HELLO AGAIN!

Fifi's Daughter is back from her hiatus!  I have a couple of spreads that I have completed for the Sketchbook 2012 project to show you:

Here I have used some Cavellini paper images, Tim Holtz paper tape and some chipboard flourishes.  My pages are pretty much just random collages, which is what I most enjoy doing.  Since my sketchbook is "Untitled", there doesn't have to be a set theme.

Here is another:

Inks, stamps and torn strips of a map. 

And, the first page of the book:

I used a portion of a map of Ohio, aged with a little ink, and circled my city.  My high school yearbook photo and name complete this page. 

There are a few pages left to go and also the front and back covers.  Gotta' get it done this week and sent off in the mail.

Hope there is someone out there still interested enough to visit me here at Fifi's!!  I am planning to have a small giveaway in the next week or two, so stay tuned!

Have a great day!

LAST TWO GLUEBOOK PAGES

Here are the last two pages sent to Mary for her vintage gluebook page swap. 

This page has more of a nature theme.  An old book page, music, map, postage stamps, torn papers and a butterfly are added around the bird images.  I like the overall look of this page.

Here is the next one:

The girl's image is a copy of an old postcard I purchased in a shop on Gaylord Street in Denver, CO.  (lots of little shops to poke around in there.)  Background is a combination of paper provided by Mary in one of her online classes, an endpaper from an old Readers Digest condensed book and some snips of music.  Added the frame and butterfly to focus in on the main image. 

When Mary has received and sorted all pages, we will receive six pages from six different people.  These will be bound into the covers of a vintage book with binder rings.  Mary will also include some other vintage ephemera for our personal use.  I am excited to see the pages I will get from others!

Enjoy your day!

This vintage gluebook page features a couple on their wedding day.

I used some more wallpaper sample pieces for the background. Bits of music and old text.  In one of Mary's classes she taught us how to make our own paper by combining two or more - the butterflies and music along the right side are the result of this. 

Have a great day!

SISTERS

Here is one more of my vintage gluebook pages for Mary's swap.

The image of the cute little girls was given to me by a friend to copy.  The sisters grew up to be two of his aunts on his mother's side.  The printed paper was provided by Mary in one of her classes.  I tore the alphabet from an old dictionary and the butterflies are from the same plate I used from an old encyclopedia.

Have a great day!

two more pages

Here are two more pages that were sent off to Mary at Green Paper for her swap:

And:

For the first one, I used an image and some background papers that Mary had provided in one of her online classes.  The map of Paris and the Grand Opera House ticket were in my stash.  A bit of wallpaper again.  On most of my pages I made use of  butterflies cut from a papillon page gleaned from an old encyclopedia.  The colors are soft and I could match them to the colors I was using on my pages. 

The background for the second page uses wallpaper samples, an old book page and some old music. Don't remember where the image of the pretty lady is from.  I fussy cut some wallpaper flowers to "sit" her in and to embellish the page.  Word phrase was cut from an old children's book.  The postage stamps pick up some of the colors from the rest of the page.

I really enjoyed the process of making these pages!  I had forgotten just how relaxing it is just using scissors, glue and odd bits of papers to create an interesting scene. 

Thanks for visiting.  Will be back with the other pages later in the week. 

ELIZABETH

Another spread finished for the Sketchbook Project 2012. 

I am showing my age here - I grew up with Elizabeth and she was so very beautiful as a young girl and woman.  Glamour, fame, happiness, sadness, marriages, divorces, good health, bad health - she experienced so much in her life!

First I adhered old book pages down and added some gesso over the text to tone it down a bit.  A small picture of Liz clipped from a newspaper was added.  Then I used several rubber stamps to create a background, using violet ink to reference her eye color. 

Thanks for visiting.  Have a wonderful weekend. 

BIRD COLLAGE

Another spread for the SKETCHBOOK PROJECT 2012.  A mix of collage images, patterned paper, rubber stamps, watercolor crayons.

This is something I need to do on a weekly basis now.  Don't want to be rushed at the end!  I really like how colorful this turned out. 

Thanks for the sweet comments - they make my day! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

SKETCHBOOK PROJECT 2012

Hello, blogland!  Yes, it's me.  Actually posting on my long-neglected blog.  Hope I can be more productive and get back into some collage work!

I signed up for the Sketchbook Project 2012 a few weeks ago.  My choice for theme was:  Untitled!  This gives me lots of leeway as to what I actually put in the book.  Here is one of the spreads that I have finished:

For the background, I laid a paper doily on each side and sponged color through it.  Then I added some rubber stamps and used tea dye distress ink to "age" the pages a bit.  For the focal images, I used the front of an old dress pattern envelope.  I love finding these patterns at garage sales/thrift stores.  The description of the pattern was cut from the pattern envelope and used as the title of this spread.  (thus the color scheme, too.)  Some other words cut from magazines were placed here and there.   

