Sari Toivola (Sari): Hi! I’m Sari Toivola a Graphic Designer and Illustrator from Vantaa, Finland. I love drawing, designing, comics, history, horses and cats.   I’m working as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator and my business name is Sari ja kuva. I am also a qualificated special needs assistant and have worked with kids, so I’m really excited when I get a chance to create something for them!

Scribble Town (ST): Thank you Sari for being with us at Scribble Town!  I like your business name ‘Sari ja kuva’ because when I did a translation of it from Finnish to English it means ‘Sari and picture’.  I started playing around with your words and found that if you put them all together (take away the i) sarjakuva means cartoon!  How clever of you to come up with that name!  It makes perfect sense why a girl named Sari from Finland should be an illustrator and comic lover.

With that said please tell us more about yourself.  What are you up to these days?

Sari: At the moment, I’m doing different kind of works for small companies, associations and private persons. Drawing and designing isn’t only work for me, it’s also a hobby and a lifestyle.

ST: What do you like most about illustrating?

Sari: Drawing is creative and the most natural way for me to express myself. By drawing you can mix reality and fantasy, only sky (and your own imagination) is the limit. It’s also rewarding to draw for some specific purpose where illustration is supposed to be a part of the big picture and support, for example, a text. I’m always trying to create something a bit new and bring the subject a new point of view. I also want to express feelings through my pictures, hoping they will touch the viewers as well.

ST: What is your favorite place to create?

Sari: Most of the time I work at home but some days it’s also nice to go to a nice coffee house and work there. It totally depends on my mood… If I’m tired I’d rather stay at home but sometimes it’s good and healthy to go outside and then I usually pick a nice place with some background noise which helps me concentrate.

ST: What art techniques or tools do you like to use?

Sari: Mostly I draw digitally on the computer using a mouse and a few programs, but I also use pencils and markers for sketching. I usually start a new work by drawing and sketching by hand. Then I scan my sketches and finish the work with a computer by drawing the lines and coloring.

ST: Where do you get your inspiration from?

Sari: I get my inspiration from every day life, people, animals, and nature. I’m also very into European history of arts and culture. This is one of the things that inspires me most.

ST: Do you have a craft, piece of art, or art technique you can share with our Scribblers for them to make at home? Any tips would be great!

Sari: I have been working with an intreresting technique lately called “Taikataikina,” which translates to “Magic Dough.” Everyone can make it, you just need some wheat flour, salt, water and cooking oil. You can handle it like play dough or clay and it can be harden in a regular oven.

Instructions on how to make Taikataikina aka Magic Dough:

3 dl wheat flour

1½ dl salt
1½ dl water
(dl= deciliter)

1 spoon of oil

If you like you can also add a hint of food colouring to the dough for more color.

Mix all the dry ingredients together and then add water and oil. Fold the dough until it’s smooth and then start creating.

If you don’t use all the dough at once, keep the rest of the dough in fridge so you can use it later.

Finished artworks can be harden by heating them in an oven about an hour in 125 celsius degrees. Hardened works can be painted and varnished by using water colours, acrylics or permanent markers.

This dough is very easy to make and simple to work with. It’s 100% non-toxic, so it’s also suitable for small children. And it is cheap and can be hardened at home without any complicated or expensive equipment.

Here are a couple of photos of fresh Magic Dough Masks waiting to get cleaned up and colored.

ST: What a great idea, Sari! Perhaps the Scribblers out there could make their own Magic Dough and send in pictures of their creations. We can post your Magic Dough sculptures on the Scribble Blog. I’m definitely ready to get my hands all floured up and turn 2D into 3D!

After the Magic Dough creations bake in the oven you can paint them.  To the left are Felipe, Christian, M, and Pierre with rosy lips and faces full of color.

For more info about Sari and her artwork please have a look at www.sarijakuva.fi.  I’m sure she’d love hear from you!  In Finnish you can say “moi” or “hei” for hello. Hay is not just for horses in this part of the world

Thanks Sari for all the inspiration you have given us!

Scribblers, don’t forget to send in jpegs of your Magic Dough creations to . Can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with!

Happy Thanksgiving Scribblers!

What a beautiful day for a parade and for sharing time with friends and family.

I thought that you would enjoy these fun and easy activities to keep your little Scribblers busy while you are preparing for the festivities.

Scribble your own Thanksgiving placemat with our downloadable coloring page.  Click on the image to download and print.

Your kids will enjoy making this turkey headband.  It’s easy too. You’ll need some colorful construction paper, scissors and glue.  Cut, glue and assemble and enjoy!

Here’s a coloring page that’s sure to delight, get those crayons and markers out and get scribbly!!

Wishing you a happy day and a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Gobble, Gobble!!!

Warm Regards,

Andi

Chief Scribbler

Tucked into the northern corner of the Catskills is a village called Tannersville, sometimes referred to as the painted village.

The stores, restaurants and b­uildings along Main Street are sporting a very colorful look.  A local artist and painter, Elena Patterson conceived and carried out the town wide Paint Projectwith efforts of the Hunter Foundation and with the help of corporate sponsors and local residents. Downtown buildings were transformed into dramatic paint schemes of bright colors with decorative signs and shutters.  Some of the buildings even have cartoon pictures painted on the shutters.

Thinking of this colorful town reminded me of a drawing I did a while back for a product I created called Scribble mats.

 

I hope you will enjoy using your favorite colorsand get creative with our On the town coloring  page. Just, download the image, print and get scribbly.

Have you created a colorful work of art that you would like to share?  Please send in your artwork and tell us what inspired you to create it.  Perhaps we will feature it  on Scribbleblog.

