Blisstree » mixed media art

Projects Using Rust & Relics

Mary Emma Allen — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:00:40 +0000

After I wrote the post, Crafting with Rust & Relics, a reader asked, “So what kind of crafts can we do with these old relics?”Since I’ve seen my daughter using these items, I have used them myself, read about relics, and have viewed them at craft fairs, I didn’t think to explain about projects you can undertake.

Many can be attached to mixed media pieces.
Some can be background material for attaching others.
Use old wood and arrange some of the relics on it.
Some people attach keys, buttons, watch findings and similar items to quilts and fabric art.
Glue them together for three dimensional art.
Create memory shadow boxes of old items belonging to a family member
String them on mobiles

The possibilities are unlimited; simply use your imagination and creativity.

Image: sxc.hu

Post from: Blisstree

Projects Using Rust & Relics

Cling

Cyndi Lavin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:00:53 +0000

I have a couple of young friends whose mother passed away from brain cancer a few years ago. I didn’t know her as well as I know her sons, because I’ve traveled and worked with them on youth group trips for years. Knowing what fine young men she raised, I feel that she was an exceptional woman, one of the many whose legacy will live on through her children.

Her youngest son, Nick, founded a non-profit organization in his mother’s memory, the mission of which is to help fund the basic needs of children in developing countries. He calls it Cling.

That story reminded me of one of my favorite psalms, which has a line about clinging to God. I’ve used that verse in this mixed media piece, and tomorrow I’ll share the peeled paper technique with you that I used to make this.

Psalm 63: 6-8
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Post from: Blisstree

Cling

Artsy blogging round-up!

Cyndi Lavin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:07:59 +0000

About Family Crafts:
Find out how to can make a story sack for the book, and soon to be movie, Cloudy With a Change of Meatballs.

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen’s created a quirky copper bird pin,,,,stop by and check it.

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Alexa revisits and reconnects with a craft from her childhood

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside has a sneak peek into the soon to be released book; Who’s Your Dada? Redefining The Doll Through Mixed Media, free graphics of good angel/bad angel birds with a tutorial for using them as T-shirt iron-ons, how-to’s on bleaching and cutting photos to create windows, and a mosaic chicken project. The book and bobbin winder contest continues, leave a question on any topic and you are entered to win!

Crafty Princess Diaries
You’ll find some big crochet fun in these new little books published by Leisure Arts and written by Drew, The Crochet Dude!

CraftyPod
Sister Diane’s new podcast compares two ways to publish a craft book: the traditional print and publisher method, and the ebook method. If you dream of writing a craft book, this is useful information.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Sometimes, you’ve just gotta go against the grain. Find out when and share your comments about stitching against the grain.

Mixed Media Artist
Have you ever tried using heavy watercolor paper to make a peeled paper collage?

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
Relax! A Toilet Paper Cozy never looked cuter then when embellished by embroidering with ribbons to make a plaid square on a recycled sweater using a tutorial from the book Ribbon Embroidery by Natalie Bellanger-Clement

The Artful Crafter
A reader asks, “What are the pros and cons of selling crafts online?” Eileen answers.

The Crochet Dude
Drew gives good advice on how to handle the non-crafty people (muggles) in your world.

The Impatient Crafter
It’s time for back to school fashions and Madge has whipped up a fab tiny Moulin Rouge inspired top hat headband project for your discerning teen…or any gal who likes a little splash of whimsy in her accessories!

Post from: Blisstree

Artsy blogging round-up!

Bead Journal Project

Cyndi Lavin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:00:38 +0000

The second year for the Bead Journal Project is quickly drawing to a close. Last year, I made fairly elaborate pieces that featured the full moon for each month. I knew that this year I would be more pressed for time, so I chose to make very simple pieces. Each month, I chose a fragment of scripture from one of the Psalms and used a heart shape to create a little 4 x 4 inch beaded piece that illustrates the feeling of that verse for me. By the end of August, the entire project for the year should be finished…Yay!

We’re talking about doing the project again, for a third year, and we’re going to be waiting until January 2010 to kick it off this time. I’ll make sure I post about it when I have more news…it would be fabulous to have more folks join in!

Here are my three completed sets: Autumn, Winter, and Spring. Summer is almost finished…just one to go!

My previous pieces for the Bead Journal Project
Information about the Bead Journal Project
Bead Journal Project blog

Post from: Blisstree

Bead Journal Project

How do you know when you’re done?

Cyndi Lavin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:00:37 +0000

Then a moment comes when every part has found its definite relationship and from then on it would be impossible for me to add a stroke to my picture without having to paint it all over again.
~Henri Matisse

To me a work is finished when all parts involved communicate themselves, so that they don’t need me.
~Hans Hoffman

How do I know when a work is finished? When it has taken away from me everything I have to give. When it has become stronger than myself. I become the empty one and it becomes the full one. When I am weak and it is strong the work is finished.
~Saul Baizerman

How about you? How do you know when you’re done with a piece?

I guess for me, that moment comes when I’ve set it aside for awhile and have that almost indefinable sense of peace when I return to look at it. What does it feel like for you when you know you’re finished?

Post from: Blisstree

How do you know when you’re done?

Artsy blogging round-up!

