Latest paper collages

My latest collages.........click on the images to be taken directly to my online art store.

I love these Fiskars squeeze punchers...I must have about 20 of them.....every time we get unwanted mail I sit down with my kids and punch out amazing shapes from our unwanted mail and unsolicited catalogues.

Trying out an idea.....

I love making art from recycled materials. At my mom's she has a basketful of unwanted mail just waiting to be turned into a treasure. I created this abstract piece from magazine pages and a piece of firm cardboard.

Begin by rolling paper in all kinds of ways....thin, wide, small, chunky, tight curls, loose curls...

Once you have about 40 rolls, I spread glue on on the board.....ran out of modge podge...

Begin placing circles in the composition of your choice.

Done...but still needs to dry.
Dried out and much stronger this morning.
Will look great on a wall.

Recycled paper doll...

I saw a tutorial online about how to make recycled paper dolls.....this is what my final doll looks like.......I am very happy about it.

You begin by blending shredded newspaper, and water in a blender to create pulp...

Drain the pulp and begin forming the body parts...

Takes a couple of days for the pieces to dry. Before they were set to dry, I used a sharp tool to create holes in the legs, arms and twice on the torso.

When dry......use colorful wire to connect all the moving parts.
Paint the whole body
Sew a skirt from leftover fabric.
Form wings and crown from coated benadable wire.
The wings being glued on.
and VOILA!!!

Newest Itches I MUST scratch....

Sharing a few ideas for my new inspirations......I found some artists online that have made me itch to start some new crafts.....on A Little Hut blog I found this amazing idea.....using recycled paper, rolling them and gluing them on paper.

At loopy lou designs' photostream I found this amazing creation below:

On Image Shack online I found this!!!!

And my all-time favorite has GOT to be the recycled paper VORTEX created by Julia goodman.....

Wat inpires you?

Created a Watercolor Journal Today

In preparation for our trip to the Redwoods in CA, I decided to make a watercolor journal for quick painting on the spot. 

I bought two watercolor booklets and folded each page. I measures holes one inch apart. The last time I made a book was back in college. I then used a needle to make holes at each marking.

Here are the booklets with the bindings all sewn up. 
I used the backing from the booklet to make the sides for my book. I had some white fabric and used that to glue it all together. Nora used a pencil to mark on the cardboard. 
I used manilla folder paper for the inside. 
Here are the pages inside the cover....
My daughter and I decorated the cover with collage pieces.....Nora picked out the large white ladder-like piece on the cover. 
An inside look....
The finished product....

My Trial at Making Handmade Paper Bowls

          My son Luke (4),  daughter Nora (1) and I made recycled paper last week. We placed torn newspaper bits and water in a regular blender and made paper pulp. We poured and formed it around a large bowl that had been lined with wax paper and set it over the heater to dry.  We had forgotten about it until now.  I was excited to see it had become quite strong.  

          I got this idea the other day while navigating and browsing through Etsy, the best

 ever handmade storefront of the world,  and found this very exciting store, Paper Bowl Factory. What an inspiration!! I had to try it at least once.  I ordered a book from the library called The Art and Craft of Papier Mache, and it gives you all sorts of descriptive ideas and beautiful inspiring images.....enough to keep me busy for months!

         I will be lining it with Mod Podge glue today and will post more pictures as I discover and play with this new media. 

          Here is a video I found on YouTube about how to make paper. 

Update on New Works and Ideas

          I am currently researching all forms of mosaics by looking through books I ordered from my local library (see above). Looking at others' work is the one thing that inspires me to create my own work.  Some might think that restricts one's uniqueness, yet I feel it actually allows me to grow as an artist. To see other people's visions and interpretations always makes me want to create my own interpretation.  Inspiration can come from various venues.  It can come from a conversation, or a situation, or something as simple a a feeling.  

        This is a sampling of the work I am doing now.  It's not a tile mosaic. I am using paper and gluing my collage using the mosaic style as my inspiration. The collage is on a 3'x4' canvas. It will be of a woman turning into a tree....an image that haunts me lately. 
          This is a detail of my collage mosaic. I am using 50% recycled paper (magazines and flyers) punched into 1/2" squares.