Happy Scribbling!

Hi Scribblers,

It’s been quite the week here in NYC.  Hurricane Sandy came in with such tremendous force, I don’t think anyone was prepared for the damage and devastation she left in her path. Our building was evacuated and our lobby filled up with water and could have passed for an Olympic sized swimming pool.   We still are without power or heat. Transportation has been difficult and we haven’t been able to get to the office, so I’ve been scribbling up a storm this week.

I thought I would share this opportunity with you.  The is putting out a call for art for their upcoming December exhibition. They are asking artists, writers, and designers to send postcard sized works in any medium.  I was inspired to create “Stormy Rays”.  I’m going to color it and send it to them.

Your postcards can be priced at $20, $30, $40, or $50. The artist will gets 50% if the work sells… (woohoo!)  This is a great activity for you to do with your little ones. You can send as many postcards as you want. The more the merrier!

Please have a look at their website for full details of how you can submit your art.

So get your pencils, markers, paints etc. out and start scribbling.

We would love to see your creations.  Please share them with us and if you know of any events that our readers may be interested in, please share them with us too.

Happy Scribbling!!

All my best,

Andi

 

 

Hi Scribblers,

Do you like to color? Coloring, scribbling, drawing….these are all great ways to explore your creativity. Sometimes you can sit down with a pen or pencil with an exact thought in mind and try to draw it, but if you aren’t an “artist” you can still exercise your creative skills!

Simply sit down with a blank piece of paper and a crayon, pencil, marker or pen and simply start to color. Where do the squiggly lines take you? What will you draw? You may not konw at first, but as you continue to squiggle and scribble all of a sudden you may realize that your mind is starting to draw something!

See…

At first I simply started with the orange marker at the center and started to scribble on the paper. Before I knew it, I was drawing a rose!

What will you create? Share your drawings, scribbles and sketches with us on our Scribble Shop page!

We’re almost half way through Zoo & Aquarium Month! Have you taken your  kids to visit a local zoo or aquarium? Taking your children to zoos, aquariums, planetariums and museums is a great way to educate and broaden the kids understanding of the world and culture. It is also a great way to inspire creativity!

As the kids come across new sights, new creatures and revelations, their minds will soar with questions, curiosity and a desire to share those experiences with others! Coloring and drawing is a great way to do this!

To relive the memories, encourage your kids to draw what they saw!

Hi Scribblers!

Did you know today is Bird Day? Bird watching is a favorite past time of many and is one of the most popular hobbies! The great thing about bird watching is that it can be enjoyed by anyone- no matter their age! This year, inspire your little ones with some scribbley bird activities!

Color in these birds and then glue them to popsicle sticks for puppets, or string them up to a paper plate to make a mobile! Help your little ones know and appreciate the beauty of birds by taking them to the local park or beach. This can be a great activity for parents too! Bring along your sketch book and get scribbley!

Mother’s Day is scheduled perfectly for Spring! Does your Mom love to do gardening? What about Grandma? With a handy gardening tote, it is the perfect way to show Mom how much you care, show your creativity and help Mom organize her gardening tools!

To make this craft, you will need:

- Canvas Tote

- Fabric Mod Podge

- Fat Quarters

- Scissors

- Pinking Shears

- Colorful Thread

- Needle

- Paint Brush

- Colorful Sharpie Markers
- Colorful Buttons

 To start, cut out flowers, butterflies and other spring shapes with pinking shears and scissors.

Lay out all the pieces onto the canvas tote to create a happy spring scene design.

One at a time, apply a think layer of Mod Podge to the back of each of the pieces and place them into your design.

Smooth out each piece onto the canvas with your fingertips. Once all of the pieces are down, let dry for two hours.

Once all of the pieces are dry, Mod Podge the top of the pieces. To seal your design, gently work the Mod Podge into the appliqué with your brush.  This creates a nice shiny surface. Let dry for 2 hours.

Using the colorful Sharpie markers, add detail onto your design and let your creativity soar!

Sew colorful buttons onto the straps and present the Spring Time tote to Mom!

Hi Scribblers,

I don’t know how the weather is where you are but it was a rainy day at Scribble Town! When cold and rainy days keep your little ones shut indoors, how do you keep them entertained? Looking for something other than watching TV? Get them coloring or making a craft! Rainy days offer a great opportunity to inspire creativity! To start them off on the right track, share this rainy day coloring page with your kids!

To get this page, just click on the image, download and print!

Coloring is a great activity for self-expression and is sure to bring a smile to their faces!

Hi Scribblers!

Looking for something fun to keep the kids entertained during the cold winter months? Do your kids love to color? Then help your little ones make their own Window Stickeez!

This craft is so easy to make and it is a great way to inspire creativity in your kids! Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what kind of coloring book or art theme your kids would be interested in, with this project let your kids find their own creative source to Get Scribbley with!

To make this craft you will need:

 

-Contact Paper

-Sharpie Markers

-Scissors

-Tape

-A Creative Inspiration of your choice!

 

To start, have your little ones pick out a few characters and scenes from their favorite coloring books, story books, magazines or posters. Next, cut out a piece of contact paper that will fit over the selected character/object/scene and tape in place.

Help your little ones trace the outline of the character and color it in.

Cut out the character.

Peel off the back of the contact paper.

Place the contact paper character onto a window a mirror. The great thing about using contact paper is that it is easy to remove without leaving behind a sticky residue!

Continue repeating the above steps and help your kids as they assemble a scene with their creative cut-out window stickeez!

Have fun!