I think it’s time for a random act of kindness challenge.
Do you know someone who isn’t feeling well, down on their luck or could use a pick-me-up?
What if you could do something for them that could bring a smile to their face?
It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, you don’t need any special super powers to create this type of artwork and it can be done in under 30 minutes.
Are you up for the challenge?
Giving the Gift of Art is a Great Way to Make People Smile
Simply taking corrugated cardboard, buttons, a printed quote and punching it up with a grapevine heart and some cotton trim makes you want to touch everything on the card. You can create this any size you want, but as a random act of kindness to put in the mail, try to keep it lightweight for the most economical shipping rate. Using grapevine, plastic buttons and cardboard keeps things light, yet substantial.
You can create a bunch of these to use as miniature art, faces for greeting cards, make them a bit longer with a flat heart and use as a bookmark, make it 4×6 and use as a postcard.
Random Act of Kindness
Ideas Featuring Art
The idea is to create something totally random that the person would not expect to receive. Trust me, this is the most wonderful feeling in the world, just the idea that you made someone feel better, even if it’s just for a short period of time.
If you’re not sure what to make, here is a list of projects that will inspire you. Note: although many of these are Artist Trading Cards (because they are super fast to create), you can make them in any size.
- How to Boost your ATC’s with Butterflies and Microbeads
- DIY Wall Art Project: How to Turn a Photo into Mixed Media Wall Art
- How to Create Three Inspirational Artist Trading Cards with Metal Embellishments
- Here’s a Quick Art Idea to Make an ATC with Buttons and Burlap
- An Inspirational Artist Trading Card will Always Make Someone Smile
- Easy Art Cards / Mixed Media Playing Card with Blue Sea Glass and Corrugated Cardboard
- An Altered Playing Card Tutorial so You Can Create an Artist Trading Card Featuring What You Love
Let’s Make
This Pink Grapevine Heart Miniature Art
in This Free Video Lesson
Ready to Make This?
I'm Looking for some more Random Act of Kindess Ideas
So the question I have for you is…What are some of your random act of kindness ideas?
Have you ever done this for someone before? Please share in the comments below.
Live this, Giselle! Love the RAKs!
Thank you Maggie
I love making small mixed media canvases. When friends and family visit I encourage them to take one that they like. One of these days I am going to start leaving them in random places for others to enjoy!
Lindy, that is an amazing idea!!!!! it does put smiles on people and when they find it, they look puzzled, almost like they are stealing something that someone forgot. Little love notes on the outside of a little paper back (in areas that are damp) helps the confusing looks 🙂
That’s a very pretty ATC. Cheery colors, and the heart and the lace have a “homey” comoting feeling. Love it. I have created cards and 3D papercrafts as RAKs. Last year I did 3D cards for everyone in the family’s birthday. We have achuge family! It was a year long project jus because. It was heartwarming to get the positive reaction and appreciation.
That’s great to hear Annie! it’s also great that everyone appreciated it.
Annie, you are so going to love what I’m sending you! Joe picked your name girl! Sending you an email now.
I love the idea of RAK but have never done that. I think I will maybe start doing some ATC’s for just that purpose.
It’s just a nice little way to make someone smile and not expect anything in return. Random Acts of Kindness can be done for anyone and it’s great when it’s a surprise 🙂
What a lovely idea
Thank you Sheila.
This is a very nice idea. Never heard of it before nor did it come to my mind but I immediately have an idea for whom I might do it ?. What I did before was giving away a selfmade bath praline or small bath bombs in also selfmade little boxes to somebody needing time to relax. But nothing arty so far. Time to start. ?
Oh your gifties sound so wonderful! I hope you enjoy making some little RAK art gifts as well.
Oh, I surely will, love such ideas
I like to do photography and am trying to incorporate more of it in art projects. One time I took a photo of a rose and changed the colors to be very bright. I also added a positive quote. I put it in a fame and gave to a co-worker who was having a rough time. She loved it and kept it on her desk.
