All Paper Arts

Sometimes I get so inspired by a paper that I go ahead and make something. I wait for the perfect touches to add later. With this one it is pictures. After I find the perfect pictures I will be able to title this page and add all the extra bells and whistles. Sometimes I might never even use it for myself. I might sell it or give it as a gift for someone it is more suited to. I think that is what will happen with this. I was orignally going to add photos of my Hubby when he was young but we just don’t have very many pictures of him. Seeing that I have all girls I think this is probably better for somebody with a boy or two. Whatever happens for it I love the simple layout of it, it was exactly what I had in my head. Good to know my brain communicated to my hands right. Have a great day!

Here is the fun ABC book I told you about. My daughter and I are still working on it. I can’t stop adding embellishments…It’s a sickness I have. This is made out of paper lunch bags. Each page will have a letter from the alphabet on it. I cut off the bottom of the lunch bags so when you fold the lunch bags you have two pockets. Inside each pocket I am going to have either little envelopes or index cards where my 5 year old can put pictures she finds and cuts out of magazines. For example if she finds a picture of baby she can cut it out and then put it in the pocket for the letter “B”. I will show you the completed project as soon as I figure out how to stop!

Okay, I am so totally over feeling sorry for myself. Well, not really my transmission is going out or as I told my girls the car is dying but I can’t dwell on it. Something will work out (hopefully) LOL!

Instead of sitting here feeling sorry for myself, I was sitting here thinking what I wanted to write about. There is an idea for a book I have but I decided it will look better if I use a new tool I ordered. So that is where the anticipation comes in. I ordered it from Carla a stampin’ up demonstrator who is in our card party. It is called a spiral punch. Spiral punch? I know what you are thinking but think spiral notebook not spiral circles. Ah ha! Yep! it punches the paper like paper in a spiral notebook. Oh the ideas I have going on in my head. I can’t wait to get it and start making books galore. I couldn’t get a picture of it from their website so you could see it here but just go to their website and look in their mini spring catalog. I also ordered a slit punch which is great for holding pictures without the need of adhesive.

Right now my youngest and I are going to start working on tomorrow’s project. I am making her an ABC book. This isn’t any regular ABC book this is going to be something she can use as a learning tool. Just don’t let her know that. So if you have lots of magazines sitting around that you are about to recycle you might want to take a look tomorrow and see what we come up with it. Especially if you know any pre-k and kindergarten kiddos. Now you can feel the same anticipation I am feeling while I what for my stampin’ up order. Laugh Out Loud! Have a great day!

It is a manic Monday around here. I apoligize for not having my blog written sooner. At this moment I am without my car waiting for the auto shop to call me. My car is having problems and my stomach in return is turning over and over hoping that it is a small and inexpensive fix.

This morning I had to drive the girls to school with the car giving me problems. Half way to school one of my girls decides to tell me that the youngest doesn’t have shoes on! No, shoes? They wait until we are half way to school before telling me this. It isn’t like their school is down the street, nope it is about a 20 minute drive on a weekday morning. Besides that we have my 1st grader and 3rd graders science fair projects in the car that need to be taken in to the school. I have a class meeting with my first graders class to discuss the class auction item. After that the plan is to drive the car to the best mechanics in the world and for my dear mom to pick me and the youngest up. Did I mention the youngest has school today? Yes, school with no shoes?? Luckily, my first grader didn’t listen to me when I told her this morning to get everything out of the car because we were taking the car in. So there were a pair of pink crocs in the car. They are about a size or two to big for her sister but they’d just have to do.

I told you my life is like an I love Lucy Episode. Needless to say that is only a brief recap of this morning so far. Since I am without a car I am at my moms instead of my house so I have nothing to show you today. Under normal circumstances I could probably write a witty piece about other great found objects to use for paper arts or even some fun and helpful tips. Today, I have nada, zip, nothing. Instead I am stressing out and waiting on pin and needles for Ray or Rick (the best mechanics in the world) to call. Maybe you could leave a comment about some of your favorite tips for paper arts or life or anything?

I love to collage and then decoupage. Although, I don’t get to do it much anymore. There is just something about going through pages of magazines, book, and photos that really calms me. I made this collage about 15 years ago. I guess if I was to do this now it would be considered Altered Art instead of just a decoupaged collage. There have been examples on this blog of “altered art”.

Altered Art is anytime you change the surface of something by painting, collaging (is that a word?), covering with paper, and so on. Even changing the original purpose of something. Hence: Altering. Examples would be turning an altoids tin into a mini journal, a cigar box into a purse, and a book into an album.

Wilkipedia says this about collage and decoupage: “Collage (From the French: coller, to stick) is regarded as a work of visual arts made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole. Use of this technique made its dramatic appearance among oil paintings in the early 20th century as an art form of groundbreaking novelty. An artistic collage work may include newspaper clippings, ribbons, and bits of colored or hand-made papers, portions of other artwork, photographs, and such, glued to a solid support or canvas.
Decoupage (or découpage) is the art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cut outs onto it in combination with special paint effects, gold leaf, etc.”

