Finishing Details, Kirigmi, Spray Box Beauties, Scrapbook & Rubber Stamping tips

Hello!

vintage ad for Sunkist

Today I would like to tidy up some loose ends, and encourage you to continue to play with many of the ideas I have mentioned in previous posts.

FINISH your project!

PUT AWAY all your creative messes!

LABEL your containers/boxes/whatever you use!

TAKE A PICTURE as a lasting memory!

SHARE with someone what you have created!

Of course, you understand that
                I have an extremely difficult time doing most of those!
:-)

               This lil' darlin' is from a shop in etsy.
http://www.etsy.com/
shop: caracarmina

ALTERED DOLL TIPS:

If you are super unsure about adding an embellishment, and it is preventing you from going any further - there's help for all you perfectionists!

There are a couple of tack-it-over, temporary fixatives that you should be able to find easily.

Aleene's Tack-It-Over Glue

repositional tape runner

repositional glue

Most of these you should be able to find in any stamping/scrapbooking store. At least one or more of these you should be able to find at large craft stores, including WalMart's craft section, and even perhaps your local Walgreen's.

A good tip to remember, even though it may say "can reposition any time" keep in mind that these are meant to be temporary. If you decide temporary may mean months or even years from now - don't! It may be impossible to remove an item safely without damage, or the temporary adhesive may leave a permanent stain or residue.

This doll sold on ebay. I don't have the creator's name.

More Altered Art Paper Doll embellishments to excite your creativity:

google eyes, in many sizes

pipe cleaners

baby blocks

address labels

fun flocking
pine needles

canceled postage stamps

rub ons

random beads you find on the floor

Barbie accessories like shoes, handbags, etc.

KIRIGAMI TIPS:

When using kirigami with the Spray Box:

Instead of newspaper placed inside the Spray Box, lay down a top layer of plain white paper/card stock/wrapping paper (we will call this scratch paper).

Now place on top the desired 'scratch paper' with the kirigami placed on top of that. Follow spray instructions in previous posts.

When you are ready to change Glimmer Mist colors, or desired card stock, move the bottom 'scratch' paper around.

By the end of your spraying session, you should have quite a nice pile of 'scratch' paper that is ready to use as is, as backgrounds for scrapbooking pages, layers for card making, the ideas are limitless.

This is a two-in-one activity that works wonderfully!

                             Glimmer Mists:  http://www.mytatteredangels.com/

                 Here is another kirigami leaf pattern from

http://www.papersnowflakes/.com

KIRIGAMI TIP #2:

Are you having problems with your kirigami or paper blowing around when you are spraying them with diluted colors/Glimmer Mists? You can use small dabs of repositional tape runner or glue, or...

Try chopsticks!

I also like wooden skewers that you get at the grocery store for kabobs.

Pay attention that your chopstick or skewer is not interfering with your spray results. For example, that you leave a line across a lacy part.

You do have to use both hands however, which can be a challenge for some of us, especially on no-coffee days.  :0)

from Dover Publications



TIP: You can also use very small rolled up bits of scotch tape to hold a pattern in place. Try to tape only in large areas so the tape does not show through.

TIP ON A TIP:

To use scotch tape as a cheap alternative to double sided repositional tape, you cut off a small square or so. Roll it up so the sticky sticks to the sticky!

NOW pat the rolled up scotch tape onto your t-shirt or jeans. This will collect enough lint to decrease the stickiness. I use this all the time to hold in place a pattern when I do my papercutting/scherensnitte. I want to be able to remove the tape afterwards with no damage to my paper. This works!

CRAFTING TIP:

This idea is from my friend Shelly. She takes old CDs and puts a blob of glue on it. She then uses the glue by dipping a toothpick into the glue blob, and using this tiny amount of glue to place in small, exactly-where-she-wants-it areas.

She does amazingly detailed work, using this glue method.

SCRAPBOOK/RUBBER STAMP PUNCH TIP:

Are your paper punches getting sticky? Not punching all the way around? Leaving little torn edges?

Time for a day at the punch spa!

Translation: time to give your punches some tender loving care.

Tear off a piece of wax paper. Fold it in half. Now fold it in half again.

Punch folded wax paper several times with your tired punch.

Pick out bits of wax paper with a pin.

Tear off a piece of aluminum foil. Fold it in half. Now fold it in half again.

Punch folded foil several times with the same tired punch.
Doing these two things can really help to perk up your punches to punch their best.

Here is one of my favorite punching books on paper punched flowers:

http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Bouquet-Punches-Beautiful-Flowers/dp/1600590594

very addictive.

