More backgrounds

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One of the techniques this past week being taught on the Paper Imagery Designs blog on Yahoo groups is paper towel painting. I had done some before for the amulet swap, but this time it is just to make backgrounds to use in your art. The ones above I painted with cheap craft acrylics. The second one from the left is metallic, although the photo doesn't show that. I really like how the texture of the paper towel pops out, and they are made sturdier by the paint so they will stand up to being used in ATCs or collages. The one below I did with Cat's Eye Pigment Pads by ColorBox. The paper towels are a local chain brand, but other brands give very different textural effects.

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Remember the felt leaves I did for the FiberArtTraders yahoo group? Here are the ones I have received in trade--I still have one more to arrive. Some also included extra goodies!

By Flicsha A.

by Morning Dove

by Barb E.

by N.J. B.

by Linda W. (The beads in the center are made of Tyvek!)


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Some ATCs from the PID yahoo group:

The ATC on the left is by Kim S.
The one on the right is by Wanda H.--I may have shown it before, but it rates a second look!

Both of these are by Pam B. All four are tiny masterpieces!

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I made the wooden ATC above for the September ATC Jackpot on PID, in which we were to use gold in some way. I used a wrapper from a Rolo candy for the background, then a piece of punchinella (sequin waste) with a gold spiral button, an image from PID which I then lightly sanded, and a small balsa chip.


This one was made using the background sheet below, done with music sheets and Tim Holtz' Distress Inks. Little Ralph looked like the perfect PID image for a Tenderfoot. I gave him a hat, a cow skull on the wall, and a coil of white twine stamped with Distress Ink to resemble old rope.

The background sheets look kind of messy until you cut them to size--these are 8.5" x 11" sheets of cardstock. I had an old book of cowboy songs in my stash; I used some of the pages for this project. Paste them to the cardstock, cover with smears of Distress Inks, and let dry. I then rolled them with a brayer to flatten them. Very easy!

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I hope to make more ATCs over the next few days. Copper goes for a haircut tomorrow, and DH will be at his Master Gardener class in the AM. I will have time to play if I work it just right!

Hurricane Ike passed Corpus Christi by completely--not even any rain until the next day! The elderly and disabled were evacuated, but we stayed here expecting high winds and lots of rain. I think we got a half inch when it finally did rain.

I'm putting together a care package for my son. He's a Dallas Cowboys fan, so I bought him a jersey and made a throw that he can use as either a blanket or a wall decoration. I don't know how cold the nights get in Iraq, but it's a lightweight fleece with the team logo on it. I've got lots of candy and personal care products in there, as well as a couple of Halloween surprises that he'll get a kick out of. I should get the box filled in the next couple of days. DS #2 promised to download some music for him as well. I hope to start the next box as soon as I get this one mailed.

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