Tuesday, January 29, 2013

What is Altered ART?

I love altered art, but it occurs to me that many people may have never heard of it before. So what is altered art? To Alter – to make different in some particular, as size, style, course, or the like; modify Altered art means a wide variety of things to different people. For me, altered art began with a set of playing cards, some old magazines to cut up, and some acrylic paints. While two-dimensional media like playing cards, place mats, and the like are a great way to move from collage into altered art, where it gets really interesting is when you start altering 3-dimensional objects. Probably one of the most popular altered media is various types and sizes of boxes. From the small altoid tins to cigar box purses, moving altered art into the realm of assemblage becomes a form of collage sculpture. Altered art journals and books are a wonderful way to express your own creative style. Small composition books make the perfect cover to alter for your first art journal. These small and inexpensive books are the perfect size to have at hand whenever you feel the need to write something down. The cover is sturdy enough to stand up to some serious painting and altering and can handle just about anything you would like to attach to it. Many people begin sharing their art for the first time through altered playing cards, altered books, or artist trading cards. I’ve participated in a few of these round robins – we picked a theme for say ATCs and then sent in a certain number to the coordinator who sent us back one less. The coordinator has the benefit of grabbing one of everyone’s cards as she spends all the time and energy to coordinate the round robin and mail everything back out. Round robins can be a great way to stimulate your creativity with altered art as everything you get back will have been made by someone else. I find that looking at other’s art work will often spur me into figuring out how someone did something I find unique, or their style may drive me to try out new styles for myself! Altered tins and boxes make for wonderful little shrines or reliquaries for all the little sacred moments in life we don’t celebrate enough! I like to keep a little table in my room set aside for these altered treasures.

Monday, January 28, 2013

BEADED EMBOSSING

Supplies: Cardstock Clear Ultrafine Microbeads Sticky Powder Soft Rubber Brayer Versamark Watermark Ink Embossing Folder Embossing Machine: sizzix Heat Tool Anti Static Embossing Buddy, small brush, Directions: Before you begin, carefully look at the embossing folder and decide which part of the impression you wish to bead. The part of the embossing folder to be inked will be the side with thte raised impression that you’ve chosen to bead. (It may seem a little backwards; because the raised portion will actually become the recessed portion once you’ve embossed the cardstock.) Once you’ve decided which portion of the design you want to bead you’re ready to begin. 1. Optional: Tap embossing buddy onto cardstock to reduce static on paper surface. 2. Apply ink to embossing folder. a. For large background areas: Roll brayer over ink pad until it is inked well. Lay opened embossing folder on scrap paper and using brayer, completely ink desired design area. b. For smaller design areas: use post notes to mark area. 3. Place front side of cardstock into embossing folder facing the inked portion of the folder. Close the embossing folder and emboss as usual in you machine. Turn the handle slowly and roll it through once and then without removing the stack, reverse the direction you turn the handle and roll it back through. 4. Carefully remove the inked/embossed cardstock from the folder, and sprinkle generously with O’So sticky Powder. Tap off excess and return to jar. Use a small brush if necessary to remove any specks of powder. 5. Heat (as you would embossing powder), just until the powder melts and turns shiny in appearance. This will activate the Sticky Powder. Do not overheat, as the powder will lose its gluing properties. 6. Lay the cardstock face down into a shallow tray of ultrafine microbeads. Press over the backside of the cardstock. 7. Lift the cardstock from the tray, allowing loose beads to fall into tray. 8. Heat the image once more (about 5-10 seconds) to “set” the microbeads into the Sticky Powder. Allow cardstock to cool before touching. Brush any remaining loose beads from the image into the tray. By, Jean

Shaving Cream Technique make marble looking background paper

Shaving Cream Marble Paper . Supplies Needed: * shaving cream * Cardstock paper * re-inkers * Tray to hold shaving cream * spoon: to swirl the shaving cream and re-inker fluid. Take shaving cream and spray into a cookie sheet and then smooth out. Add some drops of re-inker. Swirl colors around with spoon. Then take a sheet of cardstock and press on another piece of paper and then allow to dry.