the more mature Easter egg lovers.


For a colorful look, you can choose this Colorful Easter Eggs Bag. When I painted this watercolor design, I was thinking of them as Easter eggs. Once I finished the painting, I realized that they also look a lot like large jelly beans. So the choice is yours; are they eggs or jelly beans? : )


Any of the above designs can be purchased on a different bag style and/or color and can be customized with your own text. The bags come in a variety of styles and sizes.

Cheryl Paton

Find other canvas Easter bags at Amazon:

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Unique Personalized Baby Shower Invitations

Are you looking for something a little different for baby shower invitations? You have come to the right place.

What a perfect way to think of a little shower than with a watering can. The pink can sprinkles a spray of pink water. The details are on the back; they can be easily customized by typing in your info on the template form.


It also comes in blue which shows a blue can and blue water.

This next design is another fun thing to think of for a shower - an umbrella that is green and orange. The handle is striped too. The customizable details are printed on the back.


What does one also need for walking in showers - boots! This design features a colorful painting of baby booties on a gray background. I chose gray for the background because I wanted to make it suitable for men too. The booties are depicted in eight different colors.


The Baby Shower details text to personalize is also on the back.

What sprouts up after a spring shower - flowers! This design has both pink and blue flowers on it; it can be a shower for twins, but it doesn't have to be for twins. The text can be easily customized. The flowers and leaves are arranged in a simple flowing pattern.


I hope you enjoyed these fun baby shower designs.

Do you have a favorite?

Cheryl Paton
Browse more baby items to find matching stickers and more, at CherylsArt on Zazzle.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Art on Products - Peaceful Thoughts

Here you will find various peaceful thoughts that are printed on stickers and magnets. It is nice to have some positive thoughts around to more easily refocus my thoughts.

My thoughts have ran the gamant at times, and not necessarily in a good way. I'm better at catching myself now, and either just stopping it, and also replacing those thoughts with new thoughts that are more supportive of who I choose to be.

For instance, one day I was thinking about a particular web site; my thoughts weren't pleasant at all. I was thinking of the next thing I could say to them, that wasn't nice either. Then I caught myself. I need to think differently. I stated to myself, "I am doing the right thing."

I had no idea what the right thing was at the time, but I new the previous thoughts weren't the right thing. But I did and do have the power to set myself on the course of better thinking.

Once I declared that I am doing the right thing, several times, I felt calmer. The things I had been thinking about, faded away. New ideas came to mind that were more in line with doing the right thing.


Another thing that I have done to improve my mood is to just smile. I don't even need a reason, other than just choosing to smile. This simple action can be pretty powerful.


How often do you smile at yourself? Go ahead, you have permission, not that you need it though. You are definitely worth taking a moment to smile to yourself; you can even do it for longer than a moment. I find it especially powerful to smile at myself in front of the mirror.


This little sweetie also helps me to smile. She is my cat Muffin, and she'll be glad to help you smile too. She is a great encourager of peaceful thoughts to me.


She doesn't usually wear a dress, but she did for a short time. She did look quite the cutie in it. Anyway, she gives me lots of love and purrs, and loving looks.

May you find more moments to smile, and also just to smile for no particular reason.

Before you go, here is a {{{{hug}}}} for you. Blessings.

Cheryl Paton

Art on Products - Feel Good Affirmations

We all like to feel good, and/or better. It's such a good feeling to have when you're feeling good! Little reminders can serve to give you a boost with a refocus of mind.

There are times when I walk by and read one of my little affirmation reminders, that my mood can make a positive shift.

It also helps me when I purposely smile at myself in front of a mirror!

You may be wondering what this has to do with art. When I first started using affirmations, I found that I wanted something more. For me, it helped to have little pictures that went with the affirmation; my mind then made a quicker connection to them, and it also gave my mind an image. I liked that, and it worked for me.

If you like art, then that might work for you too.

It helps to be appreciative and/or loving. Think about a favorite experience, or when you felt loving towards someone (it can even be towards yourself.) It's nice to foster those kinds of feelings. If you can't seem to think of one, you can always create a new one. Think of something that you want to happen, and then think of how you would feel should that event happen.

