Scrappy Kraft tags

Hi everyone! I raided my scrap box again to decorate some tags die cut from kraft cardstock. I love collaging with scraps, although I'm building up enough of a stash that I think I'm going to have to send out some happy mail so I can create more. My joy comes more from the process of creating them than from actually using them :)

The two larger tags were die cut using a 3 x 4.5 die from Poppy Stamps with pinpoint detail around the edges. The other 4 were cut with a Paper Smooches die which is about 2x3 inches in size. All 6 tags were inked around the outside edges with Coffee Archival Ink. The four smaller tags were faux stitched around the outside edges to create a border.

Scraps of various sizes and shapes were layered onto each tag after they were edged with Coffee Archival Ink to help the layers stand out. Threaded buttons were added as well as punched reinforcements for the front and back. Fine cord was used as toppers for each of the tags.

Thanks for popping by today. That was awesome of you. I have several more tags and embellies to share with you later in the week so stay tuned...LOL

Life is good; so is art.

Bonnie

Altered tags

Hi everyone! I had this tag pad from K&Company kicking around for ages. I had already used all the ones I really liked and was left with a bunch that were OK but not really my style. They sat neglected for so long that finally I decided to alter them, keeping the parts I liked about each but changing the parts I was less fond of. Now, I love them and can see myself or someone else using them.

First I added scraps of patterned paper to cover the sections or details I didn't care for or to create a different colour story.

Then I added details such as die cuts, clear stickers, lace, buttons, brads, or tags to make them more interesting. Coffee dyed paper was adhered to the back of each to add strength and texture to the plain white backs.

The front and back edges were darkened with Coffee Archival Ink and faux stitching was added with brown Sharpie pen. Reinforcement circles were punched from kraft or coordinating cardstock and edged with Coffee Archival Ink before being glued on to the front and back.

To finish them off, words from TH ChitChat Stickers were inked around with Walnut Big Brush Pen and adhered to the tag fronts. The good news is that I went from 10 tags I would never use to 10 tags I love. The bonus is that I used up more scraps and bits from my stash. And...I had great fun collaging them.

Thanks for joining me today. I appreciate that. Do you have anything kicking around your stash that you can alter to make something you like? Have a play! It'll be worth it :)

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Use It, Already journal ~ pages 19-22

I created a few more collage pages in my Use It, Already journal. This is a journal where I am using scraps,bits and bobs that have been in my stash far too long, either because I was hoarding or because I had forgotten all about them. It's time to either use them or pass things along to others who will use them.

The backgrounds are layers and layers of scraps of designer paper, mixed media papers, vintage papers, book text, and digital paper bits from kits. I also used a couple of Bo Bunny Journal Pages which have been in my stash forever. I'm happy to finally have a use for them. There's even an old Monopoly Chance card in the mix.

For now, I am using Tim Holtz Paper Dolls to star in these pages. I like adding little pops of colour in the form of flowers, hats, bowties, and other decorations to make them my own and add some of the background colour to the sepia images.

The wording was added with Big Chat, Small Chat, or Chit Chat stickers as well as rub-ons. Some punched or die cut borders, strips of patterned paper borders, and even a piece of lace plus some leftover die cut arrows helped to finish the pages. I like how the pages are untied by colour tones, by adding black reinforcements to the holes, and other black details. It makes for a more cohesive and pleasing flip through.

Thanks for stopping by today. I'm glad you did!

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Joggles Art Journal Adventure Week 31 - Alter a Face

Hi everyone! It's Week 31 for the Joggles Art Journal Adventure Facebook group and the theme this week is to Alter a Face. This could be a face we have drawn or a face from a book or magazine...even a photograph. We can alter it in any way we wish, like changing the colours normally used, changing the features or their number, or any other way we want. I chose to grab a face from a magazine ad and altered it by adding doodling with Black Pitt pen and white Posca Paint pen. I loved every moment and can't wait to do it again!

The face itself was in colour and about 4.5x6.5 inches in size. I cut off the hair and neck leaving just the oval(ish) face itself. Some of the line work was done with the help of stencils and a lot was done freehand. A flower image was fussy cut from a magazine page , adhered over her eye, and doodled with both pens.

