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.