Rhymes are also a good way to make a positive connection to good feelings. I make them up for myself and used to also make them up for my daughter when she was a kid:


I have said this little rhyme often, to help me think of things that I appreciate.

And yes you are loved. It helps when you are also loving towards yourself. Give yourself a hug, a smile; you're worth it.


Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we are loved, loving, and lovable. And then we may need to update our minds on what loving is - such as being kind, doing something nice, giving praise or a compliment to another, and/or to yourself.

When we teach our minds what we expect loving to be, we'll be more able to recognize the love in ourselves and then we can see more of it in our lives.

Smiling also helps. Think about something you like, or you could even just smile first. Sometimes the positive thought can also follow the positive action.


Cheryl Paton

I've tried some of these myself; they're pretty cool. It can be a nice surprise to shuffle them up and pick out a random card.


Thursday, January 8, 2015

Outline Drawings on Aprons

Here you will find a selection of simple outline drawings on custom aprons. The aprons can be worn as they are, or if you are creatively inclined, the designs can be painted, colored in.

This first design features an outline drawing of a mother and baby fish swimming next to each other. It can be a great gift from a child to their mom on Mother's Day. The child could color it in ahead of time, or both mother and child can color it in together!


Here is an example of the fish design that I traced with dimensional paint. I also drew in some coral and seaweed outlines with the paint. I had purchased the design on a white apron.


The aprons come in three styles and three color choices. The styles include children's aprons, and two different lengths for the adult aprons. Any design can be ordered on any style apron.

The fuchsia flower apron for adults is shown here in the medium length option on yellow. Teens through adults can also enjoy some coloring fun. It also has a template form for personalizing with a name.


The Chef Pizza Toss apron is shown in the long length on white. Do you know a pizza chef that could use a special apron?


I own several of the aprons from Zazzle, and they have all been well made. The fabric is a medium weight cotton which is made of 65% polyester and 35% cotton. They wash up quite well in the laundry and do not need ironing.

The strap around the neck on the adult aprons has an adjustment buckle on it. The straps around the waist are quite long; there is enough room for me to bring it around and tie it in the front. I wear a size 10 in misses.

You can view more outline aprons by CherylsArt at Zazzle.

Cheryl Paton

I used Scribbles paint for the outlining that I did on the fish design.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Color in Aprons - Fun Painting Activity for Kids


Are you looking for a fun activity for the kids to do at a party and/or as a family activity? Aprons to color in can be your answer. The kids will have an apron to help protect their clothing for future projects, and also have something that they have added their own artistic flare to.

When I was a kid, I loved creating art, and I also wanted my art to serve some kind of purpose. I liked seeing my artwork being appreciated and also useful in some way. How about your kids? I am sure that they would like to see their artwork on actual items.


Coloring in aprons can be less messy or more messy. It mainly depends on the kids, and also what kind of paints you choose. For more of a coloring experience, I recommend the fabric paint markers. They don't require any bowls of water or brushes. They do require a little bit of practice first, so that the kids don't press the tips too hard, and inadvertently have too much paint run out. In my experience, the Sharpie Permanent Markers have bled on the fabric when laundered, even though I had heat set the design first. So I do recommend acrylic paint markers.

You can also use fabric paint, and/or fabric painting medium mixed in with acrylic paints, along with paint brushes. For quicker drying time, just paint on a thin layer of paint on the fabric.


Dimensional paint can be used for outlining an already painted in design, or just by itself. The dimensional paint will take longer to dry; so it should be laid to the side for several hours or more before any kind of manipulation.

Preparation Tip
Whatever painting medium you use, do have flat sheets of cardboard on hand to place under the apron, before having the painting to begin. This will prevent paint bleed through onto the table or onto anything else that might be under the apron.

Also, be sure to have the painting activity occur early on during your get together, so that the paint can be drying while the kids are snacking or playing games.

This is the cat apron before any paint is added to it. You can order with your own text, or just delete the text if you don't want any.


The kids aprons are smaller and come in the style that is pictured above. There are also adult sized aprons for older kids that come in medium and long lengths. All three styles come in a choice of white, khaki, and yellow.

When buying, choose the outline design that you like first, then choose your apron style and/or color. These are additional outline drawings that I have already drawn:


If you have any questions and/or design requests, you can submit them in the comment section below.

Cheryl Paton