Altered Composition Book Swap

I participated in a swap this month - whereby you were matched with two other people and had to create two altered composition books.  You mail one to each person, and they mail one to you.  Simple!  This was hosted by the same person who holds the altered matchbox swaps. 

 I started with two plain old dollar store composition books - black speckle on the outside, ruled pages inside. From conversions with my swap partners i knew i would stay in a fairly vintage theme - with one person requesting orange and other would default to my go to blue. the orange was a challenge at first - do i have enough orange? I sure do! It became clear rather quickly that i could make the theme all about butterflies. this would be a nice counterpoint to the second book about birds.

 Here is Beth's book.  I covered the cover of the composition book with assorted papers and lace and added birds cut from wrapping paper.  A silk ribbon is tied around the book with a pretty bow.

 Inside the cover i did a collage of 4 papers, including some french dictionay pages with birds on them, and added a pretty tag.

To carry the theme throughout the boog, on subsequent pages i stamped, collaged or added little birdie details like this.

 My goal was to make each page a delight.  But i did not decorate ALL the pages!  there were many left blank!

 Here is the back inside cover - using a page of handpainted deli paper and a few stamped birds.

Sorry this is tilted - but this is the back cover of the book.  Vintage wallpaper, sheet music and a collaged bird.

 Here is gretchen's book - she said orange was her favorite colour.  The cover of the book was done with a collage of papers and some sticky borders, a few lace medallians and a nice big butterfly wall sticker!  The hand dipped silk ribbon is tied around the center of the book.

 Inside the front cover i used a beautiful page from an anthropologie catalogue -a damsel surrouned by butterflies.  The facing page has some vintage ephemera and more butterflies.

 On subsequent pages i stamped and added more butterflies and envelopes.

 Inside each envelope was a little treat - some stickers or stamps.

 Inside the back cover was more hand painted deli paper (did i mention it glues beautifully?)

 The back cover was left black and white with assorted book pages and some alphabet washi tape.

Before putting the books safely in priority post flat rate envelopes, i wrapped them as "presents" with pretty coordinating wrapping paper, ribbons and for Gretchen, adorned with a glittery butterfly.

And here is Beth's book in the soft blue and aqua pallette i love so much.  This is the same wrapping paper i used to cut the birds on the cover of her book.  pretty organza ribbon and wee bird charm complete the package.

I'll write about the lovely books and goodies i received in return soon!

More Altered Photos

I spent a lovely afternoon altering photos with a lovely group of ladies a few weeks ago.  Yes - i "cheated' on my regular play date group!  An old friend, D. saw my altered photos HERE and asked me if i could give her a lesson.  Then she asked if we could get a group of gals together for a potluck lunch and a day of crafting.

The supplies are simple: you need a bowl of water (i used cake tins) and some sugar free Koolaid. I had cherry, orange and grape. But if you can find blueberry or lime - i would get those too! My grocery didn't have them. You also need some kind of sand paper and an awl. That's it! Oh, plus a bunch of photos you'd like to alter. Remember when you used to get doubles at the drugstore because it was only a buck extra? Well dig them out and start creating cute little works of art!

Here are the impressive assortment of photos altered by the gals.  The technique is simple.  Just send me $10 in a self dressed stamped envelope and i will send them to you.  hahaha  Seriously - it is SO simple - just read!

1.  Take a photo back and white or colour, developed at a photo place - ie NOT from your home printer, and NOT from a kiosk.  Sadly really old BW photos don't work as well.
2. Get it wet in a bowl of plain tap water - just a few seconds is plenty.
3. Then start sanding.  Sand off whatever you want - the sky is a good place to start - because you can colour it something else.  Or sand off people you don't like, or ugly things in the background that mess up your composition.  
4. Use the a pointy bit of sand paper to get in close to an object you want to keep.
5. then use an awl to add detail to the photo - like the architecture of a building, or the branches of a tree.  
6. Then drop the photo in a bowl of koolaid.  I used two packets to about two cups of water.  You can leave it in as long as you like to get some nice deep colour - maybe 5 - 10 minutes? 
7. Take it out and dry it with paper towels.  You can sand or scratch some more, and even soak it in a different colour.
8. Then you can add you owl details with watercolour paint, water soluable oil pastels (my favorite), markers and even collage elements like paper, tapes and rubber stamps

 I especially like how architecture works - with the details highlighted with an awl.

