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 One of the wonderful things about the holidays is the element of surprise. You don't know what's inside those beautifully wrapped gifts. The doorbell rings and it could be just about anyone. And you’re really always in awe at how surprisingly long you have to wait in line at any store during this time of year…LOL.
Are you doing anything to surprise yourself this season? Here are some ideas:
- How might the holidays be surprisingly easy? Think of ways you can make things more and simple and fun. Share your plans with your family and friends, and get their ideas, too. When we remove stress, it allows more room for conversations, visiting, and meaningful connections.
- How might the holidays be surprisingly creative? Try this: grab a plastic baggie and fill it with random art supplies, without even thinking about your selection. Then sit down and create a handmade holiday card with this impromptu art kit that you've created.
- How might the holidays be surprisingly affordable? Think of alternatives to your usual gift-gifting that cost little or nothing. Think about what is most meaningful to the people on your list, and explore what you might create that is truly from the heart.
- How might the holidays be surprisingly productive? If you have a bit of "down time" over the holidays, consider that now is a great time to start making plans for next year. Take time to dream about what is most important to you next year. Doodle, sketch, and collage your vision of a truly fulfilling 2012. This gives you a jumpstart on your New Year's plans so that you're invigorated, inspired, and motivated when January rolls around.
- How might the holidays be surprisingly ______? Fill in the blank for yourself; what would be the most delightful surprise to you this holiday season, and how might you help bring it about?
Speaking of surprises, those of you who have been around Artella for a while will remember our Annual Mystery Muse Projects, where for several years we've coordinated our own artistic alternative to "Secret Santas". It's free to participate, and just a fun way to start the new year with positive, creative energy. To get all the details about how you can sign up to be a "Mystery Muse", simply keep reading below.
For those short on time, to simplify this week's Artellagram, here are some ”quick links” to the highlights in this edition. You can simply follow the links that you're interested in and go directly to that section.
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1. Artella's Double-Dipped Holiday SuperSale! Wahoo, it comes once a year…our super Holiday sale! This year Artella's Double-Dipped Holiday SuperSale offers 40% off ALL Artella Products, plus a $15-$75 Artella eGift Card!
This is a great way to pick up all the Artella e-Courses, eBooks, and downloadable kits that you like at 40%, and then get an eGift Card to use next year! You can also use it for gifts for your creative friends, too! Dip into the delicious Double-Dipped SuperSale, here!
 2. Annual 55% Off Membership Sale …Plus an eGift Card Up to $50! Our famous once-a-year 55% off Membership Sale is going on through December 31! You can now once again save over half off on Artella Membership! We've created some really fun options for the really special ones on your gift list, including you of course! You'll have your choice of a six-month or full-year Luxury Gift Membership to any one of Artella's Luxury Cabin Memberships, all of which have recently been renovated and updated with all-new monthly packages of amazing goodies!
Plus this year, we're including an extra bonus: when you order any membership at 55% off, you ALSO immediately receive an Artella eGift Card from $5 to $50!
This is also a great opportunity to get or upgrade your own Artella membership at 55% off as well. It's the best offer we ever make on membership so if you are a current monthly member and would like to save up to 55% on your membership during the coming 6 months or 1 year, this is by far the best promotion to take advantage of.
To take advantage of our annual 55% Off Special for Gift Memberships, simply go to this page to order your gifts. We'll take care of all the details, and deliver the Gift Membership to your friends in artsy, Artella style!
 3. NEW! The Annual Mystery Muse Project Is Here! Our annual project is similar to the tradition of "Secret Santas"… but with a creative twist! Sign up to be a Mystery Muse, and you'll receive the name and snail mail address of someone else who has signed up. You will then send at least TWO creative offerings to that person during the month of January. These offerings can be very, very simple and needn't cost any money. Some examples: a 3 line Haiku poem sent with a pressed leaf… a sketch drawn on a napkin in a restaurant… a handmade card… a photograph that you took… a copy of a short story you wrote.
It can be absolutely anything, as long as you send at least two things during January that you created personally. You should keep your identity a secret until you send your final offering, at which time you can reveal yourself.
It's completely free to participate, and just a fun way to start the new year with positive, supportive energy. Sign-ups will be accepted through December 30, 2011. Get all the details and sign up for this inspiring project, here!
 4. Holiday Art Supplies on Sale! We've got lots of holiday-themed goodies in the Artella Store, just in time to inspire you as you create your holiday cards, invitations and gifts.
Here are links to just a few of our holiday-themed items…all of which are 40% off in the Double-Dippped Holiday SuperSale!