That sounds wonderful and it brightened up her day. It’s the small things that can make the biggest difference. Thank you for sharing this.
I love that heart. The beginning looks so bland, then it finishes bright and beautiful.
I’ve taken part in similar programs in the local jewellery making groups where they are called Secret Squirrel Business. One Secret Squirrel organises a collection of lots of little bits and bobs from other members, then the parcel goes anonymously to a recipient who is ill, or having a bad time one way or another. It’s a great idea because getting a surprise delivery like that cheers one up enormously and makes the “giftor” as happy as the “giftee”
Thank you Robyn! I love the name “Secret Squirrel”.
Wow, I just attended tea a friend of mine gave today and I was thinking of something nice to send to her or give to her. This is perfect. I had never given any mixed media art away because I never did it before a few months ago. I love to send surprise gifts to my nieces and my sister and I also love to give people I care about and friends I love surprise gifts. Are used to carve and paint gourds and I have been giving them away to people. All of them have been blown away when I do. It is a great feeling and it’s so fun to watch their faces and hear their comments when I surprise them. I am definitely going to make this type of card for my friend. Thank you so much for this great idea.
You are very welcome Dawn and I would love to see some of the gourds you’ve carved…maybe you can post some pictures in the Facebook group? surprise gifts can make the worst mood turn into something very cheery.
Love the RAK idea and yes have done that with cards, atcs and little embellished pieces…leaving little pieces of art in places is something I have said I was going to do and have not done yet…little canvases or cards embellished is great fun to do…You are an inspiration for sure and love what you have created….yup I’m in for this for sure.
Thank you Val! If you have access to a table saw, you could get some 1/8″ masonite at Home Depot or Lowes and cut it really small, create art on that and wrap a ribbon around it. People can use it as an ornament, hang it or even put it into a tiny easel or frame.
My random act of kindness was baking brownies on the weekend so my partner would have something sweet to nom for awhile.
I love the idea of a kit. Artist’s block is hitting me hard right now.
How were the brownies? that sounds absolutely yummy! For your artist block, what is the one absolute things you love to use as a subject? example: if you love cats, just browse pinterest for cat photos. Nothing else, just look at cat photos and pin what you really love. It may spark something in you to create something. Keeping it simple, use an existing background and paint a small vignette using this favourite subject.
The brownies were a total hit. 🙂
That’s an idea. I might try that. I’m finding that even just the idea of picking up a pencil and paper is giving me panic attacks. No idea wtf is going on. Very frustrating indeed.
You’re going to be so proud of me Giselle! I’ve always wanted to do the Original Documented Life Project from 2015, even got me the large Dylusions Journal a while back. It’s been sitting on the shelf ever since …. Until last night. I managed to start the first week’s prompt with inspiration from one of the videos and just finished now. Feeling so much better having created again. Will try to stay on it with the goal of finishing it in 2017. 😀
Oh Nora, I’m so happy for you. Sometimes it just takes the simplest things to spark an idea. Set some small goals to they are easy to reach. Have fun with the project!
I love this, Gisele! What I appreciate about your creations is that you reuse/recycle everyday things that are easily available.
To answer your questions: Yes, I have made some ‘abandoned art’. They were mixed media ATCs on very heavy backing with refrigerator magnets attached to the back. I put them in zip lock bags with a note and left them around areas where senior citizens gather. It was great fun to do.
I also created a bunch of colorful ‘art fabric’ pin cushions & shared them with family & friends who like to sew. I used 6 different bright fabrics to make a poofy cushion & decorated it with buttons & beads. That was fun, but more work than I planned.
A friend sent me a surprise gift. She created 3 alcohol ink paintings on small square tiles. She also put a magnet on the back of each one. I love having them on my refrigerator. The beautiful red flower makes me think of her. I think it’s a great idea.
Clapping my hands over here… love the idea of ATC magnets. We all make so many ATC’s what a great way to share it. You’ve inspired me yet again Carol!
Beautiful work anyone would love as a rak!
Thank you Linda.