Wonderful Mail

A few days ago I received some beautiful cards from some of my internet friends and I just have to share them with you. My friend Judy, who previously sent the beautiful dragonfly cast paper card shown in an earlier post, sent me an equally lovely apple card using a packing tape transfer. She says an apple to keep the doctor away, but I guess I'll just have to keep seeing him until my wrist is back in proper use. She also sent me 2 apple transfers to use in my own art, and what a good choice, as I have a particular fondness for apples. Thanks Judy.
Donna C. sent a beautiful card with an embossed hand, and that extra hand is certainly something I could use right now, thanks Donna. Along with the hand, she tells me she hopes it's my wrist bones doing the knitting these days. that is good for now and the bones do need to heal, but I sure can't wait to do some real knitting soon. Thanks so much to all my friends who have wished me speedy healing.

Background For Byhand Artists Swap

Well here it is, my first attempt at left-handed art, well actually one-handed, with my right arm in it's cast. The byhandartists Yahoo Group are having a background swap, so before signing up I gave a trial run and found I could handle this technique, so now I am in. I started with a piece of single-sided black corrugated cardboard approximately 12 inches by 14 inches. I used matt medium to glue torn pieces of handmade tissue paper in purple, white, blue, tan, light and dark green onto the cardboard, pushing it down into the corrugated grooves. This is finished with four coats of the matt medium, allowing each coat to dry before adding the next one. I added a small amount of Spun Gold and Silver Morning craft acrylic to the finale coat, but that does not show up very well, perhaps there is not enough of it in the gel medium. And here are two of the pieces cut to the required size of 4 inches by 6 inches.

Of Valentine ATCs and Breaks

I had this nice post I was getting ready about some ATCs I was creating for the Grind swap in the theme of fabric and fibre, but was going to do more before I posted. Well since on Wed, Feb. 13 I opted for this glamourous fashion accessory which goes with everything, I only got 2 done. So since my art work is limited until the broken wrist heals, I have decided to show you what I did. I found these wonderful hair elastics at a dollar store and with 2 per card there was lots of ribbons and potential. I used this great image from recycled cardstock and punched holes down one side. I tied the ribbon and some fibre into the holes. For the second ATC I mounted it on black cardstock and lettered "Valentine" with silver gel pen. I spaced the holes further apart on this one, so there is not as many pieces of ribbon and fibre. I did get to the monthly swap at the Grind and these 2 were quickly swapped along with 2 others I had.

2008 Birthday Book part 2

Sorry for the strange order on these posts. I started the first part, then could not upload all the photos to one post, so had to break it into two. Page 8 is yet more coffee stained watercolour paper, scan of crochet lace, another cast paper, Quietfire Design quote stamp and a "silk wrap" pocket with small tags and a hidden message. The back cover is another area of the same scrapbook paper as used on the front cover and the final touch is beads added to the binding fibres.
If you would like to see the Byhand Artists Valentine Mingle version made for Yogi, visit my Flickr Photos

