Playing with Papers: Love Notes

For my final Playing with Papers, I wanted to create something that would be meaningful far beyond the walls of my studio, something that combines my passion for art with LOTS of kindness, and something that would be fun and easy to do...

I immediately thought of this post that was inspired by the amazingly enchanting Patience Salgado.  Patience is the kindness girl behind "guerrilla goodness":

"So much kindness you just can't help but smile and cry happy tears at the sheer joy of it all. The best part? Being kind, purposefully kind, is really so simple. Anyone can do it!"

(Taken from my post last year)

(click to enlarge and print)

For this week's project, I started by using last Friday's "Paper Love" FREE collage papers to create a template of blank mini note cards.  (Please feel free to use my template too!)

Then I cut out the cards, wrote words of encouragement, and headed out to spread the love around town...

In a dressing room,

In a library book about interviewing for a job,

In a friend's mailbox,

At a bus stop,

In the "self-help" section,

In the waiting room at the hospital,

And in the suitcase of my sweetie!

I am carrying the rest of the blank note cards that I printed with a pen at the ready - Opportunities to offer words of encouragement and share some kindness are everywhere!

Won't you join me for a little "guerrilla goodness"?!?

The Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap

This summer I took part in the Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap.  Opening my mailbox was like Christmas, and this is why...

Wendy

There wasn't a last name, blog address, or website on this postcard... Wendy, If you read this - Thank You - Your beautiful flowers brightened my day (and purple is my favorite color!)

Karen at Giddy-up Let's Ride

Thank You Karen - I am absolutely amazed at the wonderful details in your colorful zentangle!

Carolyn at Digital Experiments by Carolyn

Thank You Carolyn - I am so fascinated by digital art and I am impressed by all of the layers and depth that you've incorporated into your art (I love the dragonflies)!

Niki at The Vintage Artist

Thank You Niki - Your lovely postcard with it's inspirational message arrived at just the right time (and I am a big, BIG fan of hearts in art!)

Maria ("Rinda") at Gallo Organico

Thank You Rinda -  I was so happy to discover your  vibrant "Wings" collage in my mailbox!  I agree that "art is an adventure that never ends" - this swap is proof of that.

Kat (Our Hostess with the Mostess!)

from The Kat Eye View of the World

Thank You Kat - Your beautiful photos always bring a smile to my face!  I had so much fun participating in your swap and I appreciate all the hard work you have put into it!

Since I believe that there is nothing quite like "snail mail"...

Here is the postcard I sent for the swap!

I was so inspired by The Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap that I am currently working on a "snail mail" series of postcards for my etsy shop... Stay tuned!

Paint Party Friday & The Final CareFREE Fridays! Paper Love

It's time for another Paint Party Friday and the final edition of CareFREE Fridays!

Every Friday during the summer I have shared collage papers that I painted during the week.  The papers are available to you for FREE to use in your artwork.  You can print them out immediately or you can save them to your computer for future use.  The only rule: Have fun!

If you are interested in downloading the papers, click on them to view them larger then print or save to your computer.

"Paper Love"

*You can see what I did with last week's FREE collage papers here.*

Today's papers make a total of 48 FREE papers!

(If you have missed any, you can find a list of the papers and project ideas to go with them here.)

Playing with Papers: An Ornament

Last Friday, I shared "Mosaic Madness" collage papers for CareFREE Fridays!  (If you haven't already downloaded them, you can get them here.)  For this week's Playing with Papers I created an ornament for all seasons...

I started this project with a wooden heart that I purchased from my local craft store,  then printed out the red and light blue mosaic papers on cardstock.  (I printed the light blue on both sides of the paper.)

I painted the wooden heart red, cut out 2 wings from the double-sided light blue mosaic paper and 2 hearts from the red mosaic paper.  (I used the wooden heart as a template and traced it.)

I glued one of the paper hearts to the front of the wooden heart using mod podge.  Then I attached the wings to the back.  After the wings were in place, I glued the second heart  on top of them.

I gave both sides of the heart and wings a coat of mod podge to seal them.

When the mod podge was thoroughly dry, I applied paper glaze to each of the individual squares on the heart to add dimension.  (I started with the back side and let it dry overnight, then I did the front.)

After the heart was completely dry, I added an 18 gauge wire that I curved into a spiral hanger.

The final step was adding a ribbon to the hanger.

The result?  An ornament that is pretty enough to display all year long!

*This step-by-step process is intended for personal use only.*

Please do not sell this image or teach/post this tutorial as your own. 

It is totally okay to use the FREE collage papers to make your own unique images to sell. (I actually think that's pretty cool, and I'd love to see them!)

But, please do not sell re-creations of the image I've made.  (That's not cool.)

Please be sure to check back for more FREE collage papers (and ideas to go with them)!

The very talented Heather Foust is guest curator over at the Cresendoh blog this week, and I am honored to be one of her featured artists!  Please be sure to stop by!

Paint Party Friday and the 8th CareFREE Fridays! Mosaic Madness

It's time for another Paint Party Friday and the eighth edition of CareFREE Fridays!

Every Friday during the summer I will share collage papers that I have painted during the week.  The papers are available to you for FREE to use in your artwork.  You can print them out immediately or you can save them to your computer for future use.  The only rule: Have fun!

If you are interested in downloading the papers, click on them to view them larger then print or save to your computer.

"Mosaic Madness"

*You can see what I did with last week's FREE collage papers here."

Playing with Papers: Scrabble Tile Necklaces

Last Friday, I shared "Feelin' Groovy" collage papers for CareFREE Fridays!  (If you haven't already downloaded them, you can get them here.)  For this week's Playing with Papers I created wearable art... Scrabble tile necklaces! 

I started by cropping my papers using Picnik, then printing them to fit the scrabble tiles.  (I used my printer's contact sheet setting.)

Next I cut out and glued my paper to the scrabble tile using Mod Podge.  (I also brushed a layer of Mod Podge over the top of the image to seal it.)

I added paper glaze to give the tile dimension.

Then I attached a jewelry bail to the back of each tile using E-6000.

The final step was adding the chains...

Now I have a couple of totally fun & far out necklaces!

*This step-by-step process is intended for personal use only.*

Please do not sell this image or teach/post this tutorial as your own. 

It is totally okay to use the FREE collage papers to make your own unique images to sell. (I actually think that's pretty cool, and I'd love to see them!)

But, please do not sell re-creations of the image I've made.  (That's not cool.)

Please be sure to check back for more FREE collage papers (and ideas to go with them)!

Paint Party Friday and the 7th CareFREE Fridays! Feelin' Groovy

It's time for another Paint Party Friday and the seventh edition of CareFREE Fridays!

Every Friday during the summer I will share collage papers that I have painted during the week.  The papers are available to you for FREE to use in your artwork.  You can print them out immediately or you can save them to your computer for future use.  The only rule: Have fun!

If you are interested in downloading the papers, click on them to view them larger then print or save to your computer.

This week I had lots of fun painting "Feelin' Groovy" papers...

*You can see what I did with last week's FREE collage papers here.*