Gelli Printing

Love this.  I just have to do more Gelli printing.   No Gelli plate, you say?   This can be done with an old mouse pad or a piece of craft foam.  I've tried it both ways and it does work.  Have fun.

Be Friends with Failure

 As artists we always have this interior critic running a dialogue.  "Is this good enough?"  You're not really an artist."  "Should I really be doing this?" This little cartoon will help your perspective.  Click the link below to go to "doodle alley, comics that nourish."

Be Friends with Failure

BIRD BOOKS # 2, REPEATED PER REQUEST

My dear sweet husband did this on digital format for me.  So nice to be able to show the whole book at once.   It was fun to do and includes some work from art friends and some of my own little pieces.

BUTTERFLY ATC

This is a 1947 Webster's Dictionary page I used for background.  I always keep a page near by to wipe excess paint off my brush or to test a stamp or stencil.  That leads to some pretty pages I then use in other projects.  The delicate dictionary paper is glued to ATC (artist trading card, 2 1/2 x 3 1/2") card stock to give it strength.

TANGLING IN ATC SIZE

A bit of playing in my studio.  Hope you like it.  Sending love to all.

HOPE

Just playing around with my pens.  "For thou are my hope, oh Lord God: thou are my trust from my youth."  Psalm 71:5

MORE WHIMSEY FROM UKRAINE

These are some of the silly drawings I've sent off in our Facebook swap.  Little pieces of art going all over the world.  Some have gone to Canada, England, Africa, Australia and of course, the U.S.  So fun to think of one's art going all over the world.  Hope you like them.

ARTIST TRADING CARD SWAP

 An artist trading card (ATC) is 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches.  I'm currently involved in a swap on Facebook in an art group there.  We all make cards and send to one another.    This cutie I received from England.  It was my very first arrival.

 This beauty came from Canada as is evident from the marvelous stamps on the envelope.  I just so happen to be a stamp collector since childhood so I was very happy to receive them and her pretty card.

And last, but far from least, was this bounty from a lady in California.  They shall be nice additions to my altered books.  I have a "bird" theme finished and I'm starting another.  Some beautiful work in all these pieces.  I'm so glad to be a part of this swap and collecting such lovely little pieces or art from around the world.  Next posting I'll show some that I've made and sent.

"Birds of a Feather" Mixed-Media Tutorial

On Facebook someone asked me how I did these.  She liked seeing through the image to the text or music below.  It really is not difficult so I shall summarize enough that you could repeat it.  This one has a Russian music sheet. And you'll need napkin images of your choice.  As you can see I like birds and these were from my napkin collection.

I started with a card stock base to give a bit more strength, though I have done these on heavy paper as well.  You could also gesso your paper to add strength, but I don't often do that.  Some of it I stamped before I did anything around the edges and some stamping I did after adhering my text and images.  It really is your choice.  This one has a Russian language phone book page in the background.

After stamping you are ready to adhere your background layer.  You can also paint and do other decor around your edges.  This background text is a Russian language phone book page again.  I like using foreign text.  Rather gives an air of mystery. Use Elmer's Glue (PVA) diluted at least 50% or ModPodge.  You want it pretty watery.  Living in Ukraine where I can't easily buy many materials I mostly use the white glue.  It works well and it's cheap.

Paint the surface of the cardstock where you will lay your background paper or paint the back of the image.  I lay the text down, paint the glue on top of it and immediately take it to my heat gun (hair dryer also works) to dry as fast as I can to prevent too much buckling in the lower card stock.  When that is dry I repeat the process for the napkin (all layers removed except top image).  I do not paint the back of the napkin.  Only the surface upon which I will lay it.  It is too delicate.  Once down I paint on top of it, but here you must be very careful not to overwork it as napkin fibers break down quickly and it could start tearing so watch closely as you work.  Then go immediately again to the heat gun and dry.  When you are all done you can press it in a book to help flatten, but I usually don't mind a bit of buckling as I think that adds to the character of the piece.    I also do these in my art journal.  See previous post of Oct. 11 or go here http://vintageterrace2.blogspot.com/2012/10/projects-using-tissuenapkins-for.html.  In addition, the post just below shows a suitcase I altered using napkins.  Give it a whirl.  These are fun and there are so many beautiful napkin images.

Artist Trading Card

You all know I love birds.  This little card is made with a feather that just happened coordinate so nicely with the colors in the paper and picture so I had to incorporate it somehow.  I quartered  a sticky-back foam piece that raises up the picture like it's floating atop the feather.  The little envie  next to it is what it slips into before it goes into the mailing envelope.  I did several of these by recycling some old card stock forms, inking the edges and stamping.  Makes a nice extra touch for the ATC recipient. Hope you like it.

JENNIBELLI ~ GOING GREEN ON PAINT SUPPLIES

This is so simple....one of those...well, of course but are you doing it?  I wasn't except with some small hand wipes.  Going big now.

ARTIST TRADING CARDS

You don't suppose this is any indication I'm ready for spring? There's still a bit of snow in the shady areas, but it's melting fast. Which means, lots to clean up in the yard. A couple days ago we watched sparrows raising a fuss and flitting around our roof peak. There's an open spot there where they make nests every year. Later after the babies hatch out we hear them chattering. In winter we have chickadees. Now they are all gone so I guess that is an indication that spring is on it's way. Hope it's nice where you are and you are enjoying some of the beauty of nature. It's God's gift for you.

HERITAGE SERIES - ATC (WOYWW)

I've been doing a series of vintage artist trading cards so this one is for the category of families. If you notice to the right is a tent. The were camping on their way to California in the 30's. Someone told it reminded them of a "Grapes of Wrath" scene.

ARTIST TRADING CARDS

Sharing a couple vintage themed ATCs I did in October. Do you like them? I do like vintage.

Artist Trading Card

This vintage little gem flew away to the U.S. recently. Artist Trading Cards (ATC) cannot be sold, but can only be given away or traded. They are miniature pieces of one's artistic creativity. Hope you like it.