Friday, October 23, 2015

The House Dress


A play on words and my love for making paper (and fabric) dresses, led to this entry in my Houses altered book (AB) today.  And I did it all so I could join Art Journal Journey and Sheila, this month's host.

I began by gessoing one of the pages in my Houses AB.  After it was dry, I brought out most of the other supplies I would use to make this piece.  From back left clockwise: black pigment ink, gesso in a honey bear container, rubber stamp, faux credit card used to create both the gesso background and the focal cardstock I would use for the project.

Even though I've had this rubber stamp for many, many, many, many years, I have never used it.

Since I never think to look at, or name, my art supplies, and before you ask (as I'm sure at least one person might),

the name of the stamp is Illuminata and it is made by Inkadinkado.  However, I have NO idea if it's still something you can buy, or not, since it was a gift.  I wanted to use the column, but the brand-newly inked stamp was no match for the wrinkly gessoed background.

Only a minor set back, even though I had originally planned to stamp the column all over the background.  Next, I cut the dress in the form of a house.

The "roof" was covered in some hem tape lace and the "chimney" was made to look like a pin added to the dress.  I was afraid my bending skills (or non-skills) would not be good on my shoulder and wrist, so I drew the hanger on with a Sharpie pen.

Windows and doors I cut from paint chip samples were sewn to the house.

Left over (and uneven) hem tape became the window curtain in the door.  The handle on the door was created by moving my sewing machine back and forth.

More hem tape was sewn to the bottom of the dress for the decoration.  I had intended to put buttons in the windows, but I'm out of E6000 and didn't want to chance burning my hand on hot glue.

Once again, "House Dress" is for Art Journal Journey and their theme of architecture because it plays so well into my Houses AB.

Thanks so much for looking and thanks for your wonderful comments, especially those of you who give me helpful advice to problems I often encounter when making my art.


14 thoughtful remarks:

My name is Erika. said...

You always have such clever uses of materials. I love how you used the lace and stitching. It gives your piece so much texture and dimension.

pearshapedcrafting said...

I saw this on my phone before breakfast -now I can see it properly it is even more amazing than I first thought! Elizabeth this is so beautiful - I love the gorgeous texture and the colours of your house dress make this such a happy page! Have a lovely weekend - we will be away entertaining grandchildren and son for a few days! Take care of your poorly arm and I hope Sally is on the way to recovery too, Hugs, Chrisx

Valerie-Jael said...

Love your fun house, I like this so much better than stamped. Thanks for joining us at Art Journal Journey. Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie

Unknown said...

You are so good with the Play on Words! House Dress is a fun interpretation....love the stitching and lace! Can't believe you've never used that stamp, it is really cool...but it does look rather large so that is a consideration too. Wonderful results with your house dress! ♥

froebelsternchen said...

Your house dress looks fantastic.. I love the multicolored thread you used to sew the windows on... so lovely! And the handdrawing looks so good to it as well!
You will never get a good impression of a rubber stamp over wrinkled painted surface.If I want to have a stamped image on such a surface I either use black acrylic paint to stamp or I stamp with waterproof ink on tissue and glue this to the surface.. with gluestick oder thinned white glue .. the tissue will melt into the surface and the image looks as it was directly stamped.. and it comes handy because you can see and have a look at the layout and composition before you glue it down.
Hope your shoulder feels better meanwhile!♥♥♥
Happy weekend dear Elizabeth and a big thank you for another fab page to our current theme!
oxo
Susi

sheila 77 said...

I was totally fascinated by your description of how you made your house dress (haha!). Of course the door window had to have a net curtain, and the combination of sewing and paint has made such a very original piece of Architecture.
I also loved how you moved smoothly on from a "minor setback" with the stamp, very cool.
Great stuff.

Meggymay said...

Oh Wow, this looks amazing. Loved reading how this page was created, with all the materials and how you gave it its own hanger.
Yvonne xx

Carol said...

Very nice! You always come up with such unique projects!
Have a fantastic weekend!

Halle said...

Love this!! The play on words is so fun. The house truly does look like a dress with the hanger...awesome!

johanna said...

this stamp is really beautiful (inkadinkado a good Company for many years, i have some of them and they never go "out of (my) Fashion or taste).
but then, my favorite is your detailed sewn house... bravo!!

Craftymoose Crafts said...

This is so, so creative! The hanger is a perfect touch!

Anonymous said...

A house dress. What a great idea. Might make a perfect Halloween costume as well. Maybe with a coat hanger sticking out of your head. xox

Darla said...

Like the pun, what a great fun piece this is.

~*~Patty S said...

Such a fun play on words.
Your "house dress" is wonderful in every detail E ♥
oxo