Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Cards 2011

During the Western Washington Scrapbooking Retreat back in November, I made over thirty Christmas cards. I found a great deal on paper at Ben Franklin's Craft store. It was considered a Halloween theme and was on clearance. The black and gray paper worked well for a low key Christmas tree. I also wanted a simpler idea than last year's Gingerbread Man Christmas card. Cutting out over thirty gingerbread men by hand? A hand cramping good time.

Merry Christmas everyone! And bring on a happy and prosperous new year!

Believe Love Celebrate

Friday, December 09, 2011

Buzzing Bees

Buzzing Bees
Final

What a sentimental journey! I went through my stash of letters from my Grandma, who passed away almost 2 years ago now. It was an emotional process, deciding which letters to glue down and which ones I didn't want to lose. I added some of my daughter's artwork that was at hand, because she resembles my Grandma quite a bit. I decided at that point, this picture would be for her.

Base Collage
Letters from Grandma, Pictures from Daughter

My daughter is known as Lil' B, so bees were a natural. I love daisies and polka dots, so voila! A picture was born. It took me a lot of fussing with dot placement and what to do about the bees' wings...I thought tissue paper at first, but then it became a competition with the petals. After digging in my junk drawer, I found pieces of a Bodum coffee press that I had kept. So glad I did! The mesh was the perfect answer. The wings look like they are in motion and contrast just enough in color and texture to stand out, yet not stand out too much. Know what I mean?

Multimedia Art
Acrylic Paint, Charcoal, Tissue Paper, die cut paper...

A lot of heart and soul went into this image. I love it because it became what it wanted to be: buzzing bees.

Bee Details
Cardboard, music, wire mesh, and sewing pins

Recycled: cardboard, letters and envelopes from Grandma (1986-1988), pictures and stickers from preschool daughter, wire mesh from coffee pot filter, sewing pins, sheet music, greeting cards, and tissue paper.

Friday, December 02, 2011

The Birds

"Feeling left out."

I took the advice I received and dulled the white birdhouses so they didn't compete for attention with the birds. I also added some shimmering red berries to the tree and bush in the opposite corners, hoping to counter the strong diagonal line between the two birds.

I scanned the image in two passes and in Photoshop stuck them back together. I hope this helps show the true color palette.

Recycled: baby board book, letters and envelopes, paper doily,  sheet music, cardboard, magazine and newspaper

The Scowling Mermaid

"It meant so much."
Traditional Collage

I'm taking a break from digital work for a bit while I explore my traditional collage roots. I love getting my hands dirty and seeing actual textures, patterns, and layers working together. I was inspired by the artist Cindy Wunsch, who was featured in the latest Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. She uses memorabilia in her artwork and I have boxes of it that would love to see the light of day.

My current project is using letters that my grandmother wrote to me. I read them, I wept, I remembered her. It was an emotional process but a well of inspiration all the same. Seeing her script in the background will keep her memory close to my heart. Miss you, Myrtle!

Recycled: toner copied worksheet from high school memorabilia, magazine paper, greeting card text, and canvas covered cardboard from hard bound book.