This little sketchbook may just be the trick to getting me back into paper and glue!!

Anyone else out there doing the Sketchbook Project this year??

ANOTHER COLLAGED POSTCARD

Cindy McMath of Pink Bird Studio recently posted a background she had made after visiting Terri Kahrs blog.  Terri and a friend, Roc, had made a video of some backgrounds they had made using ordinary stuff around the house.

To make a long story short, I visited Terri's blog too.  After watching a couple of her videos, I made this postcard:

Sorry, this scan is so dark :(    I had a large crumpled sheet of newsprint that was in a package I received.  I cut it into approx. 8 x 10 sheets and used color washes to spray each one.  Then I cut a 6 x 4 piece from one of these prepared backgrounds.  Sponged around a Tim Holtz mask with pine needles distress ink.  Stamped the words (stampers anonymous) with archival black ink.

Then, as Terri and Roc had done in one video, I used an old credit card dipped in white ink to make marks across the bottom of the card.  The lid from one of the color wash sprays provided the circles, and a section of rubber shelf liner added some other areas of texture.  The little girl and bird images are from ARTchix Studio and the cute little hat is from Lisa's altered art.  So much fun to do this!

Now I have several other sprayed pieces to use to make more collages.  

TFL.

another vintage collage

Here is another little collage I finished this week:



First I made the background (forgot to scan it before I added my collage elements).  I love using the Tim Holtz inking tool for adding colors to white/cream cardstock.  THis time I used most of the blue distress inks including broken china and then used pine needles to darken along the edges.  Overstamped with a Magenta small floral vine and some tiny dots around the edges.

The image is from Paper Whimsy (love their images).  Butterfly is from K & Co.  Sentiment from an old hymnal. Added a pearl to her neckline, some tiny black gems to the butterfly and sentiment, Stickles turquoise glitter and some soft white ribbon.  Mounted to a piece of black cardstock.

A few more collages are in the making; just a few finishing touches to add. 

Have a good Sunday!

GREEN PAPER CHALLENGE FOR DECEMBER

Mary has provided three images once again for us to use in anyway we want for her monthly challenge.  Here is the collage I have made in my moleskine journal, which I have titled "In the Garden". 

I used two background papers that I created by combining a book page with a book inside cover sheet that had beautiful roses on it for the first one; and then I combined some old music paper with a butterfly page from an encyclopedia for the second one.  I added some flowers I punched from one of Mary's images to the dress and a couple of small strips music in a couple of places.  A red watercolor crayon and some stamped dots finished it off. 

Thanks, Mary, for another fun challenge. 

odds and ends

FLOTSAM:

AND JETSAM:

After having several stressful and demanding positions in the workplace, the last job I had was working for my friend's son-in-law (and his brother) who owned a laundromat with snack bar.  I worked two days a week and met so many interesting people.  My duties entailed just manning the snack bar and keeping  things neat and tidy.  There wasn't any stress at all in this job and I enjoyed working for two very nice guys!  Many times I would find little odds and ends of paper, buttons, stickers, metal objects, etc.  The two collages above include many of those items, along with some added stamping and images of my own.  I think I have a few more items in a little tin that I could incorporate into another collage.  Maybe someday. 

I am happy to be completely retired now - oops!  I forgot!  I do work occasionally for a few hours in a stamp store; but I really don't count that as work!  Too much fun. . .

Thanks for visiting!

GREEN PAPER CHALLENGE FOR NOVEMBER

Oh, my!  It is hard to believe that I have not posted since October 4th!!!  If anyone is still following me or has the least bit of interest in my posts, I apologize!!  Seems my life is way too busy these days, and my artwork is severely limited.  However, I do want to get back into the swing of things; so here is the spread I did in my moleskine journal for Mary Green's newest challenge:

I started with lots of papers for the background which I gessoed over; cut the two images into scalloped ovals and placed them on the floral card Mary provided.  (copied the images twice).  Then I layered on more papers, stamps, postage stamps and some blue watercolor crayon with more gesso where needed. 

This spread is a bit busy; but I like the overall effect of lots of stuff.  Mary is offering a new online class - Collage Basics - beginning November 7th - check out her blog for the details!