Since this was originally a wine bottle that I decoupaged a collage over and can now be used as a vase. I guess it is actually “Altered Art”. What do you think? What it really is is something I had a wonderful time making but have since not had a place for. Any ideas on that?

I guess I really should say if I have to use mod podge or school glue/water mixture then I don’t really have time these days. If I can use double sided tape, glue stick, or other easy adhesive then I do it all the time!

Today, I went and enrolled my youngest daughter in school. She will start Kindergarten this August. As we were walking out of the school parking lot I found myself reminiscing and reflecting on the past, present, and future. So here is a photo I took many, many years ago.

I love this photo because it almost looks more like a painting then a photograph. I also love this photo because it could be almost anywhere and at any time. This is actually at a lake. After I developed my roll of film and printed this I realized it reminded me more of the Southeast Coast on a cool low cast day. Maybe that is why I like this photo so much. Although it was taken here in the city where I live it looks more like the East Coast where I was born and lived off and on when I was young. In some ways it even reminds me of landscapes drawings we saw at the Rembrandt Museum in Holland when I lived in Germany. When I can’t just get up and go somewhere to reflect due to my responsibilities as a mom and a wife I go inside this photo. Where do you go to reflect?

Finally! My paper flower pin instructions.

Sorry this has taken so long. I had a weekend that you wouldn’t believe. Have I ever told you that I think my life is an I Love Lucy Episode. Truly, the quirkiest things happen to me. It could be they aren’t so unusual and I just choose to see the funny in everything but hey whatever helps you cope, right?

Materials you will need:
4 to 5 flower cut outs from textured, mulberry, or vellum paper
foam adhesive
ink (optional)
jewelry pin back or safety pin

First Step:
do whatever you want to you flowers to give them some life. Ink them, stamp them, crinkle them, whatever

Second Step:
start layering your flowers using foan adhesive in between each or every other flower

Third Step:
glue (glue gun or stronger craft glue) the jewelry pin to back or
sandwhich a safety pin between the back of the flower and a piece of felt with craft glue
Fourth Step:
Let back dry

Last Step:
Wear with pride

If you want more you can thread beads through the center of the flower before gluing or glitter/emboss the edges or center of the blossom

Here are several ATC’s our Girl Scout Troop made at last nights meeting. I told the girls I would put some of them on the blog so everybody can see. I think they did an awesome job! This was their first time to make them. The ages range from 1st grade to 4th grade. Enjoy
< Title: Bottom of the Ocean
Name: Alanna 1st grade
Number: 3/3
Theme: Ocean

Title: Night
Name: Ella 1st grade
Number: 1/3
Theme: Wish

Title:
Name: Bridgette 3rd grade
Number: 3/3
Theme: Mountains

Title:Butterfly Can Fly
Name: Rae 3rd grade
Number: 1/3
Theme: Butterfly

Title: Nature
Name: Shelby
Number:
Theme: Dreams

Title: Fish flower
Name: Taylor
Number: 2/3
Theme: Beach

Hey everyone. I am not sure what is going on but some of us are having difficulty seeing all of my site. I think this is only us locally (like down here in Texas) having the problems. I want to assure you it is getting looked into. Until then try looking in my archives. Then check back Monday when as promised I will have the tutorial for the flower pins I made this week.

I have written many times about the card parties I go to. However, I don’t know if I have ever talked about the fact that my mom is a part of that card party. I invited her one time because I wanted her to be able use some of her creativity. My mom is a really good artist but she is her own worst critic. (And people wonder why I am so hard on myself). I remember once when I was little probably Kindergarten or First Grade, I woke up to my mom sitting in my room in near dark sketching me. I don’t know whatever happened to that drawing or the sketch book in general but in my head I can still see it. Even the detail of the nightgown I was wearing.
The problem with my mom being so hard on herself is that rarely does she take the time to actually draw. I thought card parties would be great for her. She’d have a creative outlet and it is only a once a month commitment. She is still hard on herself and will sometimes see a card we are making and cringe but deep down she enjoys it. Here is the card I made from the card sample she designed at this past card party.
This card works well at keeping with the themes I seem to have going on this week sweet and simple.

