Tag Archives: make

Paper plum blossoms

02 Friday Mar 2012

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Usually, surviving February merits a celebratory rush of energetic, brightly colored projects in the studio. But it has been so unseasonably warm and mild this winter, I don’t feel quite the same urgency about ushering in springtime. I wore shorts the last week of February, and the weather is already playing its April games, revolving between sunny 70’s and thunderstorms. Tornado season also seems to have arrived earlier, much to my children’s chagrin. (There are only so many times you can make a game out of doing your schoolwork in the downstairs hall closet by flashlight.)

However, the last few weeks have felt distinctly February when it comes to matters of the heart, and this paper craft seemed the perfect fit: hopeful, but fragile. The blooms and leaves are made from pieces of a coffee filter. I folded and watercolored the small shapes, then glued them in place on a tree branch. (That’s twice now our Bradford pear tree has done something useful — pretty sure that’s a record.)

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This is another project from Margaret Van Sicklen’s fantastic Modern Paper Crafts. Like the pleated paper bowl I made from the same book, this also required some complex paper folding and a delicate-but-determined touch. I found the leaves much simpler to make than the blossoms, but the instructions were clear and detailed enough to get me through it without frustration. And the nice thing about a paper craft with coffee filters is that your raw materials only cost a few cents, so it’s no great loss if (when) you have to start over.

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Watercoloring the blossoms and leaves also required a gentle hand, but I love the effect gained as the paint bleeds into the fibers of the filter. I used to make watercolor coffee filter art with my kids when they were little, so this was a sweet reminder of those early homeschool years. My son and daughter are more complicated creatures now, but we all still revel in doing art together.

In the end, that is what my plum blossoms speak to: fondness and nostalgia for a more innocent time, determination to get through winter’s challenges together, and growing hope for the future. I think that’s a pretty good way to end February.

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Pleated paper bowl

18 Saturday Feb 2012

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While most people window-shop for clothes or browse the electronics aisle, I stare at racks of art paper. Our local Paper Source store has a dozen rainbow rows of handmade papers, with patterns ranging from candy-colored stripes to watercolor waves. Just the sight of all those deckled edges is enough to make me want to squeal a little. :)

When they stocked some gorgeous new handmade Lokta, I knew it merited a special project. Lokta is a paper made in Nepal from the bark of the Lokta bush, and the strength of the fibers combined with the light weight mean it folds beautifully. There is also something undeniably romantic about folding paper that was crafted in the heights of the Himalayas. I chose a sheet printed with delicate butter yellow and white chrysanthemums on gold stems, layered over a pale aqua background.

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I wanted a project that would really showcase the paper, and my mind immediately went to the piece featured on the cover of Modern Paper Crafts, one of my favorite additions to my art book collection last year. The title features sections on folding, scoring, cutting, pleating, and recycling paper, and this pleated paper bowl was one of the highlights for me.

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I like to practice intricate paper crafts on more pedestrian paper before I attempt the real thing. Because a lot of this project was about perfecting the pleating technique, it made sense to take the time for a dry run and get my hands used to the folding and scoring motions. I made my test bowl from some Alice in Wonderland scrapbooking paper, twice the size of the final 6″-square Lokta bowl I had planned.

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If you examine the underside of the paper, you can see how the base and sides are formed. It required a lot of precise folding, but after one of those weeks that tested me both emotionally and physically, it was a joy to put on some ridiculously upbeat music and lose myself for a focused, rewarding half hour. Forming the final shape took some time, and I am definitely glad I tried it first before attempting it on more expensive, one-of-a-kind paper.

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Other than doubling the Lokta so both sides would be patterned, the second bowl was just a smaller version of the first. It went a little faster at the final stages because I knew what to expect and I was so excited to see the finished product. It made me excited to try out a few other projects that I have had my eye on from the same book. I think I saw a piece of paper with clouds and cranes that would work perfectly… ;)

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(Modern Paper Crafts; STC Craft: 2011; ISBN 1584798661)

Be mine

13 Monday Feb 2012

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For me, February has only two redeeming qualities: the fact that it is a few days shorter than the rest of the winter months, and the appearance of Valentine’s Day halfway through. After weeks of unrelenting cold and gray outside, I am happy to warm up my studio with bright pink paper and red foil hearts, and I certainly don’t mind an excuse to eat chocolate. :)

I have always loved this holiday. One of the highlights of my elementary school years was sorting through my Valentine’s Day “mailbox” (a.k.a. my shoebox covered with an improbably thick layer of glitter) and examining all the tiny cards. I was thrilled to see my name written by so many different hands, to open dozens of little secret messages, and then sort them by cartoon character and color. In a tidal wave of zeal for the day, I even ate whole handfuls of Conversation Hearts, even though they taste more like chalk than candy.

