Rusty Swap Pages

There's something about being in an Art swap 

that can get you thinking outside the box. 

Often you are given a subject or color or

 material to work with that you don't normally

 use.  Very good for making your brain

 look for alternative solutions.

Elizabeth has received her Rust Pages

from me, and has asked me to post 

them. Above, painted card stock,

scrapbook paper, fabric, and brass ornament.

Collage and pocket with tag. I used

text and images from a vintage book,

fabric, magazine scrap and a vintage button.

Paint is either acrylic or gouache in

Burnt Sienna. Please pardon the blurry

scan. The 3 dimensional quality of the

button causes that, but I felt you'd still

get a better view than from a photo.

Assorted papers, brass label frame, thread,

washer and tiny key. Acrylic paint and 

permanent marker used to 'rust up'

the metal washer.

Corrugated cardboard, book text,

computer generated text, acrylic 

paints and gesso.

My favorite page! The old truck is from a 

roadside photo that I took with my phone in

2015. I think it was at a truck stop in Kentucky

or Alabama. This old gem was just sitting 

out front as a decoration, I guess!

Watercolor and Sharpie pen on 

watercolor paper.  The license plate was

drawn and painted from an image on the 

internet. The license plate is definitely

my favorite part. The metal clip prompted

the painted swirls on the next page...

Acrylic, assorted papers, and computer-

generated text:

"Patina- a surface appearance of

something grown beautiful with

age or use."

Of course, there was quite a bit of

coffee consumed while creating

these pages, and while creating 

this post... Linking up with Elizabeth

for her T Tuesday T party...

drop by for some inspiration and

a cup of tea. (or coffee!)

Envelope Book

Envelope Book made from small manila envelopes.

  

Cut open the bottom of the envelopes. 

Also remove envelope flaps if desired. (I did)
Stack several envelopes together. Fold the
stack of envelopes in half and sew a pamphlet stitch

binding down the center. (on the fold)  Now you

have a pocket in each page.

Add tags or smaller pages inside the pockets.

I punched out circles and adhered them to some of 

the tags inside the pockets.  I punched half circles at

the edge of each pocket, making it easier to pull out

whatever is inside.

Collages created for Elizabeth...

knowing her fondness for rust.

Sharpie marker, watercolor, assorted papers,

fabric and stitching were used for page 

embellishments and images.

Hope you had a holiday full of

family, friends, and lots of fun!

Wishing you a wonderful and

prosperous New Year!

Rust and White Pages

"Farewell to Age"

8.5" x 11"  collage on watercolor paper

for Elizabeth's themed book "Rust."

Images from a vintage book.

The woman is an Elizabeth Arden

advertisement.  Lace and 

metal embellishment above,

acrylic and watercolor background.

Fabric, buttons, and vintage metal key;

collage on watercolor paper.  Acrylic paint

and watercolor background.  

Embroidery, felt, and paper combined

to create the round embellishment.

Click on the image for enlargement.

Assorted papers, fabric, and rusted metal

on painted watercolor paper.  Thanks to Halle

for the Citrisolve papers! They were a nice

rusty brown color perfect for this page. 

The unbleached muslin fabric was quilted

before stitching rusted metal piece onto

the surface. All rusted metal was coated with

gloss acrylic medium to stabilize.

Fabric pockets with unbleached muslin strip
gathered with a running stitch,

 and a tattered stitched rose.

Lace and embroidery accents.

Tags for the pockets, with my swap

information on the back.  A bit

of brown paper bag on the tag at right

is from the paper covering my work table.

Lots of paint from other projects,

and a spattering of gold spray.

It's always a fun challenge to work

with colors that I don't often choose.

Now back to Christmas stitching...

have a creative day!

Bits of Rust

Pages for a swap

done on watercolor paper.

The theme of the recipient's book

is Rust, a bit of a challenge for me

since I am often drawn to

using bright colors in my work.

Subdued color and actual

rusted metal was the goal.

Managed to work in some

copper, fabric, metallic thread

and painted cardstock as well.

A bit of embroidered fabric is combined

here with rusty bits--washers I think--

watercolor, metallic thread, stamped designs,

and a DaVinci quote.

Back of page with a library pocket

to hold a tag. Copper wire,

silk leaves in a "copper" color, fabric,

and a rusted flattened bottle cap

are incorporated here.

 

Tag inside the library card pocket,

with an original poem and

a vintage charm from my

grandmother's stash of

craft supplies.

These pages are about 8 12" x 11"

and holes were punched to 

be collected into a ring binder.

A swap is a good way to stretch

yourself and try subjects you

wouldn't otherwise consider!