week 14 for 365-2 (part 1)

March 31 - April 6 - Week Fourteen and still moving forward..... woohoo!

#90 - week 14 of Documented Life: theme this week is to write and embellish your name - oh boy, right up my alley! :)

I've seen versions of this style around pinterest so wanted to give it a try for a while.  I discovered that it's most effective when all the letters connect or overlap in some way - that was kinda challenging and took quite a few practice stackings to get it right......  filled in with watercolor pencils ......

#91 - the current MMSA theme is to make cards using transparent elements.  Another easy one for me (and for most of us I'm sure) to use stuff from my wealth of translucent materials...... the first card, tissues paper, painted pattern paper and the red splotches are on deli paper and the bug is stamped on tissue.

This second card started with a the polka dot and word tissue paper.  Layer some napkin cutouts on top of that and black dots on deli paper.....you can see through all the layers to the blue dots on the very bottom!

#92 - more transparent postcards:  - This card started as a veggie print - you know, stamping with the end of a celery stalk - then added a few tissue bits and topped it all with ribbony tracing paper and washi edges.

The above p/c started with one of my flower photos and is topped with a drawn floral design on tracing paper and edged with washi.

I had lots of fun with the transparent theme and made lots more so watch your mailboxes! :)

MMSA

Mail Me Some Art - if you haven't found this site yet, it's time.  Click the link and explore the wide world of mail art.  It's the best kind of participative art:  it's quick, easy, no-pressure art; it goes out into the world and brightens someone's day; it makes you smile when you check the mail; it can be as elaborate or as simple as you like; it connects you with other mail artists all over the world.  Many of us use bits and pieces from other projects so there's virtually no cost - how can you beat that????

Karen, the tireless, spirited, totally supportive hostess of MMSA continues to come up with creative themes to pique your interest and creativity each week.  Pick and choose the topics or timeframe that suit you.  Make one postcard per theme or make a half dozen.  You get back as many as you send to Karen.  I love that she posts a month's worth of themes at a time so it's easy to plan ahead.....

Green theme - due 3/18

Here are the 4 cards I'm sending for the green theme....

Jean's Collage Sheet - due 3/25
This is a challenging way to make mail art.....someone (in this case Jean) submits a 8x10 sheet of scanned or photo items and we're to create collages using ONLY images from the collage sheet (made bigger or smaller if you want). It can be embellished with mark making, but no more images.  I find these challenging, but that's sort of the fun of it too.

I'd love you to join in and discover the pleasure of mail art!  Visit the site to see the other themes for March.

a swap & mail art news

A quick FYI - I just read over at Inspiration Avenue that they're planning the first swap of the year - Tags with Hearts.  Any kind of tag -gift, luggage, hang tags or even bookmarks - with a heart in the design....in honor of heart month and Valentines.  The early notification gives you a heads up - if you're ready to jump in and flex those creative muscles this early in the year, this is an easy one to get started on.  Details will be posted next week so check their site....

More good news - Karen has posted two new MMSA prompts for January so it's time to get your mail art mojo working...... I'm busily working in blue!  We'd love to expand the number of participants so if you've ever thought about exchanging a little mail art, this is the perfect time to start.  Karen is quick to encourage everyone, beginners or long-time artists, to participate.  Join in, your mail box will thank you.

I got my ATC cards for Sandy Hook in the mail to Jessica (In Search of Dessert) - she provided each participant with a quote to use, so while each card is different, front and back, the sentiment is the same.  I used some of my own photography on some of the cards.

Here's one more tidbit to share - I've decided to join Hanna in the 365 challenge (commit/try to make/do/create 365 of something of your choice - collages for me) and so has Michelle at Lost Coast Post. She's going to make 365 character drawings!  Anyway, she posted a great reflection on tackling a project like this and how to make it more workable.  It's worth a read if you're considering a year long commitment to anything.

art paper swap

Over at MMSA (mail me some art), Karen had a brilliant idea for a swap.  We just had a paper swap - make 3 pieces of hand decorated paper to swap.  I sent off a double batch and just received my six papers yesterday.  How fun!  These women are so talented and my stash now contains some lovely new additions. THANKS

Tammy

Corrine 

Jo Murray

Dori Singh

Ellen Mika-Brown

Gina Visione

Thanks again ladies - beautiful pages!  I'll try to remember to mention when I use one in a project!

easy journal

One of the MMSA (mail me some art) prompts is to make a simple duct tape art journal to swap.  Since I've had this on my mind for months, this seemed the perfect opportunity to get it out of my head and see if I could make one and whether I'd like it.  This particular version is SUPER easy and truly anyone can make one.  So, if you'd like to swap, just click here for the guidelines (hosted by the ever supportive and creative Karen at I am Rushmore) and join in.  You still have 10 days!

By the way, if making a journal isn't your thing, there are lots of other options: postcards, ATCs, envelopes, etc.  I know she's planning on taking a break over the holidays, so if you'd like to get in on one more swap before the holiday madness crashes in, check it out..........

My journal:

Front cover, spine is decorative duct tape.

Right hand page is one of the decorative papers I started at my class with Jane Davies.

You can see the pages are different sizes, making for a really interesting 'edge' treatment.

Using some of my postage stamps from around the world.

I even experimented with sewing a pocket and making some tags.

