Cloth Paper Scissors

The Joy of Bookmaking: Interview with Chad Alice Hagen

Cate Prato — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:12:00 GMT

Chad Alice Hagen is a full-time artist, well known for her work with felt and bookmaking. Chad has worked with hand-felted wool for more than 35 years and is the author of three books about felt making. The Cloth Paper Scissors editors were very excited to learn more about Chad, her processes, and her love of book making, so they--and lucky reader Indira Govindan--interviewed Chad for the May/June 2013 issue. Here is an excerpt of that interview.

Book-making artist Chad Alice Hagen.

CPS: What part of the bookmaking process intrigues you the most?

Chad: The whole fabulous historical subject! My joy in making books is learning to recreate historical bindings from early Coptic and Ethiopian books through the medieval period. Sometimes when I am learning a new binding and am deep into the space where the creative juices are just flowing, I suddenly feel like I have done this structure before, almost "remembering" it from a former lifetime. I know that may sound like I'm having a flash back to the '60s but it's a real, very strange feeling. The last time it happened, I asked my teacher who was working close-by, if he had ever had those feelings/memories come upon him. He didn't even look up from his work but said under his breath, "all the time."

How to bind a book? Chad loves exposed bindings
with long stitches.

I also like to work with "limp" bindings, not the regular hard bindings most people think of when they think of books. Limp bindings seem to lend themselves to my own work with resist-dyed felt, handmade paper, and recycled textiles to create something new.

CPS: Do you have a favorite binding? If so, what makes it your favorite?

Chad: I am in love, absolutely in love with all exposed bindings, and every single long stitch I can figure out or invent. Keith Smith's books are an utter goldmine of information and ideas. Currently my favorite is the Nag Hammadi tacket binding.

CPS: Why felt? How did felt become your substrate of choice?

Chad: I fell in love with hand-felted wool around 1977 when I returned to school and took a class in "Our Friends the Fibers." A woman gave a demonstration on felt making she had learned in Sweden and I was fascinated by the transformation from fuzz to coherent fabric. It was like magic. When I started to dye those fuzzy fibers and saw the depth of color that was possible, I was hooked for life. I sold my loom and started my exploration to see how I could change the surface of hand-felted wool with color.

In the rest of this interview, Chad discusses teaching, writing (or not writing) in her handmade books, how her book making is developing, and more. If you don't have your copy of Cloth Paper Scissors May/June 2013 already, it's time to order or download it.

P.S. What's you favorite substrate for handmade books? Do you use fabric, paper, recycled materials, something else, or a combination? Leave a comment below.

Savvy Savings: Substitutions in Mixed-Media Art

Cate Prato — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:36:00 GMT

I like to bake, and I know from experience when I can make substitutions for ingredients and when substituting is a recipe for disaster. Most of the time, anyway. (There was an unfortunate incident with an apple cake and bourbon, once.)

The humble crayon makes a great substitute for pricier art supplies. Art by Debbi Crane.

Because baking is chemistry, it's important to keep in mind the properties of the ingredients when you trade one for another. Sugar and flour are both dry ingredients, but they act differently when mixed with a liquid, for example. Knowing how the ingredient acts and interacts with other ingredients can mean the difference between a fluffy, sweet delight and a hard, doughy mess.

In mixed-media art, you can substitute more freely (though, as always, take precautions with any chemicals), so long as you take into consideration the properties of the materials (for example, oil paints and acrylic paints don't mix). In fact, substitutions in art are often less expensive and more creative.

Fancy tools are nice to have, but you can often use household items when creating art projects:

In place of a bone folder to crease paper precisely, you can substitute a butter knife.

If you don't have a compass handy, use bowls or plates from the kitchen to trace perfect circles.

Texture stamps make great impressions on clay, but if you check out the soles of your sneakers or flip-flops, you might find an unusual stamp there for free.

Instead of an artist's palette or palette paper, use a plastic or Styrofoam egg carton.

When substituting materials for mixed-media painting and sculpture, for the most part the keys to success are color and consistency:

Walnut ink and other antiquing glazes are wonderful for giving your art an aged look, but usually brown paint watered down to the consistency of milk will have a similar effect.

You can rust your own found objects and fabric, but red oxide paint alone or mixed with a gritty gel medium will fool the eye.

Air-dry craft clay is good for molding into embellishments, but salt dough (one cup flour, one cup salt, plus enough water to make a stiff dough) works well, too.

Regular kids' crayons can substitute for many of the fancier products. Use them to doodle, scribble backgrounds, or add color to fabric and trims.

Many of these ideas come from Mixed Mania: Recipes for Delicious Mixed-Media Creations by Debbi Crane and Cheryl Prater. This fun book featuring more than 20 smart and sassy projects is divided like a cookbook into appetizers, main courses, and sweet treats for a fresh perspective on creating mixed-media projects. Perfect for a beginner or intermediate mixed-media artist.

P.S. What are your favorite art substitutions? Leave a comment below.

Create Your Own Mixed-Media Bird Art - Plus a Giveaway

Cate Prato — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:11:00 GMT

Several years ago I came upon a few sections of bedsprings at a yard sale. I've disassembled some of the sections and used the parts in various ways. But I've always wanted to use the springs as nests.

My nest made of a spring, burlap string,
and cut book pages.

Inspired by the Put a Bird on It theme of the May/June 2013 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors, I decided to experiment with springs and nesting materials like papers and fibers. I love my nest. Now all I need is a bird!

In the magazine, Renee Rogers shows how to make whimsical mixed-media birds out of a base of foil and plaster gauze. Then she coils wire to create a nesting spot, not unlike my springs.

Here is how Renee makes the basic bird body:

1. Begin with a piece of foil approximately 12" × 6". The actual amount is trial and error because it depends on the size of the bird you want. Press and shape the foil to create the bird body. The foil bird will be bumpy and have voids, and this is okay.

