Push Your Boundaries…Altered Book
Welcome to eclectic Paperie’s ePlay Challenge – Push Your Boundaries!
We’re altering our challenges in 2014, creating one, month-long challenge, increasing the prize drawing, holding a design team blog hop, and including a product discount with each new challenge! Check out the details below:
· We’ve combined our two challenges into one, announced on the first Thursday of each month. This gives the design team more flexibility with challenge topics and projects and allows you more time to enter!
· We’ll also feature a product each month, and during the first day of the challenge, you’ll receive a discount on the featured product….be sure to check for the special code!
· Our prize drawing is increasing from $15.00 to a $25.00 gift certificate and the winner of each challenge will be announced on the last Thursday of each month and will be featured on the eP blog.
· Each month we’ll hold a blog hop featuring the beautiful artwork from our design team…just scroll down to the bottom of the post for all of the links! Talk about inspiration!!
Our challenges are about encouraging you to explore your creative journey and inspiring you to step outside of your comfort zone. When you submit your artwork, share a unique card, scrapbook or journal page, a canvas, home décor project, or anything that you’re excited to share! We’re looking forward to crafting with you!
Today’s special is on Liquitex Gesso and for one day only, you can save 10% on a bottle of gesso…perfect for all of your altered projects! Simply use code GESSO03 when checking out.
Now for the challenge. This months’ challenge is ALTERED BOOKS! I love altering books, either to use as an art journal by gluing or gesso’ing a couple of pages together for sturdiness if I’m altering a normal book or I love to alter books to use as a display canvas. I raid the granddaughter’s toy chest and grab one of the baby board books, like this one:
Which ended up like this:
Because the pages in this book are thick cardboard, I used matte Glue N Seal to glue the board pages together, leaving the middle of the book open. Before setting it aside to dry, I used binder clips and clothes line thingies (argh, I’m tired and can’t think of the name….) to ensure that the pages would stay put while drying:
Once dry, I lightly sanded the surface and painted inside, sides and outside with white gesso. Once dry, black paint was added because I wanted a black background. I could have used black gesso, but I decided on the black background at the last minute because I finally had an idea. One from my Wild Art of Abandonment 2 class with Junelle Jacobson…she did a night time skyline canvas using tissue tape and paper pieces. For my little display, I used scraps of papers. Cut them haphazardly and and glued these to the board book:
At this point I do believe I used my fingers/hand to apply the glue. I didn’t worry about it looking pretty, or about the thicker glue strokes. I just put the pieces down and went for it.
After that was dry, paint was added. The windows were painted yellow and to add some shimmer, a coat of Silks Acrylic Glaze – Sunflower was added. I used Faber Castell Big Brush Markers and my fingers to add texture and depth. Some doodling with a black pen, some stenciling and I was done:
I had so much fun with the houses, that I didn’t think the rest of the background or the title through, but it was fun and it was fast. At least the houses were. I dilly-dallied around with the title too long 
. I absolutely love altering these board books, they make an awesome display-ready canvas!!!! My granddaughters on the other hand, keep wondering where all their books disappeared to.
Now for more inspiration and all the details, head over to the eP blog and then join us as we Push Your Boundaries!
Can't wait to see what you create!
Supplies Used:
Abstract….
Using some of the left over gelli plate prints from my fun on Sunday. I glued one piece to a piece of black mat board.
I used water soluble oil crayons in slate gray to make some random circles. I really wanted to leave it blank – just to frame the piece as is – and that is so hard. So I did add the word by using watered down paint, followed by some india ink and once all that was dry, some Sharpie Poster Paint pen. To seal the piece, I used glossy Glue n Seal which gave it a nice sheen!
You can read all about how I made these gelli prints HERE. That’s it for me this fine morning. And on that note, I better get ready for work. Until next time……
Supplies Used:
Imagine
It’s my turn to post over on the eclectic Paperie blog today! Hop over and check out the unexpected Gelli Print result I got while playing yesterday!
29 Faces – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
and the weird! Hi guys and TGIF! Since it’s Friday, I thought I’d share a couple more sketches for the 29 Faces challenge. I’m not keeping count – I wasn’t able to keep up on the daily challenge but that’s ok, right?
