Architecture/Row Houses

In the last few months, houses of all shapes and sizes have been a current theme explored by the mixed media groups. For a swap themed "Architecture" I created a free standing set of five houses which are connected allowing this to stand on its own.



The entire width of this is 12 inches, only three inches wide when folded up as in the scan below. This is off to Wales to my friend Adrienne who visited the US in the fall of 2007. Hope she enjoys this!

Folded and ready to go on its journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

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Interested in Row Houses? Check out Trish Bayley's blog:

http://trishbee.co.uk/?p=674

Prepare to be AMAZED!!!!

And check out the links she has posted, as well.

More Tip-ins

Diamond theme tip-in - another challenge for the monthly tip-in swap.
Sent off to New Zealand!

Deco Mania!

If you have looked at my blog in the past, you know that I have been involved in some deco swaps - basically little books which are sent to friends who add art work and send on to someone else. Hopefully, the book is eventually finished and returned home. Here is the front and back of a page in a book which I just finished. I had been using vintage images and came across some vintage corset adds. I used them layered over reproductions of old-time ads and added the "Ultimate Support" tag along with rick-rack (yes, they still make and sell it!) Hope the recipient likes this.




This page is made for a different set of deco books - the theme is "Art." I used an image I had saved from (I think) a take-out menu from a restaurant in Maryland. I have always loved the image and finally used it. The background was created by "artfully" adding water colors and dye inks to paper towel. The quote on the back is one of my favorites and really works with the heart shapes in the central image.

Tip-Ins

Altered book artists sometimes participate in tip-in swaps which are loads of fun. The idea is that a theme and specifice size are decided upon, and participants swap them out. Once you have received the finished page(s), you can either tip them into an altered book by gluing the page in or you can also assemble them into a new book by various methods. The first picture was made for my friend Adrienne who had wanted to be in the Nature swap but forgot to sign up. So, when I sent her a birthday present, I included this for her. The page folds in half down the center. I was lucky enough to meet Adrienne last fall when she traveled from Wales to the US to attend Art and Soul in Portland, then came to Wisconsin to visit with my friends Chrissy, Kathy, and Barbara.

This tip-in was made for the Men swap. I really had fun with this. I used the cover from a theater program for the front. The Milwaukee Rep had staged Cyranno last fall and I saved the program because Lee Ernst is one of my favorite actors (he was brilliant in the production!) I printed off a page of dialogue in French from the script for the background. Love the guys on the back as well.

More Little Beauties

CCSwaps is running a monthly swap - Little Beauties. I have signed up every month as these are fun to make and even more fun to receive. The intention is that these will be used on ATC's, greeting cards, AB pages, or other projects. It is also a good way to use the little leftovers which all of us hate to throw away. The newest swap is Oriental. I have quite a stash of Oriental themed paper, stamps, and embellishments, so this was great fun.







Earlier in the month the theme was Vintage. Another favorite! I used copyright free images and sized them, printing some on acetate, some on ivory CS, and others on a transparency. The scan is representative of what I created as I signed up three times for this round. Was I crazy or what? Of course, that meant that I would receive three sets. Two have already arrived and are gorgeous.

Painting????

My friend Bonnie has been learning to paint the "One Stroke" way. A friend of hers had been hosting monthly workshops, and Bonnie asked me if I would like to try it out. Of course - just what I need - something new which would involve supplies, products, etc., which I would have to go out and purchase. So, I have gone twice for instruction and practice. If you have ever seen this technique demonstrated, you know that it looks so easy. Well, trust me, it takes a lot of practice, practice, practice. Here are two of my early attempts. Bonnie "rescues" some of her practice pieces by cutting them down and making greeting cards out of the pieces, so that's what I did below. I've got a long way to go, but it is fun even though frustrating.

Puzzle Book

Imagine a puzzle piece over four inches large. That's what I used to create this puzzle book for my friend Chrissy who ran a puzzle piece swap. The challenge was to incorporate a puzzle piece into any kind of project. I covered the large piece with paper, then distressed, stamped, and painted it. I also cut a square the same size as the cover out of chipboard and finished it same way. The smaller puzzle piece in the center was run through a CuttleBug embossing folder, then distressed. I added embellishments, then punched the cover, back and some pages, assembled and delivered. It was great fun.