2. Use a separate piece of foil to create the wings, wrapping the foil under and across the top of the bird body. (Figure 1)

3. Precut various lengths of the plaster gauze. Smaller strips are easier to work with. I suggest cutting them with scissors about 1" wide and in 2", 3", and 4" lengths.

Bird and nest by Renee Rogers.

4. Dip a gauze strip in the container of water and, with the strip over the container of water, smooth the strip with your fingers to reduce the amount of water and to smooth the plaster.

5. Wrap the pieces of gauze around the bird body, covering the foil. Smooth the plaster strips with your fingers to define the shape and fill in any crevices.

6. Use small strips of gauze to wrap around and hold the wings in place.

7. Allow the bird to dry overnight on the piece of plastic wrap or the craft sheet so it doesn't stick.

8. Once dry, check to see that all of the foil is covered with plaster. Add more gauze strips if needed.

9. Lightly sand the bird body, if desired, for a smoother finish.

Now you can add color and personality with paint, tissue paper, found objects, and other art supplies.

Jenn Mason Put a Bird on It. Leave a
comment and you could win this
5"x5"x1-1/2" mixed-media collage.

In keeping with our Put a Bird on It celebration, I have two wonderful opportunities for you.

First, leave a comment on this blog post and you could win a collage with a bird on it by Cloth Paper Scissors Editor Jenn Mason. I'll draw the winner next Tuesday, May 21, 2013.

The second is a fabulous package of goodies to help you create birds and bird-themed art, all at a terrific discount: Our Put a Bird on It Ultimate Collection, filled with books, kits, projects, and a bird stencil. It's only available for a limited time, so order yours now.

P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win Jenn's collage!

Bring Instructors into Your Art Studio on Demand with Craft Daily

Cate Prato — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT

When my husband and I want to amuse our children, we tell them about life in the "Dark Ages" of technology, when phones were tethered to the wall and video was non-existent. Raised on VCRs, DVDs, and the DVR, our kids cannot even fathom the concept of having to wait a whole week to see their favorite TV shows at a particular time--not to mention waiting a year for the annual showing of "The Wizard of Oz."

Just a small sampling of the artists and workshops you can
invite into your studio any time via Craft Daily.

The times and technology have definitely changed. And, I have to admit, I really enjoy the freedom to watch whatever I want, whenever--and wherever--I want it. That goes for art inspiration and education as well as entertainment.

I mean, what could be better that to be able to call an expert artist into your home studio whenever you want, to teach you something new or help you fine-tune a technique via video? Now, you can get that with our new video subscription channel, CraftDaily.com.

For example, let's say you're sitting in your art studio, supplies surrounding you, and you're stuck for a background painting idea. With your Craft Daily subscription, you can stream a full-length workshop like Layered & Textured Backgrounds: Art Journaling Tips & Tricks with Paula Phillips.

Or maybe you've been given some jewelry-making supplies, but have no idea how to use them. Just cue up Easy Jewelry Chain Making with Janice Berkebile.

In fact, with a subscription to Craft Daily, you can watch all 130+ full-length art and craft video workshops from your Mac, PC, iOS and most Android devices any time you like, as often as you like. That's more than 124 hours of instruction right now, with more added regularly.

I'd say that with Craft Daily, we've moved completely out of the Dark Ages and into the Age of Art Enlightenment!

P.S. Today is the last day to register for tomorrow's webinar with Jen Cushman,On the Hunt for Found Objects: How to Create New and Eclectic Molds. Register now so you won't miss it! (You can always watch the recording at your leisure.)

Ready, Set, Take Your Travel Journal and Go!

Cate Prato — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:17:00 GMT

There have been a lot of comings and goings in my family lately. I was out in Colorado, my husband traveled to Arizona, and most exciting of all, our daughter returned from a semester abroad in Costa Rica. We all brought back gifts and mementos from our journeys, but I am most anxious to see Olivia's travel journals. She has several notebooks full of pictures, papers, maps, drawings, and ephemera from her trip. Little touchstones from which her stories will flow.

Turn a map into a travel journal
with minimal supplies.
Journal by Dea Fischer.

Olivia has plans to organize her travel journal writings and ephemera in an artistic, cohesive way. However, for short trips, book and journal artist Dea Fischer has an easy way to make a handmade journal using the materials you collect on your journey.

Concertina Pocket Journal

1. Cut or tear your paper to about 30" x 10".

2. Lengthwise, turn up ½" or so at the bottom edge. Crease it firmly and glue it down if you have a glue stick.

3. Turn up the bottom edge again, approximately 2", with the previous turned-up section on the inside. Do not glue.

4. To create the concertina, fold the paper in half across the width, and then fold the top layer back towards the fold. Turn the paper over and repeat the previous step on the other side.

5. Fold the leading edge back toward the center fold again. Turn the paper over and repeat to create an 8-fold concertina.

6. Crease firmly on all folds, and then completely unfold it and refold it into a concertina. Use the completed pockets to hold ephemera or special objects.

Creating a travel journal out of papers you find on your trip also solves one of the classic art journaling problems: where to start. The graphics on your found papers give you an automatic background onto which you can apply art journaling techniques.

It's also easy to carry your art and travel journal techniques inspiration with you, when you select one of our digital products.

P.S. What's your favorite travel journal tip or technique? Please share!

On the Hunt for Found Objects - New Webinar with Jen Cushman

Cate Prato — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:50:00 GMT

Found objects are everywhere-from flea markets and thrift shops to the beach and the city street. With new technology, you can make molds of your most precious found objects and replicate them for use in your mixed-media assemblage and other found object art.

In our latest Cloth Paper Scissor webinar, mixed-media assemblage artist and experienced teacher Jen Cushman will take you On the Hunt for Found Objects: How to Create New and Eclectic Molds, May 16, 2013, at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

In this webinar, Jen will reveal her secrets for finding the best found objects for mold making including:

How to discover great places to find objects for your art, and how to know a good piece for a mixed-media mold when you see it.
How to re-invent household, natural, or otherwise "free" objects to use in your pieces or add texture.
How to to gauge how much medium you are going to need to use to make your molds and castings.

