Carina is her name. She is so mysterious. Where did she come from?

Was she an idea first? Just a mere thought that grew so much it became something, someone?

Yes! That is how it went. She began as a thought that became an idea that became a doll for a sweet young girl.

To think a sock with just the right accessories can turn into someone quite fun!

Carina

Sammy

5yrs

Yarn’s not just for knitting anymore!  To Chloe’s delight yarn can be used to make the frosting on her chocolaty cupcake complete with tasty paper sprinkles and a pipe cleaner cherry on top!

Imagine the tea parties she can have at home! Her dolls and teddy’s will be thrilled.

Chloe

4yrs

There are  times when reading about characters you love just isn’t enough. Somehow, they need to come to life!

Nick had just the way in mind! Grabbing a kleenex box was the start, the foundation for his Pokemon house was ready to come alive!  A leather door here, a green cellophane  fountain there, a few plastic items from the “Thingamajig” bin for furniture and the house is all decked out! Now, he just needed Pokemon. No problem, a cut-up pipe cleaner and two red beads -Pokemon has entered the building!

Nick

9yrs

I love the word RECLAIM !

At CReATE reclaiming, renewing and repurposing are how we express our creative energy all the time! Maggie decided to reclaim a jean pant leg, to bring it to life in a new way . Since she loves to create accessories, what better addition to her collection than a purse! Reclaiming a pant leg was only the start. She found some satin cording from the “Fancy Trims” bin along with a bit of lacy trim and a few vintage buttons from the “Buttons and Jewelry Pieces” bin. Hmm.. it still needed just one more touch. Her hand painted stripes would do the trick!

Voila! A fabulous purse for any occasion.

Maggie and her Mom

4 yrs and adult

You have to make a “Flat Boat” ? No problem!

When Casey, Jane and Haley had a fifth grade project to do for their school, White Oak Elementary, they brought the assignment to CReATE.  We reviewed the criteria and the girls got to gathering. All they needed were popsicle sticks, a shoe box lid, cardboard, wood pegs and some cotton swabs for oars. What a team they made, discussing the angles and elements. The result, a bona fide Flat Boat and White Oak earned $1.00 from this project for the “Win/Win” program too!

Flat Boat

Casey 10yrs

Jane 11yrs

Haley 11yrs

Do you ever see something online you think you just have to try? Such was that case for Veronica and her two girls. They got inspired to make “peeps’ scenes!

After grabbing several boxes at the after season sales they headed over to CReATE to tell their tales!

While Veronica thought of Star Wars saga’s complete with Chewbacca, CP30 and R2D2, Erin set her peeps in a lovely garden wedding scene for a serenely united afternoon. Morgan on the other hand let her feelings about a particularly frustrating writing class play out, no doubt taking her writing and her imagination to the next level for days to come as she giggles endlessly at the sight of a lesson set aflame!

Ah the wonders these peeps have provided.

Peeps Scenes

Veronica

Adult

Morgan

10

Erin

8

As adults we don’t find ourselves getting caught up in the act of creating as often as we’d like-if ever.

While vending the Pink Parlor Festival a few weeks ago I noticed a mom caught up in the act of exploring her imagination while her daughter created at the next table. Keep in mind there were no glue guns on hand, just the will to make this little lady come to life by way of a piece of upholstery fabric that caught her eye.

I know that when she left the festival she felt a little fuller by allowing herself the time to play with dolls.

Unknown

Adult

Who would have thought that a coffee mug handle would make such a  great nose? Braden did! This was just the beginning of his vision coming together , he found a smile in a magazine, some mesh from an onion bag and  other nifty odds and ends. This has to be the friendliest robot I ever did see.

Rocket Man

Braden

9yrs

A canvas can take many forms. We tend to like painting on a variety of surfaces at CReATE.

Take this once suited for picnic tables paper as a canvas for Emma’s portrait, a self portrait I am sure.

The texture of the paper surface captures her color choices and mood so well.

Self Portrait

Emma

5yrs