I was going through one of my many drawers of “Stuff” today. In one of them I found some of my vintage jewelry. Before children I use to love going to estate sales and finding old funky jewelry and hats. My favorite jewelry to find at that time were flower pins. I don’t know what the attraction was but I loved them. Since having children I had passed on most of my flowered gems and pill box hats to my girls dress up box. However, this one somehow was missed. I remember wearing this on the hip of my jeans (back when I was a size 2 and didn’t mind my waistline showing that is).
Thus, my inspiration for today’s paper arts project came to me. I have a sizzix die that has two different size flowers. I haven’t used this die in a long while. It was my first to die to buy. So I started thinking what paper would have enough texture and be strong enough and still be light at the same time? DING! DING! DING! Mulberry Paper! I found several sheets of pastel mulberry paper and cut them out with my sizzix. To add just a little bit more texture and color I inked a few of the flowers. I then used foam to apply the flowers to each other. The foam helps give dimension to the pin. You can use jewelry pin backs from the jewelry making department for the back. I was in a pinch and couldn’t find mine so I used a regular safety pin and glued it down with a piece of felt.
My seven year old got to model the finished project. Sorry the digi pics are kind of yellow I had to turn of the flash or else the light pastel was washed out. My 8 year old now wants us to make them in jewelry making club next week. I can’t see why not. Although as fast as they are to make we might have to make several. I think I will hand draw some flowers to use as a template for more floral variety.
So I am interested would you like me to do a tutorial on this fast and easy project? Just in time for spring. I had an old friend get back in touch with me the other day. He said he checked out my blog and it was so very Kari. I can’t wait to go make more of these and see how much more I can Kari them up!

Here is a fun card I made. I have had this Stampin’ Up set for a while now. I really never liked very many of the ideas I came up with because they seemed just so plain. I admit this one is pretty simple it’s self. I don’t know if it was the cold I had last week or the lack of sleep from the cold but one of those nights when I awoke at 3:00 in the morning and couldn’t go back to sleep this idea popped in my head. Maybe it was because I had been dreaming about a visit to New York and DC with my uncle over a decade ago. We went to many museums and there was a Warhol exhibit at one. I was a huge fan of Warhol then so it was so cool to me. Whatever the reason here is my ode to Andy Warhol. Or since it is a skunk should it be Odor?

Inside of card

Yesterday was our monthly card party. We made some wonderful cards. Everyone got to make a beautiful card using versa mark and brayer. Lori brought the purple crop-a-dile set she bought online after reading my blog about it. She blames me for the purchase. I love it. I was worried the carrier was going to be big, bulky, and heavy. Not at all! It is small, compact, and light. Also, the eyelets that come with it are large holed. As always the card party was great fun. I can’t wait to show you the card I made. It was simple but fun.

Here is something I really wanted to share with you. One of our card party friends, Misty, brought this great adhesive with her project. I love this can’t wait to go buy it. Knowing how often I use ribbon you will understand why I love this. The makers of adhesive have done it again. Making life just a little easier for all the paper artists out there. This is an adhesive that applies ribbon to all your paper arts. It is a thin line of double sided adhesive and will go anywhere you decide to put your ribbon. No more trying to glue onto the back of your ribbon. No more trying to fold double sided tape to fit the ribbon (and then prayer it doesn’t pop off). This will keep that ribbon border down…down I tell you. The picture above is just one brand there are a couple more out there. A roll runs about $4.99. I say it is worth it. On line that you can cut to the size you need is much easier than a bunch of glue dots. I love glue dots but trying to get them on long strand of ribbon can be tricky.
Thank you Misty for sharing this great product. Do you have a great product you’d like to share? Just hit the comment button and tell me about it. I am always looking for something good. Or if nothing else maybe it is something I have and don’t give enough credit.

Here is what you will need 3 sheets of paper for the size I am making. Which will end up being a 4X4 book.

Double sided tape, glue stick, or your favorite adhesive
ribbon
paper trimmer (or ruler and scissors)
I am using 3 sheets of 12X12. Cut the sheets down to 8X8 with paper trimmer this will make a 4X4 book when complete.
Fold each squre in half widthwise then open up now fold it in half lentghwise and open it up and then fold it on a diagonal (only once).
You should then have three sheets that have fold marks like this
Now with patterened side up glue corners without folds together like this.

Now fold your book up. With left over paper from your original 12X12 paper make two 4X4 squares.
Cover front side of book with a 4×4 sqaure. Flip book to back put ribbon in the center of the back of the book then glue your last 4X4 square on top of ribbon. Now turn your book back to the front and tie your bow.
Viola! You just made your first book. Now go back and embellish your book however you want. Embellishing your book is where the love comes in. You can use anything your heart desires, ribbon and fibers, stickers and rub-ons, pictures and quotes, and buttons and brads. You can even ink it to give it an aged or destressed look. This was a very basic tutuorial. I was trying to keep it simple. You can use chipboard or cardboard to cover the front and back of your books if you prefer.

I make these books all the time. I make them as gifts and I make them for clients to give as gifts. Many people call them different things flip books, squash books, or whatever. I like to think of them as little books of love. Each one as unique as the person it is for. This one is for maybe a new mother of a baby girl, or a mother’s day present from a daughter. Once I know who it is for then I will embellish it further to be more personalized.


Like the little tag book I made last week. This one can have anything from inspirational quotes, journal memories, photos, or special keepsakes. I have been asked to help a confirmation class make these for keepsakes of their journey. Check out my blog tomorrow because I am going to try to have a tutorial on how to make a very simple version of my little book of love.