Pretty Purple Paper Pyramid.....

.......Well it's more of a wedge really, but that didn't sound as good!

I enjoyed my paper project so much yesterday, I carried on with this. In this

picture it looks flat but it isn't.......

The base box shape is a Stampin Up cake slice die, decorated with a mix-mash

of die cuts from my bits box. Paper is relaxing (no gesso in sight!).

Something different tomorrow........ P.

A Bit of a Magpie.....

Hello and welcome to Day 3,

I am a bit of a magpie when it comes to pretty things....... I like to collect

buttons, ribbons, beads, pretty paper, fabric...... you can imagine what my

work room looks like :/

And if anyone should ask why I have these things, the answer is just

"BECAUSE"!  Which is why I chose that word for my journal page.

Another thing that I collect ....... paper cutting dies. Pieces of beautifully cast, shiny

metal, I just can't resist.

I had mixed feelings at first about using them. After all, they are designed by someone

else. Is that cheating? Well no...... they are tools, and it's what you do with them that

makes a unique piece of work.

I do tend to chose dies that are versatile, a lot of flowers and natural shapes, rather

than an image that is too specific and therefore has limited use or fashion. Nature

never goes out of fashion.

Some of my treasures are just for looking at, I can't bring myself to use them.

But there is always more paper!

Until tomorrow..... P.

Not Always a Good Art Day!

Good Evening,

Does anyone know how to remove gesso from a wool carpet!?

The thing about daily art blogging is that in order to faithfully keep it up,

a certain amount of honesty is required......admitting when things just don't

go right. I have tried, but I just can't see any artistic merit in the above blot!

However, after much scrubbing, I persevered with my first what I can only

describe as "effort" at a journalling page ( using the gesso from the carpet).

Well it's a start, I got my hands dirty (aaaarrrrghhhh) and I look forward to

improvement.

It's good to venture outside your comfort zone occasionally.

Onwards and upwards!     P.

A Mad Hatter.......

This week has seen a round up of some of the wonderful projects seen on the

PaperArtsy blog during 2015. There is SO much inspiration there so why not

take a look......

At the end of my little review this evening, I was asked to produce a "mash-up"

of my three allocated topics: Circles, Pigment Powders and Wearable Art. What

a combination! It all came together in a Mad Hat.

As promised here are a few more details of how it was done.......

First a selection of JOFY flowers stamped in Archival Ink.

I didn't have any pigment powders as such, so I had to improvise.......by

"powdering" Intense Ink sticks with a craft knife into puddles of water.

The colours blend and mix....with a bit of encouragement.

To make the feathers, I created the background first

with plenty of water and a bit of paper jiggling.

I dabbed on gilding medium with a scrunched up paper towel and brushed on the

flakes, then stamped JOFY feathers in Stazon ink.

After cutting everything out, I did a bit of flower art with wires, ribbons,

buttons, organza, and a silent thanks to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme

circa 1975 ( Creative Interest - Flower arranging).

My daughter, who owns the hat, though appreciative of the artistic merit, was

relieved to know that the whole thing was assembled on a removable ribbon band!

Thank you for visiting, Penny.

New Year, New Challenges!

                                                                               
                                                             Best Wishes to All!

I don't make resolutions......despite my best efforts I soon fall by the wayside. I

do however have a few "intentions" this year that I will try hard to keep up.

One of these is to do a few of those creative things that have been waiting for

"one day" and "when I have time". I used to paint, both for pleasure and to earn a few

extra pennies, but lately the costume and textiles have taken up most of my time.

This year I intend to get back to the paint.

I have signed up for two online art courses, one short and one year-long. I have plenty

of art materials and now they WILL be used.

My second "intention" is to blog more. I started this blog to help with my motivation.

I didn't expect to get many viewers, but a few of you seem to call in for a look, and I

hope find inspiration here. It is lovely to share :)  So I am starting with a January

blogfest.....a blog a day for the whole month. It might be something as simple as a

card or photo or work in progress, or something more substantial. Watch this space!

It's been a bit rough for a lot of people this last few weeks weatherwise, here too. I am

glad I have my creativity.

Bye for now.......P.