Plaster gauze can add exciting dimensions to your art shrines, mixed media art, or even your art journaling book covers. The effects are completely unlike a “plaster cast.” Here’s what a finished product can look like. (It started as a cardboard cigar box. You can buy them at Amazon, and some cigar stores sell them
Art Shrines – Add Texture with Plaster Gauze – Part 1 of 2 Read More »
There are many ways to use rubbings in art journaling, collages, and more. The shrine example, below, was for a Halloween-themed workshop. While this illustration may seem too eerie, the concept remains the same, whether you’re doing rubbings of architectural textures, manhole covers in streets, or embellishments on your car. Start with textures You can
Rubbings in Your Art Journals – Gothic Example Read More »
You can create elegant rubbings for your art journaling, mixed media art, or decor. You can use rubbings from almost any textured surface, and featuring almost any theme. However, the textured item should be made of metal or a material that can withstand pressure without damaging it. For example, you might do rubbings using metal
Eerie, Elegant Rubbings with Art Foil (Halloween Project) Read More »
The Asparagus Wand was created for Sukie’s “Fairy Wand Exchange,” in July 2001. I made four of them to add to the wands already being sent by my daughter – who’d adopted the name “Applefaerie” – and me. The Asparagus Wand is shown below. It started in Michael’s Arts & Crafts store, where my daughter
This is an Altoid tin shrine created for a 2000 Capolan exchange, and titled the Relic Room Assemblage. The outside of the box: Altoid tin, secured with an antique button, and hemp twine with beads. Preparing the Altoid tin: First, I hammered it to age it. Then I sprayed it with a cream-colored epoxy paint,
Capolan exchange: Relic Room Assemblage Read More »
These are notes from my popular Artfest 2001 workshop about using images and word art to embellish purses and tote bags. Supply list Vinyl bag with at least one transparent side. Plain white paper as your collage support Collage elements – flat (or nearly flat) items and images Some kind of paper adhesive Clear laminating
Easy Embellished Vinyl Tote Bag Read More »
This is another project started in the mid-1990s and not completed. Clearly, even good projects are sometimes put aside. Basically, I was going to make myself a bunch of great wearable art pinafores. Note: In the States, a pinafore is called a jumper. I grew up calling them pinafores, because… well, that’s what my family
Rust and Teal Pieced Bodice Read More »
I’ve always loved the color purple. Almost every shade of purple delights me. This is an original one-of-a-kind jacket that I created around 1992, using a Vogue designer jacket pattern. The fabrics are all 100% cottons. On half of the front, I have hand-beaded with glass bugle and seed beads. I’ve also painted it with
Purple Fabric Art Jacket 1 Read More »
The fabric art jacket in the photo at right was made in 1991. I have always loved everything related to Disneyland and DisneyWorld. Late in the 1980’s, I started collecting Disney fabrics for a “someday” wearable art project. This is the jacket that I made with those fabrics, around 1991. The sleeves are a
Disney Fabric Art Jacket Read More »
Scraps of fabric can be used to create rolled beads. Here’s the simplest version. You’ll need fabric, white glue and water, and something thin to wrap the beads around. This can be a thin dowel, toothpicks, shishkebab skewers, thin cocktail straws, or… Well, see what you have around the house. You could even use heavy
Easy Rolled Cloth Beads Read More »
