FEATHER FUN ART JOURNALING

I've been asked to show my feathers.  I can't tell you why I've been on a feather kick except that I like birds (2 bird themed altered books already completed) so I guess it is a natural to like feathers too.  These two are cardboard (recycle), Sharpie pen, markers, glitter and pearl paints.

These were pretty easy too.  I used double-sided tape on the wire and placed between a piece of music paper folded in half.  Then I cut the shape I wanted, feathered with more cutting and spray/glittered.  Easy peasy, try it.

Markers and Sharpie pen.  Free hand-cut.

These pretties were hand-cut from a candy box.  The cardboard was so pretty in it's silver and gold that I thought, I must do something with them.  I used an ordinary pen (ballpoint) that just so happen to not work for the engraving.

More recycle with these from some product cardboard headed to the recycle bin.  These I painted with watercolor in light pastels.  Then used black Sharpie pen to draw.  Over that I used glitter glue and some pearl paints. Leaves, feathers, whatever you want.  Just fun to do and great to do in front of the TV.  Give it a try.

THE DARKEST NIGHT

I started this art journal layout wanting to do something to demonstrate home made stencils to my students in our altered books class.  As an American in Ukraine I don't have access to all the goodies offered in the big mega-stores in America.  And I don't want to teach my students techniques they can't repeat on their own.  Now, I must admit, as I roam the internet or read a Stampington publication, I sometimes desire those new materials and goodies I see out there.  The flip side of that, not having them, can sometimes extend one's own creativity.  So the stencil figures you see here came from figures I cut out of magazines.  Rough cutting I glue to cardboard, then cut out again accurately.  If careful with your cardboard cutting step you can end up with both a stencil and a mask.  Here I used the cut-out mask and dabbed paint around it.  The leaves in the lower corners are what were left from a leaf stencil.  I used regular household spackle plaster and pushed it thru the cardstock stencil.  Being paper I had to throw it out after these two.  Now if one could laminate these they would last a lot longer.

By the way, I called this an art journal and it is, but all my art journaling is now done in altered books. This is an Amway soft cover catalog we didn't need.  Anything bound is subject to my scrutiny for an altered book. . . softecovers included.  And it has a spiral binding that will be fun to hang pretties from to decorate.

I also noticed that this page fits well with a challenge that is going on now at Kat McNally's blog, "words to soothe the weary soul."  Self-compassion is today's prompt.   The words on my page are a reminder that when we are tired and depressed, the morning comes and all looks better.  I learned that lesson years ago.  Now, I don't take my thoughts and emotions so seriously at night....I may just be tired.  Kat's blog:  http://www.katmcnally.com/2013/12/reverb13-day-19-self-compassion.html?showComment=1387432800751#c8887281586528337712

The last step was to add the verse on the tag:  "Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy coeth in the morning."  Psalm 30:5.

Hope you like it.  I love reading your comments.

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.

FEATHER FUN

This has been my silliness of late.  I did the lower ones first from hymn sheets of an old book that was put in it's binding upside down.  So it made a perfect candidate for crafting.  What you can't see here is the beautiful shimmer they each have.  The upper group was made from cardboard headed to the recycle bin.  I really do like birds so it stands to reason I would like feathers as well.  I'm already making more on this feather kick.  Not sure where it will end, but some have already flown off to other parts of the world.  I also shared this idea with my class  and they all wanted to make some as well.  So fun!  Hope you like them.

CRE8TIVE CRE8TION'S SPRING BIRD

You'll enjoy seeing how Andrea Gomoll of Germany works.  I really like how she did her background.  You will too.

ALTERED BOOKS ???

I've had people ask me what did I mean by the term "altered book."  So here's a good explanation I think you'll enjoy.
http://gomakesomething.com/ht/thebasics/altered-book/

DRAWING: "I AM THE VINE"

"I am the vine, you are the branches, if a man remains in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  John 15:5

This was done on Hebrew text.  I really like working on foreign text.  Since we live in Ukraine, on occasion we get the opportunity to travel around here just as someone might travel around in the states.  In 2010 we were in Israel while my husband, Jeff and a couple other guys led a seminar.  I got to tag along and I'm always on the lookout for foreign ephemera on trips like this.  I just like the sense of mystery drawing over another language.  Hope you like it.

WOYWW ~ What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday

Been back home (we're Americans living in Ukraine) for just over two weeks from being a month in California.  It's been a big adjustment from the warm sunshine to our deep snow.  Jet-lag is always an issue, but after two weeks I'm getting almost full nights sleep.  So today is actually the first arting I've done in two weeks plus the month I was gone.  Too long to go, but it is what it is.  Hope you like it.

The picture of Mr. 007 was cut out of a magazine and glued to cardboard so it will hold up for a while as a stencil.  Thanks for visiting and commenting.  Sure appreciate it.

"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.

ALTERED "BIRD" BOOK

Here's two sets of pages from my Altered "Bird" Book. I've been working on it for some time, but just getting some of it shot and posted. In various places I have swapped bird art with other artists and it has been fun to make an album to include there's and mine too. And of course, the best part is doing the pages for each piece. Hope you like it. Let me know what you think.

ALTERED "BIRD" BOOK

Here's a few pages from the altered "bird" book I've been working on since last year. It's actually a book of bird stories so it seemed a perfect fit for the topic. I do love birds so it was my opportunity to display some of what I do and the art of some fine ladies I've swapped with over the last few years.

Red Birds

I was surfing the web one day and saw a bird collage that inspired me. I grabbed some newsprint and several other scraps and then the back of a magazine cover to cut out the red birds. They are all different because I cut them free-hand. I used enamel sticky-back buttons for the eyes. I just love it when something hits you and you must run and do it. Did mine turn out like the one I saw? No, not at all. I wasn't trying for that. It was just the bird theme that got me going. I love birds. Let me know what you think.

A Littlle Bit of Whimsy

I had fun doing these silly birds for a swap on Swap-bot.com. The interesting part of swapping there is that your creations go all over the world. I sent something to Mexico not long ago and I've also sent creations to Africa, South America, Australia, Canada and various European countries. None to Russia yet, still waiting.

What Lovlies I Received!

These lovelies are a swap I did with Roz from the U.K. The swap was for a 4x6" vintage card in bird theme. I'm altering a book in that theme so I have several lovely pieces to put in it from Roz. It was such a delight to receive her package as she did two pieces instead of one and tied them together with lace. Such a lovely presentation.
This is the back side and I love butterflies. The flower is cut from papers with lovely Christian sentiments. The great fun of swapping is seeing and learning from the techniques of others. Then I teach some of those same ideas to the ladies here in Ukraine when I do my card or scrapbooking classes.
Isn't this a pretty tag? I love the image and the sparkly letters. Roz did both sides so it is hard to decide which side to display at home. Just have to rotate. This was an extra from our swap. What a blessing of generosity.
This is another side of the tag. Here Roz did a glassy technique on the vintage picture. I'll have to get her secret. It was so pretty.

Even the letter I received had such a cute bird picture on it that I had to save that as well. Maybe it will go in my bird book.