Thanks for stopping by. . .

alphastamps postcard swap

Lenna Young Andrews is hosting another swap on her swap blog.  We are to create four postcards and one ATC to swap; using just one item from a plethora of beautiful products to choose from provided by alpha stamps. Here are the first two postcards I made:

I used distress inks and a gorgeous sunflower stamp by Donna Salazar to make all of the backgrounds on my postcards.  Then I collaged items from several different products offered by alpha stamps.  A floral collage sheet called Tallulah's flowers; a K & Company pack of die-cut cardstock and acetate images (this is my favorite thing I ordered from them - 65 fabulous pieces of many different things - butterflies, bees, flowers, birds - I was amazed!  And, many have a copper metallic accent on them.  Love this package!!!)   I also used some Graphic 45 images and some from a sheet called Creative Scraps.  Here are the last two I made:

Since there is a lot of coppery accents on some of the K & Company images, I edged my postcards with a copper Krylon pen.  Also added some clear dew drops and some speckles with a Magenta background stamp.  Still have to make an ATC and also something for our fabulous swap coordinator - Lenna!  Hopefully those will be done today or tomorrow and I can mail the whole shebang to her this week.  (Fingers crossed, Lenna!)  This was so much fun - I ordered a lot of stuff from alpha stamps and I have enough "leftovers" to create many more beautiful ATC's, postcards, cards or collages. 

If you have never joined one of Lenna's swaps, I highly recommend that you do - the newest one is a tag technique swap and I am hoping to participate in it.  Check out Lenna's blog for the details to sign up.  Lenna is a fantastic swap hostess - upbeat, encouraging, organized and so artistic, too!  Can't wait to see the postcards I will get back from this swap.  Thanks, Lenna!

Green Paper Challenge

Mary Green is hosting a challenge which ends July 14th.  She will also send a fabulous vintage paper assortment to a randomly drawn winner at the end of the challenge.  I used the required three images and added some other ephemera, a postage stamp and rubber stamp, too.  Mounted on dark brown cardstock, I think I will use this as a cover for a journal. 

TFL.

GIVEAWAY!!!!

This is my 100th post!  Even though I have been lax in posting for the past few weeks, I am hoping to get back into blogging on a more regular basis.  Sometimes there's just not enough time to devote to all the things I enjoy doing!

To celebrate my 100th post, all the names of those who comment to this post will be put in a drawing to win the above-pictured collage I recently made just for this occasion.  If you are a follower of my blog and you make a comment, your name will be entered twice.  The drawing will be held on Saturday, July 10th at 6:00 p.m. EST. 

Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

another glue book page

Here is a two-page spread I have made for my gluebook.  I am having fun with Mary's online class.  She has a lot of great images to use and also her lessons are very informative, if you are interested.  You can sign up anytime.

I really don't have time to do challenges these days due to this class and a couple of swaps I am working on.  I can see that nice weather and getting yardwork and some cleaning done around here is also eating into my playtime!!  Guess I will just put the challenges and extra things on the back burner for awhile. 

Happy Spring to all and have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend! 

the eye of the child collage

This is a small collage (approx.3 x 5 inches) I have done to send out in a package to someone as a little RAK.  I painted the background with Ranger dimensional pearls in two colors.  Then I used images from ARTchix for the collage, except the little girl is Paper Whimsy.  Added some circles and polka dots;  Black German scrap and some black pen accents.  Hope she likes this!

Thanks for stopping by. . .

PENNY EXPERIMENT

This is a 6 x 6 page I have made for a project called the Penny Experiment which is an attempt to turn a found penny into one million dollars worth of food for food banks.  The book I am working in is No. 9/100.  It will be passed around to others who will add their own pages.  When it is full it will be sold to raise money for food banks. 

I used a patterned paper for the background and then stamped across it with pine needles distress ink, swiping the edges with it too.  Added some collage elements, punched dots, ribbon and Prima flowers with a brad.  Glued a found penny to the medallion in the top right corner, in keeping with the origin of the idea.  Not sure if I am actually done with this; will keep looking at it from time to time to see if I want to add more to it before passing it along to Cheryl Carraway.

TFL.

COLLAGE OBSESSION!

I used the image provided by collage obsession to make this ATC.  I taped it to a background paper in order for it to show up in the scan a little better.

The ARTchix Studio's current bi-weekly lottery theme is "words, woman and ...." the artist's choice.  I chose to use the color white as my 3rd element.  So this is ATC is for both challenges.

I used patterned paper for the background which I layered onto a slightly larger black cardstock.  The flourish is a Magenta rub-on.  Added white dots with a white pen and colored her lips in with a colored pencil.  Words and German scrap are from ARTchix.  I also added glitter around the edges and to the white German scrap; doesn't show in the scan.  Thanks for looking!