Using the backgrounds

The very fact that I hate to waste anything demands that the things I spend time making have some practical use. It is one of the many reasons that I love guerrilla art. I can create to my heart's content knowing that it will serve a purpose.

So when I recently started using a gel plate - oh... so much fun - and ended up with piles of painted paper, I knew that there had to be a purpose... something that would give me a reason to continue having all this fun.

It was an afternoon for making guerrilla art, so I grabbed a print with pretty colors to see if it could be used to replace papers that cost nearly $1 each. I added some painty stamping and black gelato shading.
 

 

 

 I shall happily continue to print on my gelatin plate. Life is good... and useful.

Going for a smile.

My work table is covered with the leftovers of past projects. The actual open space is down to about 18"x12" so I began the de-cluttering yesterday.

It's amazing what gets buried. This altered tag was created so long ago, I can't remember what I did to get that blue background.

But I like this little tag, so it was attached to a note card that was logo-ed (is that a word?) and stamped even farther back in history...

and put it all into an envelope. Now, the whole group is waiting for the mailman to help me add a little cheer to mail time for a friend.

I hope she smiles.

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (Jesus)
John 16:33

Green calendar

Waste always bothers me. This must be the reason that mixed media makes my heart sing. All papers, books, rusty pieces of metal, rejects, leftovers, and junk around my workroom - and life - can be reused! Nothing gets thrown away.  *sigh*  It's a blessing... and a curse.

A few of months ago, my friend (who owns a learning store) informed me that she had brand new, outdated school year calendars. "Could you possibly use them for something?" Of course I said yes, and she handed over the boxes.

That's right ... boxes.

Nearly 50 colorful shrink wrapped brand new old calendars.

Ideas... that's what I needed. Inspiration for sensible ways to use them up. OK, scratch sensible from the last sentence. Here's what happened. TJ Maxx let me down this past year. For years they have sold lovely arty desk calendars. I always bought one for myself to keep track of daily minutia. This year they had none... zero... nada. The big bookstores still carried them for full price, but what's the fun in that? I told myself that I didn't need one.

I was wrong.

Therefore, on a January home-alone evening, I sat down with one of the (four dozen+) free 2009-2010 desk calendars and Wite-Out. That part was easy - and long. The hard part was keeping my mind focused during the re-labeling. It doesn't seem that difficult to count from 1 to 28-31. Thank goodness the Wite-Out was right there. *sigh*

I glued some colorful paper scraps to the front, added washi tape, and stapled a tag to identify the year. 

Is it lovely? No. Does it work? Yes. Will I live long enough to use these books up this way? Never. Here's the bright side -  it didn't cost me anything and it is unique. (I know... I laugh too, every day when I use it.)

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. Proverbs 21:2

Starting ... with some DIY and thrift store books

Six years ago, this blog was born. I needed to sit down and write about life moments that weren't earth shaking - we had just come through earth shaking, and it was time to focus on something new. This spot became a log of what I was doing and learning, of what God was teaching me along the way.

Lately I have been distracted by my kitchen, but I am determined to get back to writing. Writers, like pray-ers, aren't the ones who talk about it, or read about it, they are the ones who DO! So, just like 6 years ago but for happier reasons, I am ready to do. The events in my life will be written here.

Last week, using instructions from the Frugal Crafter, I created my own permanent gelatin plate. No need for refrigeration, it waits for me on the shelf in my workroom. 

I used an 8" square stepping stone mold to hold 2 (6 oz) bottles of glycerin, 3 tablespoons of gelatin and boiling water. I forced myself to leave it alone overnight and - yay! - it popped out of the mold with very little encouragement. The bottom of the plate is the smoothest, so that's the side I used for printing.

After an experimental print fest on Saturday, I made the decision that I am not purchasing any more decorative paper. It is way too much fun to use pages from the cast-away books that I can't seem to resist whenever I enter a thrift shop. There are thousands of pages, just waiting for a new colorful life, right there in my workroom.

I learned a lot while playing working with my new toy tool. Especially important is to not use too much paint. The effect was grainy and usually unpleasant.

I have been loving the template surprise method of making card elements. These papers will produce some interesting effects.

Sooo.... I'll have to start sending notes?

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19