Second on the 2nd: Mixed Media Assemblage

 

"Failed to Publish" is back.  I can publish about once every 12 hours or so.  Very frustrating.  

As most of you know, whenever possible, I like my Second Look to somehow reflect what our current host at Art Journal Journey is featuring.  That means I looked for something that included Alison's chosen theme, Autumn Colors and Inspiration. This post was originally published on October 7, 2015.  It was for a challenge and the theme was Autumn. 

  This was my first ever assemblage made using a book cover for the substrate.

I thought this looked like autumn, especially after I colored the white flowers (yes, they all started white) with yellow pan pastels and brown walnut ink.

I sprayed each flower with a fixative before I added it to the cover.  I'm out of E6000, my adhesive of choice for anything like this, so I grabbed the hot glue gun and promptly made a mess of things.

Except for the very first (and last) photo, these were all taken before I realized I hadn't cleaned the hot glue strings properly from the piece.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  I started with some autumn fabric and sprayed it (using a spray adhesive) to the book cover I had gessoed late last month.

To that I added fabric I rusted, some of my handmade paper, and an image of a young girl I fussy cut.  I sewed the paper assembly to the rusty fabric, then was horrified because the yellow from the pan pastel got on the rusty fabric.

Although I eventually noticed the problem, removing all that pan pastel dust

was a real problem.  I also forgot to show the back, which I covered in shaving cream paper I made several years ago.

One final look at this first altered book cover after I removed the hot glue spider webs, but before I got rid of the excess pan pastel dust.  I still need to punch holes to add a wire hanging, but I wanted to show this before time runs out on that challenge.

Materials I used were five white flowers I colored, filler grass from my yard, commercial fabric, rust dyed fabric, handmade paper (made by me), a printed image, thread, shaving cream paper (on the back), all on a gessoed book cover that was about 8 inches by 10 inches (20,32 centimeters by 25,4 centimeters).

Now it's time to share your own Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit.   

T Stands For Love and Kisses

 

 Today we are meeting at my dining room table to celebrate Valentine's Day.

My vignette for Valentine's Day I created on my dining room table.  

My teapot shares space with my journal page.  Here is a close up of the journal page.

I hope you see why I call this Love and Kisses.

Vintage sheet music was colored using a red marker.

I sewed it to some reddish pink handmade (by me) paper using red thread.

Finally I added the Love and Kisses postage stamp issued back in 2007 when first class postage was $0.39 (USD).

One more look at this entry which started with dotted scrapbook paper to which everything was sewn in place.  I'm sure you know I'm once again joining Erika our host this month at Art Journal Journey who asks us to use the color red in our art.

I have decided on how to handle the 10th anniversary swap.  In TWO WEEKS, (NOT TODAY, and NOT NEXT WEEK, but TWO WEEKS FROM NOW) I want a definitive answer to your swap choice.  I know some of you have told me two weeks in a row your intentions, but I want all in one spot because here is what we will do.  First, this WILL NOT BE a Pay It Forward, or PIF swap. Second, you will be assigned a partner depending on your choice. DO NOT TELL ME THIS WEEK, but here are the choices you have:

A. ATC only local (local defined as within your country or continent)

B. ATC only intl. (intl. defined as willing to send to anyone in the world)

C. ATC and postcard local

D. ATC and postcard intl.

E. ATC and two tea bags local

F. ATC and two tea bags intl.

G. Postcard and two tea bags local

H. Postcard and two tea bags intl.

For those of you who live in the states, if you request local only and I cannot pair you with a local person, you may send your choice to me and I will include it in the swap I send to your partner.  Remember, depending on your choice, you will be paired with someone who sends like for like, or the same item(s) as you.  For example a participant who chooses A will not be paired with a participant who chooses G.  A participant who choose A will be paired with a person who chooses A.  Those who choose to send little gifts/snippets along with your choices, may do so.  All partners MUST receive their swap items no later than July 1, 2023, however, you will NOT SHOW your swap until the anniversary on Monday July 17 or Tuesday July 18 depending on your time zone.  No late entries will be allowed. PERIOD!!

By now, you know the drill. Include something drink related as I did today, and link below.  PLEASE link your T post only.  We don't want to have to hunt for your post or have to guess where it ends. Forgot to mention, way to go Mahomes and Chiefs!!

Think about your swap choice, decide what you want to swap, write it down, and share it in two weeks, please.  Also, if you know someone who has been a T Tuesday participant in the past, please let them know about the swap we are having in July and share this blog post with them.  If you have never participated in a T Stands For Tuesday post before, but want to join the swap, please let me know in two weeks.

Homage to the Lantern Festival

 

 Today I am joining Erika, who some of you know as BioArtGal, our host this month at Art Journal Journey.  She wants us to use the color red in our art this month.

I call this Homage to the Lantern Festival, but it could just as easily be called Thankful for Cindy McMath.  Cindy was responsible for sending the Lanterns, which are German scrap. 

I also removed the old postage stamp from one of her cards she sent, which is an animal from a previous year.

Homage to the Lantern Festival which is tomorrow, February 5, 2023.