As an added bonus, Jen will step-by-step walk you through re-purposing a found object into a mixed media collage. Plus, you'll receive a discount on Jen's Interweave products and receive a recording of the webinar that you can access at your convenience.

Jen Cushman

More about Jen Cushman: Jen Cushman is a natural storyteller who found mixed media art a decade ago and never looked back. She is drawn to the imperfect, the funky, the quirky, the artsy and the authentic: be it people or objects or art. She is the director of education and marketing for ICE Resin Susan Lenart Kazmer.

Jen is the author of Explore, Create, Resinate: Mixed Media Techniques with ICE Resin®, which won a national bronze medal in the Independent Book Publishers Association as well as Making Metal Jewelry; How to Stamp, Fold, Form, and Forge Metal Jewelry Designs.

Her art has appeared in many publications, including Cloth Paper Scissors, in which she's currently writing a mixed-media metalsmithing column.

An enthusiastic and supportive instructor, Jen teaches more than jewelry-making and paper crafting techniques. She encourages others to explore their authentic, creative process to create art that is real and personally meaningful. Images of her work can be seen at her website www.jencushman.com.

Don't miss your opportunity to talk with an innovative artist. Register now and secure your place!

Make Feathers for Assemblage and Other 3-D Art

Cate Prato — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:43:00 GMT

As you may have noticed, this month is dedicated to the "Put a Bird on It" theme with bird-related art.

Jenny Cochran Lee made feathers like this to embellish
her 3-D collage assemblage art.

Today, I have a handmade feather tutorial from mixed-media collage and assemblage artist Jenny Cochran Lee. Jenny decorates her 3-D mixed-media collage assemblages with these easy-to-make embellishments.

She developed this technique when she wanted to use some feathers for a wire and paper assemblage sculpture she was creating, but didn't have any.

Says Jenny: "I decided to just walk around outside for a while and think about how to create something else. A change of scenery gave me the idea to use small sticks with paper and embroidery floss to create these fun feathers. I liked them so much better than my original idea!"

Here's the how-to:

1. Make a feather shape with paper of your choice. Fringe the edges on each side.

Supplies for making paper feathers by Jenny Cochran Lee.

2. Place the stick in the center of the feather.

3. Cut at 10" piece of embroidery floss (two strands.)

4. Starting at the tip of the feather, wrap the middle of the 10" piece of floss around the back of the feather. Bring the floss pieces to the front of the stick, cross the pieces, and take them back through the fringes to the back of the feather. Cross them in back and repeat.

5. When you get to the end of the feather, wrap the end of the stick several times and tie a tiny knot. Add a dot of glue.

I think these feathers are so cute. You could make all kinds of variations to decorate your assemblage art or other 3-D art or any other kind of art project.

Jenny shows you how to create her mixed-media assemblages made from wire, paper, and stitch in her new Cloth Paper Scissors Workshop^TM Collage in the Round: Building wire and rice-paper sculptures. If you've ever wanted to lift your collages off the canvas and into 3-D, this fun and informative workshop will give you the tools, techniques, and inspiration to try it.

P.S. Do you use feathers in your art? Do you make your own? Tell me about it below.

The Versatility of Handmade Papers

Cate Prato — Mon, 06 May 2013 09:36:00 GMT

Every time I walk into a store that sells paper goods like handmade cards and art papers, I long to own a paper store. The idea of being surrounded by the colors, patterns, and textures of printed and handmade paper all day simply moves me.

Paint picks up the natural texture of handmade papers,
like mulberry. Art by Rachelle Panagarry.

Then I remember that running a store involves more paper work than paper reveling, and I come to my senses.

Handmade paper is beautiful on its own or used as the base for a paper quilt, card embellishments, and lettering. But its texture can also add dimension and depth to art techniques like stamping, printing, collage, painting, and mixed-media stitch projects. My three favorite art papers all come from Asia:

Mulberry paper is made from the inner fiber of the mulberry and produces a very pure, translucent paper. It's lightweight yet strong, and it's edges feather easily when wet and torn. Mulberry paper comes in smooth and textured styles and a wide variety of colors. Its properties make it perfect for collage and mixed-media painting.

Handmade Lokta paper is made from the fibrous inner bark of high elevation evergreen shrubs in Nepal. Because of Lokta paper's durability and natural resistance to tearing, humidity, insects, and mildew, it has traditionally been used for recording official government records and sacred religious texts. Lokta paper makes wonderful book pages and takes stamping and hand printing beautifully.

Japanese washi is fine paper made from fibers of several plants including the Gampi tree, bamboo, hemp, and rice. Washi paper is lightweight and often translucent, but very strong. Inclusions such as fibers, bark, and flower petals give it character that can help add texture and interest to your paper art, mixed-media, and lettering projects.

Many of these papers are so beautiful I hate to cut them. But when I use them in my artwork, it's always worth it for the texture and interest they provide.

In Art Lessons: The Magic of Mulberry, Rachelle Panagarry shows how to use the natural texture and feathering properties of mulberry paper with paint to enhance your paper collage projects.

If you've never used handmade papers before or haven't combined them with wet media, download The Magic of Mulberry and give it a try.

P.S. What's your favorite kind of handmade paper? Do you make your own? Tell me about it in the space below.

12 Free Bird Projects and Techniques

Cate Prato — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:26:00 GMT

We're celebrating Put a Bird on It month with 12 hours of free projects, techniques, and eBooks featuring our feathered friends today.

If you missed the 12-hour free fest on our Facebook page, here is a list of links taking you to each free how-to or download.

Even if you're not a fan of things with wings, you can use these techniques and project ideas to make something with your own favorite motif.