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It is a shame that Valentine’s Day often creates such a vortex of angst and commercialism. Life involves quite enough pressure and uncertainty without adding worries over buying the right gift, making the right reservation, or finding the right partner on a deadline. I much prefer the old days, when you gave a valentine to everyone in your class because that way no one got their feelings hurt. I appreciate February 14th because it is a day to say “I love you” to the people I care about, to remind my friends and family how much I appreciate their sweet selves. I’ll take construction paper hearts and a hug over diamonds and a teddy bear gift basket any day.

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I had a lot of fun making my own valentines again this year. They wound up being more like miniature books than cards, a melange of all the papers, fabric, stickers, and ribbon that caught my eye. I made a dozen, but no two were alike — partly because I don’t see the point in making something by hand and then turning it into an assembly line, and partly because I have a little trouble reigning myself in when I get excited about a project. :)

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The end size of my valentines was about 2″x3″, much more reminiscent of vintage valentines than a traditional greeting card. They are small, detailed, have lots of texture and color: all my crafting loves. In addition to several papers, I used red plaid fabric from kitchen curtains I made a few years back and some pink and white toile from my daughter’s toddler bedroom. (She’s almost twelve now — always keep your fabric scraps is the lesson here.) The finishing touch was some translucent plastic, Valentine-themed die-cut shapes, perfect for tucking in tiny envelopes or dangling from pink embroidery floss. Valentine’s Day is one of those times when I indulge in all things girly, dainty, and pretty.

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One final caveat: even though I really enjoy making my own valentines, I offer not a whit of condemnation if you don’t. As long as what you give comes with genuine thought and feeling, you really can’t go wrong. May you have a sweet, loving day this Valentine’s Day and every day. :)

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Origami Photo Cube

10 Friday Feb 2012

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Remember the ubiquitous 1970s acrylic photo cube? It had a clear plastic outer layer and a spongy cube in the center, between which you could slide five of your favorite snapshots for fashionable, easy display. My grandparents had one in their living room, and I remember twirling it from one side to the next to look at the pictures over and over again, as if they might change on the next turn.

My favorite photo in the cube was of my grandpa and I: he resplendent in a silvery blue leisure suit, I perched on his lap in my favorite Snoopy shirt. He was a gentle, charming man with brilliant white hair and thick-rimmed glasses, and I was a preschooler with blonde ringlets and a ready, crooked smile. He loved to tell cheesy jokes, and I loved to hear them… we were a good match.

Twenty years later, at his passing, I found the same photo cube sitting on the side table. The colors in the picture were faded to shades of green and umber, but he was still there, with the same smiling, twinkling eyes. I wish I had kept that photo cube; I wish I had known things like that would matter so much more some day.

I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic when I saw a photo cube project in Trash Origami. Unlike the original, this one is made entirely of paper, but it is the same concept. In the origami version, the inner structure of the cube is formed from six photo-size pieces of thick paper — I opted for cardstock scraps, but you could easily use old postcards. A few simple folds layer them together without any adhesive.

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The cube’s outer layer is made from folded photographs which serve to lock the structure in place. I used 4″x6″ prints from our visit to a San Diego botanical garden this fall. I thought it would make for a welcome bright spot in the midst of my husband’s thoroughly taupe cubicle. I love the variety of textures and colors the plants provide, but the cube could just as easily display snapshots of a new baby, honeymoon pics of the newlyweds, or photos of you and your sweetheart for a custom valentine.

Best of all, it could even preserve a moment of laughter shared between grandfather and granddaughter. And although some day soon the clothes in the pictures and the technology used to capture them will again be obsolete, the memories never will. These jokes are for you, Daddy R.E. :)

Two atoms are walking along when one suddenly says to the other, “I’ve just lost one of my electrons!”
“Are you sure?” asks his buddy.
“Yes,” replies the first atom. “I’m positive.”