Well, hopefully that clarifies a few things for you, and gives you a few tips to make your crafting time as fun as possible!

For recycled projects in the future, continue to save your gum wrappers, old CDs, printed plastic bags with logos but not grocery plastic bags, and now a new one:

plastic lids from deli items, margarine containers, etc. We will be needing both white or clear, and any color, but a larger size.

"Nothing you do for children is ever wasted.

They seem not to notice us,

hovering, averting our eyes,

and they seldom offer thanks,

but what we do for them

in never wasted."

- Garrison Keillor

Have a good day. And I mean that, not just saying it.

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

Beginning Altered Art Paper Doll tutorial, Kirigami intro and quotes

Hello!  Here is a great quote to start your day:

Like snowflakes, the human pattern is never cast twice.

We are uncommonly and marvelously intricate in thought and action.."

........Alice Childress

Altered Art Paper Doll Tutorial:

I moved around quite a bit as a child. I was blessed with parents who thoughfully provided me with the perfect portable toy - paperdolls! They went everywhere with me.

I cherished each and every one. I had Lucille Ball, Hayley Mills, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, 5 Ballerinas, 3 Nurses, Little Women, it's a small world..the list goes on and on!

So...you might say I have had a love affair with paperdolls for a very long time. In the past few years I have been very interested in altered paper dolls. By using paper dolls as a vehicle for creative release, you might say I'm STILL playing with my paperdolls!

Sounds good to me!

Getting Started:

You already have!  Using all that wonderful found treasure from you backyard, sewing kit, scrapbooking box, game room, etc. you are well on your way.

Decide what you doll will be.

Will it be a self portrait?
Will it be for your eyes only, or will you share it?
What do you want her/him to say?
Does your paperdoll represent a theme?
An emotion?
A certain time in history?
Or is she just to be a fun and quirky piece of creative art?

Now that you have started thinking about your altered paper doll, sort through your "treasures" that you picked out in the last few days. Does anything strike you for a base? This will be a head, a head with a torso, or a complete base with head, arms, legs and torso.

You can find paperdoll bases at many places on the internet for free:

Here's one:
 http://familycrafts.about.com/od/paperdolls/ig/Paper-Doll-Accessories/Paper-Doll-Body.htm

and another:
http://www.box.net/shared/n2o0zxx0rf

and another
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/TCR/0615_57-59.pdf

You can also take a paper doll that you already own, and trace around the outside of the doll, to give you a good base.
I have also had success with cutting out full length photos of someone from magazines. I also snag photographs with great body parts in them - a good set of legs, a good arm or two, etc.

You can either choose your head first or your torso first to get started.
Let's look at things that you might want to use for a head:

* doll head
* paper doll head from a tattered set
* matchbox
* copy of a paper doll head, or of a photo of someone in your family
* a sticker
* a copy of a famous painting
* small shrine box
* game piece

TIP: a doll head does not have to have 2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 nose or 1 mouth!

Here are a few things that you could use for your torso:

* any of the above items!
* silk flower head
* playing card, or tarot card
* card stock figure
* mentos tin
* small computer component

Getting the idea?   :0)

Re-arrange and play with your pieces.
Do you want arms or legs?
Do you want your paperdoll to be moveable, or glued into one position?

Here are some photos of other talented artists' work:

The first is from ArtByDebora, an etsy artist.

This one is from dadadreams, on etsy.

This one is made by penniesfromheaven, another etsy artist and shop:

TIP: There are so many options for limbs - thread beds onto wire stiff enough to stay in place. Or use chenille stems! Be sure to loop one end of the wire to the beads don't fall off!  Thread the top of the wire through grommets, eyelets or punched holes on the body base. For a foot or a hand, make another loop at the end of the wire/chenille stem.

Get ready for tomorrow:

Look through your stacks of magazines, and catalogs. If you don't have any, go ask a neighbor to donate to your project. It beats asking for a cup of sugar!
Variety will make this next part so much more fun.
You can start clipping and tearing out body parts if you still need them. Cut out fanciful hats, or colored, textured parts to cut your own hat out of. Same goes for interesting necklaces, bracelets, earrings, shoes, skirts, etc.

Let your imagination soar into silliness!

Baking tip:
After unwrapping a stick of butter or margarine, use the wrapper to butter the inside of pans/muffin cups, etc. Anywhere that you have to "grease" the surface.

Here are some photos of kirigami that I have done. It is to whet your appetite for the next few blogs!

"If you don't like where you are,

change it!

You're not a tree."

...Jim Rohn

Have a wonderful, serendipity day!

Share your creations and thoughts with me!

hugs,

inkspired