 The old photos did not "sand" very well - but they did absorb the purple koolaid in a really cool way - purple mountains majesty, anyone?

 Aren't these cute!?

 What a fantastic assortment of altered photographs from a talented goup of ladies!

Scrabble Tile Jewelry

I spent a very relaxing afternoon with two friends making jewelry with wooden scrabble tiles and assorted collage materials.  K. made 6 tiles with different coloured Queen Elizabeth postage stamps.  Z. made some tiles with small maps and boats. (sorry no pics!)

 We started with a kit purchased from Pick Your Plum - a daily "buy it now" website that sells craft supplies and accessories.  Each kit came with 6 wooden tiles and 6 brass bezels.  You have to sign up and they'll send you an email with the daily deal. 

 I cut images from art stickers, stamps, dictionaries and books and glued them on the tiles with glossy accents adhesive.  then more adhesive on top - to create that glossy look.  My friend had some coloured tubes as well - used to colour the blue fish above and the green background for the bird.

It was too much fun to stop after we'd completed our 6 tiles - so i created 5 more using slightly smaller scrabble tiles.  Each tile got two or three coats of adhesive so that it was slightly raised. Some of these will become jewelry - some can just be used as embellishment in a mixed media art project.

 Here's how i created jewelry out of some of the tiles.  Here i added some beads and metal findings and threaded it on waxed linen thread.

 Here i used some gunmetal ball chain to make a long pendant.  This tile also has a little raised flower in the corner.

 Here i used a thick black cording to create a choker length necklace that can be adjusted by sliding the knots along the cord.  it took some trial and error to tie the knots right - but it works perfectly!

 This actually a little bracelet on a brass coloured chain.

 This is an experiment - but i used some soft wire to create a necklace with a simple clasp.  Probably TOO soft - they make wire specifically for this type of jewelry.  But i didn't have any handy!  BTW - this was made with a Columbian postage stamp with a volcano image - i added the word 'foreboding'.

And finally my favorite - also on a thick black leather cord with the knotted adjustable ends.  My pretty red head with the word 'beloved' cut from a dictionary.

Happy New Year!

Have a Robin's Egg Blue Christmas!

 Here is the angel on top of my bird themed tree,  It is the creative outlet i told you about HERE.

 Here is our petite table top tree with silver and white birds, pearl and mercury glass garland, and jewel toned ornaments.  It looks really sparse here - it looks fuller in real life somehow!

 I've had this painting for a while, up in our guest room.  i got the idea to stencil "peace on earth" watching Emily Henderson's christmas special (Secrets of a Stylist).  She stencilled "joy to the world" on a vintage map as a fun holiday decoration.  She suggested peace on earth as an alternate expression.  I just love how the robin's egg blue balances the theme of the tree.

Here you can see my new caged Santos - i need to find a crown for her head.  (Jim finds her hideous) Also you can see i went a little nuts decorating our 75 drawer apothocary cabinet with glass picture frames, snowflakes and more garland.

 I was blessed to receive some lovely things from my friends - here is a mini tree made with sheet music and burlap squares - topped with a wee birdie, from Z.

 And K sent me this amazing 3-d christmas card in a padded envelope.

 My friend L was moving and gave me a bunch of empty boxes.  She does packaging design - so had a quite a collection.  Here are three that i wrapped up with beautiful decorative papers and embellishment.  They can be used again and again.  The book was a gift my my sister to my husband, we were not supposed to unwrap it - but the amazon box was sooo ugly.  besides, doesn't it just blend in beautifully with my theme?

And here is one of 5 origami birds i made, using a tutorial my neice posted on her blog HERE.  I used these cranes to give my husband gifts we need to go and pick out together.  I printed images of the items on 8 1/2 by 11 printer paper, then cut the paper into an 8 1/2" square.  It took me a while to get the hang of the folding - but by the 5th one i think i figured it out!