5. Directory of ARTbundance Coaches and Practitioners! We are so excited to announce this new service to the Artella Community: a convenient directory of Certified ARTbundance Coaches and Practitioners! Browsing through this directory is a great way to find someone who a coach, teacher or speaker who is passionate about using creativity to help you finally live the life you've always dreamed of, and is thoroughly trained to do so! Enjoy getting to know all the wonderful people there ready to help you!
And if you yourself have thought about applying for the next session of the ARTbundance Certification Training Program, please fill out this quick form to let us know your timing preferences, which will help guide us as we create Artella Land's 2012 schedule. In return, you not only get notified when the next program starts, you actually help determine the dates that are right for you, you also get a passion-packed gift booklet, "Pizzazz Your Purpose: An Introduction to the ARTbundance Principles", as a lil’ thank you.
 6. This month's ARTbundance™ Community Events for December! We've recently posted several new free teleclasses that are part of the ARTbundance™ Community Events Series in December, all presented by our talented ARTbundance™ Practitioners in training. In addition to the attending these events for free, you also get a wonderful pack of ARTbundant goodies to enjoy! See the descriptions of the new events and sign up here!
 7. Join the ARTfiliate Program! Join Artella's generous ARTfiliate Program and Enjoy all the new affiliate tools that we've recently added! You can get more info by clicking here.
 8. Interested in Becoming Part of Artella's Team? We are expanding our team for all the exciting things we're working on, so if you're interested in becoming part of the Artella Team, check out this page for details.
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 For today's "In the Studio" Interview, I'm delighted to present an interview with an extraordinary artist whose work is especially admired this time of year. Enjoy getting to know Mr. Santa Claus!
Artella: What does your studio look like?
Santa: Delegation is an important part of my work, so my workshop is largely designed to please the elves….happy music, low tables and chairs, ample storage space for pointy hats, and the like.
Artella: How would you describe your work?
Santa: My work falls in to the artistic genre of "benevolent eclecticism", with an emphasis on the playful and serendipitous.
Artella: Fascinating! What tips might you suggest for someone first experimenting in your art style? How might a complete newbie get started?
Santa: Simply look for opportunities to create and give for no reason. Artella's Mystery Muse Project is a great place to start! Opportunities for giving and creating are everywhere for those willing to see them.
To see more of Santa and his work, just look around: you can find him in your local shopping mall, street corner, and in the hearts of young children everywhere.
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I grew up comforted by the tradition of annual handmade Christmas cards. Each year, my mother lovingly created one-of-a-kind woodcut prints for our family’s annual holiday cards, which were adorned with an insightful poetic verse written by my father. As a child, I remember actually being shocked when I learned that not every household turned into a factory during the Holidays!
Indeed, there is something unique about handmade cards that can’t be replicated with even the fanciest boxed designs. Creating miniature works of art with messages of hope and joy simply feels good! The trick is to keep the production simple and fun, so that you receive as much joy creating the cards as the recipients do. Beautiful cards don’t have to take a lot of time, and that’s why we’ve assembled these lovely vintage-inspired card projects for you.
Cutting, pasting, and decorating beautiful bits of paper is a wonderful way to slow down during the holiday season and feel gratitude for all the creative gifts in your life. When you are filled with gratitude and joy as your hands do their happy crafting dance, I believe that positive energy fills each and every envelope that you send on its Merry way. Then, when each special person on your list opens that precious, all-too-rare snail-mail envelope, they receive a gift for their heart, as well as the eyes.
Here's a quick and easy card design to try:
1. Cut strips of paper into approximately the same size. 1" wide by 5" long is a good length. This is a great use for all of those "random" paper scraps in your stash!
2. Weave the strips together, as shown in the example. Don’t worry about making it perfect – imperfections lend to old-time charm.
3. Glue or tape down the ends to keep your "weaving" intact.
4. Adhere other images and embellishments to the card to complete it.
Spread some heart-woven joy this holiday season with your cards and if you’ve already sent yours out, you can send some special ones out for the New Year or favorite upcoming holidays and birthdays all year round!
This project is excerpted from Artella's Step-by-Step Vintage Holiday Cards eBook.
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This Quotz Crystal is a high-resolution jpeg image, suitable for printing. I invite you to print it out as a fun reminder to catch the true miracles of the season...the miracles of love that are all around you.
~wishing sweet surprises for ,
 Marney
Artella Founder, Mango Lover, Hula Dancer
Artella Land ~ the creative isles of words, art, and spirit
Artella 9090 Skillman #182A-116 Dallas TX 75243 |
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