Postcard #8 - Recycling & Re-purpose ETC

I love using a "lowly" kitchen "utensil.  I don't normally association cheesecloth with art!  It is a fibre that I use in the preservation and the making of jams and jellies; then you throw the cheesecloth in the green bin (long with lots of other garbage)!!  However, I think that cheesecloth can be used to make lovely mixed media art projects. 

My next favourite household cast-off is the "used" dryer sheet!  I like to recycle so I painted the old dryer sheet with some fabric paint that I found at a charity shop (I don't usually use this sort of stuff!).   The purple dryer sheet became the simplistic yet abstract flowers in my postcard.  I added some beads and then some Gutermann star-shaped sequins that I purchased at the creative sewing show I went to in Toronto awhile back. 

I attached the floating flowers and sequins to some cheesecloth backed with organza.  Then I applied light molding paste and topped that off with the glass bead texture gel.  I don't know if you can see the beads here as I had hoped but it was pretty cool looking!  If you click on the picture it will bring you closer so you can see the bead textures better. 

I painted my "frame" a bright blue and when I look here in the cold light of the camera's eye; I'm not so sure I chose the correct colour.  I think that a pale lavender might have been nicer but it is "done" now and I need to get them mailed away so it will remain as is.

I am glad that I chose to do something different on each card.  On this one I then applied some interference paint in Interference Violet by Tri-Art paint (made in Canada).  I see that it looks blotchy in the lower right corner.  Honestly, this picture does not do it justice at all.

Postcard #6 & #7 - More Needlefelting

This next postcard is another needle felted image with glass bead embellishments.

I have been so involved in trying to get this card made that once again I have little "before" pictures save one.  I am trying to get all of these done by the end of the month so I can get them mailed off by March.

I really like this card as well.  My photograph here does not do it justice really.  As you can see, I also decided to change the card background from the snap above.  I made another needle felted image and had a hard time deciding which one looked better on the two different cards.  Although you can't really see it here the background does look "worn" in places.

I let the needle felting process just take me where it would and I did not have any pre-conceived ideas really other than the colours I used.  The same goes for the beading as well.  I especially like the way the glass bead texture gel took to the paper.  It has all resulted in a "vintage" feel that really appeals to me.

For both cards I used:

-recycled card from junk mail
-wool roving
-hand needle felted image on organza
-glass beads embellishment
-acrylic paint
-glass bead texture gel
-Strathmore watercolur postcard


Postcard #7 - Is the same but different from #6!  Each of my postcards are individually made and therefore each are different in some way although the process may be similar.

I should add to the list above:  I crunched up some brown tissue paper I got from a gift and applied it with matte medium.  I was going to paint over it but decided that I liked the transparent nature of the paper.  Again, I used the glass texture gel to create a "frame" of sorts for the needle felting.

So far, I really have enjoyed experimentation!!!

Postcard #5 - Needlefelt and molding paste

Here is the next postcard and I started with brown organza and I attached my handmade needle-felted wool-roving image.  I wanted to sew the beads on to the image and I needed a substrate that would allow this to happen.   I have not tried needle felting since I took a workshop several years ago.  I kept the image simple but added beads for interest.

The next part of the "experiment" (since my postcards are based on experimentation) was using the molding paste.  I used Golden light and heavy paste.  The hard past is very difficult to manipulate so I decided to use the light paste to make the process easier due to the small size of this project.

Again, I seem to have forgotten to take pictures but I have one of the card part way through the process.  It shows the molding paste while I was applying the burnt umber acyrilc paint.  I used some bronze paint as a highlight. 

I do love the juxtoposition of fibre and polymer!

 To finish this off I used some glitter glue around the inner edges between the fabric and the paste.

I really do love this card and hope the recipient does too!

Okay for this card I used:

-recycled postcard from junk mail
-Strathmore watercolour postcard
-brown organza
-wool roving (three colours)
-glass beads
-acrylic heavy and light molding paste
-acrylic paint
-glitter glue

Postcard #4 - Passion for Purple

This working for a living is really cutting into my creative time!  However, it does allow me to make purchases of art materials so it is a happy marriage!

This next card I did using mostly fibres.  I laid on a coat of dioxazine purple acrylic paint, then applied the slightly dyed household cheesecloth and sewed on the purple organza flowers with the wool roving centres.  I stitched it all together using the matching coloured beads and applied glitter glue to the edge.  I didn't do anything really special with the flowers; just squished up some fabric and chopped around my finger and thumb to make the "petals".  I like the nature of fabric because it does fray and I have to say that I like that effect.

Another aspect of the card that I like is the nature of household or kitchen cheesecloth.  Most often it is used in the preserving of fruits or jams.  I am trying to other area where I can "re-purpose" this lowly household product.

Again, I must stress the fact that I love not just the visual nature of this postcard because purple is a favourite of mine.  As I have said before I love the tactile nature of fibre!

I hope the recipient of this card appreciates the creative process even if she does not like purple as much as I do!

I realized with this card that I had not taken any step-by-step photos.  I will endeavour to do so in the future.

Postcard #3 - Winter Scene

This card started out with an image I cut from some junk mail that keeps arriving here.  Some of it actually belongs to my dearly departed Dad but I continue to get rid of as fast as I can.  I did find some income tax receipts in some of the letters he gets but most of it is junk mail from charities wanting money.  I must remember to not allow my name to get on any of these lists otherwise I too will be inundated with their requests.