For christmas eve, we went out with friends for a lovely gourmet dinner.  Afterwards, we invited them in for egg nog with Grand Marnier and nutmeg, enjoyed some carols and the lovely ambiance of our decorated room.  I hope your christmas is memorable and shared with good friends and family....!

Creative Outlet Play Date

Six artsy girlfriends spent Sunday afternoon doing something creative.  With an outlet.  Yes - an actual electrical outlet.  Get it?  A "creative outlet"!!

Micheal deMeng's Creative Outlet

D. has taken many classes with the altered art genius, Micheal deMeng and purchased one of his Creative Outlets so we'd seen a sample of what was possible. Click HERE to see more examples of his work. Even so, there was some intimidation about how to get started, what to bring, what if you don't like his "dark" style?  But as always seems to happen at these lively gatherings, we all feed off of each others muses, share each others loot, and end up with a fantastic array of art projects.  

When gathering up my tools and materials the day before, i saw an angel evolve - with a optical lens face, and brass and capiz shell wings.  The body of course, would be the outlet itself!  I just kept layering and layering until i felt it captured  the spirit of a DeMeng piece - with the interesting juxtaposition of materials so prevalent in his work.  Albeit with a prettier and softer pallet of cream, gold and touches of blue.

Here is after i glued the wings and shell to the back of the outlet, and wired the lens.  The adorable face came from a copy of a vintage christmas card - so angelic.  And here is my finished angel! She has porcelain arms, a copper ruffled collar, a snowflake hat, a blue crystal bodice with a blue wire bow.  Her skirt is a set of carded buttons, a piece of mica and some ecru lace. I honestly had not planned on one, but a bird quite literally landed in my work area, so was added to the final piece, i glued it onto one of the buttons strung on a piece of wire to create a golden halo.

Keeping in mind these projects are at various stages of completion, i'd love to share my friends' work with the blogsphere.  Here is Z's outlet turned face, complete with blue hair barrette eyes and some bling-y earrings.  The metal face part was found in a parking lot!  Treasures are everywhere you look....!

Here is L's whimsical framed box, with an assortment of fimo clay elements adding to the fun.  She has a striped snake tail slithering into the central compartment covered with charms and a piece of measuring tape wrapped in wire. Two metal hands give this a high five, twice!

Here is S's deeply layered outlet, with an open work vine covered round tin box, a faucet crank, a protracter, wings and leaves and flourishes, topped with a locket.  She will probably paint the whole thing and make it look quite different than it does now.

Here is D's creation.  Well - it is hard to really capture it.  It started as a protractor framed outlet with wings and gears and a watch and a spoon and a baby.  Then it got added to a wire airplane sculpture.  and here it is on a tin box, waiting for the glue to dry. As you can tell - she has the most experience with the DeMeng style!

Here is K's piece, still waiting for the carousel horse to be painted and final assembly.  Love her assortment of metals - silver, brass, and her signature copper.  It is fascinating how you take such disseparate items and make a pulled together art piece.

Since i finished my angel pretty quick, i went ahead and created a second creative outlet. Would you like to create one of these for yourself, or as a gift for your wacky sister, aunt, friend? 

Ask your husband if he has any extra electrical outlets in the garage/basement.  Oddly enough, most of them do.  Or go to the hardware store.  I do NOT recommend you actually remove one from the wall!! (yuck yuck)  Then grab two forks (or spoons or a spatula or a whisk would look cool) and wire it to the outlet.  Then add whatever you have in your junk drawer with E6000 or 7800 glue until you have enough.  Whatever "enough" means, it is kinda in the eye of the beholder!  Then you can paint or stain it to make some of the elements more cohesive.  I just used alcohol ink and a Q-tip to add a golden glow to my metals.  Some bright pink craft wire, and some white buttons dyed bright pink add the whimsy.  My little baby is painted gold and dipped with pigment dust and sits on a fork tine stage, behind a western style belt buckle proscenium arch.  Hell yeah.