How do you make a Venetian blind?
Poke him in the eye.

What do you call a fish without eyes?
A fsh.

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Shiny

23 Monday Jan 2012

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My work in the studio is often solitary and focused, and I really crave that kind of restorative, contemplative alone-time. However, I think art takes on a whole new, wonderful dimension when you make it with someone else. A dear friend and I made a batch of these fancy little fellas together, and we had such a good time doing it. When you make art with friends, not only do you get to share in each other’s inspiration, it’s also a lot of fun to see how different people use identical materials to make a completely unique set of choices, discoveries, and finished products. (not to mention our highly individualized mistakes and messes :)

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For me, part of the appeal of this project is pairing substantial, earthy river rock and ethereal, barely-there sheets of shiny silver leaf. I love contrast: my favorite snacks are all salty-sweet, and I am drawn to color combinations like pale sky blue and deep red, or soft pink and bright chartreuse green. I find instant allure in these small, simple pieces of art that carry such weighty messages.

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I made about a dozen rocks with my favorite inspirational words and phrases, then a few with only single initials as gifts for friends. While I usually gravitate toward more detailed, time-consuming artwork, there is a lot to be said for this kind of straightforward project. It requires only a handful of items, is easily transported, and lends itself to being crafted in stages as time allows. If you yearn for a little instant gratification, it is also easily do-able in a single sitting.

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The items needed are all readily purchased at your local craft store or on-line. I used a bag of large, polished river rocks; Mona Lisa brand silver leaf sheets, adhesive size, and sealant; and a few sheets of letter rub-ons and stickers. The only other requirements are a pair of small paintbrushes and a work surface that can stand up to all the silver leaf dust you’ll create by the end. I personally consider a project extra successful when I finish looking like I was caught in a tiny silver snowstorm, but if you feel differently, you might add a tablecloth and art smock to your project materials list. ;)

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Cheer up

17 Tuesday Jan 2012

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With a bad cold making the rounds in our house, my family has been in need of comfort and cheer. For my husband, I made amberjack poached in red curry and coconut milk, full of ginger and chili, then we settled in for a marathon of the original Star Wars trilogy. (first theater release version, thank you very much — I’ll have none of that CGI-rendered Jabba the Hut ;)

Spoiling my teenage son/confirmed chocoholic is just a matter of baking the fudgiest recipe I can find and tucking him in with a big fleece blanket still warm from the dryer. For my daughter, it’s a cup of Sleepytime tea with honey and plenty of lemon, and some sort of little artsy gift to make her smile, like this blooming flower card.

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The inner flower is the same size as the base, but the petals are carefully folded and each one tucked under the next to create a cute pop-up effect. I glued two sheets of printed paper back-to-back to get the patterns I wanted, but you could save time by using double-sided cardstock. I like that peek of the inner message as it opens.

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The template for this charming little bloom comes from one of my favorite papercrafting books, Papercrafting in No Time by Clare Youngs. There are fifty creative, appealing projects in the book, and while “in No Time” is a bit of a stretch for some of the more complex pieces, they are worth the effort. You’re certainly not limited to the included instructions either — I have re-purposed several templates to create a whole new set of paper art. Definitely on the Cut-and-Paste Club reading list. :)

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Wax on, wax off

12 Thursday Jan 2012

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When I first saw encaustic artwork years ago, I was immediately infatuated. I love the way the layers of wax bring depth and texture, and you can embed almost any multimedia object in it. However, it seemed too complex and cost-prohibitive to even consider trying. There was also the space-planning issue. At the time, my “studio” consisted of a table in the corner of our master bedroom, and it would have required some drastic changes to make room for all the encaustics materials. There were only two items left in the room that could be exchanged for more art workspace; since I was fairly accustomed to sleeping in a bed and also pretty attached to my husband, I opted to put my adventures in wax painting on hold.

Fast forward eight years, and a lot has changed. (not on the husband front — I mean space-wise :) I actually have my own room in the house devoted to creating art, and the price of encaustic art supplies has decreased as the medium’s popularity has grown. When I realized that I could use an electric griddle in place of a more specialized (read: expensive) heated palette to melt the wax/resin mixture, I decided to take the leap.

