Abandoned!

I abandoned one of my tags today - finally remembered to bring them with me! It was at my hairdressers, in the restroom:

We shall see who finds it and if they contact the Facebook group!

Star Bursts and Layers

These are two things that are new for me. I used the star bursts on a Graduation layout class, but I have not used it in one of my layouts. This one page layout is based on a sketch/technique from May Flaum's Camp Scrap:

I used a bit of layering - card stock, Washi tape, and a "Howdy" banner.  The stars and circles are my burst of embellishments. The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye - it was fun to use patterned paper as the basis of the page! Stamps are from Club Scrap. I used Aged Mahogany Distress Stain on the Grunge board letters. To highlight them a bit, I edged them in black. (If you read regularly, you know I edge everything!)

ATC Abandonment

I mentioned the Art Abandonment movement in Monday's post. Of course, after completing my tags, adding my information on the back, I forgot to bring them with me yesterday on my errands!  So, today I am much better prepared! I did finish the ATCs I had been making. As a plus, I used a stamp set I bought months ago that was, ahem, never used! (I am thinking I may not be the only one who has new/unused stamps...anyone?)

For these, I painted over book pages and patterned paper, and stamped the image from Artistic Outpost. I added a bit of color using Faber Castell india ink markers. I am thinking of taking these   with me (or at least putting them in a baggy in my purse) on my errands the next few days!

Tuesday's Tip

One of the art activities I really enjoy involves art journals and mixed media. I am often asked how one starts a journal. I remember having this discussion many years ago with Tracy Moore. You just start. (He gave me this same advice)  I am not a writer or diarist. I use my journals for visual art. A great way to start is to use it for practice - lettering, stamping, inking. Ink up and stamp new stamps onto a page. You can try ideas in your book rather than on a scrap paper. It is a great starting point and you never know where it can take you. Worst case scenario - gesso over everything and start again! Just start...

Tags and Art Abandonment

How funny that an idea that has been around for a while has suddenly become a hot topic. I have always heard of "Guerilla Art" - in which you make a random piece of art and leave it for someone to find. I have even discussed this idea with friends. Well, it took Michael De Meng to rally us all to action! 

On Saturday, I was at a crop with May Flaum, as part of her Camp Scrap on-line class. I brought some tags and ATCs to work on - as in transform into art to abandon. The four tags I made look like this:

I originally thought I would take these to Paris. I may still take a couple and make some thing else. I have a lot of appointments this week, so I will be bringing my art with me. If you are interested, there is a Facebook group :www.Facebook.com/groups/ArtAbandonment. Come by and read some of the commentary (open to all) - you may be tempted to join us!

One Stamp Three Ways

At Camp Scrap last week, May Flaum posted three cards using one stamp, each were slightly different. So, I decided to use some new Lawn Fawn stamps and give the technique a try. First up:

I stamped the bike and cut it out, mounting it to the chevron stamped panel (pretty neat set of stamps, those chevrons...). I added some small cloth flowers to the basket. The second card:

I embossed the bike using the Champagne Versa Mark pad and clear embossing powder on a white panel. I stamped flowers in the basket and applied Flower Soft. I matted the panel onto several players of card stock and patterned paper (Pink Paislee's London Market). The last card:

I stamped the bike in black and over stamped slightly in Stormy Sky Distress. I stamped, cut out and popped up the pinwheel. I used the bike stamp - actually just the wheel portion as a background on the main base of the card.  Patterned paper is from Authentique.
Now, it's your turn!

Squirrely Challenge

The technique for this Squirrely challenge is in the current Technique Junkies Newsletter. It is the Tag Fence technique:

I ran white card stock through my Sizzix, using the tree bark embossing folder by Tim Holtz/Sizzix. Stampin' Up's tag punch was used to punch the tags. I stamped the floral branches and cut them out, mounting them on the outside of the fence. I love the background paper - actually the whole pad of paper! It is from Basic Gray "What's Up". To see Nancy's version for this challenge, go here.  Have fun trying this for yourself!

Watercolor Mailer

As I mentioned during my "spray paint period", I have been following Maryjo Mcgraw's "secret blog". The next project was a watercolor mailer. I did not have the exact same size of watercolor paper, but was able to make this smaller size work. I thought I would go with a theme when picking colors and stamps. Below is the front side:

I was impatient for the colors to dry - so they mixed a bit more than Maryjo's example. I used Distress markers and the brush less watercolor technique to add the images.
This is the back side of the mailer:

As you can see - land and sea was the theme! Images were stamped using the same technique as the front side. Stamps from Stampin' Up, Club Scrap, Artistic Outpost, Memory Box, and Printworks.

Tuesday's Tip

I recently read a fun idea - money saving as well! You can make your own glue dots (any size or shape) by dropping dots of Aleene's Tack-it Over onto wax paper. Let them dry clear and you are set to use!

Merci

I bought the Simon Says Stamp June card kit - love it! The pattern papers are from a line I just love - London Market by Pink Paislee. I thought this would make a fun thank you card for friends. I also was able to use some of my most recent die purchases. The circles and scallops are from Lifestyle Crafts. But, my favorite was a local find from the "Memories Live On" scrapbook store - an Eiffel Tower die!

The white flower is part of a Stampin' Up doily die that I cut apart.  The little doily stamped around the top and bottom edges is from a Prima set - and stamped in Distress Spun Sugar and Iced Spruce. The stamp is a very old unmounted - not sure where it came from! Mint ribbon from my stash is behind the dies and banner.

Butterfly Booklet

I have had this sitting around unfinished since last October's Club Scrap Retreat. I was thinking of re-doing the envelope book and using different colors. Instead, I just decided to finish it as is (with minimal changes) and use it as a technique book for chalks.

