Altered Art Junkies

Wicked Halloween Swap...

It is never too early to talk about Halloween for us here at Altered Art Junkies.  Halloween is one of our favorite holidays! So what better way to celebrate than with a SWAP.

I have to tell you, when I was single, I lived alone in an apartment for many years and didn't get to pass out candy. When I married and moved into our home I was so excited I could finally could celebrate Halloween and pass out candy in my own house.  My husband warned me that we wouldn't get any tricker treaters but I didn't believe him. I decorated, had lots of candy ready....I got two kids.  My house isn't located on a safe and friendly street for kids. Ah the spirits are working against me, but I get to swap with you!

If you would like to join our Wicked Halloween Swap please email us at: alteredartjunkies@yahoo.com  We will be assigning partners in September.  Since it is a Halloween Swap we hope that you create a fun and wonderful box of goodies for your swap partner.  Some of the swap ideas we are suggesting you create for your swap partner are jar witches, shadow boxes and or witch hats.

Here are some examples I pulled from the web:

 

The following photos are of what I received from my swap partner last year:

  

Here is what Samantha received from her partner:

 

You have plenty of time to think about joining our swap and we hope you do! Halloween is only 109 days away, you can keep track of the countdown to Halloween on the right. 

Be creative,

Ramona

What A Find!

There is a well kept secret in San Francisco and it is called "Scrap"...and the word is out!Their website is : www.scrap-sf.org

We talk a lot about re-using everyday objects and recycling on our blog, this store is exactly that.  This store was founded in 1976 and benefits the earth by reducing waste going into the landfills and the donors receive tax benefits. Of course we benefit because we get to shop there and use all this great stuff....and I do mean great!

I cannot begin to tell you all the things they have and it changes depending on who is donating.  Here is a taste of what you can expect: fabric: swatches, remnants and large rolls, paints, buttons, small assortment of ribbons, baskets, pictures, postcards, paper, boxes for gift giving all sizes, candle-making supplies, glass of all colors and shapes, large cardboard rolls, small glass bottles, pencils, beads, fake foliage, keys, thread, used cd's and on and on and on! I saw a surfboard and art easel as well.

When you check out their website you will see there are a few other locations in the US and it gives you information on how to start your own store. Below are two flyer's I picked up from the store.

 

Reduce, Re-use and Recycle,

Ramona

Blogs, freebies and more...

Yesterday I had some free time and was browsing the world of blogs, we all know how many are out there so hopefully I can share with you some you havent seen.

First Trish Bee has an incredible blog with techniques! I mean lots of techniques you better put this on your favorites so you can come back again and again...I will!

http://www.trishbee.co.uk/techniqueszone/

I found Gauche Alchemy is showcasing a very cool project from Nicole Maki. Along with other great tips and contests you should drop by and visit their site. http://gauchealchemy.wordpress.com/

There are many stamping companies we like and Bombshell Stamps is doing some very cook vintage stamps with attitude, I like that.  Plus they sell ink for stamping tatoos on yourself or others...what a great party idea! Check out their site for more information on stamps, projects and temporary tatoos.

 http://www.bombshellstamps.com/homebase.html

We have been talking alot about Gesso and over at Artful Gathering they are too! She is working on some Gesso Transfers, if you love Gesso like we do you must check out how to do these transfers.

http://artfulgathering.typepad.com/an_artful_gathering/

How about some free stuff, check out these sites for templates for cards and more:

http://www.craftytemplates.co.uk/freetemplates.html

http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/templates.htm

http://www.timeforcrafting.co.uk/

Well I better go and get some housework done, isnt it funny how much time you can spend browsing the web?!

Have a creative day,

Ramona

Creating Layers

As you know, I start a lot of projects and don't finish them - my list includes the altered shadow (cigar) box, the mystery sewing project and many more I'm ashamed to mention. There is also this little project:

I started this altered journal a few years ago, (yes, YEARS) to experiment in creating layers. I had taken a class and learned a little about gesso and gel medium and how to use them to create layers and texture to mixed media projects. I thought a few of you might want to know how to create layers and decided to do a quick tutorial for the blog using this book. 

I started on a blank page. The following steps and pictures will walk you through what I did to create the final look:

1. Gesso page. This is important on any type of paper or surface you use but necessary on a glossy paper or surface. 

2. Paint a light coating of paint, I used off white colored paint as I didn't know what colors I wanted the final project to be. I used Golden acrylic paints which is tubed, thick, paint so I mixed in gel medium which thins the paint but doesn't dampen the color. 

3. Once the paint is dry I layered a coat of gel medium on page. This layer doesn't have to cover every inch, you can brush it on in a thin, uneven, layer. There is a reason to applying an uneven layer - you'll know why in Step 4. Gel medium is being used as an adhesive in this project.

4. Immediately place tissue paper over the pager, spread it over your page and I encourage wrinkles. When it dries you tear pieces of the tissue paper off. Where the glue was uneven the tissue paper lifts off. To create more noticeable texture you can crumble the tissue paper before laying it over the gel medium.  Apply another layer of gesso,let it dry and add a coat of pain.

5. I then stamped images on a separate piece of tissue paper and repeated step 4.

6. When I was happy with my texture I added another light coating of gesso and added more paint. I added a golden yellow color, bright pink and off white. To create a rubbed look I took a wet wipe and brushed some paint off while it was drying.  

I then added some collage items:

Be creative today!

Samantha

In the process...

My projects go rather slow as I do them in between cleaning the house, playing with the kid, going to the market, celebrating Easter, eating, sleeping and feeding my family. I'm sure many of us do our projects in between everything else. How I wish I was independently wealthy and could play all day. Oh...what a sweet dream!