 

For the background, I mixed a Staz-on reinker with 91% isopropyl alcohol, then spread it on the 110 lb cardstock using a makeup sponge.  I layered a piece of handmade paper (made by me) over which I added a piece of vintage sheet music I colored using a marker.  The final element was the postage stamp.  I computer generated the words and date.

Bleubeard and I are thrilled you joined us and hope to see you soon at Art Journal Journey with your own take on the color Red.

 

Happy Christmas eve

 

I want to wish everyone who celebrates it, a lovely Christmas eve.

I'm joining Michelle of RaspberryBlueSky and Tamara of MaraKreativStudio and their Art Journal Advent Calendar.  I am in catch-up mode.  Instead of posting weekly, it seems I must now share the last of my advent prompts.  I hope this isn't photo overload.

I'm running late and haven't quite finished my art journal advent calendar.  I hope to finish tomorrow.  Let's start with Day 7, which is My Value.  Here is my annual donation to PBS Kansas. I believe that I get a lot of decent TV for the value.

Day 8's prompt was Unique.  Need I say more?  Maybe that I recycled an ornament on the shirt.  The background was some of my handmade paper.

For Day 9, I was to Follow my impulse.  This was NOT the spread I first envisioned, conceived, or planned.  It's one of those prompts that took on a mind of its own.  If you are a mixed media artist, I am sure you know what I mean.

I found this quote after I found the image and had added the two rows of circles.  This quote is attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president.  It reads "Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground."

Day 10's prompt was YES! Ransom letters were mixed with a rub on and a sticker from my stash.

For Day 11, the prompt was "Greatest gift in 2022."  I could have gone with something like friendship, love, etc.  Instead, I chose something tangible: a new camera my friend Scott gave me for Thanksgiving.  The base was a piece of my handmade paper.  Stickers and an image from an older Nikon Coolpix completed the page.  And I even got some joyful concepts in at the same time. 

The Day 12 prompt was Simplify.  I enjoyed making these leaves that the butterfly stickers could sit on.  Although the leaves looked similar (color wise) on my work table, when scanned there was a noticeable difference in the two security envelopes I used.

Self Confidence was the prompt for Day 13.  For some reason, I was drawn to this image and felt it showed confidence.  Since it was an ad, I needed something to cover the ad,  Therefore, the corrugated cardboard became my embellishment of choice.  The background was two colors of fluid acrylics brushed on a sheet of copier paper.  I fussy cut the focal image and adhered it before I added the cardboard.

Day  14 had us building castles in the air.  I had no good image for this, so went to the internet, found a castle that I cropped, then cut the rather paltry clouds using a sheet of copier paper.  The background is the same as that of Day 13.  This is probably my least favorite spread and prompt.

On Day 15, I stole borrowed the idea for this spread from my friend Alison (Craftytrog).  She found bees and hedgehogs to be vulnerable and I chose sea creatures and birds.  Thanks for the idea, Alison.  I was really stumped until I saw what you created!

Day 16 had us being Unfiltered.  I thought it was time to let go of my frustration about this Christmas season.  In case you need a translation: Some days it sucks to be ME!

For Day 17, the prompt was Fearless.  That definitely isn't me, so I chose an image of a rock climber who DID look fearless.  The background is heavy extra thick scrapbook paper.

For Day 18, The prompt was What can I let go? Although there are a lot of things I could mention, I only chose two.  I thought the background of healthy veggies I found was perfect for this spread.

This John Denver song kept running through my head when I saw Day 19's Home(land) prompt.

As I was putting some postage stamps away, I saw this one of a country barn with a road leading to it.  It was the perfect addition.

For Day 20, we were to create Magical Moments.  I used collage fodder to create this page with the Dream Big rocket.

Balance was the prompt for Day 21. I found the ballerina on the internet and fussy cut her image.

I fussy cut the hand from my stash for her to stand and balance on.

I have started Day 22, but it isn't finished.  I will share the final three and my back cover on Monday.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end of this very long post.  I am grateful you stayed to see the prompts from Day 7 through 22. 

A few favorites

 

I'm once again joining Erika, who many of you know as BioArtGal, our host this month at Art Journal Journey.  Her theme is Favorite Things. 

I'm sharing a few of mine today.

Let's look at some of my favorite things.

I love to read, so reading the New York Times and eating almonds sounds good to me.  Of course, I don't need glasses except to drive.

I love making handmade paper.  I also love collecting scraps and stickers off fruit and veggies.  A nice flower is fun to have, too.

I love going to the zoo, so the elephant I got in my zoo renewal packet was fun. 

 

I also love gardening, so the basket of flowers in the stamp/sticker reinforces that.

Here's a better picture of the elephant and the zoo notification.

It's no secret I also love cardinals. 

Here I've shared several.

I always hate it when I can't use something. 

It's nice to know I was able to use this left-over phrenology image from last month.

I always enjoy collecting fortunes from fortune cookies.  Some make perfect sense, some are silly.  This one seems to go well with the image, too.

I started this page by laying down various colors of watercolors on a sheet of 110 lb. cardstock.   To that, I added the various pieces I described above.  I then computer generated the words and turned them into a quote bubble.

Bleubeard and I are incredibly thrilled you chose to visit us today, and we would love to see you at Art Journal Journey with your own take on Favorite Things.