So I think I’ll start with the “Good” sketch. I did a more whimsical face on gesso covered book paper. She is colored her with neocolor II and then outlined with a black Uni-Ball pen:
All these sketches are on gesso covered book pages (great for sketching on the go or in front of the TV) and blue Stabilo Marking Pencil. She’s actually not “bad”, except for the hair. I’ve noticed that I tend to draw big, poufy hair. Must be wishful dreaming, lol.
Ok and here comes the “Ugly”. I was playing with my Derwent Inktense Blocks for the first time and was trying to go for a more masculine face. My husband said it looked like a monkey (uh, I don’t think so). I think it reminds me of those Greek or Roman statues. Anyway, I’ll just call him my abstract face:
My last sketch is done in pencil and blending stump. This one reminds me of a samurai warrior or maybe Medusa with that crazy hair.
It’s a good thing that in real life, a person’s eyes are not exactly alike. At least not in my case, one is slightly larger than the other, perhaps that’s why I have such a hard time making the eyes exactly alike. One is always smaller or larger than the other. You guys should check out the rest of the participants face project – I’m so in awe!!!!!
That’s it for me this morning! We’re expecting another major snow storm on Sunday, which means the stores will be crazy tomorrow – you know, like it’s the end of the world. I’ll be right out there with the crazies to do my weekly grocery shopping and errands. Then Sunday – bring it on….. I’m staying home and hopefully be very creative!
You guys have a wonderful weekend and stay warm!
Supplies Used:
SOC–For the Boys….
Hey, it time for a new challenge over in The Sisterhood of Crafters! Lisa is our host and challenges us to create a project for the boys.
Thinking that I would whip up a quick card, I decided to try to CASE a card that my soul sister Starla had created. Her card turned out so much better though. You can see it here!
And, in theory this should have been a quick card but it turned into a two hour adventure. Mainly because I pull out too much stuff I think. And then I get tired and just want to throw in the towel and go to bed, but stubbornness persists (or maybe OCD or ADD, lo) and I finished it.
Simple stamping, no mixed media techniques! And I finally used a new to me stamp from Stampin’ Up! which is no longer available, Extreme Skateboarder. Terrible that I’ve had this stamp (I’ve also got the Extreme Motorcycle and Extreme Guitar stamps) for years and am only now using it.
Now for more inspiration hop over to the Sisterhood of Crafters to check out what the rest of the Sistah’s created and to get the details of this fun challenge! Hope you play along with us – can’t wait to see what you create!
Until next time……
Supplies Used:
eTeam Picks Challenge–Altered Bag
Good Monday folks! I am happy to report that yes, I did get to spend Sunday in my art studio. I worked on my project for eP’s eTeam Picks challenge for February. Toni challenged us to alter a bag. Any kind of bag! I am going to be honest, the mojo wasn’t there. And altering the bag was somewhat harder than I thought it should be, lo. By the time I walked out of my studio last night, the bag was not finished which explains why there was no early morning post. Walking away from a project is the BEST thing one can do. I took the bag and a few art supplies with me to work and tried to “fix” the face.
The bag started out like this:
The first thing I did was cover it with several coats of gesso. Next came several layers of Dylusions Ink Sprays, paints and stencils, as well as a layer of paint applied with a brayer.
I honestly didn’t know what I was going for, but decided to sketch a face. Once she was sketched, I filled in her face and shoulders with paint. Using gelatos, big brush markers and water soluble oil crayons to try to get the shading right. You know me, I use everything in my art arsenal to try to get the result I want…….and the end result, modeled by my oldest granddaughter, Emma:
I love tote bags and will probably do another one. One thing I learned (the hard way) is that the inks and paints take longer to dry on a bag and that I should cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside the bag. But it was fun and once I spray the bag with a fixative, I’ll be using it to tote my art stuff or my yarn in it.
Now, just because I altered a canvas tote bag, doesn’t mean you have to do a tote bag (although you should try it, it’s fun). Any kind of a bag……. paper lunch bag, glassine bags……so join us in this fun challenge. For some wonderful inspiration head over to the eP blog to check out Toni’s project and get all the details for this challenge. Can’t wait to see what you decide to alter!