The background started as one of those extra papers they give you in Stampington magazines sometimes. As part of my Use It Already! mindset, I pulled it from a folder of saved papers, cut it to size (6x8) and added my own creative voice. Stamping and stencilling were added with Coffee Archival Ink and some layered washi was placed in opposite corners and topped with drywall mesh scraps.

Once the face was glued in place and outlined with black, Joggles/Margaret Applin Designs Rosette #2 stencil was used to add her hair design. Detail was added to the open areas to help the hair integrate with the face better.

The wording, Be an original, was created with a DYMO labeller and outlined with white Posca Pen. Scribble writing was added around the two circles which had also been outlined in black and a border was added to the outside edges with the same pen. I could have kept playing with adding more detail but I was happy with how it looked at this point and wisely decided to stop. The page was adhered to the black background to frame it and added to my journal.

Thanks for stopping by today. To check out what others in our awesome group do in response to this Alter a Face prompt, be sure to pop by the Joggles AJA Facebook group throughout the week. I can't wait to see where everyone goes with this! Fair warning...I have a whole lot of other faces from magazines just waiting for their turn to get altered. You'll be seeing this style of art again from me!

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Use It, Already journal - Pages 13 to 18

I created a few more collage pages in my Use It, Already journal. This is a journal where I am using scraps,bits and bobs that have been in my stash far too long, either because I was hoarding or because I had forgotten all about them.

One thing I have discovered in doing this (besides the fact that I love collage) is that one uses very little paper etc. when creating a collage of this size ( 4.75 x 6.5 inches).

While I do feel good about using things up, I could be at this until I am 202 and still not run out of "stuff"...LOL.

I am having fun though and thoroughly enjoying the process. To me that's what's important. I don't love all of the pages but I loved making them.

I also like the challenge of making unlikely pairings work together. It's good for those creative muscles that can get lazy.

Anyway, thanks for joining my friends and me. I'll be showing up again soon with some collaged bookmarks I've made using the same scrappy goodness :)

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Use It, Already! ~ de-stashing collage journal pages 9-12

Hi everyone! I'm back with the next 4 pages (9-12) of my Holy Cow! Use It, Already! collage book where I am taking time to play and de-stash at the same time. If you want to know more, here's the intro post with the first 4 pages.

The pages are cut from larger scraps to fit inside one of the TH binder covers with the rings. Smaller scraps of all kinds of paper types are used to collage the background and bits of leftover ephemera, washi, punched elements, and die cuts help fill out the design.

The larger Th Paper Doll images are used as the focal images and are embellished to give them their own identities, as well as suit the page. I really like to add my own artistic voice to collage images created by someone else.

There is really no plan for any of these pages. I love to work intuitively and see where things go. Chit Chat, Big Chat, and Small Chat stickers which have been patiently waiting for their turns have been used for the wording. For this project, anything in my stash is fair game no matter how junky or how precious I previously labelled it. Like I said...Holy Cow! Use it, already! :)

Thanks for stopping by. My friends and I appreciate that.

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Use It, Already! Collage Journal Pages 5-8

Hi everyone! I'm back with the next 4 pages of my Holy Cow! Use It, Already! collage book where I am taking time to play and de-stash at the same time. If you want to know more, here's the intro post with the first 4 pages.

Although I usually give lengthy explanations as to what I have done and why, that's not happening with these posts but if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Just PM me.

So far the pages have been vintage in feel, mainly because of the larger TH paper dolls I am using as well as the more muted colour palette. These are the paper scraps I seem to have the most of so that's what I'm using first. It's also a fun change and a bit more of a challenge since I'm normally a bright as can be type creative :)

Anyway, I am enjoying the process and feel a bit like an archaeologist unearthing hidden treasures from who knows where. It's a messy but satisfying process with a lot of exclamations of "Oh yeah...I forgot about that______".

Thanks for stopping by and if you happen to be following a similar journey, I would love to see what you create. Tag me on FB or PM me.

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie