TMTATC-Movie Stars-John Wayne

John Wayne "The Duke"
Here is my entry for TMTATC.  For more COOL cards, check out Think Monday Think ATC.

"Flowers Sing in my Garden"-Faux Encaustic 24"x 32"

"Flowers Sing in my Garden"

Just a little fine-tuning and I will sign my name...that means I'm finished.  Posting like this is helpful in getting an overall view of the work.  I can see where there are a few needy spots.  This picture has about four layers of heavy gloss gel spread on with a palette knife over layers of paper collage.  The gel dries clear so it lets background show through.  It also gives the surface a texture.  The lilies are painted playing cards, stamen are pieces of embroidry floss.  Background is bubble wrap stamping, junk stamping, printed paper, magazine paper, and tissue paper.  The top layer hasn't been covered.  Last step is to add another layer of heavy gloss and then a glaze.  I need to experiment a little before I put on the final glaze.  Then on to the next.  My inspiration was Art Deco linoleum. 
Cheers.Beth



Valentine's Day`Tag Tuesday-Brownie Pop-up

Tag Tuesday had me wondering what to do for the Valentine's Day theme.  I had arranged my Victorian pop-up cards on the table with a big bouquet of roses from my honey.  The pop-up cards were my inspiration.  Had to make one.  Here what I did (mostly):

Cut out the Palmer Cox brownie (from Alpha Stamps) that I had stamped on my worksheet on my studio table.  I had been experimenting with the brownie carrying hearts.  I had used it for my MailArt(see Feb. MailArt).  I cut it out, glued it to a file card, made a few heart shapes around it and glued it together.  Found a small white tag, bent the tag up for the pop-up base.

The next part is the mechanical movement, unfortunately, I didn't take pictures, but by using a long strip of cardstock and cutting two small slits at the back of the card, and by using tape to readjust, I finally got it to open and close.  If there is enough interest, I will add that part.

From there, I added the ribbon at the top.  I didn't want to disturb the tape and the mechanism, so I decorated the back of the tag by gluing on strips of polka-dot tissue.  I could place circles on circles without causing any harm.  Since this is a small tag, it didn't take much to cover the background.

I considered using parts of a paper doily and had cut apart a heart and the lacey parts, but just too big.  I did use a small strip of red to add interest at the bottom of the brownie part and to reinforce it when it popped up.  I was afraid anything heavy would make it off balance.

Found my Love Valentine's stamp and stamped the bottom.  Then added a
few hearts.

There it is standing tall beside my little girl Valentine from 1932 and my little boy Valentine.

Can't wait to give it to my honey.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

xoxo

MailArt~Feb.~Beatles songs

Love, Love,Love,      Beatles 1967

Back of my Beatles postcard

February's mailart swap was a gas, gas. gas....oh wait, that's part of a Rolling Stones song.  The theme was any Beatles song and I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  Here goes:

Beatles photo from an old magazine.  The boys are actually in a swimming pool.  Cut out their heads.  Glued heads to hearts playing cards.  I really love the way John is belting out the song, Paul is taking a portly stance, and Ringo is holding a flower.  Stamped hearts on pink heart paper..glued on.   Cut out letters from magazine and glued on.  At first I created an envelope with love, love, love written on it... I was going to use it as the background, but instead tore it and glued on randomly.  Gave it all a coat of matte medium to hold it down.  Next, glued the cards to red cardstock and sewed around each card.  (I think my sewing is improving,)  Created the back of the postcard with my Palmer Cox brownie stamp by adding small hearts.  I have a whole set of postcard stamps that come in handy.  Tore some love, love, love paper.  I couldn't resist adding my new stamp: Liquid Glass Handle with Care.  Lastly, sewed the two pieces together.  At the post office I found the new red LOVE postage stamp.  It all came together perfectly.  This was my Valentine's card for my MailArt buds.   Next month:  the sea, water..oh boy...  xoxo

TMTATC~Fossils

I'm sooo intriqued by fossils.  I loved teaching this unit to my elementary school Science students.  That's a real fossil on my ATC.
Here is my entry for the Fossils challenge:     http://tmta.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/fossil/

Tag Tuesday~Lace

Wedding Lace
I'm getting lots of practice making small creations.  It's good because you can try new ideas.  I'm also interested in the presentation.  Enjoy the other lovely tags at:

http://tagtuesday.blogspot.com/

TMTATC- Columns

Who's Holding up Whom
Check out the other great ATCs.
http://tmta.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/saulen-column/