This is the closed booklet. It is made from 5 x 7 envelopes. We used 3, but I like the look of 2 much better. Close your envelopes, then trim a little off the top to make openings. Fold the in half and glue back to front, with the opening at the top. The booklet will look like a "T". The third envelope was folded and glued at the meeting of the bottom of the "T". It folds in toward the spine area. It is awkward and does not open well, hence my preference for making it from 2 envelopes.

I left the 3rd envelope in place, but glued one side down so I had only one extra, decorated page. I put a pull out card with hand written instructions of  the chalk technique used on the butterfly below:

A finally completed project of techniques to go with my other little hand made technique books.

Little Darlings

I am a big fan of Graphic 45. Unfortunately, I spend more time hoarding it than using it. I am determined to change my ways. So, when I needed to make a baby card to send with a gift, I immediately grabbed for the "Little Darlings" paper pack. I used a background print and border strip.

The card is actually a little brighter than it appears. The buggy stamp is from Paper Inspirations (and is probably at least 10-12 years old). I love the little cavorting baby strip! The punch is from Stampin' Up. I used Distress Ink to stamp the buggy and age the edges of the panel.

Camp Scrap

I will be participating in May Flaum's Camp Scrap. It is a free summer camp of ideas for scrapping and card making and what ever else! I am hoping to jump start my use and paring down of my stash.
Monday's post discussed clustering of embellishments on a scrapbook page (but can be used on any project). Perfect timing! On June 20th, I will be teaching a layout class using this very technique.

The lower right hand corner contains my cluster of stars, gems, pearls, and punched circles. I usually lay them out to get an idea of placement - the larger sizes first. Then, I glue those down with dots of glue on the background. I add the smaller sizes to fill in and stretch out the design. Your turn to give it a try!

Tuesday's Tip

With Father's Day fast approaching, there is most likely a flurry of card making activity occurring. A great start to a masculine cards is to use dark colored base cards. I like to use a dark tan or gray - it helps set the tone of the card. Happy Card Making!

Parting Company

For those who have been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I have been a big supporter of the monthly kit company, Club Scrap. I started my membership in 2005 as a member of Club Stamp. I changed membership types a couple of times, but received pizza boxes every month. For a couple of years, I was part of their sales force.
In my opinion, I have found that, as times and styles change, they have not kept up. Too often, I was disappointed with the dark colors and reconfigured graphics of similar kits. Prices went up, less items were appearing in that monthly pizza box.  It has been a big disappointment, particularly since I was an avid supporter.
So, it was time to part company. You may still see references to their products - heaven knows I have a ton of card stock! But, I am going back to working more with a lot of other companies that I have come to love. I am looking forward to the change (it has actually already begun!)

Tough Times

I miss stamp stores. Since I began my artistic adventures over 20 years ago, I have always been a rubber stamper first and foremost. Back then, there was a plethora of stamp stores in Southern California (including the mecca, Stampa Barbara). When we moved to Alaska in 1994, there was a rubber stamp store there. In 1996, we moved to the Bay area, where the Northern California mecca, Stamper's Warehouse, was located a long with a several smaller stores. Unfortunately, they are gone.

Scrapbook stores started to flourish - seemed there was one in every city/town. Now, they are gone. A couple of weeks ago, Jazzy Crafts announced that they would be closing. Economic times being what they are, I think more people have a difficult time with non-essential spending. For art and craft retailers, it has been a bumpy ride.

I try to support my local (and not so local) stores as much as possible. Support your local stores, before they disappear. I have found my taste has changed a great deal (again!), so I find it easier to support local stores.
Except for the stamps....I still miss stamp stores.....

Spray Paint part 2

Yesterday, I posted a spray paint project my friend,Nancy, and I did. I was letting the finished projects dry an extra day before using them. The back of the desktop organizer:

The same object - side view:

And, the completed view of the organizer as it will sit on my desk:

I added polka dot Washi tape to the front and along the edges of the compartments. The completed plastic tumbler that I use for miscellaneous storage:

The top band is actually painted red, while the dotted pattern is painted black. You could also add stamping or collage if you do a project like this. I liked the graphic urban design feel of the paint without any more decoration.

Spray Paint!

No, I have not been out tagging public property! Maryjo McGraw posted a project involving decorating plain plastic items. Nancy and I are followers of Maryjo's "secret blog", and decided we would try the spray painting project. Since we knew we would not do this on our own, we met at my house with items, cans of paint and stencils.

First, I sprayed a clear desktop sorter with white spray paint. I did 2 light coats. I also sprayed a plastic tumbler that I use for water for paint brushes.

I really love this stencil and thought I would use it on my plastic pieces. Using painter's tape and newspaper, I masked off the portions I did not want to stencil. I used a red "stained glass" effect spray paint that Nancy brought over. I used the same stencil and paint color on my tumbler.

I added a few sprays of black paint as well. The photo above captures our home made spray booth and materials we used. My desk sorter is standing on end after being sprayed.

Note to self - next time wear gloves! The angle of the photo makes my hand look enormous next to Nancy's! For photos of Nancy's project: Squirrely Art. She may be posting her projects in the next day or so. For information on Maryjo McGraw and her secret blog:MaryjoMcGraw.blogspot.com.

Tuesday's Tip

(Photo of Lake Alpine, taken last Saturday)

My friend, Nancy, and I will be playing with spray paint and plastics....Whatever you do today

ENJOY!

Playing with Distress

Life has been getting in the way of my creative time these days. I did have a bit time, so I grabbed some tags and reviewed some Distress techniques.

Distress ink was applied to the tag and water drops flicked on the inks. I used a heat gun to dry.

A little "wrinkle-free" Distress used on this tag. I love this little rabbit (Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz).

 

The "brushless watercolor" technique was used on the watercolor paper. Stamps are from Stampin' Up.