I really love the process of "image transfer" using gel medium!!!  When I saw the picture, I didn't really have anything in mind but knew that I had to use "mixed media".  I belong to a fibre arts group (kinda sorta really since I can't go to many meeting due to my shift work and therefore I am not involved in their current project).  I like to add fabric and other fibres due to the tactile nature of fibre.! We can not help ourselves; we just want to touch it!!!  I think that it is a natural human response.

I started by placing the small gel transfer in the centre of the postcard and painted around it using artist acrylic paints.  Then I covered the postcard with sheer curtain fabric that I had in my stash and placed the image transfer overtop.  Then I added silver lame` fabric and glued it and the gel image down with gel medium.  I used some acrylic paint to take the shininess off of the metal foil I used to keep the card together and the fabric from fraying.  I surrounded the image with thin bead of glitter glue to insure that it doesn't get caught on something and separate it from the card.  I think it would survive a trip through the mail as is but I'm not so sure so I think that I will pop it in an envelope.

I can see now that I need to a add some more charcoal glue to meet the edges.  Hmmmm, I seem to have forgotten that.  I think that taking a picture of you art helps to see flaws that you can't see with your own eyes.  The camera lens is very unforgiving but helpful in this way!

I can't for the life of me figure out what has made the gel discolour so!  When I first completed the transfer process it did not have the greenish-sepia tinge on it.  So I just can't fathom why it has done so here.  None of the other gel images that I have made for this project have discoloured at all.  Strange, but it is what it is!

For this card I used:

140 lb watercolour paper
acrylic paint
gel medium - gloss and matte
curtain sheer
silver lame`
glitter glue
matte 3D glue
metal foil

While I was half way through the process, I was reminded of a photograph that I had taken a few months ago!  I was driving home from town and got a few snaps from the dash of my dear Dad's old Sonata.  I have to say that I am diggin' my new used Camry though!  I totally appreciate the heated seats.

Postcard #2

I have been trying to get all of my postcards made within a reasonable amount of time and I do try but life does get in the way.  I don't feel bad because I got to go and see my grand-daughter again and help my daughter out by being there for her.  Bottom line I enjoy "grandma duty"!

So postcard 2 is similar to postcard #1 in that it was made using the same process.  This time the image is taken from a publishers clearing house brochure.  I like to recycle! It represents a Sherlock Holmes novel and the tiny image depicts the dark nature of the times.

I think that I could have a better job with the dark side but I didn't realize that until I had put the sparkled netting overtop and glued it together with the metal foil.  I had to paint over it because I thought it was way to "bright" and not in keeping with the mood of the image.

In this postcard I used:

4" x 6" watercolour paper
gel medium for image transfer
acrylic ink
acrylic paint
eye shadow
sparkly netting fabric
glitter glue
metal foil

I really enjoy using this process of image transfer - gel medium and an image from a magazine.  My postcards are experiments and therefore there will be errors.  It can't be helped really especially since this is a "new" project and I don't actually have a "how-to" or any instructions on what should be or should not be done.  I don't really think that my hindsight deters from the beauty of the project as it is.

I have 6 more done but I'm not sure if they are actually done, done!  I just finished to that have needle-felting and again I wonder if they are complete.  I will need to look at them a bit more before I make that call.  Therefore, you don't see any of them here quite yet.  Soon though!  I have to have them mailed out by the end of the month (I hope to that is!).

Postcard #1

I'm on night shift tonight so I don't have too much time that I can spend on the internet.  I had tried to get through my e-mails but then I clicked on Facebook and wow! - one hour gone!

I want to show one photo of my first completed postcard for the mixed media postcard swap!  I really enjoyed doing this one because I love the colour orange!  I love its' warmth; I love the fact that it has such warmth without the overpowering nature of its' cousin red.  Indeed, autumn is a favourite season and I never tire of the colours that nature produces when the season begins and ends

I found the image in a piece of mail that my husband receives that was relegated to the recycling bin.  So I grabbed it and cut out the image.  I found a site somewhere on the internet that had a tutorial on "image transfer" using gel medium (it might have been Golden paints actually).  I used that product to smear matte/satin/gloss gel medium on the image.  I applied multiple layers - I think it was a least 6 thin layers or more.  Then I submersed the image in a flat bowel of medium warm water to removed the paper.  Remember you don't want to soften the polymer gel too much.

Once that was done! I painted my postcard and applied the appropriate background image.  I looked around my fabric stash and found the right colour of organza to put over the postcard but under the image transfer.  I squeezed out some glitter glue to ensure that the image was adhered to the card. I finished off the postcard using some scrap-booking foil (I'm not a scrap booker myself but thought it would do the job) that I painted since I don't like the overtly shiny surface.

All of my postcards will have experimental elements to them which may work well and then may not.  The one area that I need to work on with this card is my alignment; the image is slightly crooked and when I realized it, it was too late!   I think that I could have darkened up my tree trunks a bit more too but overall I am happy with the results.

I used:
140 lb watercolour paper (a paper pad I had at home) cut into 4 x 6 cards
recycled magazine imageorganza
gel medium (satin)acrylic paint
acrylic ink
glitter glue
metal foil

So there is my first completed postcard that is finally ready for mailing!!

Winter Splendour

We have been very busy this month with our grandchild!  I have also been very busy with work and working some overtime.

Of course that does not stop me from making sure that I enjoy seeing what nature has to offer.  I always complain about working night shifts so I really like it when I can do that "glass half full" thing and get a few great photographs of our winter splendour.

I love the shine off of the ice from the glowing sky just prior to the glorious SUN making her entrance.  A friend of mine says that she thinks I should do a painting of this abstract scene.  Yes!  I do too!