2008 Birthday Book

Here it is in all it's glory and probably more detail that you ever wanted to see. I had a lot of fun with this and started with a trial run by creating a similar book for the Byhand Artists Valentine Mingle which ended up going to Yogi. I learnt how to do paper casting to include in the book and got plenty of help along the way from Yogi and Linda T. I proceeded with designing the pages. I had chosen to use a 7.5 X 9.75 composition book which I had purchached from the dollar store and then realized that the signatures would be too large for printing the digital part of the project. I needed to do a hinged signature and got a suggestion from Yogi to use twill tape and from Suzanne to sew the twill tape to the pages. I ended up stitching without thread in my machine to get nice even holes for sewing and them did the sewing by hand. So thanks to Linda T., Suzzane and Yogi for helping me create her gift and the Birthday Book for my mom.
I removed the pages of the composition book and used scrapbook paper on the outside and inside of the front and back cover. I place 3 of my paux postage on the front cover, one is from the cast paper magnolia and made for this project. On the inside of the front cover I used a Quietfire Design rubber stamp, which is a Christmas stamp, and I masked out the word Christmas and replaced with the word Birthday. Page 1 has my blog header image at the top, a scan of some of my crochet lace, a cast paper glove with a heart and is done on coffee stained watercolour paper.
Page 2 & 3 have a digital scrapbook background and digital images. Page two has the cast paper magnolia, a cast paper heart and a heart charm. Page three is more Quietfire quote stamps, some digital images, a doll which has butterfly wings added and an old school photo of myself which has been tinted.
Pages 4 & 5 is more coffee stained watercolour paper with some digital images, my crochet lace and lots of rubber stamping, some of which are more Quietfire Design quotes and embellishment stamps.
Page 6 & 7 have a background scan of my knit linen lace centerpice and more digital images. The pocket on page 6 is formed from scrapbook lace image and has a card with a quote stamp on the back and which can be removed. Page 7 has an old key on a card, a tag in the pocket and a tassle added to the fan image.

2008 Birthday Book page 2

2008 Birthday Book page 2
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

On January 27 I posted a cast paper magnolia and promised to show it in a finished project, well here it is. I am working on a birthday book for my mom and this will be page 2. This had digital scrapbook background and collage images with a heart charm and cast paper magnolia and heart. I have most of the pages finished and will soon be binding them into a book using the cover from a composition book.

More Green ATCs

I've done some more green ATCs, this time weaving 2 shades of green plastic or nylon? ribbon of unknown purpose. The first one is the two colours woven then mounted over a piece of text from a book. The text is not very visible and the stripes were a bit of a surprize. The pre-made green sticker is the final step The second is the same ribbon woven with strips of book text. I think I'll explore these some more and see what happens.

Green ATCs

Well, I've taken a break from some bigger projects, to work on green ATCs. These can be completed quickly and one of the themes for the Byhand Artists monthly ATC swap is green, so some of these may make it in the mail for that swap. I have done several green themed ATCs and was having trouble coming up with fresh new ideas, but I think I may be on a roll now.
The first of this group is "Spring Beauty 1" which starts with a base of moss green cardstock. The image is mounted on gold paper and forms a pocket for the tag and the final touch is fibre with some green in it.
"Spring Beauty 2" starts with the same moss green cardstock and has some pewter transfer foil added. The image is added onto the background and the tag is torn and glued down. The same yarn that was used in the first ATC is used again for this one.
The last of this group is "True Friends 1" and starts with a dark green cardstock and I've added an image of 3 sweet little children. The overlay is stamped with a Quietfire Design rubber stamp in Timber Brown Stazon ink and is held in place with 4 brown brads.

And Another Valentine Countdown

Lisa Vollrath at Ten Two Studio is also running a countdown of some lovely Valentine images. Again this is for a limited time and is offered as linkware.

Valentine Countdown

The Artist's How To site is running another countdown similar to the Christmas Countdown. There are already some wonderful images with more to come so collect them before they are gone.

Magnolia Paper Cast

Well I haven't posted for a few days, but I have been busy. I have sent some ATCs off for the Byhand Artists monthly ATC swap and I've been doing lots more cast paper. I just did my first one using a cast paper mold, but still using the toilet tissue instead of the usual rag paper slurry. I used coffee for spritzing the tissue again, love the colour and the smell. Rubber stamps and the plastic thingy I've been using work very well, but the cast paper mold was the easiest to use and the tissue just dropped into the cavity so nicely. I am pleased with this one, and it will be all dressed up in a project very soon.

Cast Paper Valentine ATCs

I have been having fun assembling some cast paper I previously made into some Valentine ATCs. The background on these 3 ATCs is watercolour paper, misted and sponged with Distress Ink, Walnut Ink and Antique Linen colours. The flourish stamps on ATC 3 are part of some quote stamps from Quietfire Design and stamped with Walnut Ink Distress Inks. The cast paper heart is 1 layer of print facial tissue and the rest toilet tissue misted with water.
For ATC 2 the flourish stamps are done with Perfect Pearls bronze. The cast paper heart is made on a rubber stamp with toilet tissue misted with coffee.
On ATC 1 the flourish stamps are done with Perfect Pearls bronze. The cast paper heart is coloured with chalk ink.