We Put a Bird on it Video
http://bit.ly/CPSbirdVideo

Mix Felt and Paper for Easy Bird Ornaments
http://bit.ly/FeltPaperBirds

The Glue that Holds the Fabric Collage Together
http://bit.ly/FabricNest

How to Stuff a Softie Art Doll
http://bit.ly/StuffaBird

Dress Your Collage in Layers
http://bit.ly/BirdhouseCollage

Fabric Art to Feather your Nest
http://bit.ly/FiberNest

Handmade Books, free ebook
http://bit.ly/HandmadeBooksFreeEbook

How to Make an Encaustic Collage
http://bit.ly/EncausticCollage

Embossing Metal, Tips from Judy Coates Perez
http://bit.ly/PerezMetalTips

Birdhouse Art to Wear
http://bit.ly/FreeBirdhousePendantTute

Get Creative Art Prompts for Mixed Media
http://bit.ly/WordBirdPrompts

How to Make a Collage, free ebook
http://bit.ly/freeMMCollageEbook

Enjoy!

Make a Mixed-Media Photo Gift for Mom

Cate Prato — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:35:00 GMT

When it comes to Mother's Day gifts, I have always most enjoyed the handmade, heartfelt ones: poems, drawings, pinch pots, and the like. Even as my girls have grown into adulthood, I've made it clear I prefer something from the heart over something from the mall. (My birthday is a different story).

'Heart Full of Wisdom' by Pam Carriker, 8"x10",
acrylic paint and mixed media on canvas.

Some of my favorite Mother's Day art projects have involved photos and the simple but oh-so-valuable statement: "I love you, Mom."

Now that my girls are older and have developed their artistic and literary talents, the handmade art projects have gotten more sophisticated. Instead of simple paper crafts, I get a painting, a comic strip, or a stitched booklet of poetry.

I admit, though, that I am still a sucker for the photo gifts. They bring back memories of times we were together, and I can look back and see how the kids have grown over the years.

If you're looking to create Mother's Day gifts for a loved one (or would like to offer a hint to your children), here are three easy ways you can use mixed-media art techniques to incorporate a photo in art, taken from Art at the Speed of Life: Motivation and Inspiration for Making Art Every Day by Pam Carriker:

Print out photos on different types of paper, such as watercolor paper, maps, or pages of text to add instant interest. ~Seth Apter

Create a background painting using acrylic paint, inks, watercolors, or a mixture. Let dry. Then make a photo transfer of the image and apply it to the painted background, adding painted details on top. ~Pam Carriker

Paint over a photocopy. Make an inkjet photocopy of an image with a simple subject and glue it to a substrate. Then use paint or art markers to color in the photo and obscure some of the background. ~Lisa Bebi

A paint-over portrait I made of my daughter Meredith.

I used Lisa's technique on a photo of my own daughter. It was quick, fun, and I treasure it.

Might I suggest another idea for a wonderful Mother's Day gift? How about time spent making art with your children, mom, grandmother, or other special female role model? Because isn't that really what we artsy moms want? Time with our loved ones and time to be creative. (And yes, a pedicure.)

How about presenting your mom with a book full of mixed-media art ideas like Art at the Speed of Life, a cache of art supplies, and a coupon for an art date? That's a gift I'd love (hint, hint).

P.S. What was your favorite handmade Mother's Day gift (given or received)? Leave a comment below.

Make an Art Supplies Wish List and You Could Win

Cate Prato — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:32:00 GMT

Treat your mom (yourself, or a friend) this Mother's Day! Fill out her crafting WISH LIST with up to $50 worth of product from the Cloth Paper Scissors Shop.

We'll pick one lucky winner to receive everything on their list! Winner selected May 7.

Choose from items like Workshop^TM videos, mixed-media and encaustic books, downloads, and more.

Get all the details and rules now. May 7 and Mother's Day are coming, so don't delay.

Good Luck!

Thoughts on Thursday: Inspired by buttons

Barbara Delaney — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:10:00 GMT

I love buttons. I don't know why, but they have always appealed to me, called to me . . . and become somewhat of an obsession.

I collect them from a variety of venues: yard sales, flea markets, and fabric stores, etc. . . . just because.

I don't know what is is that makes them so appealing. Is it the variety of sizes and colors, or the fact that you can find just about every motif you can imagine?

I really don't really know the why of it, I just know I think buttons are fun and inspiring.

Apparently, I am not alone. I took a look around and found quite a few examples of artistic use of buttons.

This necklace was made by assistant editor Tina Hussey. Colorful and fun, it was made with basic wire, some ribbon, and lots of buttons from her stash.

Looking to add a little something to a gift? How about these wraps from Cloth Paper Scissors Gifts?

SO simple to make and what a fun way to add some color to a simple package! And just think, this little wrap can be dressed up or down, depending on the package.

Online editor Cate Prato's linen blouse was jazzed up with lots of buttons, in a variety of sizes but in a neutral palette.

What a great way to make a simple blouse much more interesting.

This delightful little collage by Viv Sliwka (Cloth Paper Scissors, January/February 2009) combines a variety of papers, some fabric and embroidery, and some "wonderful, beautiful, old buttons."

My collaged notebook has buttons added for color and texture. A simple little addition that makes me smile.

I have seen darling hair clips loaded with buttons, earrings, belts, and even totes.

It's amazing how much inspiration and fun can come from these simple, little embellishments.

Do you use buttons in your artwork? Leave me a comment and tell me about it. Better yet, post a photo.
I'd love to see more button-inspired pieces.

Have a great weekend.

Video Survey: Tell us what you're watching!

Jenn Mason — Wed, 01 May 2013 20:53:03 GMT

We'd love to know how you like to watch videos so that we can make you some more amazing video content like the ones we've captured in our Art Journaling Exposed eMag in the photo below.

We've put together a quick survey that will help us to understand what it is you like to watch and how you like to watch it. Do you like to watch short videos on your smart phone? Do you watch YouTube videos on your TV? Or are you old school and like to watch real DVD workshops with a TV and a DVD player. No matter what you like to watch, your 5 minutes will help us make more of what you love.

Click here to take the survey!

Thanks for your time,

The Cloth Paper Scissors Editorial Planning Team

Celebrate 'Put a Bird on It' Month in Mixed-Media Art

Cate Prato — Wed, 01 May 2013 09:58:00 GMT

It's May 1! Where I live, that means birds are singing, nesting, and flying.