Until next time…..
Supplies Used:
29 Faces…..a couple more
TGIF. What a long week, huh? Haven’t had much time for lunch time sketches – been running errands or taking short lunches due to being swamped at work. However, wanted to pop in to share a couple of faces from last week.
It always amazes me how some days I “got it” and some days I “don’t”. Good thing that it's not a requirement to do exactly 29 Faces. Go check out all the talent. I'm always in awe.
Already told the family that Sunday is my day to disappear in my art room. I have to clean it Saturday – geez, it’s been a while and the dust bunnies came to visit. No, actually it’s just a mess with several projects started.
Have you checked out eP’s new eTeam Picks challenge which started yesterday? I’m definitely playing along – should be fun. Go check it out and play along with us.
Until next time…..
Supplies Used:
Three Days and counting….
and still not completely finished putting stuff in it’s place in the office. Amazing how storing stuff all over the house and then moving it in it’s place causes….well, the rest of your house to be a mess. I’m tired and I think I’ve filled my quota of remodeling for the year!
Enough of that, I’ll share a photo of the redone room at the end. I ended up messing up our internet when I moved the modem and router – go figure, right? So last night I was up until the wee hours trying to figure out what happened. It’s fixed and I wanted to pop in to share a quick Valentine card. I know….. that day is over.
Told you it was a quick card. Almost embarrassed to share it, that’s how quick and simple this card is.
I’m hoping to get most of the cleaning and arranging done before the weekend because, dammit, I’m going to spend it in my art room, which I have been neglecting in an effort to get this office done. Don’t know if I’ll be artistic but it will be therapeutic to throw some paint around!!!
So before I sign off, here’s a photo taken with my phone. Doesn’t show the whole room, but it gives you an idea of what it looks like. We still need to do paint the doors – there’s three – I have decided to wait until Spring since it will be easy to take them off the hinges and haul them out to the garage. And like I said earlier, I’m burned out with the wall/trim painting.
![IMG_0786[1]](http://artfulxpressions.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/IMG_07861.jpg "IMG_0786[1]")
![IMG_0789[1]](http://artfulxpressions.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/IMG_07891.jpg "IMG_0789[1]")
That’s it for me folks. Until next time…..
Supplies used:
LOVE stamp is an old SU stamp.
What an Experiment….
Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Just popping in to let you know that I'm sharing my art journal adventure over on the eP blog today. Here's a little preview:
You know me….. lots of changing my mind, some mistakes but lots and lots of color. Go check it out!
I'm hoping to be able to share pictures of the finished, cleaned and furnished office on Monday! Not holding my breath here :-).
Until then – have a wonderful weekend.
SOC–Love is in the Air
Happy Wednesday folks! We have a new challenge for you over at The Sisterhood of Crafters! And with Valentine’s Day this Friday, the theme is all about LOVE!
I decided to get out all those vintage papers (from the Masonic lodge) my husband had gotten last summer and use them for my version of Christy Tomlinson’s January’s Art Society Monthly Video club project.
I knew that I wanted to have the print from the masonic lodge receipts show through the paint, especially the dates because these receipts and ledger papers date back to 1900. So after gluing the papers on to my canvas and covering them with paint, I used a combination of baby wipe and/or wet brush to move the paint around until I was happy with it.
Used lots of different papers, which is why the product link is to the paper section as opposed to individual paper pads. Once they were glued to the canvas, dimension was created with a combination of Faber Castell markers and gelatos.
I didn’t get the circle of leaves quite centered but that’s ok. I used an old SU rub-on in the center.
I do love the dark vintage-y leaves against the background. After I finished it, I felt as though it needed something else around the edges but in the end I left the canvas as is.
Head over to The Sisterhood of Crafters to check out all the inspiration from the rest of the Sisters and get all the details of this fun challenge. Hey, if you are creating any Valentine projects for this Friday, play along!!!!! We’d love to see what you create!
That’s it for me folks, I’m off to work!
Until next time…
Supplies Used:
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