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If you’ve read more than a post or two on this blog, then I bet you can guess my next step: I went looking for a book to find out more. Patricia Seggebruch is one of the first wax artists I encountered years ago, and her newest book, Encaustic Mixed Media: Innovative Techniques and Surfaces for Working With Wax, was a great starting point. Over the past few years, she experimented with a variety of techniques and media beyond traditional applications, and her enthusiasm about her discoveries is definitely contagious.

I decided to start small, a 4″-square collage with watercolor, paper, wax, and tiny beads. “A thousand sugar stars” felt like the perfect title for a piece of art created on the heels of weeks of late-night holiday baking. I scattered coarse salt over the wet watercolor sky to create crystalline stars, then added a paper landscape in the foreground. Next I painted on a few layers of wax and sprinkled on some royal blue and pale pearl glass seed beads.

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Although I find encaustics a generally peaceful pursuit, I have to admit there is something slightly invigorating about holding a paintbrush full of molten wax in one hand and a heat gun in the other. ;) Fortunately I have asbestos hands from years of cooking and baking. I’ve started experimenting with the addition of fabric pieces to the background collages, and I love the saturated, translucent quality the wax gives to textiles. Stay tuned. :)

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(North Light Books: 2011; ISBN 978-1440308703)

Gift Box

03 Tuesday Jan 2012

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As we get back to our normal work and school routine around here, I thought I would share one last holiday-themed project. If there was such a thing as Paper Craft Engineering 101, this would be the final exam. The 4″-square box, lid, and double layer of pockets inside are made from four single sheets of cardstock, scored, cut, and folded to form the structure and its contents.

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When you remove the lid and unfold the box, it transforms into four pairs of pockets. Each pocket holds a decorated, removable tag. The center forms the perfect hideaway for a miniature winter scene made from paper and gel medium.

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I made the gift box around this time last year; it was a promise to the recipient to pray for the items listed on the tags: peace, love, wisdom, faith, joy, mercy, hope, and patience. (I certainly needed and received all eight myself in 2011.)

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The template measurements for the gift box came from Outstanding Mini Albums: 50 Ideas for Creating Mini Scrapbooks by Jessica Acs. The rest of the projects featured in the book are more traditional scrapbooks, and this could easily be used as a keepsake album with pictures on the tags. It would make a fantastic birthday gift or present for new parents. You could also use the tags to record words of advice for newlyweds or wishes for a graduate.

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Projects like this one take time, but I value the focus and solitude of those hours. This is definitely one of those crafts where being a member of the Cut-and-Paste Club comes in handy, but don’t worry — even if you haven’t renewed your membership since kindergarten, the club officially welcomes you back with open arms. Go get your scissors, I’ll wait here. :)

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(Memory Makers: 2009; ISBN 159963032X)

Beachscapes

31 Saturday Dec 2011

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I find most people naturally gravitate toward a certain type of landscape. For some, the mountains are the only real destination, and nothing excites or calms them like hiking and camping in the midst of thick forest, on the edge of cold lakewater. There are those who thrill in wide open, wavy-hot, golden plains, the kind of land where the views go on for miles, uninterrupted and clear.

My own heart’s cry is unmistakable: I love the beach. There is that moment every time when I first see palm trees and smell the salt on the breeze, and I just know I am home. This fall we visited the beach for the first time in years; the first time since my world changed because of unexpected, lasting illness; and only a few short months after I almost lost my life this summer. (Typing that makes me uncomfortable, but I am resisting the urge to tone it down because it is also true. If I don’t acknowledge yesterday’s pain, I think I lose some of today’s victory.) Going back to the beach was a homecoming of the sweetest sort, one of those precious times when you recognize every moment for the gift it is and can enjoy every part of it, from sunburn to sandy toes. I smiled for days, until my cheeks hurt and I had a tan that matched the laugh lines on my face.

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I brought back plenty of shells and a bag full of sand from the beach, and I determined to build a miniature beachscape to live on my dining room table. The ever-faithful T.J. Maxx offered a host of inexpensive choices for clear glass containers, and our local home and garden store stocked a few succulents that are also native to the San Diego beach we visited. The rest was highly therapeutic sorting, pouring, planting, and arranging.

