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!

Tags on T Tuesday

A bit of my Fake Journal 2014~

if you haven't visited 

Cottonwood Counterfeit Journal lately,

I've posted the Reveal, Parts 1 and 2.

I plan to post the final Wrap Up

next Tuesday, so stay tuned...

For T Tuesday, I decided to make

some TAGS.  

The tag below was collaged onto

tan card stock, with scrapbook

papers and painted brown craft paper.

Words were cut from a book that I've

been using for collage, and for

painting over text.

Above, a tag cut from watercolor paper,

with paisleys drawn in Sharpie, then

watercolor washes added.

Reviving the red Panda mug,

enjoying my mocha coffee, and

joining Elizabeth today for

T Tuesday.  I think there is a party

going on over there...

I hope you will get up to

some creative fun by

visiting T Tuesday participants!

Easter Bunnies

A blessed and joyful Easter

to you all...

Don't eat too much chocolate!

Indian Art Swap Pages

A watercolor that I painted

which was inspired by

some images of ancient Indian

art works shown in my old

Asian Art History textbook.

I combined ideas from 

two or three works.

Sharpie extra fine point

black marker outlines the images.
I really like the texture created
by the white gel pen semicircles
in the grass...

A photocopy of the

illustration of the head of a sculpture
depicting a queen.

I colorized the photocopy with

chalk pastels, then stamped

over the pastels with watercolor,

and finally 'fixing' the pastels

with cheap hairspray as a fixative.

The atc is a color copy on cardstock

from the watercolor.(top of this post)  The tag is

stamped on scrapbook paper,

and has an Indian proverb

hand-written on the front.

On the back (not shown) I wrote

information about the art I created,

and the art that inspired me.

The back page is covered in cotton fabric,

creating a pocket for both the tag

and the atc.  The red pocket is a

satin-backed crepe, for which I used 

the wrong side of the fabric -- because

I liked the richness of the shiny side.

Hand embroidery, purchased trim, 

and metal embellishment complete

the page.

There was also another page which

was created with a greeting card that

depicted an Indian goddess, but 

since I did no altering to the image

and just embellished with some gold

lace and silk flowers, I do not show it here

to avoid copyright infringement.

The rich colors of these pages
were a lot of fun for me,
and following a theme that
someone else has chosen is
a challenge that helps me grow.