A very productive weekend!

These look so much better in person, and close up.  Click on the image to zoom, if you care to.  

The first collage is the bigger of the two.  It has two tarot cards used, the Page of Rods and the Nine of Cups.  They are obviously from different decks.  I have an old key under wax, and a metal frame with a very small lion door knocker on the top.  I used green and gold crayons to add color.  The first layer includes a page from a Japanese book.  Not sure which one, sorry.  I also have a piece of garnet in between the cards.  The green paper I choose really goes well with the muted tones of this piece.

The second collage is the smaller of the two.  I actually used the lid from a cigar box for this.  I think the lid was cut off because the box itself was used for the Grandma Shrines.  This collage only has one tarot card, due to space issues.  It is the Seven of Cups.  I have a little image with a mermaid sitting pensive like under the sea on the bottom corner.  The first layer is a page from a French book.  Like the Japanese one, I do not know what book it is from.  On top of the French page, I have a page ripped out from a separate book.  The image is of a lion and the text under him reads "Tales of the Lost Land".  I tried to incorporate some purple alcohol ink, but it came out a little screwy.   I have a piece of Galena, which is a crystallie form of Silver and lead on the top right corner.  I got the stone at The Guiding Tree.  The paper I choose is an irredescent orange paper that reminds me of Rainbow Brite's dress, but in orange instead of blue.   It really pulls out the orange tones of the French paper. 
I enjoy incorporating symbolism in my collage's.  You can pretty much guarantee that the cards and items chosen for these pieces have meaning.  I will let you do the research!

The second project that I completed was a collage using a four-set picture of myself.  The picture was taken last year, 6/7/08, at a wedding.  It was pretty much one of the last things me and the ex did before The Big Split. The couple had a photo booth for their guests to jump in and get their pic taken. The idea was that you were to leave the pic in a vase for the couple.  For whatever reason, we decided to keep ours.  Maybe it was to cherish the precious memories of being completely uncomfortable and loveless.  Or maybe because I knew it would make a fantastic collage!

This piece is around 8x10, and on white foam core.  The background paper is by Glitz Designs, the pattern called 'Glam Doodles'.  I adhered the paper to the foam core using Yes! paste.  I used Lumiere by Jacquard paint in Emerald to paint in my own green swirls.  The glittery butterfly on the top is actually just a found object.  I did not make it, and I have no recollection as to where I got it! The swirly thing that is holding my pictures in place is Tim Holtz Grungeboard.  Grungeboard is a very strange tagboard-like material.  It kind of feels like leather, but it is supposedly of the earth.  I covered the swirl with ColorBox Cats Eye pigment ink in Sapphire Silk.  A word to the wise: pigment ink on Grungeboard takes an eternity to dry naturally.  You WILL need to use a heat gun. Even though the Cats Eye stamp pads are tiny and easy to use, I still used a sponge dauber to apply the ink on the narrow surface of the swirls.  I applied a Grungeboard crown to the top of my head in the second frame.  I painted it with--you guessed it--Lumiere!  I went with Royal Purple for contrast.  I applied a white, purple and pink rhinestone strategically on the collage for added texture and appeal.  Lastly, I included the date on the left and the title of the piece on the right.  The title is "Absolutely nothing is missing".  This title is fitting because as one could guess, half of the photo is conspicuously absent.  Not missing.  It was intentionally removed.  I would like to take this moment to say that I removed a certain someone from the image not because I am bitter, but because I personally thought I looked totally adorable in the picture and thought that there have been better pictures taken of him.  That is to say: the camera was not as generous to him as it was to me in this instance! I also really enjoyed the fact that the four pictures don't really look like me at all.  It is kind of funny!

The third project I completed was part of an idea that has been hatching in my brain for some time now.  It is part of a series, I think.  I have a bunch of very decorative and pretty 12x12 paper that I always thought were too pretty some how to be covered up with pictures and tossed in a scrapbook.  I thought it would be cool to just have the paper almost as a focal point of the collages.  Since I enjoy words, I decided to use different ones that I liked on these collages.  The first completed one is 'Adventure'. 

The top image is of the piece in its entirety, hanging on my wall in my bedroom.  As with all of the photos, it is better looking in person, and you can get kind of a better idea if you click on each pic to zoom.  The background paper is by Creative Imaginations designed by Marah Johnson.  The line is called Heiress.  I really like it!  I love the vintage feel with bold colors.  I used more Yes! paste to adhere the paper to a piece of 12x12 tagboard for stability.  I used my hole punch to create holes in the top (and subsequently pounding my thumb in the process, and probably disturbing the neighbors) to allow the gold and pink ribbon to go through for hanging.  The ribbon is really pretty, I have had it for years. I think I actually got it around a gift!  See--save everything!!
The big green swirly thing (in the second and last pic) is more of the Grungeboard, this time painted Citrus with the acrylic paint dabber by Adirondack (Ranger) who, interesting tidbit, also act as Tim Holtz' pimps.  Really!  I brushed the edge of the swirl using a different sponge dauber with Versacolor Violet pigment ink.  I prefer pigment inks to dye, in general. Versacolor is made by Tsukineko, the same people who make the sponge dauber.  See, it is all very incestuous!

The second pic also shows words that I wanted to include that go with "Adventure".  I wrote in the most perfect penmanship that I could muster: self reliance, love, thrift, character, strength, toughness, adaptability, balance, clarity, courage, honor, poise, abandon and hope.

The tag hanging off the swirl has two quotes written on either side.  One side says "Tolerate no hindrance to your seeking" and the other side says "The combination of wild inspiration and out of hand imagination". 

The fifth image shows the word 'Adventure'.  I used Technique Tuesday alphabet stamps in the font Serendipity.  I stamped the letters on to a light tagboard in Opera Pink.  I embossed the letters using a clear glitter embossing powder.  I then-ready for this- cut out each letter!!!  Geez, and I say I have no patience!  Well, I now have carpal tunnel!   It was worth it though.  I think it looks really great.

This piece was inspired by the words of Reid Stowe, who so eloquently describes his journey of love, exploration and adventure for all to see at his blog.  I received inspiration for this piece from his January 11th entry.  I tried to give a direct link to that date, but was not able to.  Thanks, Reid for the wonderful inspiration!  Keep on keepin' on!