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I love to try new things; that occasionally gets me into trouble, and it quite often gets me elbow-deep in glue, paint, potting soil, or cake batter. (never simultaneously thankfully :) This time it got sand in my teeth and bits of seashells under my nails, but it was delightful. As soon as I finished my little bowl of beach zen, I was ready to make another one.

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I made a second run for plants and glassware, and constructed two more terrariums for close friends, plus a small one for my husband to take to work — a little bit of permanent vacation in the midst of fluorescent lights and upholstered cubicle walls. You don’t need a particularly green thumb to make or keep a beach terrarium with succulents. A splash of water every week or two is all these require.

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After I finished my inaugural efforts, I went in search of a book to learn more. I knew I’d found like minds as soon as I opened Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds by Amy Bryant Aiello and Kate Bryant. The title pages picture a terrarium almost exactly like the first I made, complete with sand, shells, reindeer moss, and succulents. The book is a fantastic resource with all the basic how-to’s and ideas for dozens of containers, plants, and decorative additions.

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I love how easy terrariums are to personalize — beaches or mountains; lush and flowering or spare and clean; elegant table centerpiece or quirky office decoration. Terrariums are also a great way to house keepsakes from your latest vacation, a reminder of that dream trip you haven’t taken yet, or your favorite pieces of home. And you don’t need any special gardening or crafting skills to put one together, just a willingness to get your hands a little dirty. Feel free to post your questions, and let me know how yours turns out. :)

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(Timber Press: 2011; ISBN 978-1604692341)

Clockwork Cthulhu

27 Tuesday Dec 2011

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I made all the holiday gifts I gave to grown-ups this year, and these three polymer clay miniatures were without doubt the most fun to construct. I made one each for my husband and two close friends, all of whom like Steampunk and the work of H.P. Lovecraft. For those of you not on that particular bandwagon, be warned: you may feel yourself growing geekier as I explain. ;)

Lovecraft was a prolific horror fiction author from New England who lived in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Cthulhu is one of his monsters of the deep, a sort of winged cephalopod with a few human cousins somewhere on the family tree. Cthulhu is one of Lovecraft’s most beloved creations and has gone on to inspire a whole range of modern fiction and film. (I personally attribute his popularity to those charming tentacles.) Of course little did Lovecraft know, he wasn’t even scratching the surface — have you seen the stuff that actually lives in the deepest parts of the ocean? (Don’t get me started on that episode of Blue Planet with the anglerfish…)

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On to our second geeky definition: Steampunk is a science fiction sub-genre based on a sort of anachronistic alternate future, modeled after Victorian England’s technology. Just picture our society as a Victorian might have imagined it — steam-powered, clockwork-driven, and founded on the principle that everyone wears hats and gloves at all times. Jules Verne wearing goggles + metal gears + computers = Steampunk.

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I love working with vintage materials and I appreciate a vivid literary imagination, so these projects were a good fit. I decided to blend the two genres and create captured, clockwork Cthulhus, so I emptied out my jar of pocketwatch parts, grabbed a pack of glow-in-the-dark Fimo, and got to work. I really enjoyed crafting the tiny clay miniatures, brushing them with mica powder, and posing them in their new habitats.

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I am such a sucker for anything luminescent, and I spent as much time sitting in the dark watching these glow as I did actually sculpting. :) The smallest Chtulhu is about an inch high and spends his life inside a pocketwatch case. The other two measure about 2″ and 4″ across and make their homes in vintage mainspring advertising tins. I used tiny old screws, cogs, and rivets to add a little extra Steampunk flair.

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While studio time is often both cathartic and challenging for me, the hours spent on these were just plain old, inventive fun. They were also a great exercise in using what I already had on hand to create what I had in mind. I vow not to stop here, and there are definitely more tiny clay creatures in my future. I’m thinking a tiny jar of miniature, glow-in-the-dark, mechanical fireflies…

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If you’re interested in making your own Steampunk creations, you might check out Steampunkery: Polymer Clay and Mixed Media Projects by Christi Friesen. Her design sense is a bit different from mine but wholly inspiring nonetheless, and she has a fantastic sense of humor. It’s a great starting point, especially if you’re new to the world of polymer clay. Happy Steampunking!

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