Tuesday's Tips

There are all types of tools on the market to use when sponging backgrounds. Ranger sells several tool options - you can even use an alligator clip to hold make up sponges. The best tip I have read for a do-it-yourself sponging tool was recently posted on ATT Yahoo group. Use a small diameter PVC pipe (the type you can get at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc) and stuff a make- up sponge into the center. You can have them cut to size and it would be cheap to have one for each ink pad or color family!

Squirrely Challenge

It is Squirrely Challenge time! Nancy posted the "Spritz Distress" technique from the current edition of the Technique Junkies Newsletter. I have been on a green kick - so I used 3 different shades of green Distress Ink, a leaf stencil and a "spritz" of water:

Card stock is from Club Scrap. Stamps are from Stampin' Up and Silver Crow. Sans Souci roughly translates into without cares/worries. To see what the other "squirrel girls" are doing, us this link.

Oscar WIlde

While in Paris, I finally visited Pere Lachaise cemetery. One of its more famous occupants is Oscar Wilde. There is a tradition, particularly among gays and lesbians, to leave a lipsticked kiss on the tomb. Since the constant cleaning was expensive, and taking its toll of the monument, the tomb is enclosed in plexiglass. Among the lip prints, there are flowers, cards and artwork..what better place to abandon art....

Best Laid Plans...

It has been longer than I had planned as far as blog posting. I had hoped to add some fun posts while I was in Paris...but it did not quite happen.
We left early on July 5th to go to Paris for my 50th birthday. It has always been on my "to do" list to be there on July 14 since my birthday also happens to be Bastille Day (aka French Independence Day). So, it worked well for this milestone birthday. Unfortunately, my Ipad was not cooperating (and my husband had a difficult time sharing the wi-fi connection...) so I had been silent. We returned on July 15th - with plans to start getting back in the swing of art (lots of ideas) and posting. But, I am of the "sandwich generation" - kept busy with my kids (both are in college, but...) and an aging (and increasingly infirm) mother. I had to drive to Southern California to discuss some medical issues with my mother and the facility in which she is rehabilitating. So, I am home now and (getting) back to a normal routine.
So a couple of photos I had planned on posting...

Giverny - Monet's house, taken from the front garden path;

Monet's Japanese water garden - home of the famous lilies. I thought that this would be a perfect location to abandon some art:

Because of the frequency of the rain we had (everyday but one), I decided to abandon my tag in the ladies room.
As I am in the process of getting back to creating, you will be seeing a few photos this week! I will have some Squirrely Art and other challenge results to be posted soon! A bientot!

Tuesday's Tip

Here in California, July 1st ushered in a variety of new laws. Some centered around the environment and recycling. I am all for doing my part. Some of my favorite items to recycle are; mini plastic trays from Green Giant's Just for One veggies, Jello and Pudding containers, and frozen dinner trays. All can be used for paints and water, as well as glitter trays. Look around, I be you all have your own ideas and favorites!

Flipping pages...

As I mentioned previously, I have been working in my "flippy" art journal with a French theme. Below are examples of how the pages "flip out" horizontally:

You can see how the page unfolds. I plan on bringing home some fun ephemera to use to finish the pages of this book!

French Journal

Thought I would share a page from a journal I made in a Kelly Kilmer class. We called it the "flippy book" since the pages folded out, up and down. As I was collaging the first page, it became apparent the theme of the book was French:

I used a variety of patterned papers and Washi tapes with my images. Watercolor wash was added to unify.

Tuesday's Tip

While you are reading this, I am most likely wandering Monet's garden or the streets of Paris. With vacation time upon us, there are many items you can save and use in your art. One of my planned stops is an antique book store for collage fodder. Remember, you can save and use maps, ticket stubs, business cards of locations visited, wrappers, etc. Not only are you recycling, but you will have some unique fodder for creating!

Travel Book

I am off on a trip to Paris. At the last minute, I decided I did not want to bring my datebook with the information on tours and times. I did want some envelopes in which to stuff small pieces of ephemera. So, late one night, I sealed some small envelopes and cut off one of the sides. I oriented them vertically and added some filler pieces of card stock. It was all put together using my trusty tape gun. I still need to fill in some information, but below is a sampling of the pages:

I did mention I put this together LATE at night! I circle punched the envelope to make filing bit and pieces easier. I used a bit of patterned paper from a Tim Holtz pad for the cover - again relying on my trusty tape gun!

I thought the French ads and script were a perfect cover. Now to make my little additions, and into my purse it will go!

Stencil with Gel Medium

Yes, it was tag week for me! I tried another technique that came from May Flaum. I took my trusty tag and a Tattered Angels stencil and slopped on some of this gel medium.

As you can see, I was very liberal with the application. I carefully lifted the stencil (technically, this is a mask) and left it to dry for a day. I sprayed some Dylusions Mist and let it dry further. I was thinking of using the result as a tree, complete with some birds and blooms. However, the vibrancy of the Dylusions color had me re-think. I thought it looked more like ocean coral (without the orange color). So, the final result was this:

This is actually a pretty interesting technique. I plan on trying it with a few other mediums that I own.

Metal background

As a little tag project for Camp Scrap, I decided to try Ranger's Sticky-back Foil. I cut the square of foil into pieces, some large and some not so large. I pulled off the backing and stuck the foil, piece by piece, all over the tag. I over lapped some parts, and used the entire square.  An embossing stylus was used to draw stitch marks, doodles and circles into the foil. Then, out came the alcohol inks! Below is the tag to this point:

From there, I stamped a variety of images (Artistic Outpost) and cut them out. The bicycle is from   Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante. I added a few gears, a token and some trim. Tag complete!

Tuesday's Tip

Since last Tuesday's Tip discussed art journaling, I thought I would pass on another idea to get you started! Remember, since the journal is YOURS, you can do whatever floats your boat (so to speak). If starting on the first page is too intimidating, by all means pick another place to start. The middle works well for some. Enjoy and get creative!

So, I am almost done with the using the lovely London Market collection from Pink Paislee (and my Simon Says Stamp kit). It made me be a bit sad - so I did order additional 12 x 12 papers (blush!) I loved the collage feel of one of the patterns. I thought it would be fun to add to the collage with stamps and a bit of color:

I stamped the frame (Stampin' Up) and cut it out. I also cut out the inside so that the pattern of the paper could show through. I added a bit of color with the flowers and bird. Do not be afraid to add to a background paper - especially one with an understated design. A fun addition, the border is actually from a different patterned paper. I just cut off the edge!
If you are new to collage, this is an excellent way to get started -  just add a few elements to a collage paper.