With that said, Friday night I was looking through an old collage book and saw a shrine box project. It looked like quick project and it was not another birthday card so I decided to go for it. I started the project Saturday morning using a recycled cigar box. The project quickly changed from a shrine to a shadow box when I realized I didn't have anyone to shrine and I didn't want to use my beloved Frida again.

I took a cigar box that I had lined with paper a month ago. I removed as much of the paper as I could and covered it with a layer of gesso. I then painted the inside with Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint color Shabby Shutters. I painted a thick coat of paint as I heard the more paint you use the more severe crackling. As the paint dried the left over paper still glued to the box made a nice effect - it caused  the paper to lift a little and combined with the crackling, gave it a really cool texture. Once the paint was dried I went over the paint with TH Distress Ink color Aged Mahogany. It gave the color a soft rose tint.

Here's a close up of the color.

I added some collage this morning.

I hope to have time today to add more stuff. I'll post pictures as my project progresses.

We have a new project swap to be announced in a few days. It will include a needle and thread (sewing machine not required) rather than paper and glue. Check back with us if you are interested as we will need 2 swappers!

Have a beautiful and creative day!

Samantha

Lucky 14

I made this birthday card for a dear girl named Rhianna Skye. She is a sweetheart and she turned 14 today. 

Her parents, Ray and Carol, have been friends with us since high school. Rhianna holds a special place in my heart and she deserves a special birthday. 

Tools: Lucky bingo card from Jenni Bowlin; Tim Holtz rubber stamp, ribbon and Sassafras Robotics cardstock stickers. All items are available at your local scrapbook store.

Last week when we finally received our state refund I bought 2 sets of the new Tim Holtz rubber stamps, I purchased Slightly Altered and Psychedelic Grunge. New stuff makes me feel crafty so hopefully I'll have some new projects to show you real soon. 

Be creative today!

Samantha

A Favorite Store...

There is a store called "Susan's Store Room" that you have to stop by and visit if you are in the San Francisco Bay area.  I heard about this store and finally went to see it for myself and fell in love!  Okay I could do with out the bears, but that is just one of many many many items available at this store.

Here is the web link: http://susansstoreroom.com/

What I like about the store is how each holiday or country is displayed in it own special place.  You move from section to section discovering wonderful surprises. When I visited there were Christmas ornaments from each country displayed in its proper section. Some items were expensive but there were many great price finds.  One of the altered pencil boxes I displayed in a previous post was made with koi paper I found at Susan's Store Room.  Below is a photo of her seashore table:

 

Here is a photo of a section with religious items for your altered shrines:

Susan also puts together collage bags for around $20 dollars that are just filled to the bring with delightful surprises.  Most items can be purchases separately like gift tags, paper dolls, German Dresden Trim and scrap pictures, Antique postcards and on and on!

There is an on line store just follow the link above, but the store is a joy to visit and discover. The store isn't large in comparison to some shops, but there is so much to see and look for you could easily get caught up for an hour in the magicalness of the store. Plus you have to decided what to buy because you cant buy it all!

The store is located at 239 San Anselmo Ave., in San Anselmo California. 415-456-4935. Opened 7 days a week, closed Sundays during summer. Call for hours.

Hope you stop by and visit this gem in San Anselmo!

Be Creative Today,

Ramona

Cupcakes!

Mmmm, I wish I had a red velvet cupcake right now. 

I made this card and tag for my niece's 4th birthday. I had bought the wrapping paper from Paper Whimsey awhile ago and made the card to match. This was really easy, the cupcake is made from sheet felt and I sewed buttons on the top as sprinkles. I attached it to the card with glue dots. The tag is made from rubber stamps created by Hope Wallace at Paper Relic.

Eat a cupcake today!

Samantha

Antiquing Edges Quick & Easy

Antiquing edges can give your paper craft an instant antique look and I thought I would share how I do it quick and easy. Below is a picture without antique edges. The picture looks a bit dull and blends in with the background paper.

Here's the same picture with antique edges. The antique edges brighten the image and makes it stand out against the backdrop.

 

I antique my edges quick and easy by using  an old and inexpensive brown ink pad. 

I bought the pad at Michael's for $3.99 (cheaper using my Michael's 40% off coupon) and the ink ran out rather quickly for stamping but it became a great tool for antiquing edges for almost every paper craft I make. I've tried using the higher quality ink pads for antiquing edges and it doesn't work, the pad is too hard and the ink color is too bold. 

I simply brush the edges of the image or craft project with the ink pad. For a darker edge I brush a few more times until I get the desired color. You can create a wider antique edge by slanting the ink pad parallel to the image. 

Play with it and you'll soon get the hang of it and you will be antiquing edges Quick & Easy! I hope my quick and easy tip motivates you to be creative today!

Samantha

Stampers Anonymous and Tim Holtz

It is not a secret that Samantha and I like Tim Holtz and his products.  One of the lines Tim creates for is called Stampers Anonymous, www.stampersanonymous.com   They have a terrific line of stamps and Tim's new stamps are fabulous!

These letters are soooooo great, I am seriously thinking about getting them! They release after the show but you can put in orders now, kind of a pre-sale thing.

   

What are we to do, we could really spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on products.  Just use some self control, buy only what you really feel you need.  Samantha and I wish we lived closer so we could share our supplies.  If you have a local craft store think about reaching out to your fellow artists and share supplies!  You not only gain access to some different products but make new friends as well.

Be Creative today and everyday,

Ramona