Craft project featuring my grand boys

The past week we've been celebrating birthdays! The 17th was my oldest daughter's boyfriend's day and hers was the 20th; my birthday was the 19th; my son-in-law's was the 21st and my husband's was the 23rd! We spent last weekend in Chicago to celebrate with our youngest daughter and got to meet her boyfriend. This coming weekend we will be in Albuquerque to babysit and will also visit my husband's last remaining aunt who turned 93 yesterday.

Before I left, I finished this project which has been awhile in the making. I saw something similar on Pinterest and decided to recreate it. The plaque is actually an old cabinet front which I got at Habitat for Humanity's ReStore for $1. I painted it with several coats of white and used my Silhouette and contact paper to make a stencil for the words. Then I stenciled with black paint.

I originally thought I would use the unfinished $1 picture frames from Michael's for the frames, but they were too big for the board since I needed four. I finally found an unfinished collage frame which I disassembled (that was not as easy as I had hoped) and used four of the frames. I drilled holes in the board and all four frames and threaded with black satin ribbon. 

The longest part of the project was getting photos from my daughters for the frames!

It hangs on my red wall in my kitchen where it really stands out. Love it and my boys!

Paper Dolls altered book page

The background of this page is texture paste through a Tim Holtz stencil with spray inks applied once it was dry. I also added Vintage Photo Distress ink to tone it down.

The "paper dolls" are created on a heavy card stock base and accordion-folded. I used scrapbook papers for the dresses, embellished with lace and buttons and cut out various heads. The kraft-colored doily and painted legs are on the background. At the top of the page I added a definition of "play" layered on some gauze from the inside of an old book's spine

This shows the dolls pulled out. I had fun dressing and accessorizing them!

"Twiggy" art journal page

I played a bit in my art journal once I was home from my retreat. I had done this background awhile ago and, while searching through collage materials for something to add, I found this model's image which reminds me of Twiggy. Anyone remember her?

I used the head and then made a dress from a piece of patterned paper. The arms and hands are from a clothing catalog; the bee and flower from magazines. I outlined everything with a black Stabilo pencil (a favorite tool) and called it done!

17th Century Beauty - altered page

I scheduled this to post while I am out of town. I finished this page a few days before I left for Vermont.

The background is texture paste through a circle stencil which was then colored with several colors of chalk pastels (turquoise, coral red and yellow ochre). I added each color separately and covered with clear gesso to seal. After the three colors were added I then sanded and wiped lightly with a black Staz On ink pad.

The image is from an Italian painting in one of my art books. I added the rays by drawing through a ray stencil on scrapbook paper and then cutting them out. I placed them behind her head to bring her to the foreground as she got lost on the background. I also added the bird and butterfly.

Last two spreads in my altered book

These are the last pages in my current altered book.

This spread has many layers of collaged paper, paint and stencils. The scallop at the top is a scrap of a gelli print. The images are from Stampington and a fashion magazine. I like this color scheme.

I had one page left and I didn't like all the colors I had thrown on this, mostly Dylusions spray inks. It was very bright! I used a stencil with texture paste and knew that the spray ink would bleed through the paste. Then I covered everything with black gesso and, when dry, sanded over the textured design.   so a bit of the colors would show through.

The layers are made up of an old measuring tape, a border punch scrap, a piece of the torn spine of an old book that I had gutted, a brown doily and one of Tim Holtz's paper dolls (I love these and am working through my package).  After such a disastrous, colorful beginning, it turned out to have a nice vintagey touch.

Now I need to work on the cover...

Interactive Altered Book Spread

This is a three-page spread using images from old paintings. The center page is cut into two tags that, when flipped, reveal other images which interact with the original ones. When you flip the heads or bodies, you create other altered images. This one was fun to do but I had to work to get the heads and bodies to more-or-less match up!

Left page/man with center page/woman

Right page/woman with center page/man

"Head" enter top tag flipped to left page and "body" center bottom tag flipped to right page

"Body" center bottom tag flipped to left page and "head" center top tag over right page

Some of the images didn't extend to the bottom of the pages so I had to add the lace and gold doilies. I also added a gold crown made from a portion of the doily to one of the men and stamped a gold crown on one lady.

The background was painted with acrylic paint and then stenciled over with white paint. Then I wiped on two colors of Distress ink. I used black Stabilo pencil around the images and edges of the pages.

