Fabric of My Life with Shelley Graham Turner: Papercrafting

Showing posts with label Papercrafting. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

My First JUNK JOURNAL!

Some time ago I joined a new Facebook group called Junk Journal Junkies. I decided to join after viewing a few Youtube videos. There were two artists I really enjoyed viewing.

The first is Thrifty Lou! Louise is from the U.K. and she is a "hoot"! That is the perfect word to describe her as watching her shenanigans will have you hooting AND hollering with laughter. She has the cutest daughter, named Lottie and together they can make a simple giveaway drawing entertaining as any sitcom on the tellie! LOL. Besides being great fun to watch, Thrifty Lou is a very talented journal maker. Her projects are packed with cool items and she puts a load of love and thought into each one she creates!

Here's one of the very first video I viewed of her's...she had me after this!

The second artist, Shannon Green, is the total opposite! LOL! Watching her gave me so many ideas on what to include and where to find goodies, for FREE!

I went right out the next day and began to "gather". I hit up the tourist and info rack at the public library, went to a local hotel for loads of restaurant take-out menus and a few local maps. I also visited the Post Office to grab some free forms and the like. In addition I made a few swaps with other JJJ's and received some REALLY cool items. I have great package Karma (loads of happy mail comes in!!) But I got my most favorite JJ items from two special friends, Lea Avroch (LA Jewelry Designs) - she sent me huge, glossy magazines from NYC and the Hamptons area, AND Solange Collin (Ahowin) - she sent me magazines and newspapers from France!

Well, I JUST finished creating my first junk journal (JJ). JJ's mean different things to different people. I wanted to incorporate junk mail and other cast off items in mine. This one I made for the swap called "Use Your Stash Junk Journal" on FB:Junk Journal Junkies.
I am swapping internationally so I tried to incorporate items which were local to where I live and/or from the USA. I used loads of my own painted papers too. My partner loves purple and green (my favs too!) so I threw those in wherever I could. I loved the process and wanted to keep this one but I let it go! (after arguing with myself a bit. LOL)

Here is a summary of my process:

The gatherings...

This is the color palette - she likes the green and purple combo that I love!

And here is the guts - ads, menus, local attractions and news, plus some U.S. goverment issued forms I had laying around.

Here is the front cover - I took a used US Priority flat-rate box and cut it open, lightly sprayed the inside with water, waited for it to soak in and then removed the top layer to reveal the corrugated inner layer.

I painted on some white gesso, when it dried I used acrylic paint in aqua to stamp some shapes and applied a little purple Gelato to the edges. To the reverse side I used circle daubers in several shades of purple.

These are a few of the pages -

Leftover W-2 forms from my old job... and a bag we used at the Alzheimer's Assoc. fundraiser we held last week (more on that soon!)

Here's transfer iron-on tissue paper which was included in a old pattern I picked up at a thrift shop.

Leftover paint I applied to a page from an old dictionary..also applied some Heidi Swapp epoxy stickers to jazz it up a bit. On the right is a security envelope I got with one bill or another.

An application for a Passport I picked up from the Post Office but didn't use.

A page from a French magazine and a mail flyer from a ministry.

Here's a glance at the outer back cover.

I tucked in several goodies (they will remain a surprise) but one other item I tucked in was this tag. I keep a couple of these blanks close to my work area at ALL times. I wipe off my excess paint and inks onto it, wet stencils too! Then I embellish it and add some cool seam binder or other fibers and textiles to give it life. I ALWAYS love the results. I REALLY, REALLY had to force myself to part with this particular one. The photos are not doing it justice!

Want to learn more about the process I used?

http://youtu.be/1R8vzVyLsLA?list=UUFV7RVT8x5Or8L9F16zlRFA

CLICK HERE to visit my Youtube channel and see many more projects, don't forget to subscribe!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, June 29, 2014

June 2014 Swaps & Challenges

Here's a quick visual recap of the Swaps and Challenges I created for the month.

Swap-Bot Craft Quote Binder Trading Card:

Cutout on my Silhouette Portrait, gelli plate,
seam binding

Swap-Bot Easy Notecard Swap:

Lots of texture with heat embossing powders
and machine stitching

(see video at http://youtu.be/J2bN1uA9ftk)

Made mainly with my own gelli prints

Swap-Bot: Altered Shipping Envie:

Front: Acrylics, stamps, gel sticks,
Dylusion sprays and pens

Back of envelope: Stamps, acrylics and pens

Closeup of front

Swap-Bot VC: 12 Months of Altered Tags #5:

(see video at http://youtu.be/B9YVbTSIBzQ)

Swap-Bot Friendship Quote Binder Trading Card:

MMSA: Artstamps:

Your Paper Pantry: Christmas Cards All Year Long:

*** MONTHLY GIVEAWAY ***

This month's giveaway is your CHOICE of one of the following:
1. Three rolls of Scrappy Tape
(1/8", 1/4" and 1/2")

-OR-

2. A set of handmade notecards
(choice of color)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, May 31, 2014

May 2014 Swaps & Challenges

Here's a quick visual recap of the Swaps and Challenges I created for the month.

Swap-Bot Handmade Bookmark:

My partner loves Kittens

Used my gelli prints for the kitten cutouts.

Swap-Bot MMA: Anything Goes Postcards:

My first partner loves French Bulldogs and sarcasm!
The base of these cards is made from baby wipes
which were used to clean my paint brushes.

My second partner loves Disney princesses and
the color purple.

Swap-Bot VC: 12 Months of Altered Tags #4:

Swap-Bot Quick ATC Swap #144:

Partner loved ravens.

