Author Archives: Kat Moulton
July Artist Spotlight: Lys Santamaria
How has your art adapted during the age of coronavirus?
During coronavirus, I began making and selling masks. I was inspired to pivot my business as all of my sources for income had ended. I wanted two things: to continue creating and to serve my community using my talents. Mask making was the answer. During that time, I was donating a small number of masks to people in need but I wanted to do more. So, I embarked on a BIG project of making 400 masks to donate to Austin’s underserved communities.
What inspired you to embark on such an ambitious mask-making project?
The pandemic was really difficult for me as a small business owner and I went through a lot of tough times and emotions. I knew I had to change and keep creating to keep myself and my business afloat. Once I started selling masks, I saw that there was a real need and wondered how I could serve those who could not afford masks. Thanks to my friends at ACR and a grant from NEST Artisan Guild, I was able to embark on this mask-making project and create change for so many people in need who may not be able to afford reusable masks or do not have access. My business mission is to create joy using my gifts and this project aligns perfectly with my goals.
Where can we find out more about your art?
My shop and information are at: www.LysSantamaria.com or on Instagram @lys.artist
Make a Rainbow Catcher
This simple, repurposed frame is now a superstar rainbow catcher! See how to make it in just a few steps:
Make a Thread Spool Shelf
Check out this simple craft tutorial by one our staff members, Lori! Save those empty thread spools and combine them with a few basic materials to create this adorable, hanging shelf!
June Reuse and Rethink Contest: Rube Goldberg Machines
This month, we challenge you to use reused items in your home to create a Rube Goldberg machine! Named after a famous American cartoonist, a Rube Goldberg machine is a machine intentionally designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and overly complicated way. Create a series of simple objects that perform an action, triggering the next action, ultimately resulting in a singular goal. Please see the video below for an example!
DEADLINE
June 30th, 2020
HOW IT WORKS
– Materials must be reused
– You MUST incorporate a ladle and toilet or paper towel roll in your machine (so we know you made the video!)
– The submissions will be judged on three qualities: creativity, use of reused materials, and functionality of the machine
– Videos can be no longer than 3 minutes
– Submissions must be made on or before the deadline
PRIZE
A free bucket voucher from ACR and a $5 gift card
SUBMISSIONS
Please send a video of your machine, your contact info, and a short description of materials used to rethink@austincreativereuse.org. Winner will be notified and announced on social media!
June Volunteer Spotlight: Charlene Ansley
Charlene, right
Welcome, Calder!
Austin Creative Reuse is thrilled to welcome Calder Kamin as our newest board member! Calder will be helping us develop strategic partnerships and on special projects. She has jumped right in by supporting our social media and marketing strategies, and advising us on online sales. Calder has been a long time supporter of ACR and a frequent shopper, sourcing materials for her latest artworks. Her work was recently featured on MSN.
Artist, educator and advocate, Calder Kamin transforms trash into beautifully crafted creatures and opportunities to reeducate our cultural perceptions of waste. She’s engaged hundreds of museum visitors through her public workshops and art projects including the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, The American Museum of Natural History. The i.d.e.a Museum, Utah MOCA, The Contemporary Austin, Women & Their Work and The DoSeum. Kamin starred in an episode of the PBS series Arts In Context and two Disney Channel commercials sharing inspirational messages about creative reuse. She has a background in art administration, higher education and city government providing professional development for artists. A native of Austin, Kamin is the Career Services Manager and Lecturer at the University of Texas, College of Fine Arts. She holds a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute.
She can be contacted at calder@austincreativereuse.org
Reuse and Rethink: Austin Landmarks Edition!
Deadline for submissions: April 30th
While we are all physically distancing at home, we’re bringing back an ACR classic – the Reuse & Rethink Challenge! This month, we challenge you to recreate your favorite Austin mural or landmark from any items (or people) you have in your home.
Guidelines:
♻️ All materials must be reused / found in your home.
🎨 The submissions will be judged on three qualities: creativity, workmanship, & use of other reused materials.
⏰ Submissions for the month must be made on or before the deadline.
Submit your work for the opportunity to win a $10 gift card to enjoy at ACR when we reopen!
Please provide up to 2 photos of your art piece, your contact info and a short description of materials used. Your submission can be emailed to rethink@austincreativereuse.org. Winner will be notified and announced on social media! 🧡♻️✨
Creative Cardboard
Cardboard is one of those ever-present, but often overlooked materials inside our homes. Rather than break it down for recycling, repurpose it by trying out one of these activities with your kiddo!