This is only some of the pages, but you get the idea.  It was SO much fun and I hope whoever receives finds plenty of space to write and journal and even add to the page starts I've created.  Okay, Karen...it's coming your way!

an artful day

Dan watched football all day so I was free to play in my art room!  I admit I did some computer work as well, but I felt artfully satisfied by the end of the day.

I made mail art - I've got quite a packet going to Karen for her MMSA (mail me some art) challenges this month.  There is a new theme for each week (postmarked by Saturday) so there's lots of time or themes to interest you.  She makes it super easy - you send her cards, she matches them up with other participants and mails them out! :)  Some of these go to her swaps and some to people I owe cards to.....

Then, I finished up a spread in my journal I'd been working on to remember our vacation.  I used some of my photos, some ephemera (tickets & stuff), paint and the usual fun stuff.  Here's how that turned out:

Folded the center 2 pages in half so the outer pages had to color coordinate -have finally realized this color combo is just not a fave - I keep trying it in various permutations and I rarely like the results.  I need to stick to brighter, more cool colors I think.

The two folded pages opened to the center -listing the places we visited and practiced some writing.

Added some maps, also folded to get them to fit.

The inside of the folded list pages changed color palette - like it better.

This was a fun way to include lots of pics, some ephemera, some comments so I remember the highlights of the trip.  Washi tape holds stacked photos in place so they don't take up as much room.

And finally, I added the next steps to my large canvas WIP.  I've shown the various layers I've worked on over the last few weeks, today I added blue stenciled letters, then circles, covered it all in matte medium and waited for it to dry.  Can't decide if I want to gesso it a bit before the next step or not so will live with it a day or two before moving on.....I'm mostly liking it - we'll see how it progresses compared to what's in my head.

Wanted an underlayment of some letters and teal.

Lots of gesso and white and gray paint.

Even more paint, then circles in 2 sizes and lots of shades of yellow/gold.

Circle detail - dictionary pages and music from Get Back by the Beatles.

Hope you all managed to fit some art in this weekend as well.

I'll be sharing this with Artists in Blogland.

delicious mail art

I'm SO behind, but gradually catching up.  One happy day recently I checked the mail and had a STACK of incoming mail art.  STACK!  I can't believe how uplifted and smiley I felt after looking through all that artistic goodness.  Some were from a MMSA swap, some from IUOMA, some from blogging buddies.  What a haul!  It'll take me a little time to catch up, but I will get some art out soon!

The mail art joy continued throughout the week with a birthday packet or two and more postcards. You guys are the BEST!

Here goes:
Four great 'trashpo' cards (made entirely from recycled stuff that would otherwise be in the trash) from the MMSA swap (you get one in return for each one you send).

The top one is from Sherry H. who lives in AK and her card is filled with AK info; the lower starry card  is from Nydia in CT.  She recycled a dental p/c and added stars everywhere, even on the back. 

The top card is from Connie T. in NY and is all about snack food wrappers - what an excellent idea! The bottom card is from the always creative Corrine at Dosfishes.  Where did she find that cow stamp?

Above, a beautiful piece of digital art on a card from Michelle at Brain Angles - if you haven't seen her work yet, it's worth a visit to her blog. She combines digital effects with mixed media pieces for some stunning pieces.

These two cards are of each sender's personal art on a glossy printed card!  Sherry's intricate zentangled piece has so much movement and the little bits of color really add a lot.  Lorinda's (Everyday Endeavors) postcard features a close up of one of her mixed media pieces (just look at all those layers). I love them both!  Thanks ladies.

The garden notes card is thickly covered in paint and papers making this impressionistic floral card - stunning! It's from Lee K. in Alberta Canada - her blog is Defining Me (though she's taking a break this summer).  The lower card is from Barbara D in NC and she wants to join the mail art fun - something will be going her way soon!

This dimensional postcard didn't scan well - that sunshine is actually bright yellow and made of fimo clay (?), a butterfly sticker, ribbon and layered cutouts for the design at the bottom. What a beautiful card from Debbie at Craftymoose!  The handmade envelope actually goes with Gina's card below (got 'em mixed up).

The top stunning botanical drawing is from my Aussie buddy Tracey Fletcher King - it arrived in a packed filled with lovely goodies that I just love. The bottom card is from Gina V. - check out her flickr account.  Gina has an ongoing call for mail art that you can read about here.

Karen at I am Rushmore sent me a delightful packet of goodies including this postcard and just amazing bookmark.  I am gathering an embarrassing wealth of gorgeous handmade bookmarks.  Never fear, they are used with great pleasure!

Then, I received my first ever zine!  What a welcome surprise! April at April Cole Studio draws the most amazing faces and her little 8 page zine is filled with bits of them. I'm so inspired, I want to try it too.  I'll add it to the list!  Thanks so much April - I just love it!

Last, but not least, cards received just today - from Corrine and from an IUOMA member in OR.

Top one, IUOMA, bottom one - a stylish one from Corrine.....I can always recognize her cards...doesn't she have some great washi tape?

Thanks to every one of you for making my last couple of weeks so filled with yummy art even when I haven't been able to make any myself.  You all inspire me.  Now, I'll be getting my creative hat on and making some return mail!  I tried to give links to everyone that I could....hopefully I didn't forget anyone.

Outgoing - just a small mailing for now to make sure Karen gets it in time for the swap: