Pay It Forward...with Art

Yesterday at the lovely gardens of Happy Herbs Soap at Two Crow Cottage, the Arty Tea Party gang dabbled in Water Color Batik on Unryu Paper.  This lovely paper is light weight and translucent with fibers, and is quite strong. 

Under the instruction of our Dear Rosebud Sandy, we took the watercolor to the paper, brushed on spots of melted soy wax, more watercolor layers...and while hanging to dry, we eat, drink and become quite merry...(Sangria helped with the merry part).  

This is my first layer of watercolor.

My next layer after I brushed and blotted abit of wax.

This was such a fun project because I am not a painter.  I also cannot draw.  I am missing the part of the brain that sees with depth and detail.  I am more abstract with my art, and this was perfect because you really can't mess this up.  Just splash some paint around, splash some wax around...more paint...WAX ON...WAX OFF!  The final step after all the paint layers is to iron the wax off between layers of newspaper.  You are left with a very soft see-thru work of art.  I'm going to make a card out of mine.  Easy peasy! 

These are the two I made.  I like them!

For more of the Water Color Batik, visit the ARTY TEA PARTY blog!

And now, because I am in such a happy state, I wanted to share a new project I have signed onto!

PAY IT FORWARD ART MAKING PROJECT 2014.

I promise to make a small work of art for the first five people who comment on this post and say “YES, I want in”. A ‘like’ alone is not enough of a commitment, nor is a comment about thinking Pay It Forward is a great idea. You must in turn post this as your status update and make something for the first five who comment on your status. The rules are simple: – It has to be your work, made by you, and the recipient must receive it before 2014 ends. – It can be anything art-based: a drawing/illustration or a conceptual work of art, a photograph, a knitted item, cross-stitch, paper maché – or anything in between. I’m paying this forward thanks to Deborah Weber.  

Perhaps a Water Color Batik card is in your future...ALOHA!!!

Scrap Paper Flowers

These are my new fave paper projects.  All from scrap papers that I had lying around.  Found this tutorial on Jennibellie, and I just couldn't stop. 

This one is now in Rosebud Sandy's possession. My fave!

And really, the paper possibilities are endless!!!

I plan to use them on some of my altered book projects.  I think they would be great on cards and give a special touch to gift wrapping.  

Enjoy!

 

Neverending Book Swap

Finally, a page in Kay's book for the book swap that never ends, even though it was supposed to be completed by last Christmas.  Oh well.  Whose bright idea was this anyway????  Oh wait, it was mine!  And I am the one holding everyone up!!!

It's a 2 page spread in a book that has mirrors and chains and talismans.  (You can see more of Kay's book on the Arty Tea Party blog.)  This book, the largest in the swap, is a real treat because of all the calligraphy, which I just had to use.

Hope you enjoy!  

Time Flies...wait, what???

Well, sometime last year I encouraged my gal pals to join me in an Altered Book Art Journal Swap.  It should have been completed by now, except that some of my very talented friends can crank out pages in their sleep, leaving me with way too many books at once.  NO EXCUSE, I KNOW!
I don't even know what day it is half the damn time, I'm so busy, busy, busy with the day job!

I KNOW, NO EXCUSE...

Andrea made a paper bag book with pockets for lots of tags and goodies!

Some stained glass treasures from Judie!

Some lovely smelling petals from Nina!

 Nonetheless, the project is coming to a close and Andrea is the lucky one to have had hers completed and returned first.  Here are just some of the pages from some of the books.  When all is done and everyone has their own books returned to them, I will post them on the Arty Tea Party blog for all to enjoy.

Until then, here's a sneak peak...ENJOY!

A bit of Kitty's charm with her matchbook style messages.

   

 

OK, so when I get some sense of order and manage to get some ME time in, I will continue the posting of the many books and pages. It's a great project, and so much fun to see the individual styles and talents.   Aloha for now!