My lovers mementos, inspired by Pixie Hill

Recently a wonderful post over on Nichola Battilana's blog,  Pixie Hill inspired me to make my own little lover's memento.  Nichola put together a lovely little "how to" that sprang me right into creative action.  Of course my pieces are not nearly as cool as hers are, but I love them because they are personal to me.

On both of these, both inside and out, I utilized tissue tape.  I found that this easily covered my matchboxes and I could alter the surface further as well.  

Creating the inside was extremely fussy and tiny, I got really irritated when things kept falling apart, but I pressed on.  I suppose I took the time to measure things properly it would help, but I am an ad lib crafter at heart.

Of course each and every little element chosen in these little parcels of love, has special personal meaning.  It was fun to root through my stuff and ponder how they could relate to my life and what they could represent.

Thank you so much to Nichola for sharing her inspiration.  I hope you found some as well.

Cheers,

Rhea

A new art journey

Recently I have made a profound connection in my artistic process.  Sometimes I need a prompt.  Whether it is a challenge, a swap, an article or a blog hop, these triggers really do help me when I am creatively stuck.  With that thought in mind, I luckily joined up in a round robin style art swap in my Kindred Souls group at the last minute.  I am so excited to be participating with a group of such talented artists.

 

I am a sucker for the steampunk look and with Valentines day on the way, I decided to combine the two and create a "Time for Love" journal.  My hope is that participants will add their own take on this unique mashing of classic art book themes. 

My focal here was made from 10 Second Studio sheet metal in Rock Star.  It was embossed with the gear pattern, sanded and then I edged it out in black tape.  A light buffing of copper gilder's paste added another dimension to the focal.  I added some metal bits, being sure to layer and follow the rule of odds.  Odd numbers of embellishments are more pleasing to the eye!

The wings are grungeboard and they were colored with both picket fence and the silver metallic distress stain. I finished them out with a bit more gilders paste as well as some stickels for a bit of sparkle among the grunge.  

The inside pages consist of heavy chipboard and the book was bound with a Cinch.  It really is easy to do and you get such a professional look. Each participant will have thier own page to alter in the chosen theme.  

On the back I repeated the same texture as the front.  Here you can see some of my fatal flaws too.  Because I had so much texture the stamping really did not take and I have really "hard lines" that are not very attractive.  Thus they are on the back of the book!

Here is a close up of my letters and a bit of the delightful texture.  On the letters, you guessed it, gilders paste.  In the background: lots of layers: silver distress stain, stamping, more gilders paste, molding paste, modge podge, tissue tape...

Stay tuned to see the work I do in the books of others.  I see several more creative and helpful art prompts in my future!

Cheers, 

Rhea

Our Love Story

Well I am at it again folks, I could not help but partake in another design challenge sponsored by Vintaj.  With the amazing prize package they just sent me I suspect there will be a few more challenges in my future too.

I just love having a trigger or a prompt for art, I do find that can really inspire me.  The theme this month is "Our Story."  I just happen to have a delightful new story in my life unfolding right now and so I chose to chronicle it through this piece.  Each and every little do dad has a thought or personal meaning behind it.

VOTE HERE (if you want)

#7 Our Love Story

The small blanks I altered from Vintaj are delightful.  I stamped a background with permanent ink and then layered text on top.  Some of them I made domed by thoughtfully adding on the Diamond Glaze, others were kept more even and flush.

You can see below that I added other inclusions to some of the metal blanks as well.  

I was so super excited to find a use for the etched metal tiles that were added.  I happen to be blessed with an amazing clan of local art ladies.  During one of our meetings last year, Beth from Vintage Sweets, taught us how to etch on metal.  When I heard the theme for the challenge I knew I wanted to use these.  I added them to represent sweet nothings, love letters and the secrets new lovers share.  

  

I hope you enjoyed partaking in this little bit of my new story.  Thanks for all of your continued support and readership.  It really does mean the world to me.  Hopefully this piece will also trigger the full on creative mojo return.

Cheers, 

Rhea

A little more love

I am still turning out a few Valentine's Day pieces.  It is funny to me how much I have gotten into the holiday themes since really getting into mixed media.  I was never one to really embrace holidays previously. I love how there are different flavors and sources of inspiration for each of the different days. 

These both fit into the theme over at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  I am bound and determined to either win a gift certificate, or nudge my way onto their design team over there so I can get more crafty supplies!  The theme this week is a "red letter day," so these little signs fit the bill since Valentines Day was my inspiration. 

These were very simple to create.  I used several of Tim Holtz's dies to get my shapes.  Most of the coloring was done with distress stains, have I told you how much I love these...amazing!  I did add a bit of wire, stickels, rub and buff and a few eyelets to give the project the mixed media feel I was after.



I extended the above project off the chipboard base by adding eyelets and attaching a piece of grunge board with jump rings.  It also adds movement to the piece, and I love movement in  my work. 

Hopefully this post inspires you to use some of those die cuts you have laying around!

Cheers,

Rhea

Bunting Love

I have wanted to make one of these trendy little buntings for a while.  I took inspiration from the upcoming season of Love, Valentine's Day. 

I had to do some problem solving to get everything to hang right.  I had a few versions of this before I ever added the pennants that were unsuccessful.  I love the use of eyelets, jump rings and simple twine for hanging. 



On this set the backing is a tag from Martha Stewart.  I wish I picked up more of these when I was recently at a discount store, as they fit perfectly behind the rosettes.  I also did something unusual for me, I kept it simple!

I am sending these off to a little shop, where hopefully they will find a new home.

Cheers,

Rhea

Lover's Lane

Here is yet another simple Chunky House.  The theme of this swap is Lover's Lane.  I set out to create a vintage look and I am happy with my result. 

This was made from cardboard from food packaging.  I layered scrapbook paper for the background.  The paper flowers I made at a make and take at a local scrapbook store.  I jazzed them up at home with gears and metal brads.  The vintage image is from 1934, the lovers are blushing with adore.  I framed out the image with really cool acetate die cuts from Tattered Angels.  The brass heart was part of a barette that I scored at a local thrift shop.  A bit of ephemera, a small key and wax drippings add a few more details to my chunky little house.  At the last minute I framed out the roof with scraps of scrapbook paper, the music pattern was on the back of the paper I used as my base layer. 

Love Shrine II

Well I just could not bear to let go of my first one, so here is the replacement for my partner.  I started with the same strategy of burning the paint off of the Altoid Tin.  I recently picked up a smaller stack of paper that I would not usually graviate towards, it was filled with pinks, hearts, flowers and the like.  I embraced these shabby shades and lined the inside and cover of my tin with pieces from this stack.  The edges are covered in Tim's tissue tape and Ranger's stickels.  I also used some K Company embellishments left over from my bunny and chick chunky book pages.    

The inside also boasts tissue tape along the edges.  I can't get enough of this stuff.  That said, I do have issues with it not sticking as well as I would like sometimes, but I cure that with a dab of matte medium.  The letters and chipboard backing were scored from one of my local scrapbook haunts, Dillons in Portage, MI.  They are a lovely bunch over there and they have invited me to teach!  I am nervous, but excited at a new opportunity.

 

I also used a felt heart from Martha Stewart and part of a barrette that I picked up from Goodwill and tore apart.  I find neat metal bits there sometimes, in fact, that is where the bobbin came from too. A few little buttons in the corner and a die cut key from who knows where finish off round two of this project for me.  

I hope the recipient enjoys.  It is quite a departure from my usual brown and earth tones, but it is good to step our of my usual pallet.