My mixed-media birdhouse: I put a bird on it!

Where I work, though, birds are everywhere, all year round. That's because birds are a popular theme in art, and a lot of fiber and mixed-media artists seem to like to "put a bird on it."

In fact, so many artists use bird motifs that IFC Portlandia made a video mocking the flock to bird motifs, and it quickly went viral.

We here at Cloth Paper Scissors Today are definitely in on the joke; it does seem like every other collage, assemblage, painting, and piece of mixed-media art has a bird on it. But you know what? A lot of the staff and our contributing artists also like to put a bird on it. We like birds!

So, hey, we thought we'd just go with the flow and celebrate the theme with a Put a Bird on It issue of the magazine (May/June 2013) and a month-long celebration online.

Our PABOI festivities will include giveaways, video, a Pinterest contest, and a bird-themed 12 hours of free how-tos and downloads on Facebook. And we'll be tweeting daily, of course.

Trace the bird onto the stencil material.

Cut out the stencil with a craft knife.

The finished bird stencil.

To get the bird party started, I'm going to show you how easy it is to Put a Bird on It with your own stencil.

You can make a stencil out of heavy paper like cardstock or poster board, which is good for a few uses before it breaks down. If you want a more durable stencil, try Mylar®, acetate (like a clear report cover), or frisket film (a clear film with a slightly sticky backing, which is good for flat and rounded surfaces).

For my stencil, I used Grafix® Dura-Lar^TM film, because I had a sample and wanted to see how it worked. Dura-Lar is a translucent, erasable polyester film that doesn't tear, so it's perfect for stencil making.

The process of making a stencil for mixed-media or collage art couldn't be easier:

1. If you're using an opaque material for the stencil, you can freehand draw your bird onto the substrate. Or trace a simple bird shape onto tracing paper and transfer the shape onto the stencil material (e.g. cut out the traced shape and draw around it). Because I could see through my stencil material, I simply traced a bird with a permanent black pen.

2. Cut out your stencil. Depending on your material, you can use scissors or a craft knife. The Dura-Lar film is light but very strong, so I used a craft knife first and a small pair of very sharp craft scissors to smooth out any rough edges. (Be sure to save the cut-out positive part of the stencil to use later as a mask.)

Tip: If you're using a knife, you may want to use painter's tap to tack the stencil to the cutting surface to hold it in place. Alternatively, you may find it easier to cut if you move the stencil rather than the knife. Your preference may depend on the shape you're cutting. Experiment to see what works best for you.

That's all there is to it! Now I'm ready to Put a Bird on It everywhere, all the time!

To learn more about how to use layering, painting, and other mixed-media techniques in collage and art journaling, be sure to check out our incredible Exploring Collage Starter Kit, available for a limited time.

P.S. Do you like to Put a Bird on It? Or do you think that's for the birds? Leave your comment below!

Pretty and Practical Art Studio Storage

Cate Prato — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:17:00 GMT

I recently completed a flurry of art projects. After congratulating myself on my productivity, I turned around to look look at my home studio, and wondered, "Who made this huge mess?

Upcycled art studio shelving unit.
Project and photo by Susan Borgen.

I know very few mixed-media artists who create without making a mess. On the other hand, most artists I know are always on the lookout for pretty and practical art studio storage.

Here is one of my favorite studio storage ideas: Susan Borgen's how-to on turning an old storage bin into an adorable cabinet/shelving unit, from the Fall 2012 issue of Studios magazine.

The bin "before."
Photo by Susan Borgen.

Although this metal produce bin had seen better days, Susan transformed it into useful home studio storage, using a little spray paint, an inexpensive vinyl picnic tablecloth, magnets, and tin cans.

Its lid has become a bulletin board by adding handmade magnets. The shelves in the door hold magazines and fabric-embellished metal cans that corral markers, colored pencils, and paintbrushes.

Vintage planters and tins filled with rubber stamps, tubes of paint, paper, scissors, and more, reside on three tiers lined with a pretty floral vinyl tablecloth.

Here's how she did it:

Materials

1 can spray paint
Sandpaper
Fine steel wool
High-filtration face mask
Patterned vinyl tablecloth
Petroleum jelly
Cotton swabs
Spray-mount adhesive
Ruler
Scissors
Paper towels

Directions

Caution: Wear a high-filtration mask when sanding any vintage piece.

1. Use sandpaper to remove any loose paint on the exterior and interior, being careful not to disturb the vintage decal.

2. Lightly rub the surface with fine sandpaper and wipe with a damp rag to remove any remaining dust.

Arbie Goodfellow organizes art supplies in
vintage knicknacks. You can see her studio in
Studios Summer 2013.
(Photo by the artist)

3. With a cotton swab, apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly over the decal.

4. In a well-ventilated area, apply two coats of spray paint in short, even strokes. When the paint is dry, use a damp paper towel to wipe off the petroleum jelly and reveal the decal.

5. Measure the back and sides of each shelf and cut out pieces of the patterned vinyl tablecloth to fit.

6. Lightly coat the back of each piece with spray glue and apply them to the cabinet's interior, being sure to smooth out any wrinkles.

You can see more creative shelving solutions for your art and craft studio in the Summer 2013 issue of Studios magazine.

P.S. What have you upcycled in your studio? Do you have any clever ideas to share? I bet you do! Leave a comment below.

Golden Giveaway Week 4 Winner

Cate Prato — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:28:00 GMT

Our month of Golden Giveaways comes to a close today. We had fun giving away these fantastic prizes.

The Week 4 winner is: Candy P. of Bella Vista, AZ.

Congratulations to Candy and all our winners!

Mixed Media + Painting Techniques eBook: 4 Free Paper and Fabric Painting Ideas

Cate Prato — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:53:00 GMT

Artists have been painting fabric for ages-what else are oil pigments on stretched canvas? But painting on commercial or vintage fabric? Mixing in paper, stitch, glue, photo transfers, and more? That's mixed-media painting. You can use oil pastels, watercolors, spray inks and dyes, or acrylic paint on fabric. It's all good, and it's a whole lot of fun.

