Tag: cool stuff

If you’ve taken a painting class with me then this is old news.  Anaglypta:  paintable textured wallpaper.  Here I’ve used it with gesso, like a stamp, directly on white paper, then painted over it.  The gesso resists the paint so you can buff it off, revealing the pattern.

Above left is using the wallpaper with paint as a stamp (mounted on my favorite foam) over a painted background.  Above right has the wallpaper under the paper, rubbed with crayon, then painted over.  The crayon resists the paint, so once again it can buffed to reveal the pattern.  Your paper can’t be too thick or the rubbing won’t work.  Notice how the crayon color migrates from turquoise to black, and the paint transitions from black to turquoise.  Much more interesting than if you had used only one crayon and one paint color.

The sampler above clarifies what the wallpaper looks like and how you can use it.  This wallpaper is available on rolls from places like Home Depot and Lowe’s, and there are some handsome borders too.  I think I have 3 or 4 different scrolly patterns – love this stuff.  My friend Anne Bagby scored some anaglypta with text on it!   You can use the wallpaper as a tool like I’ve shown here, or paint on it and you’ll see the two-tone effect it’s meant for – also a great element to use in your work.

Buy a roll and share some with a friend……OR……here’s a Cheap Trick:  get a hunk of it from the sample roll often found in the wallpaper department.  (Bring a big purse).  Over on the Street Team blog this month we our sharing Cheap Tricks.  Come see the fun stuff we are learning to use in art making.

From Russia with Love?  NOT.  From Greece with CAUTION!  Actually, from Penny in Alaska.  No, more like from Tyler, Penny’s son who went to Greece and swiped some police tape (with cop looking on) and brought it home so his Mom could swipe it from him and make really cool art to send me in New Jersey because you know why?  She GETS me.

Layers and layers of bubble wrap and U.S. variety Caution tape…..leading up to…….

Can you stand it?  Police tape in foreign text!!!!!  I screeeeeeched with delight.  And look how handsome and cool this collage is – grunge at it’s best.  Thanks Pen!   YOU ROCK!  Backstory:  I have gotten to know Penny better through her participation in the GPP Crusades.  In fact, she as our latest winner.  A few months back I posted about collecting barricade tape (crusade no. 6)….and in fact, just last night when I posted the newest Crusade I even mention Caution tape.  I love when the planets align (or is it when there is a full moon) or when you have an open mind, that synchronistic things happen.  Like Megan told me, it’s called synchrodestiny.  I’m still reading up on that one.

Going anywhere overseas where you can snag me some police, or caution, or under construction tape?  Let’s talk.

EDIT:  Ursula spied it, and so did I, there are stamped images from my Surfacing sheet…..told ya, she GETS me.

You saw his products at Target this past xmas.  His paper cuttings hanging from the ceiling.  Raise your hand if you asked for the displays?  I did.  Turned down.  I did score some of his paper garland – used some on packaging but saved the remainder for my spray stash.  Just released: the long awaited book!  Very huge, very juicy, very visually inspiring, as you would hope.  Get it at amazon, you’ll save a few $$. 

Don’t you love that he shows himself with his own temporary tattoos?  Crazy dude.

Lisa turned me onto the Swapp masks.  Very Boontje-like don’t you think?  (Maybe too close) 

You’ve seen the influence of his style surfacing in many arenas, now you know where it originated.  Tord Boontje – you rock!

EDIT:  Have been browsing through the text and learned Target had a chance to launch TB clothing.  Dang!  Target, what were you thinking?  Maybe we’ll get to see some eventually, but I want some now!

It’s cheap, it’s quick, it’s easy.  Get some while on clearance – egg dye.  Every Easter I have tags, strings, paper swatches, and even coffee filters on stand-by to soak up the leftover dye.  I can’t resist experimenting with the vibrant colors….even though it is not my comfort zone when it comes to this palette.  It’s the only time of year you’ll see me use these.  On the 2002 journal page you’ll see I dropped the dyed bits into plastic pockets, laid over coffee filters.  The metal rimmed white tags are the best – use bunches of them dangling on a package, makes a great impression….especially if you spray paint the wrapping paper 🙂

EDIT:  I meant to mention earlier a congrats to Penny Stuart for having her name drawn on the last Crusade.  The next one has started, come see, and come play!  Crusade No. 7 ~ "Say What?"

Sweet Celine shared on her blog a new widget that I had to have.  It’s called SNAP.  Did ya notice it yet?  If you mouse over any link on this site you’ll get a pop-up sneak peek to home page of the link.  HOW COOL IS THAT?  Lovin’ this!

EDIT:  Doesn’t appear to work consistantly.  That’s why I have stayed away from Widgets.

This fall I received this very handsome piece by Cheryl Thorpe, NM.  She was participating in her first fat book swap with the theme of ravens, crows and blackbirds.  Isn’t this girl generous to share one with me?  I had to wait to post until the swap was rec’d but that was November and I’m just finally getting it up here.  Thanks Cheryl, we LOVE it!

And how cool is this?  The Fesitval Ballet of Providence, Rhode Island requested permission to use my "nutcracker collection" image on their fundraiser mugs this season.  Stampington and I agreed they could use it, (with credit) and they remembered to send me one of these.  Cool, huh?  Thanks Ann Marie!

It started with a linens set to go with our new red painted bedroom.  Then I found ONE plate….started using it everyday for breakfast.  Months later I found a fun mug in red. To follow were many other items with this favorite black and white damask pattern.  How cool is that when something you love spills over into all the areas of your life?  I even have a great brocade jacket with this pattern in red and black, and a black wool coat with ivory embroidered flourishes.  Can’t get enough of this look, can you tell?

1.  Bed cover and shams, found at TJ Maxx.

2  Overnight bag and cosmetic case, from GiveSimple.  (They were on clearance!)

3.  Plate and mug, found at TJ Maxx.

4.  12" paper and ribbon by Foofala at 2Peas,  stamped tags with Clearly Impressed stamps at Stampington & Co.

5.  Folded notecards and wrapping paper from Target, ribbons from MJ Trimmings.

6.  Table runner and dinner set from Target.

I wish you could see and feel these old copper stencils.  They are paper thin….like almost thinner than paper.  I’ve been collecting alphabet stencils, of all kinds, for years.  I mostly like whole alphabets, like the plastic stencils for wall art.  But I also love monograms, and anything "M" or "W".  How cool is it that an M upside-down is a W?  Love that.  Here, there are several "MK"s, which was an added bonus since that is my maiden name monogram, and the initials of my three nieces.  I bought these without really knowing what I was getting (through ebay) and was pleasantly surprised.  Also included in the little treasure box were three vintage stubby stencil brushes, very used, which I love.  Someone held these, used these, loved these.  There were some bits of old paper that must have been used to test out the stencils prior to marking them into place with carbon.  Evidence that an artist was at work.  Now it’s all mine, having traveled overseas from England, and someone has a few more pounds in their pocket.