4 posts tagged “inspiration”

In typical fashion, I had a list of things to do this weekend.  Most of which pertained to gettin' crafty.  There was "take stuff to storage" that I have yet to scratch off the list.  Ugh, that is so mundane!  I am proud to announce that while I have yet to take crap to the storage unit, I did indeed get crafty!

First, I finished a project that had been started a long time ago.  I just realized that I have not blogged about the pieces, so it is really "new" to you!  My very first attempt at beeswax collage (and second attempt) were two small-ish pieces, 5x7 and 6x9 roughly.  I used some loose tarot cards along with pages from books, various metal ephemera and natural gemstones.  I had them up on the wall, but the background for both is the plain eggshell color of canvas.  Against the plain eggshell color of rental apartment walls, well--they pretty much just faded in.  I decided to use some decorative paper as a mat of sorts. 

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!

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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'. 

I am sorry to my one reader, the accidental one, that I have not posted in almost 3 months!! But, rest assured, it is because I have not created in OVER three months. 

Here is one reason why:

I feel like a druggie at NA.  Exposed and vulnerable.  That is my so-called "craft area".  One could also call it "shithole", "total mess" or "black hole of death".  All would be appropriate.  Here is how it happened.  I am in a funk. Noted, right?  Except that doesn't stop me from BUYING crap!  So I would bring my purchases home, fling the bag on top of the desk.  Yea,  I know what you are thinking.  There is a desk under there?  Yep.  I would toss it on without a care, because I knew I wasn't going to be using it any time soon.  Well that started a vicious cycle.  Because who would create with that mountain of junk looming at them?  So, on Memorial Day, I turned on TV, watched Waynes World 1 & 2, Spaceballs and one episode of Futurama and... organized!  I have more crap than I know what to do with.  I told my friend Rachael that I have placed a "no craft shopping" hold on myself.  You know, till I actually use what I have!!!  I do not have any 'after' photos, because I said I organized, not that I made it pretty.  It is functional.  And after looking at all my crap, I might actually feel inspired.  Except this weekend marks the beginning of Summer Wedding Bonanza-- first wedding of the season.  And guess what?

Nothing to wear

Ha!  I don't!  Stamp by Catslife Press.  I have not used it.  But, because I am a huge dork, I write the date I acquire the stamp on the side.  You can see the evidence in this picture.  I guess it is so I can say, yes- I have had this stamp for nearly a year and have never used it.  Way to go.  Or it is because I secretly yearn to be a librarian.  I do.

I am not dead.  I am just creativley flatlining right now.  I cannot even promise that I will create something this weekend.  Maybe I will sew.  I feel a little discombobulated with my stuff.  I need that craft room.  And soon.

I am in the middle of a project that I am not totally feeling right now.  But I need to get it done. 

So, for inspiration, I thought I would post some pictures that bring a smile to my face.

Enjoy ;)

At the Trees of Mystery while waiting in line to board the SkyTrail, this little chipmunk and a Blue Jay demonstrated to us humans what sharing means.

What is the secret message in the sand?  And where did it come from?

 I can never remember the sisterhood name....

On the teapots at Disneyland January of 2006.  My dad is spinning, I am obviously not helping.

I just love the posing!

"Accidental" blurring that turned out rad.

This shot comes at the end of a great sequence.  By posting this, I ruined the punchline for you.