In Mixed Media + Painting Techniques: 4 Free Paper and Fabric Painting Ideas, we bring you mixed media painting techniques you can use in a wide variety of art projects.

When looking for fabric painting ideas, think outside the stretcher bars. April Derrick likes to paint on fabric, but in Watercolor Tote: From canvas album to carryall, novice sewer April shows how she paints, embellishes, and journals on her bag before completing it and filling it with fabric painting supplies.

Mixed-media painting on fabric
by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer.

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's fabric painting adventure starts with canvas and a photo transfer in The Workshop: Canvas Photo Quilts. Then she uses oil pastels to enhance the photo, plus spray dye, gesso, acrylic paint, journaling, and stitch to complete the picture.

In Photo, Paint, Stitch: Create whimsical images from your own photos, Kelli Nina Perkins offers a variation on the fabric painting with photo-transfer theme. Kelli starts by creating a collage painting with watercolors and found papers. Then she transfers the painting onto muslin and goes back in with more mixed-media painting techniques, including fabric painting designs made with bleach gel pen.

Mixed-media collage painting by
Kelli Nina Perkins.

Rebekah Meier turns decorative tissue papers and napkins into mixed-media fabric painting projects in Fragile Fusion: Making durable layers with delicate papers. Rebekah applies the papers to fusible web, applies paint, and adds details with stamping and stenciling to create a stitchable textile.

Mixed Media + Painting Techniques: 4 Free Paper and Fabric Painting Ideas you will learn so many fabric painting tips and mixed-media painting techniques, you'll want to jump right in and create.

P.S. Do you have friends who would like to learn more about mixed-media painting? Forward this link to them so they can get their own copy of Mixed Media + Painting Techniques: 4 Free Paper and Fabric Painting Ideas.

Thursday Giveaway Winners

Barbara Delaney — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:56:00 GMT

I have randomly chosen two lucky winners of the Faux Lampwork Headpins by Shayna Butler.

Lucky readers "iamvics2" and "HazelMcElhenny" are the winners!

Please contact me with your mailing information and I will get your colorful headpins out to you asap.

Happy Thursday to all!

Scrapbook Paper, Art, and How to Turn One into the Other

Cate Prato — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:53:00 GMT

Every time I reach for a piece of scrapbook paper to create handmade cards or paper collages, a devil and an angel pop up on my shoulders.

One of Linda Peterson's 'Hazel' paper collages,
made with altered scrapbook paper.

The kooky angel artist (she wears glittery papier-mâché wings) taps me lightly with her paintbrush and gently admonishes, "Now Cate, do you really want to take the easy way out? A real artist creates her own paper art background layers, one at a time."

Then the red-suited devil artist (he wears studded high-tops) pokes me with an awl and whispers, "Go ahead and use that scrapbook paper. No one's looking! You don't have time to create your own layers. It's not cheating."

Truth be told, I have a lot of scrapbooking supplies and I almost always feel guilty about using them for art. (I also feel guilty for not using them for scrapbooking my daughters' childhoods. But that's another blog post.)

I'm sure I'm not alone, as I know for a fact that many of today's mixed-media artists started as scrapbookers.

Jenny Cochran Lee stitches together found and scrapbook papers to make an entirely new material for paper collage.

So many of us have a slew of scrapbooking supplies, from papers to card embellishments, that we don't know what to do with. But I have found from my own experiments and those of others, that there are ways of altering these materials so you can save time and money, but also make them your own.

So, consider the scrapbooking materials a "base coat" and then:

Spread on gesso and swipe it off with a baby wipe or piece of paper toweling.
Apply a sheer coat of fluid acrylic paint.
Spritz yellow- or brown-toned alcohol ink onto the paper or embellishment to "age" it.
Mix scrapbook papers in with other found papers in a paper collage, paper quilt, etc.
Collage sheer tissue papers or printed deli wrap paper over the scrapbook papers with soft gel medium or Mod Podge®.
Stamp or print directly onto the papers.
Tear the papers into medium-sized pieces and stitch them back together or just stitch lines or words onto a sheet of paper.
Take out your Sharpie® and gel pens and doodle over the papers.

Note: When working with scrapbook papers, be careful of how much water is in your wet media as too much moisture can cause the paper to buckle.

Two artists in the May/June 2013 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine (Linda Peterson and Jenny Cochran Lee) create mixed-media paper art by altering scrapbook and other found papers. Each issue offers techniques and tricks for making your art your own; with a subscription to Cloth Paper Scissors, you'll find ways of using all your artistic materials—past and present—every time it arrives.

P.S. Do you use your scrapbooking supplies in mixed-media and paper art? Do you use them as is or do you alter them? Comment below!

Collage Art: Healing with Texture and Paint

Cate Prato — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:29:00 GMT

What a week it has been. As I write this, I am in my home studio and can hear television and social media reports of the manhunt for those responsible for the bombings in Boston. Many years ago I worked in a building just above where the bombs were set off and later I covered the Boston Marathon as a reporter. While I live well west of Boston now, I have family, friends, and coworkers who live in Boston and in the surrounding area. With so many connections and so much unresolved, it's hard to focus right now.

My textured mixed-media collage.

This is not a space for news or politics, but it is a space to talk about art. Art heals and soothes. Art is therapeutic. Art is meditative. So that is why I'm in my studio making collage art.

Inspired by the texture of the burlap I have been working with for the past few weeks, I gathered a canvas board and as many textures as I could lay my hands on, plus paint, regular gel medium, and a box of found objects.

I knew I wanted to make a collage around the theme of healing, love, hope, and peace. Something tactile. Mostly I worked on instinct: what colors soothed me, what textures captured what I was feeling.

The first thing I did was make some hearts with Grafix® Shrink Film. After sanding the film lightly, I colored hearts with pencil and wrote "peace," "love," and "hope" on them with a black Sharpie®. A few minutes after putting the cut-out hearts in the oven, I had hard, 3-D hearts.