Swap-Bot Mixed Media Art- Artist Tile Challenge:

Collage: Modeling paste, acrylics, diecuts,
seam binding, microbeads, Pitt pens.

Your Paper Pantry: ATC Clocks:

Used acrylics, ink sprays, modeling paste,
embossing, stamps, dictionary,
Pitt pens, and gel pens.

Your Paper Pantry: Christmas Cards All Year Long:

Used acrylics, ink sprays, gel pens, cutouts

Your Paper Pantry: Mona Leonard's Art Journal Challenges:

Used acrylics, ink sprays, gelli prints,
Pitt pens, magazine

Used patterned paper, acrylics, newspaper, magazine and music sheet, Pitt pens.

Used acrylics, Dylusion sprays, Pitt pens, paper napkins, gesso and pens.

*** MONTHLY GIVEAWAY ***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Coming soon: Stationary and other gift items in my Etsy shop

Friday, March 28, 2014

Got Lost Along the Creative Path

I have been on the creative path and must have taken a wrong turn. I meant to come hang out here on my blog earlier in the month but I was just having TOO MUCH FUN!

What have I been up to? Crafting, of course! I have been making new friends, joining in on swaps and playing with so many new techniques!

I am going to attempt to bring you an update once a week. (Emphasis on the word ATTEMPT!)

Let me introduce you to my latest source of inspiration - Joanne Sharpe. Joanne is a mixed media artist and instructor from Rochester, NY. Her work is incredible. When I look at it I just get GIDDY. It's vibrancy calls to me, urging me to get in the studio and be creative.

Joanne recently wrote her first book, 

The Art of Whimsical Lettering. If the interest shown in her Facebook group is any indication, it's definitely going to be one of Interweave's top sellers.

Members of her Facebook group, of which I am a PROUD member, are scrambling to get their hands on the book. We all want our books, and we want them NOW as Joanne has plans to take group members by the hand and lead us through some of the book's exercises.

I was planning to order my copy online with an anticipated delivery date in April. I had checked with my local bookstore and unfortunately they didn't have it. But just moments before pushing the "submit order" button I decided to check one last time, and Glory! My local bookstore had it! I reserved my copy and within an hour I had it in my hot little hands! SCORE!

I came home and dove right in. Using the book as my reference I decided to tackle the first posted lesson on the Facebook group - to create my own inspirational journal using a regular composition notebook. I snagged mine at Walmart for $.94!

Got out my "toys" and went to work. Here is how it turned out-

My process:
I began by applying a few coats of gesso to the cover and then glued on a few strips of my own Gelli prints to the bottom portion. I used textured cardstock on the top portion. I added some washi tape to give it even more "flavor".

Next I decided to use my homemade modeling paste* (thanks Leah Tees for the recipe) and stencilled some shapes to give it a little dimension. Once those were dried I applied an acrylic paint wash.

* recipe I used includes baby powder. I think I added a smidgen more than called for. It smells great AND as an added bonus - it puffs up when you heat it with a heat gun!

Taking my cue from Joanne's book (yeah, I read ahead! If you had a copy you would too, believe me!) I did my main words on tissue paper (used an old sewing pattern). Once I was happy with my lettering I modge-podged* it to the cover( yes, that's a word! Well it is at my house!)

* Tip: to tear in an organic shape first "paint" the tissue paper in the desired shape with water, then tear.

Next I used my Stampin' Up markers to paint a few elements (flowers, leaves and a cloud) based on another of Joanne's techniques learned from watching her in Strathmore Artist Paper's series, Artful Card-Making Techniques. I cut them out and modge-podged those onto the cover as well. Love how they pop!

Now it was time to add even more words. I just took my random thoughts and added them haphazardly. Using my Pitt and Zig markers I "pumped" them up. Took my white Signo and enhanced the outlines and added some flair.

Final step was to just add a bit more color back in using acrylic paint. A coat of Modge Podge to seal and it was d.o.n.e! - or was it? I keep playing with it and adding more! VERY addictive process! :)

I really didn't think I could do it, and in the end I am happy with the results. COLOR is so rewarding!

Looking forward to learning more from this amazing artist.

Maybe you'd like to join in?! (Such an enabler, I am! LOL)

For more information about Joanne Sharpe's online classes CLICK HERE!

Here are the swaps and challenges I have taken part in since my last blog entry:

Mixed Media Friendship Journal - The latest update
My Travelogue - The beginning
Mona Leonard's 2014 Mixed Media Journal Challenge - Weeks 1 and 2
YPP Mail Art - Vintage Grunge March Swaps & Challenges
Swap-Bot Mosaic ATC March Swaps & Challenges
YPP Christmas Cards All Year Long - DieCuts March Swaps & Challenges

Monday, February 3, 2014

Last Minute Baby Shower ....and I DO mean last minute!

This is a LONG post so if you get tired reading be SURE to scroll to the bottom for TWO very exciting announcements!

My youngest daughter, Alycia, has a close friend who is having a baby! Alycia is going to be the Godmother - she is sooo excited. Well we all know that one of the GM's duties is to host a baby shower. Since this was her first she elicited my help.

The theme she picked out was zoo animals, with a blue and green color palette. We started out by buying a digital package online from a favorite vendor - JessicaSprague.com . This collection included both papers and elements. Using my new Silhouette Portrait it was really easy to throw together a few things. Good thing too; she only gave me a couple days to get it done.

We started with the invitations -

I used several different techniques including window cutouts, embellishing with glitter and Glossy Accents, and of course, machine stitching. (I've said it before, and I will say it again - I LOVE dimension!)

Next she needed some decor, so I made some pinwheels to use along with the balloons as centerpieces on the tabletops. While I was at it, I decided to whip out a small banner too!