This is my kind of Tweet!

I'm sorry to say, I am not a Tweeter. Maybe it's because I was so into the whole IM thing when it first came out in the 90's and I'm just kind of over it. Really, I'm just not that interesting on a moment to moment basis! These two pieces were inspired by Claudia Hellmuth, who is one of my favorite artists. I just love her whimsy and she was actually the first to inspire me to mixed media when I saw(and now own) Collage Discovery Workshop in a bookstore.

You can see how to make these pieces in Somerset Apprentice (Vol. 1), so I won't go into the details. However, I will tell you that the edgework here was an accident. I used painter's tape to cover the top of the canvas so that I could get a clean line when I painted the sides black. However, I had too much water on my brush and the black seeped onto the top of the canvas. Rolling with it, I just added some swirl stamps to the edge on top of it and ended up loving the look! This completes #17 of Project 52.

Do you redo things when you make mistakes? Or do you just embellish and adapt them like I do?

Groovy Baby!

Oh what a lot of fun this was! The perfect opportunity to use all those gaudy, bright colors in one piece! This piece was inspired by Shelley Ozbirn. Her 1970's assemblage piece was featured in Cloth, Paper, Scissors (Sep/Oct '09). And so, I created #16 of Project 52.

I was fortunate in doing mine as I had been to a '60's inspired New Year's party this year. We were given party trinkets of necklaces with musical notes and mini, vinyl records. Also, my fiance received (and wore proudly and comically), a pair of guitar glasses. I sawed off one guitar; it was the perfect size here.

The pants are made with various strips of cardstock, mini paper flowers, and Stickles. The belt buckle are cut from an old black leather jacket.

The background was created using thick white acryllic, which was then stamped in and textured with various objects. I drew the word 'groovy' and some peace signs into it. Then when dry, I painted a couple different washes over it and stamped again with stars. Black Stickles were added to the peace signs and word. Naturally, I used the necklaces for a hanger and attached the mini record to the bottom.

One of the most fun parts of this project for me was researching the '60's! This is a fun way to celebrate the year of your birth and find out what life was like then.

Paper Dolls

If you want a quick, fun project to do by yourself or with kids, I recommend Sandra Evertson's book, Fanciful Paper Projects. You just need to copy, cut, and glue. Of course, if you're a little more ambitious and creative; add some of your own embellishments. Here's a closer look at Violet.

And Second Prize.

And lastly, Narcissus.

They are 'hanging out' on my bulletin board cheering me on to create. I also made this lovely Prima Ballerina.

Instead of using the paper cut outs, I added my own beads and glitter to her crown,

and to her dainty feet.

I just love the paper flowers that Sandra included. I also chose to color in the dress a bit and (of course) add more glitter glue!

And that's it, #14 and 15 of my Project 52. Short and sweet!