Letter Love 101 with Joanne Sharpe

I have really enjoyed taking Letter Love 101 with Joanne Sharpe. Joanne is someone that I've wanted to take a class with but never was able to be in the same place she was. What's funny is my most of my family and my beloved hometown is only 30 minutes from her. I had to wait until she offered this in an online format so Joanne...thank you very much! Here's a little bit of what I have created in the 3 journals we worked in...Letter Love Journal, Letter Loving Journal & Letter Loved Journal.

More to come...what do you think? I would love to hear...

Letter Love 101, Helmar, Dylusions & Faber-Castell = Art Journal Love

I have always been fascinated by typography so when the incredible Joanne Sharpe announced her online class,LETTER LOVE 101, I was one of the 1st to sign up. Now that the class has come to the end I can say it was one of the most informational and fun classes.I can also say that I really have had the opportunity to work with, in my humble opinion, one of the Helmar adhesives that doesn't get showcased as much as it should! Here is a link to a great chart explaining the different qualities and also videos demoing this product. HELMAR Professional ACID FREE Glue, with a neutral pH, dries clear and creates a FLEXIBLE bond. This is not the 1st time that I have used this PAPER to PAPER adhesive, designed for book binding, but it is the 1st time that I had the opportunity to use it on heavy 130 lb.watercolor paper and also used to adhere manilla tags to 130 lb.watercolor paper.  I highly suggest all mixed media artists consider using this in art journals along with all other paper arts.

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Let me show you several different ways that I used the Professional ACID FREE GLUE in my journals created for the Letter Love 101 class.

This is the cover of a handmade journal I made to hold several final projects. I used Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor Paper, 130 lb. weight, to create the handpainted pages. After putting it together I wanted to label the front cover. This is some heavy paper and this would be the test to see if this adhesive worked as well as it had on regular weight cardstock.

The trick I discovered is to help the process along with a brayer and allow to sit overnight. That is where the magic happens...the bond becomes complete and you have what looks like 1 paper instead of 2 papers. Another fact that I've discovered is that it doesn't allow colors to bleed together...that in itself is a major selling point!

I wish you could see it close-up, since I have a torn edge you

can't really get the idea of the bond...it doesn't lift or curl.

Here is another example that I created so you could get a look at different weights of papers using this adhesive. This book I'm working in is the Strathmore Visual Journal/Mixed Media and the papers are 90 lb. weight. I've learned that sometimes it is better to glue 2 pages together to create strength so that is how I started off. I know it is hard to see but the painted pages are not the least bit wrinkled, in fact you would never know that they are 2 pages thick. I wanted to try a different weight so I adhered a manilla tag created using the new stamps from DYLUSIONS, designed by Dyan Reaveley for Ranger Ink & Stampers Anonymous. The tag alone consists of 3 different layers so with my adhesive I applied a thin coat, attached the tag and smoothed it with my brayer.

Here are the journal pages still in process but you will see again how incredible this adhesive works. No lifting away or curling of the edges!

I'm going to sound like a broken record but HELMAR Professional ACID FREE Glue needs to be in your glue arsenal. I highly recommend it!

I want to give a HUGE shout out to FABER-CASTELL, USA for the absolutely phenomenal  Pitt Artist Pen & Big Brush series. All hand journaling was done with these india ink pens in various sizes. It has become my pen of choice for art journals!

Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions I would be more than glad to answer them. 

Tattered Angels, Canvas Corp., Plain Jane & CHA Projects

I have so much to share and can't wait to show you my take on the new Tattered Angels PLAIN JANE....I think the possibilities are endless. It was an extremely busy time leading up to the Winter 2012 CHA held in Anaheim, CA. So much to do in December...projects had to be completed so the catalog could be printed. Hard to believe that 2 of my projects are in the catalog. And then in Jan. several more to be completed & transported out to CHA. Once there you could see the sigh of relief from all of the designers & manufacturers...it was showtime! And what a show, over 6-1/2 miles of the most incredible inspiration in mew products and materials. Let me share with you 4 of my projects that went to Tattered Angels.