Cast Paper Card

In Dec. 2008 some of the members of the byhandartists group joined in for a 12 Days of Christmas Swap and we each received 12 wonderful gifts to enjoy.
My friend Judy sent me a beautiful card as a thank you for my gift and she has given me permission to post it on my blog so other can see it. Thanks Judy for the card, it's like getting another 12 days gift that I never expected. The cast paper dragonfly is beautifully done, a quality of art for me to strive for. This dragonfly, as you can see in the detail, is a very delicate looking sample of cast paper.

Distress Ink ATC

This weeks Created Byhand Challenge is to use Distress Inks. I started my ATC by spritzing watercolour paper, crumpling and rubbing Antique Linen Distress Ink, I then ironed the paper flat. I cut a piece of pink cardstock to an ATC size and stamped the heart flourish and flourishes from some quote stamps (Quietfire Design) with Walnut Ink Distress Ink. I layered the watercolour paper, a cast paper from a heart rubber stamp onto the pink cardstock with mini brads.

Frames Challenge Fat Book Page

Frames Challenge Fat Book Page
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

Yeah, I managed to get a second piece done for this weeks challenge. This one started with the recycled grey cardstock which I sponged ink onto. I then stamped the harlequin diamond (Quietfire Design) and another harlequin diamand with antique linen Dstress Ink. I used the vintage photo, metal photo corners and metal frame. To view the rest of this weeks entries visit Created Byhand Challenge

Frames Challenge ATC

Frames Challenge ATC
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

Well I've finally gotten a Created Byhand Challenge done after missing the last few. I started with a pale pink cardstock and stamped the background writing with antique linen Distress Ink. I used a public domain image in a charm frame and added the metal "WONDER" charm and ribbon. Visit Created Byhand Challenge
to see the rest of the challenge entries

Cast Paper Collage 2

I did a bunch of cast paper yesterday and this is the second one I used in a project so far. For this I again used a 5x7 cavas board and painted the background with acrylic paint with a little Perfect Pearls gold added, using warm maple and antique white. This paper cast was done on an unmounted rubber stamp and toilet paper spritzed with coffee. I used the rough back of the cast. I have added metal photo corners, lace and a skeleton leaf on more of the same cardstock that I used in the first Cast Paper Collage.

Cast Paper Collage 1

I used a 5x7 canvas board for the base and used recycled adertising cardstock for the background. I have used a piece of torn scrapbook paper, lace, a button and preprinted twill tape to enhance the cast paper.

Fat Book Page version 2

This is a scan of another old photo, the dress is coloured using digital software. The background is a scan of silk painting printed on watercolour paper. This little piece is a favourite, it was done on cream coloured silk using a sugar syrup resist, messy and fun, maybe I'll get back into silk painting, I haven't done it in years.

The back of the page is a scrapbook image printed on watercolour paper and stamped with another Quietfire Design rubber stamp using scarlet pigment ink and amythest embossing powder.
Be sure to check the previous post below for a small bonus.

Scan of Silk Painted Scrap

Scan of Silk Painted Scrap
Originally uploaded by okanagan_spirit

I've been using this as a background for some of my recent projects. Now I have a gift for you, I am giving permision to download this and only this image from my Flickr. This image is to be used only for your own use and not shared.
All I ask is that you leave a comment and share a link so I can see what you've made with my background.
The original scrap is a bit larger than 4 inches by 5 inches, so if you want to keep the proportions, it can be cropped for a fat book page or 4x4 collage or an ATC.
To get the high-res image, click on the photo to link Flickr and go to "see more sizes" and choose the one you would like. I will leave the high-res available for a limited time.
Have fun and let me see what you do with this.