Working off the colors of the hearts, I applied a wash of acrylic paints with a sponge brush. I used Claudine Hellmuth acrylic paints combined with Jacquard® Lumieres. Dabbing off some of the excess paint, I accidentally lifted off some of it to reveal the canvas below, but I liked the effect and kept it.

Now for some texture. I added gridded mudding tape (used for drywall-got it from hubby) with gel medium and cut a strip of burlap to put on top of it. Then I tore some pieces of old text and applied that with gel medium, too.

I wanted to put my hearts over the burlap strip, but then what would go on the other half of the collage? (Full disclosure: the hearts came out smaller than I thought.) I decided to use a piece of dried, crumpled, paint-stained paper towel as an embellishment, but when I opened it, out fell dry eggshells I'd saved from Easter. Hmmmm. The broken eggshells and the hearts seemed to want to be together, so I stuck them down with gel medium.

From there, things seemed to fall into place: the embroidered piece of denim, the buttons,and the rusty keyhole all added to my sense of feeling frayed and staying behind closed doors, but also being open to hope and the beauty in life.

I think the tactile elements in my mixed-media collage helped me to convey more feeling than 2-D media could, at least in this case. And I feel so much better.

There are many ways to add texture to your collage projects; I adapted some of the ones I used here from Sue Pelletier's techniques in her Cloth Paper Scissors Workshop^TM video Textures for Collage, Build 'Em Up.

P.S. Does art help you heal? What kind of art techniques or activities most soothe you? Leave a comment below.

Golden Giveaway Week 4: a Feast of Art Supplies to Win

Cate Prato — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:42:00 GMT

The winner of the third week's GOLDEN Giveaway is . . . Karen H. of Santa Rosa, California ! We will contact you about sending you your prize.

Now, for Week 4 of the GOLDEN Giveaway! I never heard the word "micaceous" until last week when I wrote about the prize package Golden is giving away, including micaceous iron oxide. Then I heard it last night on Project Runway! Must be the hot thing, and it's part of this week's giveaway, too. (Micaceous Iron Oxide is not officially a ground, but it works beautifully as one. It's a deep black color, with a very gritty surface that has a sparkle or glint to it. The grit is perfect for pastels or oil pastels.)

To recap: Recently, GOLDEN Artist Colors has introduced some exciting new products, including six grounds you can apply to your substrates to make them suitable for drawing with most dry media, including crayon, pencil, pastel, charcoal, and chalk, as well as wet media such as ink, acrylics, and watercolors.

Prizes for Week 4 of the GOLDEN Giveaway.

During this week--Week 4-- you can win all of what was in last week's package and more: the grounds set, the gel medium set, the principal fluid acrylics set, PLUS the digital mixed-media grounds set, and instructions, lesson plans, etc.

Any one of these items would make a great prize, but with this package, you could conquer the mixed-media world.

Find out more and enter here for a chance of winning We'll announce the Week 4 winner next Friday, April 26, 2013!

Upcycling Burlap Bags: Seeing the Beauty in Every Fiber

Cate Prato — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:46:00 GMT

Recently I have been upcycling burlap coffee bean bags into café curtains for my kitchen. (Get it? Café curtains?)

Burlap coffee bags ready for upcycling.

When I started out, I thought I was just going to use the main part of the bags with the cool graphics. I cut apart the first bag in order to maximize the graphic potential without a lot of thought as to how I might upcycle the rest of it. But in the process of dismantling the first bag, I realized that I could use many parts of it for other craft and sewing purposes.

For example, several of the bags were machine-sewed shut with a neon-pink or white cotton thread. I discovered that by carefully snipping one end of the thread, I could pull it out from the burlap in almost one complete piece. I could use the thread to tie on button embellishments, to make a tiny crochet element, in needle felting, embroidery, or anyplace I might use colorful thread.

Several of the bags are blanket stitched at the bottom and up the side with twine. It's more time consuming to pull out the twine than to cut it, but the former results in a long piece of curly fiber that could be upcycled as a decorative tie or even for everyday practical purposes.

One of the real gems I discovered is the looping finished edge on the top of one style of bag. Two lines of blue stitching run parallel to the edge a few inches down. By cutting off that chunk and turning it upside down (with the looped edge now at the bottom), I have two beautiful strips of fabric with finished bottoms that could be used as valances or hemmed onto the bottom of a piece of upcycled clothing like jeans or a skirt.

I'll stitch the top edge of one set of bags into a valance,
cuff, or hem for another upcycled project.

I even have upcycling ideas for the scraps of burlap leftover from the curtain project. I can use them to cover the tops of upcycled Mason jars, use cut-out pieces for button covers, glue them to a canvas and paint or gesso over them for a textured collage, or combine them with other fabrics to make brooches or flowers.

As I discover ways to upcycle every bit of these bags that would normally be thrown away, it makes me think of the Native Americans who used every part of the buffalo they hunted in order not to waste anything.

The process of re-using these bags creatively also reminds me of mixed-media fiber artist Cas Holmes' approach to upcycled art. Cas is an artist who cares deeply about the environment and has a "waste not, want not" approach to life.

In her book The Found Object in Textile Art, she talks about "destroying and remaking" collected fibers and textures like found papers, junk mail, and fabrics. Here are some of her suggestions for deconstruction and reconstruction:

Break down surfaces and reassemble to reveal hidden text, images, and patterns.
Cut up and work dry pieces back into the wet layering process.
Roll back, crease, scrape, and tear the surface.
Rework on top of the layers with print, paint, and dye.
Machine stitch and hand stitch sections.
Consider using traditional techniques such as patchwork, applique, smocking, etc.

Honestly, Cas is one of the most inventive artists I know and The Found Object in Textile Art is one of my favorite books for learning how to see the beauty and artistic possibilities in found papers and textiles. I highly recommend it.

P.S. What's your favorite found fabric to upcycle? How do you use every bit of it? Leave a comment below.

Thoughts on Thursday: A Giveaway!