Cyndi Lavin — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:06:55 +0000

The Impatient Crafter:
Madge transforms a Kraft paper lampshade from Target into a sophisticated accent piece for a teen’s room in this post for I Love to Create.

About Family Crafts
Do you paper mache? Share your projects and stories!

Aileen’s Musings
This week Aileen’s been busy altering cabinet cards. Check out her newest funky cabinet cards and download more freebie images for you to alter yourself.

Cathie Filian
Cathie and Steve spoof their love of Mod Podge in their latest video.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside has a fun mixed-media cupcake jar topper project, a how-to on making bottle cap bookmarks, a tutorial on painting over a photo to create a multi frame effect, and a fun beaded fan design. And the tables are turned, leave a question and you are entered to not only win a free book but also a Wrights SideWinder bobbin winder!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Re-purposing crafting materials is a great way to make sure you don’t waste your wonderful stash of supplies.

CraftyPod
Sister Diane shows you how to embroider on a perforated metal beading disc!

Cross Stitch at About.com
A saying from the Bard inspired Connie’s latest free pattern. Stitch the saying alone or combine it with floral motifs for a larger sampler.

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
The scissors are set aside this week and a vintage green marble gets re-purposed into a cool modern necklace with a technique from the book Contemporary Copper Jewelry by Sharilyn Miller

The Artful Crafter
Read some suggestions for preventing your polymer clay projects from cracking.

Post from: Blisstree

Artsy blogging round-up!

Call for entries: GreenCraft Magazine

Cyndi Lavin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:00:16 +0000

Finding creative uses for old items is nothing new to artists, but the spirit of preserving the planet is more important than ever before and GreenCraft Magazine is here to honor and inspire those who find artistic uses for normally discarded resources. You already know that one of our mottoes here is “Don’t throw ANYthing out!” So look around you and see what you’ve got to work with

GreenCraft Magazine will provide ideas for repurposing trash to treasure by showcasing projects where waste is repurposed into ecologically chic creations.

To be considered for publication in this semi-annual magazine, please submit your recycled, reused and repurposed items to GreenCraft Magazine no later than September 15, 2009.

To jump start your creativity, you might want to look through some of these sites. But please, use them for inspiration only…these ideas have already been done!

KinderArt: recycling crafts for kids

World’s Largest Things: art cars, folk art, and more

Aluminous Publishing: aluminum can craft

Recycled Crafts @ Craft Gossip

Eco Artware: the archives

Post from: Blisstree

Call for entries: GreenCraft Magazine

Combining cartoon and vintage imagery

Cyndi Lavin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:00:39 +0000

Technique Tuesday!

Putting together the series of postcards and clip art that became Jim’s Story was a lot of fun! I used Photoshop, but I think you could do something similar with another good image editing program. If you missed any of the postcards, the links are below, along with a link to step by step instructions to combine cartoon or clip art images with vintage pictures.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

Step by step instructions

Post from: Blisstree

Combining cartoon and vintage imagery

Jim’s postcards home

Cyndi Lavin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:00:49 +0000

Make Art Monday!

A few years ago, I became obsessed with a man I named Jim. As a young man, Jim moved to my town early in the 1900s, to take a job working for the railroad.

The thing is, Jim never existed. But that didn’t stop me from coming up with an entire series of postcards that Jim sent home, telling his parents about his adventures in his new town.

You can see more of Jim’s postcards home at the links below, and tomorrow I’ll explain how to combine cartoon imagery with old pictures, digitally.

Part one
Part two
Part three

Dear Mom and Dad,

The town of Ayer has hired me to work on the railroad. I would say it needs a lot of work.

Love,
Jim

Post from: Blisstree

Jim’s postcards home

Artsy blogging round-up!

Cyndi Lavin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:22:52 +0000

The Artful Crafter:
Eileen blogs about learning photography – one frame at a time.

The Crochet Dude
Drew is giving away all his latest designs that are included in his new line of patterns that just launched nationwide! To enter you just leave a comment on his blog!

The Impatient Crafter
Make a super cute pair of flip flops with your kid or teen for your end of summer vacation! Madge shares the 411 in this post for I Love to Create

About Family Crafts
Hurry on over and submit your photos and ideas! Sherri is now accepting Halloween submissions. Share your costumes, haunted house ideas, more and browse through the photos everyone else has submitted.

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Alexa shares 3 great photography tips for taking better photos of your crafts. You don’t even have to have an expensive camera!

Cathie Filian
Join Cathie Filian on HSN August 17th where she will be showcasin the new formulas of Mod Podge, Chalkboard Paint and Texture Paint.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside has a how-to on making a Traveling Mail Art Kit from the soon to be released book-Good Mail Day, a tutorial on how to line a flap and step by step directions to make a painted fusible web postcard. Be sure to answer the week’s questions to be entered to win free books while your getting your fill of crafty goodness.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy has a bag full of fun crafting ideas for the crafter with a birthday.

CraftyPod
SisterDiane interviews a top Etsy seller who decided to downsize her business.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Help Connie decide a caption for her free Bat Cross Stitch pattern.

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen dishes up a recipe for making a pin cushion out of vintage tin.

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
Earrings made with something old, something new and a how-to from the new book- Simply Gemstones by Nancy Alden

Post from: Blisstree

Artsy blogging round-up!