I'm on a #Cre8time Steampunk Adventure with Darkroom Door Stamps and Unruly PaperArts

It's that time of the month again... time for another one of my "Thoughtful Abstractions" columns at Unruly PaperArts. This month's theme is STAMP it OUT... and stamping is one of my favorite Cre8time Pastimes!

Stamps are so versatile and can be used for many projects: from cardmaking to home decorating, to altered books and ATCs - pretty much anything and everything can be stamped.

This month's sponsor of the Stamp It Out issue at Unruly PaperArts is Darkroom Door Stamps - a company I have loved following over the years and I was so excited to receive their Steampunk set which has a variety of words and images; mounted on cling foam.

I've created this fun "steampunk adventure" card featuring these dueling dashing men of steampunk... the inventor -vs- the explorer. I turned the stamped images into mini polaroid photos using the words as titles. I used leftover scraps from my Doctor Who mini album from last month for a grounding border and filled in the background of the blank kraft card with the gears and phrase. Everything is rubbed up with some chalk inks for distressing and this card is good to go.

Want to see what else I've created?? I have a created a new whimsical page in art journal using this set of Darkroom Door Steampunk Essentials.

Please CLICK HERE to view my Thoughtful Abstractions column in the Unruly PaperArts "STAMP it OUT" issue. It is a total must see completely stamped using this fabulous set of Darkroom Door Steampunk Essentials.  :) Sb

Also - make sure you enter this month's Reader's Art Quest at Unruly PaperArts. One lucky creation linked up via inLinkz will be randomly chosen to win a fabulous prize package from Darkroom Door Stamps. CLICK HERE for the details!

Springtime is #Cre8time at HOME with Unruly Paper Arts May Reader's Art Quest

Hello Everyone... welcome to May! It's a new month and I'm happy to share a brand new upcycled mixed media project for the new Reader's Art Quest at Unruly Paper Arts. This month's challenge theme is "HOME" and you know how I love a good challenge!

I really enjoyed created something new - and at the same time giving a proper home for bits of this and that on my craft room table. It's springtime and I've been doing some much needed sorting and purging of my studio - along with finishing countless UFOs {unfinished objects} which are cluttering my desk... and MIND!

Following the Unruly Paper Arts Reader's Art Quest "Home" Inspiration photo and color palette, I set out to collect some items for creating. I have a few Amazing Casting Resin house pieces created from an embroidery kit frame molded using Amazing Mold Putty. I had one of these in a baggy with some scraps of Bo-Bunny papers, embellishments and ribbon - such a good starting point. This month's issue is "Fabric Frenzy" so I also added some muslin to the mix.

 

Then my "ONE TOUCH RULE" started taking effect. In gathering other supplies - I happened upon this mini kraft tote that had the label removed. Hmmm! Perhaps this will make a lovely base for a mixed media piece.

I selected this section of muslin fabric monoprinted using my Amazing No-Gelatin Rubber Plate {my DIY version of a gellie plate}. When I'm playing and monoprinting I use extra papers, fabric swatches and other items to pick-up second/third print pulls. For this pattern, I had been impressing large bubble wrap into the paint to make texture and it will make a nice sky background for my "home" scene.

My selection of vintage lace, ribbon and knotted twine in the color palette. I might cut up this large loopy lace for clouds... we'll see how things progress.

I set off to work preparing my kraft tote to be a base for hanging art. I cut off the paper handles {which will be reused in another crafty project} and glued the sides and flap and a piece of cardstock inside to make a sturdy flat piece.

I try to be conscious in the beginning of how I'm going to display/house a creation. One thing I love using for upcycled projects is soda can pulls! With a decorative brad - they make a quick and easy hanger.

The whole is poked through the base bag and buried into the glued layers of my finished project. This is ready to hang!

View from the back with tab/hanger bent slightly for easy hanging on a pushpin.

I built up the layers on the front with a couple layered pieces of white cardstock with torn edges - slightly larger than my base bag.

Using a pale yellow acrylic paint I brushed some color around the border. I trimmed the monoprinted muslin to size and frayed the edges. I adhered another piece of white cardstock to the back of the fabric using a Miracle Sheet {sheets of double sided adhesive that can be cut to size} for stability and added strength. Before adhering - I added a little painterly details...

Faber-Castell Gelatos are my new obsession that are now a staple in my daily travel tote! I've found storage boxes that are the perfect size and I have two bins so far. I've even added color names to each of them with my P-Touch labeler {yes I have a little creative OCD}!

Using my new Nathalie Kalbach Stampendous stamps, and a variety of Faber Castell Gelatos - I applied color directly to the faux burlap stamp to simulate grass and pops of pink for flowers.

I spritzed the Gelatos with water and then pressed onto the fabric. I didn't use an acrylic block to ensure I pressed into the texture and cracks of the painted fabric. I let this dry completely and then peel the backing off the Miracle Sheet and adhere to my prepared base.

