Monday, August 30, 2010

Inchies!!!!New envelope!!





Inchies for a swap for Roses On My Table. Cute huh??Top picture is a book I made to hold inchies, about 2 x 2, giving it to the hostess of the swap.It has a brad closure and enough folds to hold 8 inchies.
Top picture is an altered envelope for a swap, my mistake I sent the first one to the wrong person so..........

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Golden Crackle paste!!


This is a piece of plywood for a substate. with crackle paste laid on with a pallet knife, I hope you can see the lovely crackles in my watercolor painting. I used stabilo crayons for the background.Images by itkupillis

Friday, August 27, 2010

Fabric Collage!! Lots of fun!!Can't stop!!!



A fabric collage with dropcloth canvas, cheesecloth and various papers and threads. It was fun to, out of my comfort zone and plan to try it again. It is 8 x 10 and I think the frayed edges do a nice job on this rustic piece.Can't stop added more elements to this piece!!

Ok this is different!!!!


This is a collage of texture, had fun doing it, it's done on dropcloth canvas with added papers and cheesecloth and threads and lots of paint and crayons. the frayed edges I think are a nice touch for this rustic piece.

Free layaway tag sheet!

Go to nature tag in the tutorials(left sidebar) there they are for your use and enjoyment. Stop and visit for awhile and say Hi if you have the time. XXX Betty

Thursday, August 26, 2010

New tags!!Sept. Tag Swap!!New Gluebook pages!!





Tags for a tag swap at Roses on my table group 3 for 3.Love tags and always mount on chipboard to make a very solid piece, I do that with ATC"s also. Tags have a nice area to work on and room for something pretty at the top.
The top are two gluebook pages added to my book.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

My little slice of heaven!!





My front sidewalk and piece of porch. Flowers and vines have flourished this year.
The top picture is a morning glory climbing on a lilac bush that died this year. Hope you can see it , in the morning in bloom it is a sight to behold.

Monday, August 23, 2010

New collage work!!~Autumn!! Where the Sidewalk ends!


"September"
The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze."
- John Updike, September


This is so much fun and I am loving the results of this class, I'm sure I can incorporate this into my own style and add a lot to it.I went and looked at other artists work this morning and was pleasantly surprised by all the beautiful collage work. Will get back--foot doctor.
I am home now and the air even tho it is hot today seems like fall air to me. This has been a horrendous summer for heat , air conditioning is running constantly. My flowers in front are beautiful and thriving , probably because it is like a greenhouse out there. I saw a little sweet tree that will grow under a tree. Redbud, think I will buy one and plant it for spring bloom.
I went to a blog yesterday, she( Carol of Bird in Hand) spoke of a"bouquet of sharpened pencils" a line from "you got Mail" which I have seen maybe 20 times. Brings back the back to school memories-school supplies , new shoes and clothes.If you still have children at home , how lucky are you.I remember my new shoes were very stiff every year for awhile and school supplies were like gold to me. Blank sheets of paper waiting for my pencil, yellow tablets to practice your penmanship. I don't even think they have that anymore. ( Penmanship) I know that they don't care about spelling anymore , the PC will do that for you.I must tell you I still buy school supplies and donate them to my friends church group but always manage to get a few of those 10 cent notebooks for me. Love this poem by Shel Silverstein: Sharing with you today.

Where the Sidewalk Ends
from the book "Where the Sidewalk Ends" (1974)

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
and before the street begins,
and there the grass grows soft and white,
and there the sun burns crimson bright,
and there the moon-bird rests from his flight
to cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
and the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
we shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow
and watch where the chalk-white arrows go
to the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
and we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
for the children, they mark, and the children, they know,
the place where the sidewalk ends.

Love this, when I went to school the sidewalk did end before I got to school, just wasn't finished so this has special significance to me.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

New book, New work!! Top 3 revised!









This is a lovely handmade book that I bought on ebay back awhile- the inside covers are embossed beautifully and the book is bound so strong and perfect. I think it is coptic binding. The cover is from an old school book and the pages are made of a khaki colored heavy watercolor paper. I am now working on this book and will add pictures as I go. I am proud to own this book and proud to work in it. Hope you enjoy the process.
The first page"Study in black and white" Is a one page spread, image from paper whimsy. The second "Summer abroad" is 2 page spread and utilizes images and papers from Greenpaper, click on the logo on the top left to go and check this out.The top page is"Soiled Dove" from the can can collection-by fish eyes. Lots of free images on greenpapers also.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Journal spread!!


What you can never have too much of: is the theme. For Roses

Monday, August 16, 2010

Zetti art doll!!




This doll is for a swap. She has a magnet on her back.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Back to school postcard!!




Made for a trade.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Altered Envelope!!Baby rag quilt!!





The envelope is for a trade. Front and back. the green background is the front. The baby quilt for my new great grandaughter Annastasia. soft and pretty as she is.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Bookmarks!!



Two zentangle bookmarks for a trade, 2 x 6 . Really a lot of fun, mounted on heavy cardstock and wrapped with watercolor paper that I made with paper whimsy images. I am into that green color right now, just love it-it is scrapbbok paper and watercolor on the back, got the image on etsy but......

Monday, August 9, 2010

Tutorial for your very own Art Journal!! Added another!!!!













This is a 40 page art journal that you can make in a very short time. The first step is to choose your paper , I just happened to have watercolor paper which is a nice choice for a journal.10 sheets Fold all with a bone folder or spoon. Place one inside the other until you have 10 sheets. Decide on your fabric and cut 9 x 11 +4 or 5 inches for a foldover. so 9 by 15 is good, I used dropcloth canvas that had been coffee stained for another project and added a piece of upholstery fabric to the back with Tacky glue, for stability. decorate the way you want , I transfered a picture on to the front and added some old lace to the foldover.
Poke 3 holes with an awl one inch from each end and another dead center, thru paper and fabric,thread your needle with strong thread and starting on the outside, go in and out in and out ending with 2 pieces in the center. knot and leave. Sew on your button on the center of the foldover and wrap the from the side, knot and cut free leaving a nice amount to wrap around your button. Add some beads if you like for added interest and you now have a 40 page art journal to put in your purse or pocket and add your sketches, paintings or whatever. Another journal added, the paper is heavier and I like the feel of a more solid journal.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

New!! ATC book holder!!



This is a sweet little book to use to send off your ATC's or inchies, fun to make and holds 8 ATC cards. Roses at My table instructions in the library, small fee per year.Lots of free info also. If you like my work please feel free to comment. That is what it's all about-the feedback is the wind in all our sails.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Mother Nature-My muse 2 page journal spread!!


Journal journey 2 page spread for Roses at my Table group challenge. The challenge is who or what is your Muse. What drives you to make art. The smell of fresh air, an oncoming thunderstorm, the first breaths of air in the spring, the fall leaves, the wind in the trees, the feel of the sun on your face, fragrant bouquets of flowers, the joy in your own flower garden. Fruits and vegetables fresh and so juicy they take your breath away. This is what excites me and makes me want to create something lovely. Nature in all it's glory.