Cardboard Nail Salon
Does your kid love painting fingernails? Draw a hand on a piece of cardboard and let them go to town! They can experiment with different colors and designs, while you get to keep your hands clean.
Cardboard Stencils
Use cardboard stencils to get some fine motor skill practice in. Cutout different shapes and patterns in pieces of cardboard and have your little one trace them onto another piece of paper. Encourage them to mix and layer the different stencils to create a unique masterpiece!
Cardboard Weaving
Cut long, uniform strips out of a piece of cardboard. Cut long strips of colored paper for your kids to weave using their own pattern.
COVID-19 Closure Updates
Over the past couple months, Austin Creative Reuse has adapted to to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to update this page with the latest information.
June 23, 2020
Our first outdoor sale was a huge success! Moving forward, each week we’ll pick different categories of your favorite crafting supplies and bring them out to the sidewalk for you to peruse. These sales will be accessible by appointment, only and we’ll announce the schedule through our weekly newsletter. Make sure you’re signed up to be the first to know!
June 16, 2020
Thank you for all of your support and patience. Remember to wear your mask!
Announcing Custom Orders!
- Make an appointment – these are first come, first served!
- Put together a list of items you’re looking for ahead of time – that 30 mins goes quick!
- You’ll be emailed a link with your Zoom meeting info in your appointment reminder.
- Payment will be collected at the end of your appointment.
- We’ll wait for 5 minutes past the start of your scheduled appointment. If you haven’t joined by then, you’ll be considered a no-show and charged a cancellation fee and your appointment fee will not be refunded.
May 26, 2020
A quick update about all the happenings over here at Austin Creative Reuse! Although we still remain closed to the public, our amazing staff has been working hard behind the scenes to get items posted to the online store and into your hands, piloting a personal shopping program, and figuring out what opening in a post-pandemic environment looks like. We continue to accept material donations, and in response to overwhelming demand, we are nearly doubling the amount of appointments available! Last week, we eagerly welcomed back our core volunteers in a limited capacity. We started allowing contactless pick up of projects they could take home to work on and bring back to the center at a later date. Finally, keep an eye out for exciting news regarding private shopping appointments! (Yes, that means getting ACR all to yourself!)
Thank you to everyone for your support, patience, and creativity throughout all of this. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
May 9, 2020
We’re delighted to announce that ACR is receiving a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program! Having this funding secured helps shield our financial losses over the past two months, which means we can breathe a little easier and make things happen on a timeline that we are comfortable with. We’ve made the decision to keep the center closed until further notice, and will re-evaluate that decision on a weekly basis. In the meantime, we continue to engage our staff who choose to work during this period and pay them full wages.
While we remain closed to the public, we are boosting the inventory available in our online shop and will be adding new items several times a week. We are also actively researching ways that we can expand the remote ACR experience for our community through virtual workshops, custom orders, and other exciting programs!
Finally, drumroll please…we will restart accepting material donations next week! We understand many of you have been busy cleaning out craft closets, decluttering, and learning what you can live without throughout the past several weeks. We can’t wait to take those items in and find them a second home! Donations will be accepted by appointment only and this will be strictly enforced. No walk up donations will be accepted. Please read the new instructions carefully and be sure to look over our donation best practices and lists of items we accept and don’t accept prior to bringing your items in.
April 24, 2020
You asked for it, we listened!
We are very excited to announce that ACR is now open for online shopping and curbside pickup! At our new online shop, you can find tutorial kits with supplies and instructions to create unique pieces of art for the whole family, highly sought-after items such as sewing machines, and mystery grab bags full of miscellaneous goodies to bring the ACR experience to you. We are currently only offering sales of the items in our shop – but don’t worry, we hope to expand our online inventory soon.
All orders must be picked up curbside until further notice – please read the pickup instructions carefully at the end of your checkout.
Learning with Plastic Lids
Plastic Lids are a Great Learning Tool!
Whether you notice it or not, most of our households consume lots of things with plastic lids. Those lids add up! Hang on to them and consider using them for some of these fun, interactive lessons!
Alphabet and Letter Recognition
Write lowercase letters on each cap and have your little one line up the lids in alphabetical order. Try playing with color – vowels in one color, consonants in another.
Take this one step further by writing uppercase letters on the lid’s corresponding bottles or pouches. Have your little one match the upper and lowercase letters.
Counting and Number Recognition
Create number cards with whatever you have laying around the house. Place number cards down and have your child stack (or pile) lids behind the card.
Pattern and Color Recognition
See the cards linked below for patterns your child can replicate using colored lids.