does your muse ever go missing?

Mine does, that little vixen, she goes a sneaking off to who-knows-where.  But I've found the best way to call her back is to let loose with paints and papers and inks, and simple create background papers.  This week, it was by making monotype backgrounds:

 For this round, I used a stencil, a doily, lots of paints, and some spritzy inks . . .

 I REALLY like how the doily prints turned out, especially this next one:

 Yummy colors!

So the next time YOUR naughty muse takes an unexplained leave of absence, just relax, gather some supplies, and make backgrounds.  It may be just the thing to entice her home.

P.S.  If you'd like to print off one or two of these background papers, I have some larger images to share with you on my blog:  easily amused, hard to offend.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

:)trisha 

Springtime in Paris

It's the first of June, and while spring is still (barely!) here, I'd like to share with you a favorite spring themed book I created a while ago.  (Please bear in mind my French is very limited, so if you notice any crazy phrasing, we can thank Google Translate . . . ;)

Prima Marketing Inc. flowers

Altered Pages images

vintage sheet music and text pages

die cut pages from Glitz

Bazzill cardstock

Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!
:)trisha

Happy May Day!

Vintage alphabet stamps

A little May Day card---atc size, 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches

Gelli plate print backgrounds

collage images from Altered Pages

It's a tiny pop-up card, can you tell?

The violets are blooming all over our backyard!

Happy May Day!
:)trisha

machine stitched atc

Did you enjoy Altered Book Month (March) with Altered Arts Magazine?  I'm breaking in the new month with a two similar machine stitched atcs--no April Fool's here:

A collaged and painted background, painted & stitched heart.
(Can you see the sheet music peeking through the paint?)

So, with or without the text?

A heart at peace gives life to the body . . . Proverbs 14:30

Happy April, everyone!
:)trisha

Little surprises around every corner--but nothing dangerous . . .

Easy-to-add flaps, doors, pockets, and pulls for altered books.

 

Interactive doors, pockets, and pulls add a little kinetic energy to any altered book.  Not only do they invite the reader to fully investigate the book, but they offer the reward of a little "reveal" when the door or flap is opened or the tag pulled.  Here are several simple pockets, flaps, doors, and pulls for you to consider adding to your next altered book project.  These are all from an altered book featuring baby-to-older-child photos: 

flap hinged at the top

large door hinged on right side

foldover, envelope type reveal

stitched pocket, opening at the side, with tag reveal

March is altered book month here at the Altered Arts Magazine blog, so be sure to check back often for more altered book ideas.

P. S. If you like the idea of flaps, doors, pockets, and pulls, I have several more from this same book posted at my blog:  easily amused, hard to offend--Little surprises around every corner . . .

Have a wonderful weekend,
:)trisha 

Do you? Altered book elements--outside the lines

March is officially altered book month at the Altered Arts Magazine blog, and here is a simple, yet interesting, altered book technique for you to consider . . .

Here it is:  extend your altered book layouts beyond the confines of the page borders.

(I told you it was a simple one.)

Here are some photos of other outside-the-lines layouts, these from a coffee/tea themed book:

collage images from Altered Pages

(I did not make the atc--it came in a swap)

Adding various sizes of papers, extra-long embellishments, or ribbons/fibers (as with the tassel shown above) are all easy ways to extend beyond the borders of your altered book layouts.

So, do YOU stay inside the lines?

:)trisha

a pocket-size, hand-bound art journal

Recently a friend challenged me to make a hand bound book to
swap with her--she's much more skilled than I, but she knows I love
making books, bless her!

Here is the 4 x 4 inch art-type journal made just for her:

It has a wrapped, repurposed suede cover,

a simple button closure,

and five stitched signatures.

Do you make your own books?  How about altering books?  Join us here
at the Altered Arts Magazine blog for Altered Book Month in March.

Have a wonderful Saturday,
:)trisha

a "love"ly collage . . .

Sorry, yes, I know, bad pun--but it's February now, and I'm thinking
of Valentines (and warmer weather) . . .

LOVE stamp and vellum bunting by Pink Paislee

wallpaper stamp by Something Tattered

collage image from Altered Pages

Now here's the question--make this a card front, or turn it into a hanging?
It's only 5 by 8 inches, so either way . . . what do you think?

Have a wonderful, creative Saturday, everyone!
:)trisha

a transfer image pendant

So I've been playing with transfer images again, which is always a good
time, and finished off a bamboo tile pendant piece to show you today:

Collage images from  ARTchix Studio

It's very small, less than one inch across, with a double transfer of the
woman over a background (it's a glossy finish, thus the shine).  Please
tell me you think that background looks like cherry blossoms . . .

:)trisha