Altered Book pages

I had completed these spreads in my altered book before I left for Kansas City. I haven't gotten back to much art since I've returned as I'm getting ready for a 7-day Alaska cruise with my entire family. We leave on Saturday so I'm busy packing but thought I'd post before leaving.

The left page of this spread has an image from a fashion magazine. When open, the spread (below)  has flowers and stems created from fabric over a background of paints and stencils. 

The background of this spread is crinkled tissue paper glued over a collage of book text. Then I scraped on acrylic paint and stenciled the white circles. I decoupaged pieces of a Jane Davenport napkin on top along with half an image from a fashion magazine (I used the other half in a previous altered book - love it). It's hard to see the sentiment which is also a decoupaged napkin. I may have to go back and outline it in white...

I hope you are enjoying my altered books as much as I am enjoying working in them. I'm itching to do more, but that will have to wait until after Alaska.

Altered Book page

I finished another spread in my current altered book a few days ago. 

This background has lots of decoupaged book pages for the first layer, followed by scraped paints and gesso through stencils. I also used burgundy spray ink and dripped it from the top of the pages.

The focal points are images from a magazine doctored with collage sheet images. Edges and outlines are smudged with black Stabilo pencil.

Since I don't have the energy or inclination to venture outside in this oppressive heat, I'm enjoying playing around in my art room and catching up on all kinds of projects.

Third Altered Book

This is the first completed spread in my newest altered book project. 

The background started with pieces of book text and ephemera glued to the base pages. Then I added texture paste through a stencil. Once that was dry I painted over all with black gesso and sanded when it was dry. Then I added orange spray ink, red gelato and Inka Gold.  The focal points are two models from a clothing catalog; the wing is half of a stamped image; and the remaining images and words are from a magazine. I added depth by smudging a black Stabilo pencil around the edges of all the images and the edges of the pages and then placed the white paint pen dots to lighten up the piece. So fun!

Time Flies

How is it possible that it's been almost two weeks since my last post? 

I finally recuperated from my back going out and am now back to normal. You don't realize how much you need your back until it's not functioning!

My youngest daughter from Chicago has come in two weekends this month (we hadn't seen her since late last summer) for friends' weddings and a baby shower, so that has been fun to catch up with her in person.

As for art, I have done a few art journaling spreads and one more altered book spread.

This page was one where I deposited leftover paint and texture paste through stencils. I added the focal point of the window from a magazine and then covered the background with black gesso to tame the colors.  I then sanded over the texture and used gelato to bring some of the color back. This was a simple and quick page since the background was already started. This is in my small Dylusions art journal (I have several going at once.)

This spread was inspired by a similar page created by Shari Carroll for the Simon Says Stamp blog. She used Jane Davenport napkins, acrylic paints, stamped and embossed butterflies on vellum and some word "tiles" from Tim Holtz. Since I had all the supplies and loved the colors, I CASEd the spread in a spiral-bound journal.

And here's one more spread in my newest altered book. The background started with collaged scrapbook paper scraps and old book pages, covered with gesso and then juicy watercolors with alcohol dripped all over. The houses are assembled from scrapbook papers with doors and windows cut out and vintage images added behind the cutouts. I love how this came out.

Online workshop journal page

It's been awhile since I've taken an online class. I always like to see how other artists approach their work and see similarities or differences from mine.  I've followed Cindy Gilstrap for awhile and when her workshops (junqueart.com) were on sale during January, I jumped at the chance to take her Dream Big "mini" workshop. 

In this workshop she takes you through the creation of one double-paged art journal spread using a vintage cabinet card image juxtaposed with bright, playful collage and paint. I loved her page and was happy that mine came out very similar. I did use different papers and stencils than she did but used some of the same paints.

Here is my finished page. I love it and will be trying more of this style incorporating vintage images.

I had so much fun that I signed up for another workshop!

Art Journal Page

It's been so-o-o long since I've done a page in an art journal! And I've been under the weather this past week with a bad cough and laryngitis (haven't been able to talk for three days!). Today my voice is coming around and I decided to try to get my muse up and running again!

 I was inspired by a blogger I follow (Tiare Smith) and followed along with her video to do a page much like hers. Mine turned out a bit different as I didn't have all the same supplies, but it got me creating! Loved getting all painty and messy!

I've missed you art journaling!

November Artsy Canvas Swap

I participated in a recent "artsy canvas" swap where we had to use modeling paste in some way.

My canvas is 5" x 5" and I did a friendship theme.  The hearts, letters and numbers, and figure were all done with tinted modeling paste. The white dots are regular texture paste and then I added the mica flakes with a translucent paste. I hope the recipient likes it.

I received this cute canvas. I love the long orientation of it (3" x 9") and the way the artist used only half a tree.  The stars were added with modeling paste through a stencil and it looks like the texture in the tree is also modeling paste. It's hard to see in the photo, but the background is an elegant metallic gold paint. I love it!

"ART" Artsy Canvas

Yesterday I posted this canvas I created for a recent swap. It changed a lot along the way, so I thought I would share the process along with some photos I managed to take while creating.

The first step was adding inky, "dirty" paper towels to the canvas with a 50/50 mixture of gesso and mat medium - a "faux" plaster technique. I separated the plies of paper towel to add just one ply and "smoothed" this into the wet mixture creating wrinkles and texture. 

Once fully dry (takes quite awhile) I covered it all with another coat of gesso. Note - if your towels have spray ink or other mediums on them, which are not permanent, you will never get back to pure white! But it's a great way to avoid the "blank canvas" syndrome.

When that was dry, I added modeling paste through an irregular diamond-pattern stencil.

Next came the fun part - adding all the bits and bobs.  In this photo you can really see what all I added - everything but the kitchen sink! I had forgotten to clean my paintbrush with gesso in it and it sat overnight. It was unsalvageable so I decided to add it to my piece. Other things added were: buttons, a plaster frame, chipboard pieces, screws, paper flowers, beads, bottle cap, resin flower, hinge, wood plug and a few assorted metal pieces.

Several more coats of white gesso blended everything together to prepare for the colors. 

Here's where I stopped taking photos! I added turquoise and magenta spray inks, blotting up and adding more until I was happy with the look. The finishing touches were dry-brushing over textures with gesso and adding some silver metallic paste to some high areas.

This is such a fun technique - I hope I've inspired you to make one of your own!

Halloween Treat Bag

As part of my LBH Media Team packet this month, I received a variety of Crate Paper Halloween papers, a glitter-stripe kraft sack, a spiderweb stencil "Fragment" from Crafter's Workshop (Ronda Palarrazi), cute black glitter stickers, cheesecloth and ribbon. From these supplies, I create! the cute little treat bag above.

It was featured Sunday on The Little Blue House Blog here. Click on over to see the full details about how I made this.

Here's a close-up view of the cute little spider I made with two buttons, some short lengths of wire and two goggly eyes. He's not scary at all!

Art Journaling Workshop at The Little Blue House

Art Journaling Workshop

"Introduction and Using Photographs"

August 11, 2015

10:00 am - 1:00 pm

$15.00 (new reduced price)

(Page sample only - yours will be totally unique!)

The new school year is about to start so do something for yourself! Join me for a fun and informative art journaling session on Tuesday Aug. 11, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Don’t know anything about art journaling or where to begin? No worries! I will start with all the basics and teach you techniques and tricks that anyone can do. This will also be a good refresher for those of you who’ve done this before. We will create a journal spread from the very beginning using collage, gesso, paints, stenciling, spray ink, texture paste, stamps and more. I will also show you two fun ways to use photographs in your artwork.

Supplies to bring:

Art journal (or loose mixed media paper)

Usual basic supplies

Heat tool, if you have one

(2)  4x6” photographs - one colored photo of an object (this will be altered) or landscape and one headshot of yourself or a favorite person (this one will not be harmed)

Call The Little Blue House at 817-431-7930 or stop by for further information and to sign up.

Hope to see you then!

Documented Life - Week 29!

July Theme - Ephemera

July 19 - Week 29

Art Challenge - Photographs and Memories

Journal Prompt - "All That I Have to Remember You" ~ Jim Croce

It seems that I have been using photographs and memories for the last few weeks' spreads, so I wasn't sure where to go with this week's prompt. In the end I was inspired by Rae Missigman's interpretation of the theme using a black and white photocopy of family members and then using ephemera, paints, stencils, mists, collaged painted paper circles for the background.

My father died in 1987 and I have always loved this photo of him. He was a painting contractor and carpenter and really knew his craft. We lived in a small ski resort town and he was well known for his impeccable skills. Many wealthy tourists built expensive vacation homes there and he was the contractor everyone demanded. Long before the days of Loews and Home Depot custom-mixing paint colors with a formula, he could do it by eye - tell him the color you wanted and he would mix it! I feel blessed that I inherited some of his color sense.

This is how the page started. I glued down ephemera - book text and strips of paint chips (a nod to his painting career) and some of Rae's painted paper circles I'd bought from her etsy shop.  Once that was all dry I started adding layer upon layer of paints, mists, stencils, stamps and doodles.  

It's a little hard to see, but I handwrote the title "remembering Dad" at the bottom of the right page. Around the photo I wrote adjectives that described the man he was (i.e. quiet, humble, loving, talented etc.). I also wrote his name at the top and along the left side his date of birth and death. He died just a few weeks after his 64th birthday - way too young - and I miss him every day. This is just a small tribute to this wonderful man in my life.

Documented Life Planner - Week 22

May Theme - Touchy Feely (Texture)

Week 22

Art Challenge: Textured Paper

Journal Prompt: I'm So Not Feeling It

This week's journal prompt was exactly how I was feeling while working on this page - "just not feeling it!" My muse just couldn't decide on how to proceed with all the old textured papers I found in my stash. I finally discovered a page on the FB group on which the artist split a heart and used the "holey" packing material (right side). Since I also had that same paper, I went from there.

She had layered different papers behind the heart but I couldn't get that to look right with the papers I had. I found the square doily and the white doily-type wings which I'd been saving for years so thought I should just start using some of my treasures instead of squirreling them away forever!

The textured papers here are the doily, the handmade paper (left side of heart, which I painted), the packing material which I painted white, the small white heart--shaped doily, the red heart which is textured wallpaper cut into a heart shape, and the wings. In the lower right corner of the spread, there are also two strips of embossed paper (which I inked with pink) and a lacy tissue-type paper.

I used black-and-white-patterned washi tapes for under the die cut days of the week. For the background I first stenciled gel medium which resisted the pink paint when I painted over it. I then stenciled some numbers with red paint and small white dots. I also randomly smudged orange gelato.

Once again, I finished before the end of the week! I'm relieved this page is done!

Tomorrow we leave on a 6:30 am flight for Albuquerque. We'll be babysitting Drew and 4-month old Grant (or rather helping their Dad while Mom is out of town on a business trip). Looking forward to seeing my little guys again!

Documented Life Planner - Week 20

May Theme - Touchy Feely (Texture)

Week 20

Art Challenge: Modeling Paste

Journal Prompt: Rising to the Occasion

This week's spread underwent many transformations! I love using modeling paste for texture and had so many ideas I didn't know which way to go. First I used some paste and a stencil all over the background and sprayed it with Prima Color Bloom but didn't like it at all. 

Then I decided to spread modeling paste over the pages and then stamp into it and scratch marks into it. This was better, but I ran out of modeling paste and had to use up the dregs of two different kinds, one very old and somewhat dried out. (This is on the left side and is grainier.)

I sprayed inks, added gesso and went back and forth several times before I called it done. I added the checked border with paint and computer-generated the words. The images are some freebies from Traci Bautista. The corner designs are stenciled with new Graphite Texture Paste from Prima. I like how it adds a bit of sparkle.

Below are some close-ups to see the texture more clearly.

Ready for this coming week - received the prompts today.

Documented Life Project - Week 13

March Theme: Making your Mark

This week's Art Challenge: Make Custom Element

Journal Prompt: "Ride the Energy of Your Own Unique Spirit"- Gabrielle Roth

I challenged myself this week by trying to incorporate more white space on my spread. I seem to always end up with heavy layers and every inch of the spread covered, so I wanted to try a lighter look. It was hard! I guess I just naturally want to keep adding...

For this background I used Dina Wakley's acrylic paints and her technique of spreading a thin layer of paint and using a baby wipe through a stencil to remove some of the color. I did this several times with different colors creating many layers. Then I overstamped with alpha stamps and a script stamp. The drips are a spray ink.

I used a handmade stencil of myself for the custom element. I made a copy of a headshot photo and cut it out carefully. Then I sponged black paint through to create a likeness of me.

The title was stamped with two different alpha stamp sets. The days of the week and dates were also stamped and the dividers between the days are old rubons.

I added some journaling along one of the drip lines on the right, added my info for the planner section and called it done!