alcohol ink

Hello, friends and neighbors! A couple of weeks ago, I worked on some new stuff with alcohol ink. When I worked with it before, I had only tried one technique. I wanted to make an actual picture, so I used a paintbrush to apply the ink to the tiles. The end result was a four part series that my friend Bria has named "Majesty." The images go from coast to coast: a sunrise over the ocean (east coast), a bean field (mid), purple mountains (west), and a forest of trees (west coast).

They are definitely not perfect, but I think they turned out alright! The pictures don't look quite as good as they do in person (you know, lighting and stuff). I am excited to try more techniques and see what other cool things I can do with alcohol ink!

A Mosaical Tribute to George Harrison (Not Really, but Kinda)

Dear Internet,

Here are a few pictures of the mosaic I made. I got the idea from a Cloth Paper Scissors article from forever ago. I could go into my room and find it and tell you exactly, but...nah. If you read this and you are like, "TELL ME!" then I will. Unless I don't see a comment, in which case, I apologize. 

Materials used (again, I can get specific if you want):

scrapbook paper, dictionary paper

markers

glitter

Goop (glue)

scraps of stained glass cut to size

glass mosaic beads

compass pendant

wooden "canvas"

grout

So, like, how did you make this, Bridgette?

As per usual, I did not photograph any of this until the end. So...this is not a tutorial. But, I know you want to know or else you wouldn't have asked, right? Well, let me tell you: I laid out the background with paper. I used various scrapbook paper for the mountains, the sky, the grass, and I used a sunflower for the sun (which you probably can tell if you look closely). I like the idea that you can see the patterns through the glass. Under the yellow in the sky and the green at the bottom I put some glitter. Because glitter is pretty. At the bottom, I used dictionary paper (the page with the word "sun"--clever girl) and wrote "here comes the sun"--duh.  It's from my favorite Beatle's song. The song makes me happy and hopeful. It's probably a little cheesy, but this song kind of helped me through a rough time in my life, so I have a special connection to it. I decided to add the compass and the beads to give different textures to the piece...and I'm sure there's some artistic significance...or whatever. Like follow your own direction and the sun will rise on the land of Mordor and all will be well in the land of men.
 The last time I did a mosaic like this, I did a set of three birds and used a lot more variety (glass beads, bottoms of glass bottles). This piece turned out pretty colorful and fun and I think captured what the song means for me.

emBOSSing

Well, I didn't post a single thing in the year 2014 until NOW! I have made a few "not-ugly trash bags" and a few other things, but nothing major. Which is why I didn't feel the need to blog about it. However, I decided to try embossing. I made several Christmas cards, which turned out pretty nice. I did not take pictures, so you'll have to just believe me. Now that Christmas is over, and I am recently unemployed (don't worry), I decided to make some notebooks. I cut up these folders ages ago, but I didn't know how I wanted to decorate them. I will be sewing the notebooks together later. Maybe I'll remember to post a finished project.

Here is a little tutorial (or whatever) on embossing. I know there are probably sophisticated embossing tools and screens and stuff, but I only have the powder and a heat tool.

I found a large pack of thick manila envelopes at a thrift store and decided to take them home to make little notebooks out of them. I cut them down and cut down some graph paper to put inside. 

I got the embossing ink pad and powder from Hobby Lobby. 40% off coupon, holla. I have a pretty sizable collection of stamps (not all pictured). You definitely want to use the right ink pad because the powder sticks to it really well. You can use regular ink, but it dries quickly and isn't quite as sticky. 

I stamped my cuppa stamp on the folder. 

I covered it in pretty purple embossing powder. After you pour it on, you just put it right back in the bottle (like glitter on glue). The powder goes a really long way, so $4.99 doesn't feel as bad as you might think. 

This is the stamp with the powder before the heat is applied. The stamp has really fine edges and the ink and powder combined let those details pull through. 

Apply heat. I tried using a hair dryer, but it didn't work. So I used my 40% off coupon again and bought this sweet tool. It works really well. 

Done and done. Embossing powder is really fine particles of plastic, so that's what this is...melted plastic. It's pretty. 

I also have two embossing ink pens (white and black). They work really well with hand drawing or any writing that needs to be done. 

That's all, folks. 

summmmmer

This has not been a productive summer craft-wise. I'm in Virginia Beach, and there wasn't room to bring all of the things I wanted to do. I only brought watercolors and markers. I haven't used either. I did, however, complete a series of illustrations for a book one of my professors is putting together. I'll only put up one picture because there are 14 total. And as the kids are saying these days--Ain't nobody got time for that!

I still have 3 weeks here (I think? Maybe 4). I hope to spend more time outside enjoying nature and letting that inspire me to make something. When I get back home, I will have almost no time to create. That's a recipe for disaster, but sometimes life hands you lemonade and you have to just drink it even though you prefer Dr. Pepper because you like the way the carbonation makes your throat feel and it's 23 flavors of amazing.

Here's a picture I made this summer :)

painting adventure

I haven't painted in a long time. I wanted to start with something small...so I did a little fairytale painting. I had a plan to make a lot once, but I only did Rapunzel. So now I have a Beauty and the Beast one! I don't really like the way it turned out--surprise, surprise!

sketch and start 

half way

finished product...i think

Get out and create something...even if you might think it's kind of sucky. 

i found a sewing table!

I found this gem. I'm trying to think of how to paint it. I'm thinking some cool design, but I don't know yet.

SEWING TABLE DREAMS COME TRUE!!!!

fun with alcohol [ink]

So, I haven't posted a project in a while...because I haven't done any. But, it's Christmastime, and I can't go through the season without doing a craft or two. I found a super easy and fun project! And there's so much room for experimenting, I almost can't handle it. I want to run out right now and get more supplies, but I'm in sweatpants...and it's cold.

So, I made some coasters out of tile and alcohol ink. I love the way these look. It's similar to batik, which I also love to do. It's as simple as dropping some ink onto the tile, or onto the applicator, and stamping it until you like what you see. Then add some blending solution and stamp around until you like what you see some more. Don't like what you see? Too bad...just kidding. It was pretty easy to just wipe off with a damp paper towel (pretty soon, they dry fast). Or, just keep stamping and swirling, and layering...eventually you'll get a look you like. I'll probably attach felt to the bottoms, or maybe cork. I will definitely experimenting with mixed media later on.

So...here are some photos. (sorry they kind of suck)

the supplies

a set of four that I wanted to match

some others

I tried stamping some words...i like it!

that's it. have a nice day!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!