The first project was based on several new Glimmer Glam color combos...and they are gorgeous! I wanted the sparkle & twinkle to stand out so my canvas stars, covered with Glimmer Glam, sits upon a matte white canvas background. I used Grandma's House,Twinkle Toes, Cookies N' Cream and Calm Before the Storm to paint the stars. Unfortunately you can't get a good idea how these stars twinkle...I guess you will have to try them for yourself!

The 2nd project was based on a Glimmer Mist color way called Icicle Blue. A small 6" x 12" canvas received several coats of all the colors that I allowed the colors to pool and drip along with Prima Flowers misted to match. The Glimmer Mists used from left to right are Mountain Mist, Pop Rocks, Blitzen, Icicle Blue, Night B4 Christmas and Afraid of the Dark. Tattered Angels letters colored with several of the blues finish off this piece.

As you may have heard Tattered Angels is now under the umbrella of Canvas Corp. and I was thrilled to be able to work with several of their products. In my signature round canvas I created an art journal background with several of the new Tattered Angels Plain Jane products. I also used several different materials to show how Plain Jane would react with them...manilla tags, chipboard, tape, canvas & twine...finished off with Canvas Corp twine. I used Plain Jane SIMPLY SHEER for the background in Light Blue, Faded Yellow,Warm Green & Dark Blue and Plain Jane BASEBOARD in Red Rocks used with punchinella to add texture. The Canvas Corp. canvas banner pieces and twine were also misted with these colors. The Chipboard was misted with Ivory BASEBOARD. To finish off the piece carious stencils from The Crafters Workshop were used with Plain Jane STAINED GLASS in Green & Purple. At first I wanted some GLIMMER & GLAM but as the piece evolved I saw the possibilities with this new product line. It seems that many customers have requested Tattered Angels paint products..."hold the sparkle"!

My last project was created with one of the new clam pack sets based on international travels...called Germany. I had this fabulous 12"x12"photo album from Walnut Hollow, a preferred partner, and used many different techniques to show how well these clam pack color choices work together. If you have been following this blog then you already know that wood takes all these products so well. The Glimmer Mist Colors chosen to represent GERMANY are Wheat Beer, Partridge in a Pear Tree, Nougat & Mallard.

I hope you take a look at all the new Tattered Angels products and colors...with the addition of the Plain Jane paint line you will have so many possibilities available to you. I know you will see more projects over the next year showing you all the different ways to incorporate Tattered Angels into every project.

Thanks for stopping by...I would love to hear what you think!

Tattered Angels Design Team 2012

Been busy...busy...busy. It's a good busy but phew...I've bubblewrapped my last project that will heading with me to CHA. I want to share my latest post from the Tattered Angels blog. I hope you enjoy ;) Now back to work!

I'm so excited to be back for a second term on the Tattered Angels Design Team and to be in the presence of such creative artists. I'd like to share with you three projects I submitted for the DT call. It was nerve wracking trying to figure out how to do something different, step out of my comfort zone, be unique and stand out.

My first project is an altered word mirror that I paid $1.99 for at Michaels. I'm calling this my thrift store project because it cost only pennies to make. Before misting the mirror I stamped around the inside of the mirror and applied Golden Glass Bead medium and embedded a large assortment of various embellishments & trinkets. Once dry I misted the mirror with Tattered Angels Blackberry Cordial, Timberline Glimmer Mist and Seven Seas Chalkboard Glimmer Mist. To finish off I used a fan brush and appliedTwinkle Toes, Pixie Dust, Ocean Spray and Bordeaux Glimmer Glam to add some glitter and sparkle.

For my second project I tried something I've never done before...a white on white creation. I tend to grab and use lots & lots of color but in this case I decided to really step out of my comfort zone. This is going to be a first in  a series of the four seasons. WINTER DREAMS is done on a 12" round canvas, my favorite type of canvas to work on! I applied several different random layers from books, music and paper to the canvas with Helmar Decopage. A thin coat of gesso was applied next over all the paper and I stenciled 3 snowflakes with a heavier layer of gesso.  I started misting until I was happy with the background. Then antique lace, crystals, pearls and a Pink Paislee alphabet were applied with various Helmar Adhesives to finish this off. I used the following colors for this canvas: Glimmer Mists in Snow Queen, Iridescent Gold, Bronze, Nougat, Dazzling Diamonds & Pearl. Chalkboard Glimmer Mist in Chalk, Glimmer Glam in Chandelier &Twinkle Toes and Glimmer Glaze in Champagne.

