Index Cards and Candy Art

Continuing the 61 day creative 

habit challenge - ICAD.

 Index-Card-a-Day art: watercolor or

acrylic backgrounds, collage with painted papers, 

a little 'clip art', ink drawings, text, a map piece. 

There might be some watercolor pencil in there too...

you get the idea, lots of scraps and itty-bits!

Mixed media on index cards.

This was my favorite of the group...the 

combination of colors, and the suggestion

of blue waves...

This month the Hobonichi challenge is candy

and snacks from around the world. It's been

a fun challenge learning about each one,

and trying to represent their packaging. The

Japanese Umaibo was quite unique. Each 

flavor of the snack had a different design.

I've noticed the prominent use of bright primary

colors, especially red.  Eye catching is the name 

of the game! (Click on any image to enlarge.)

I read an American's review of the Milk Tablets 

from Thailand.  Apparently not a taste that he

found great. But I love that happy cow design!

And of course, most Americans are familiar

with Sixlets.  Similar to M &Ms, but smaller.

I like the letterstyle that's a little wonky.

This close-up reveals the imperfections,

(a little too much!) of drawing in a tiny journal.

I find that I can't see to draw tiny and accurately

that well any more. sigh. Suggestion of a

thing will have to do...

 

My journal pages usually have a

morning coffee doodle, so that 'qualifies' to

join Elizabeth for T Tuesday.

There are usually some delicious looking

photos of appetizing food on the participants blogs.

 Did you spot my doodle of the sweet roll? 

Stop by for a cup of something and a chat. 

Index Card a Day 2020

The Index-Card-a-Day Challenge is for

developing a creative habit, making art on an

Index Card every day, for 61 days...

(ICAD-June through July).

One of my art buddies said we all need a 

name tag like the one above.  Fair warning, I

guess, to folks who don't know about or understand

how all-encompassing our art habit can be!

(No offense intended toward anyone actually dealing with

a serious addiction, please take this in the light-hearted

manner in which it's intended)

You can jump in any time for the ICAD challenge,

 no need to "catch up."

Visit the DaisyYellow blog to find out more.

 I'm sharing a few of my cards so far...

The first week I went with a very loose

interpretation of the theme: typography, symbols,

found text and lists.  There are prompts each day

 for those who would like to use them, 

but they're not required.

I used watercolor backgrounds and collage.  On an

index card, you have to be careful not to get too 

much water involved.  I painted up several to start, and

after they dried, I put them under a stack of books

to flatten them out again.  Many art journalers 

prep their pages by painting background first, so

this is a similar idea.  Special thanks to 

Maia, an Instagram penpal who

sent some of the ephemera I used in collages.

Found text from a book, above. You'd be surprised what 

interesting combinations can result from cutting

phrases from an old book.  Most of my collages

include line drawings and details added with

a felt tip pen as the last step.

Above, cards 8-11.  The second week theme

suggested was: mark-making and organic

shapes.  Can you tell which card was inspired

by my spoon jade plant?  Cards 7-10 are

collaged. Card 11 didn't seem (to me) to need

any collage...I managed to stop before I 

went 'too far.' if that makes any sense.

I was delighted to receive some gorgeous

mail art recently from Kate Y.  She even

decorated the envelope with a mermaid's

tail! Just look at all the scrumptious layers

 and sparkly goodness! The postcard features 

dangling golden tags which can be

tucked into areas of the collage. I love it!

I sent a swap/return postcard to Kate decorated

 in Egyptian themed designs, 'cause I heard

she enjoyed them. Hope it arrives safely.

Throwing this in just for fun, 'cause it makes me 

SMILE!

and...

in order to participate in Elizabeth's T Party,

 I need to show something drink related.

So here's a hamster in a tea cup!

Visit Altered Book Lover blog to join us for

a beverage and a chat.

T is for Tag (or 'Flag') Book

Happy Independence Day to everyone

in the U.S.!  Celebrating with a photo of

my dear old quilted flag wall-hanging, and

patriotic cross-stitch.

Here are additional photos of Book Structures

 to share for the T-Tuesday blog hop.  I think I

have acquired a new obsession!

A flag book, which is a structure based

on the accordion fold binding.  Tags -

or flags - are adhered to the accordion

binding in alternating rows. This book was

completely inspired by the beautifully patterned

paper that had been provided by the instructor.

There were so many to choose from, it 

was hard to decide. But I do love a wonderful

black and white theme once in a while.

From scraps of the patterned paper, I cut out

some of the circles and adhered them to the

tags/flags. Alternating black and white flags

further enhanced the theme. Haven't decided

if I will add text. I am rather afraid to

'mess it up!'

Yes, that's my Santa mug with coffee.

Don't you enjoy Santa year-round?!