Barbara Delaney — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

In the May/June issue of Cloth Paper Scissors, Shayna Butler shows readers how to create Faux Lampwork Headpins.

Using Sculpey® oven-bake clay, wire, acrylic paints, and some ingenuity, Shayna creates beautifully colorful and unique beads.

Once you see how easy it is and how creative you can be with this technique, you will have your summer jewlery wardrobe all set.

Not only has Shayna shared this great technique with us, she has also given me 30 of her headpins to give away!

Rather than give one person the whole stash, I decided to share the wealth and give two lucky readers 15 headpins each!

Here is a sampling of the headpins. Some are just painted, some have decorative components added, and some have microbeads, too, for a different look.

How can YOU get some of these?

All you have to do is leave a comment here. I'll randomly choose two lucky readers to receive these beauties next week.

Don't delay!

I am looking forward to making some of these headpins . . . How about you?

With thoughts of summer,

Two Techniques for Using Stencils in Collage Art

Cate Prato — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:22:00 GMT

When you're faced with a blank canvas and want to create a background or you have a collage or painting that needs a focal point, reach for a stencil.

Stencil art for collage and more by Linda Blinn.

Stencils are easy to make yourself, reasonably priced, and, depending on what they are made of, you can use them over and over again.

Here are two ways to use stencils in collage art.

The first is a technique by artist Linda Blinn, who teaches the Cloth Paper Scissors Workshop Make it Graphic: Stencils, Silhouettes, & More.

Linda says that "One of the advantages of cutting your own stencils is that you not only get the stencil but a mask--the piece that 'falls out' after the stencil is cut. And both the mask and the stencil can be used as a pattern."

Materials:

Stencils (hand-cut and purchased)
Fabric and/or fabric paper
Acrylic paint, spray paint, and "mists"
Spray gesso or clear acrylic for use as a resist

1. Place a bird stencil in the center of a fabric square and apply 2-3 colors of paint.

2. When dry, remove the stencil and place the mask of the bird on top of the painted image.

3. Secure the mask by placing double-sided removable tape on the back of the mask.

4. Place a patterned stencil on top of mask and fabric and spray with gesso or a clear acrylic to create a resist.

5. Leaving the bird mask in place, let the gesso dry and then apply color to the background using spray paints or mists.

Kari McKnight-Holbrook uses an entire alphabet
stencil as one layer of this background.

Kari McKnight-Holbrook takes a different approach in the second example, layering stencils and masks to make a collage background with lots of depth.

Materials:

Acrylic paints
Brayers and natural sponges
Stencils and masks (hand-cut and purchased)
Large sheet of heavy-duty watercolor paper
Found stamps (bubble wrap, flip-flop soles, etc.)

1. Mix up a palette of paint with shades and tints of the same hue.

2. Apply paint with one stamp in a basic design (such as lines) all over the paper.

3. Apply a different stamp or stencil with a slightly different shade of paint over the first pattern.

4. Using a large stencil and a sponge, apply paint in another color over the first two layers. Continue like this for 4-5 layers, or until you are pleased with the background.

Kari paints over a swirl and butterfly mask to knock
back the design she considers a "dud," in her
Backgrounds to Bindings Workshop video.

Tip: If you're not pleased with your background, Kari has a rescue strategy. Lay a large, open-design mask over the paper and apply paint with a sponge all over the masked page to knock back the background (use light paint over a dark background and vice-versa).

There are so many ways to make and use stencils in mixed-media collage, art journaling, and book making. You can get tons of tips and techniques from Linda and Kari, plus two stencils to use in your art, in our Stenciling Value Pack. This kit is a terrific value and when it arrives you can grab your paints, jump right in, and play.

P.S. Do you make your own stencils for collage and other art applications? If so, what material do you use: Mylar, acetate, paper, or something else? Leave your answer below.

Art Journal Letters: Write Between the Lines

Cate Prato — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:32:00 GMT

I know, I know: we're outside the lines artists, and proud of it. But in some instances, like art journaling, writing between the lines can help you move outside your comfort zone.

Art journal lettering between the lines
by Joanne Sharpe.

Take lettering, for example. A lot of people (me included) either hate their handwriting or want to create a more interesting alphabet to use in their art journal.

Here are two ways to do that, each requiring that you write "between the lines."

This first technique comes from Joanne Sharpe, art journaling and lettering expert extraordinaire. Joanne has spent years honing her lettering style, but you can use her technique to improve the look of your lettering in a jiffy.

1. Draw gently curving lines across your page horizontally, without crossing. Make the lines closer together in some places and farther apart in others.

2. Now, using pencil, lightly draw each letter of the words you want on your page, having each letter fit within the lines. Experiment with the width and style of the letters and using upper- and lowercase letters within each word.

3. Once you are satisfied with the shape and pacing of the letters, go over them with a marker. Consider making some of the letters thicker or different colors. This is just practice, so don't be afraid to let your imagination take hold.

Technique No. 2 comes from Cloth Paper Scissors Editorial Director Jenn Mason, via the eMag Art Journaling Exposed vol 2. Building on her lessons from vol. 1, Jenn offers tips for creating unique letters using practice paper. The lined paper (like the ones you used back in grade school) can be downloaded from the eMag. In her video demonstration, Jenn shows how to draw letters and then manipulate the size and shape of parts of the letter to create an alphabet of your own.

A variation on writing between the lines in your art journal, by Erin Leigh as featured in Art Journaling Exposed, vol. 2.

Some of Jenn's tips for discovering and using unique lettering styles include:

Following Instagram and Pinterest to find great typeography and lettering examples.
Starting an alphabet swap for with other art journaling friends. Ask everyone to make a handwritten alphabet and to send a copy by mail or email to all of the participants.
Making and keeping copies of lettering you're especially proud of in an inspirational binder.

You can get more tips from Jenn and other art journaling experts in Art Journaling Exposed, vol. 2.

P.S. Don't forget to enter the Week 3 segment of the Golden Giveaway Sweepstakes!