My final project was created for my husband Phil who encourages me every step of the way and also offers honest {and often correct} critiques of my projects. Another inexpensive wood box that I picked up along the way altered into a box to hold "whatnots" on his computer desk. Stamping, embossing, Tim Holtz Ideaology parts & Grunge Board pieces add to the design of this box. The Tattered Angels Colors use were Glimmer Mist in Timberline, Mallard, Snowy Pine and Blackberry Cordial, Chalkboard inCalypso and Glimmer Glaze in Icicle & Emerald Cove finish off the colors.

 

Tattered Angels S.W.A.K. & Helmar Adhesives

Greeting everyone...can you believe that Jan. 2012 is half over...oh my! I've been busy creating several CHA projects which I will share after CHA...looking forward to being in Anaheim and the opportunity to meet several of my FB friends/artists!! I want to share the following project I just created for the Helmar DT Blog...seriously I couldn't create if I didn't have these incredible adhesives...and again a huge thanks to the one & only ERIKA TAYLOR for introducing me to them!!!


Last week the Helmar Design Team shared some incredible projects using May Arts Ribbon and this coming up week is Authentique week! I'm going to bridge the 2 weeks using some fabulous products from each company. Of course I couldn't do it without my trusty Helmar Adhesives. For this project I used Helmar Quick-Fix Adhesive Runner, Zap Dots, V2 Vellum Adhesive & 450 Quick Dry to assemble a mini-album from Maya Roads.

I first misted with Tattered Angels Cherub Pink & Olive Vine Glimmer Mist all the various components..."Pleasant" from the Authentique BLISSFUL Collection, a faux suede leaf ribbon from MayArts and SWAK title from Heidi Swapp Tattered Angels Mistable Simple Sayings. Once dry I attached everything to the Maya Roads Album...the paper with the Adhesive Runner, the SWAK title with ZAP DOTS and the cut apart Mar Arts ribbon with the 450 Quick Dry adhesive. I then adhered a piece of antique lace with the V2 Vellum Adhesive...after reading all the raves about this product I just had to try it and I'm happy to say it works! I grabbed some beautiful May Arts ribbon to finish the album with a beautiful bow. I love the look!

Here is a close-up of what I did with the May Arts FAUX SUEDE / LEAVES ribbon...it was ivory in color but of course I was able to alter the color with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist. I cut the ribbon apart to create dimensional flowers & leaves. Some bling...of course and it is now ready to be given a gift.

Thanks for stopping by and make sure to check back often to see what I have up my sleeve...I know you will not be disappointed!

Happy creating :)

Who is JANE? Inquiring minds want to know...

I hate secrets...

I hate being left in suspense...

I have this incredible need to know...

JANUARY 29th, 2012

{All will be revealed}

Tattered Angels Design Team 2012 Roll Call

It's been a busy start to Jan. 2012. I'm knee deep in creating top-secret projects for CHA...I think you will be please with what will be rolled out by Tattered Angels...OH YEAH!!! I thought it would be a good idea to do a Tattered Angels Design Team roll call so you can see the incredible talent on this team. Make sure you check out their blogs...oh boy...such inspiration!!!

• Alissa Fast
• Anna Bjorklund
• Anna Dąbrowska -Pękocka
• Birgit Koopsen
• Evgenia Petzer
• Holly Simoni
• Jana Korecic
• Kaori Fujimoto
• Karine Tapie
• Lene Neby
• Louise Nelson
• Martha Richardson  {<--------------ME}
• Nathalie Kalbach
• Vicki Chrisman
• Zoe Nemburt

I can't wait to show you my projects I've created but you will have to wait until Feb. Make sure you check out the Tattered Angels Blog to see what these fab artists have up their sleeves.

Have a great Monday!!

Martha