I stamped across the bottom edge of the fabric and I filled in the remaining 1/2" at the bottom using a water brush picking up color from the green gelatos used. I love the subtle watercolor effect and it complements the monoprinted bubble wrap background. I have a dark green pom-pom trim that I will add for additional dimension and as a horizon line for my scene. This will be layered upon a lace ribbon colored with green Gelatos blended with water to match my stamped garden. I placed my assembled house complete with resin domino door and mini bicycle onto the scene and filled in a faux fence with the knotted twine and cut apart section of May Arts wooded trim. I painted vertical stripes in with waterbrush and chocolate gelato to finish the fence... creating a nice contrast of dimension and color.

The base Bo-Bunny Paper that I trimmed to fit behind my Amazing Casting Resin house was a bit bright and blue. So I gently applied a gesso wash over it to mute the colors down, then applied a mix of pinks and yellow gelatos to marry this to the Unruly Paper Arts May Reader's Art Quest "Home" color palette challenge.

I also smudged some yellow and pink gelatos to the doily I was placing behind this house. I had already adhered these together, so mini Post-Its make masking quick and easy. I placed the Bo-Bunny flower as a "sun". As I started assembling the pieces to the fabric background, I decided to remove the flower. I wanted to give the scene balance and place the sun in front of some sparkly rays.

Using Post-its - I quickly masked around my white paper border to prepare for some misting. Then using T!m Holtz "RAYS" Stampers Anonymous layering stencil and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, I created some shimmering yellow rays for my floral sun.

This did the trick and gives balance to the house on the opposite side of my piece to complete the sky scene. Now it's time for those little finishing touches... a bronze colored dragonfly covers the gluedot residue I couldn't remove from the doily; and some Sakura of America Gelly Stardust Holgram hand-drawn details.

With addition of some adhesive gems for window on an Amazing Casting Resin domino door; and flower shapes and round gems to fill in this blossoming garden... this scene is complete! This scene just makes me smile.

I hope you enjoyed my project and that you are inspired to join us in this month's Reader's Art Quest. My "thoughtful abstractions" column for the May "Fabric Frenzy" issue of Unruly Paper Arts will be coming up on the 21st... you certainly want to SAVE the DATE. I would love to see what you create. Please leave me a comment with your link.

Happy Creating! :) Sb

#Cre8time play and a Collage-a-Palooza of Mail Art with Unruly Paper Arts

Hello everyone! Today I have my first "Thoughtful Abstractions" column published today over at the Unruly Paper Arts Blogozine. I am sharing a review of Altered Pages collage images and this Mail Art for this month's theme "Mail Art and Moos". I have to say that for me creating mail art and ATCs are a bit of an addiction and I love to get all of my supplies out and play. Please CLICK HERE to read my first column at Unruly Paper Arts.

With my column, I've created some mail art to coincide with the April theme, "Mail Art and Moo's". I've selected some Altered Pages collage sheets and created this whimsical mail art using envelopes that were headed for the recycling bin. Don't you just love the free art goodies that come via junkmail - I do! My base is a recycled 6" x 9" kraft envelope that has some ink picked up on it from some other project I had painted. I use papers and envelopes to mop up leftover ink or mists - I don't want to let any of that goodness go to waste.

I have this fantastic mask that is brickwork from UmWowStudio. I traced the brick shapes onto my leftover sections of the background from fussy cutting my Police Man.

I had a return address that I wanted to camouflage. Using butterscotch, earl grey and chocolate Faber-Castell Gelatos, I applied color into the brick shapes and smudged around with my finger to fill in. This fills in the background quickly and makes a nice base to collage upon.

Using a glue pen, I filled in the bricks that were stencil traced and cut from my collage sheet and arranged to make a nice pattern.

I distressed an ATC border with Ranger Distress Stains and Gelatos to use for the address block. I stamped a London Skyline scene using Ranger Vintage Photo distress ink above the address block. I had a small section of address label from previous use to cover - an easy fix! Add another collage image. On the Black and White ATC collage sheet, there is a London skyline image. I fussy cut the bridge section of the skyline and adhered in place over the stamped scene. I glued the address block in place and bordered with postal stripe washi tape, then layered in my policeman and pasted him in place.

I fussy cut a few fun birds with hats to perch around my scene. Using pencil and also grey EK Success Brushables markers, I added some shading and shadows around my fussy cut birds and figure to add depth.

I used a little sky blue gelato smudged at the top of the envelope to add a little color for the sky.

Now my envelope is ready to mail some crafty goodness! It's so wonderful to have so many artist friends all over the map to correspond and swap art with. I know my sister is going to call me up asking for this - London is one of her favorite places to visit.

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Supplies: Collage sheets from Altered Pages - Police Man enlarged from AP-2600 Dad's Day, London Scene from AP-778 Black and White ATC, border from AP-1828 ATC Decorative Borders, and birds from AP-1561 Birds with Hats; recycled 6"x9" craft envelope; Ranger Vintage Photo Distress Ink; Ranger Antique Linen and Old Paper Distress Stains; various EK Success Brushables Markers; pencil, postal stripe washi tape; Elmer's Craft Glue Pen; various colors of Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos; EK Success Cutterbee Scissors; London Skyline stamp from Viva Las VegaStamps!; and Brick Mask from UmWowStudio.

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Thanks so much for visiting! I'd love to see the mail art you've created. Please leave a link in the comments where I can view or you can share on the Unruly Paper Arts Facebook Group HERE. :) Sb