Journaling Cards

These journaling cards were all created on bases of book pages, collaged with small scraps of various papers. Then pieces of napkins were decoupaged on for the focal points. I added bits of lace or labels and tabs to finish them. They are all backed with tea-dyed paper. They are approximately 4" x 6."

I also created this envelope from a napkin decoupaged onto a sheet of music paper. 

Napkins are a great source of beautiful images to use in your artwork!

"Well-remembered" Altered Book Page

This is the latest page in my altered book.  The background is collaged book pages, white gesso, paints and stencils. The floral images are from a napkin and I stamped the friendship quote on a bit of the plain napkin and adhered it to the page.  The focal point image is from a Somerset Studio magazine which I loved and wanted to save. Since the girls needed to be grounded, I used a piece of an old book spine. I think the color coordinates well with the page.  Simple but fun!

Altered Book Spreads

Finally got back to working in my altered book. Some of the backgrounds had been done before our trip but I had to add focal points and final touches.

The background of this spread started with a collage of fabric scraps glued to the pages. Then I added a layer of white gesso, a floral napkin and some stamping before adding the image and sentiment circles. Have you ever tried Mod Podging fabric? It transforms into a totally different texture and is very fun to do - great way to use up scraps too.

There are portions of a napkin collaged to this background as well. The female image came from a fashion magazine with butterfly wings behind.

I like the quirkiness of this spread. There are layers of collaged book text and small images from magazines covered with scraped acrylic paints, gelatos and stamping. The robot image is from a tech magazine of my husband's with a spiky flower as a "halo." The female head is from a Stampington magazine paired with an octopus-like plant for a body.

I think I'm finally getting back in the groove of making art. I missed it this past month!

Altered Book pages

I had completed these spreads in my altered book before I left for Kansas City. I haven't gotten back to much art since I've returned as I'm getting ready for a 7-day Alaska cruise with my entire family. We leave on Saturday so I'm busy packing but thought I'd post before leaving.

The left page of this spread has an image from a fashion magazine. When open, the spread (below)  has flowers and stems created from fabric over a background of paints and stencils. 

The background of this spread is crinkled tissue paper glued over a collage of book text. Then I scraped on acrylic paint and stenciled the white circles. I decoupaged pieces of a Jane Davenport napkin on top along with half an image from a fashion magazine (I used the other half in a previous altered book - love it). It's hard to see the sentiment which is also a decoupaged napkin. I may have to go back and outline it in white...

I hope you are enjoying my altered books as much as I am enjoying working in them. I'm itching to do more, but that will have to wait until after Alaska.

Time Flies

How is it possible that it's been almost two weeks since my last post? 

I finally recuperated from my back going out and am now back to normal. You don't realize how much you need your back until it's not functioning!

My youngest daughter from Chicago has come in two weekends this month (we hadn't seen her since late last summer) for friends' weddings and a baby shower, so that has been fun to catch up with her in person.

As for art, I have done a few art journaling spreads and one more altered book spread.

This page was one where I deposited leftover paint and texture paste through stencils. I added the focal point of the window from a magazine and then covered the background with black gesso to tame the colors.  I then sanded over the texture and used gelato to bring some of the color back. This was a simple and quick page since the background was already started. This is in my small Dylusions art journal (I have several going at once.)

This spread was inspired by a similar page created by Shari Carroll for the Simon Says Stamp blog. She used Jane Davenport napkins, acrylic paints, stamped and embossed butterflies on vellum and some word "tiles" from Tim Holtz. Since I had all the supplies and loved the colors, I CASEd the spread in a spiral-bound journal.

And here's one more spread in my newest altered book. The background started with collaged scrapbook paper scraps and old book pages, covered with gesso and then juicy watercolors with alcohol dripped all over. The houses are assembled from scrapbook papers with doors and windows cut out and vintage images added behind the cutouts. I love how this came out.

Napkin Art

I've always enjoyed using napkins in collage. They come in a great variety of styles and beautiful patterns and are an amazing source of images.

My friend, Cathy, and I got together last week and made small canvases using napkins.  I created four 6" square, deep-edged canvases.  I painted the sides, collaged a text-printed tissue paper on two and then collaged on the napkins.

a darker photo, but shows the painted edge

Made two of these - love that bunny! Sides painted gray

Last one - I intended to paint around the edges with acrylic or watercolor paints,
but not sure now as I'm liking this look

I liked the bunny image so much and still had two left from the one napkin that I felt compelled to make an art journal page with it.  

Here is the page I chose which I'd previously collaged with miscellaneous papers and a light coat of white gesso.

And this is the finished page with the napkin adhered. I also added a second napkin at the bottom and used colored pencils, a black Stabilo pencil and a white gel pen to embellish it.  It's a simple page, but I love it.

We're going out of town this week so I won't be posting until next weekend. Have a great week!