This is another folded structure. The way the

patterned papers are cut and woven together

creates a 'secret compartment' that makes a

nice place to add a greeting or secret journaling.

It looks more complicated than it is. The papers

I used are 'two-sided' which makes it even 

more deceiving/confusing. And enough

 time has passed that I'm not sure 

I can figure out how to do make

another. But it's really clever!

A pamphlet stitch booklet with an

envelope flap cover. The rose design was

cut from another drawing I had made and

adhered to the cover.

An envelope book.  The cover collage was

inspired by the brightly colored envelopes 

that the instructor provided.

It's an accordion book, with the openings of

the envelopes on the inside, into which I placed

brightly colored card stock tags cut into various shapes.

I especially like the profile in pink.

From the back, you can see that the book is

constructed by simply gluing the envelope

flaps to the back of the next envelope.

Stop by for T-Tuesday and see what

my blogger friends are up to.  I am

entertaining visiting family this week, so I

will probably be late visiting everyone. I am

having fun with the grandchildren

 and we're having art time together!

A Few Flags

Happy Flag Day to all

in the United States! My friend

Elizabeth has an interesting post over

on her blog Altered Book Lover about

Flag Day, June 14th.

A flag-inspired quilt...with a wreath of flowers

instead of stars...

A little red, white and blue for remembrance

of patriotic holidays. July 4th will be here

before we know it. In the season of

picnics and fireworks, let's remember

 the sacrifices of our veterans, and the 

high price that has been paid for our freedom.

I am grateful for the symbolism of the flag

and all that it represents.

Black and White Style: Index Card-a-Day Wrap-Up

For the last few days of the 

Index-Card-a-Day challenge I decided

to create black and white pieces.

July 27 and 28 are zentangles.

A relaxing, meditative doodle that I can

do while I'm watching television...

I've made a total of 61 pieces of 

art on index cards

during the 2013 icad challenge!  It's been

a lot of fun.  The small 4"x6" space is 

easy to fill with drawings, scraps or doodles.

 It doesn't take long...unless you want it to!

I enjoyed exploring a theme each week, and

working in a series.  

I found myself carrying index cards along

with me wherever I went! (you know, just in case

the spirit moved or there was time to fill)

It also was helpful to know what I'd be posting on 

my blog each Friday.  Having a goal to work towards

helps me accomplish more.  I joined the ICAD Flickr

group, and figuring out how to post on there was a

bit of a challenge for me---but it's always good to 

learn new skills! I still haven't figured out how to

"add favorites" though!

My stack of index cards is getting big, as I've been

doing this for several years now.  Last year I bought 

a pretty cardboard recipe box

 for a cheap price, and added a 

counted cross-stitch piece to the front.

This year, I went for simple and easy.

I purchased a plastic index card box with snap closures.

It has a little pocket for a label on the front where I 

noted the themes of each week of the challenge.

I am not sure if I will alter it in some way, we'll see...

2011 icads in an art journal spread

I am pretty sure some of these 

index-card-a-day art pieces will end up

on art journal pages!  And I am planning

to continue to explore Series of art works.

Stay tuned...

American Folk Art: Index Card a Day 2013

This week for ICAD, I am featuring

Pennsylvania Dutch motifs from 

Frakturs.  Fraktur-schrift, as it was 

termed in Germany, was a form of calligraphy

named after the 16th century typeface called Fraktur.

(When I learned calligraphy in high school, we

called this style Old English.)  Frakturs were illuminated

documents such as birth and baptismal certificates,

book plates, house blessings and valentines.

Frakturs were highly ornamental, hand drawn and colored,

and usually executed by the schoolmaster
or clergyman, though itinerant artists
were also sometimes available.

The schoolmaster was expected to prepare important 

documents, and also teach his students how to write.

Sometimes the schoolmaster would use an example

of his calligraphy as a reward and token of regard,

presented to one of his students. 

Promising students would copy their schoolmaster's

calligraphy models, but usually with a few changes of

their own, thus developing their own style.

This week's index cards feature motifs that would
be just one small design within the very complex Fraktur.

Highly stylized decorative flowers and birds

were favorite motifs, as was the heart.  Animals

were also sometimes included, such as stags and 

unicorns.  Some Frakturs feature angels or mermaids.

When you consider that the artist was using a 

dip pen, these detailed art works are even
more impressive. Dipping a pen nib into an ink bottle,
 controlling the pressure and direction of each stroke,
 with an eye to the spacing, form

and shape of each letter is quite an intricate task.

Sadly, the increasing popularity of the printing press

decreased the demand for hand-lettered documents.

Fortunately, the highest grade of cotton rag paper

created by Pennsylvania papermakers has

helped these records survive for us to enjoy today.

Source: Treasury of American Design, Vol. 2;

by C. P. Hornung; Abrams Publishing,  c. 1973.