Outside the Box with Jenn

Quality Art with, by, and for Kiddos

Jenn Mason — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:43:53 GMT

Are you ever so impressed with something your children made in school that you are inspired to run back to your studio and make something?

Such is the case with this cool little pop up book that my daughter made in 3rd grade. It was all tied up, nicely resting on her desk, just waiting for me to LOVE it. Each student had to research one of the 50 states and collect all sorts of data. Then they assembled a rough draft followed by this book.

I haven’t made one like it yet but I’m hoping to document a upcoming family vacation/journal with the very same construction—if only I can get my daughter to disclose her technique.

What have you been inspired by? As the school year ends, what do you miss making from your old school days?

Let me know in the comments section below!

Cheers,

Announcing the CPS Calendar Winners!

Jenn Mason — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:14:00 GMT

Congratulations to the following winners of the “Make it Pretty” Calendar challenge!

2011 Calendar Winners

“Hearts and Flowers”
Mary Beth Volpini
Newport Beach, CA

“Pretty as a State of Mind”
Cindy Armstrong
Homewood, AL

“Medieval”
Ronni Hunter
Lakewood, CO

“No. 99”
Kayla Fujimoto
Geneva, IL

“Pretty Little Things”
Erin Radniecki
Corvallis, OR

“Queen of the Tulips”
Jessica Moreau-Berry
Whitefield, ME

“Pretty Wordy”
Leilani Pierson
Chicago, IL

“Precious Buttons”
Niki Siebert
Bloomfield, NJ

“Garden Party”
Christy Renken
Los Alamos, CA

“Pretty is as Pretty Does”
Lisa Thorpe
Healdsburg, CA

“Make it Pretty…Clear”
Jan Jackola
Osage, MN

“Make It Pretty as a Button”
Lou McCulloch
Medina, OH

“Pretty Snow”
Candyce Martens
Lake Villa, IL

Cheers!

Brimfield winners!

Jenn Mason — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:39:00 GMT

Brimfield was a kick! I purchased way more than I needed and less than I wanted (the perfect balance!)

I also picked up a few goodies for you all too!

When I asked you what you’d look for these are just a few of the items you asked for:

antique lace
ironstone pitcher
cast-iron dogs
mason jars
suitcases
buttons
jewelry
old sewing machines
ledger paper
tin types
fabric
vintage photos
card catalog
wooden thread spools
enamelware
typewriter pieces
watch parts
old silverware

I couldn’t decide on just one item to look for so instead I looked for, and found, a bunch or the items you were looking for. If more than one person suggested an item, I picked names out of a hat! In no particular order, here are the winners (who will need to email me with your addresses so that we can ship out your prizes.)

From the comments section of the blog:

CindyintheWrensNest – needles in a paper book
Nemo15 – a button-covered moon pin cushion(?) and a few ivory buttons.

From our friends on Facebook:

Kimberly Sturrup Roberts – buttons
Joann Despot Loftus – ledger paper
Lorri Lennox – vintage photograph
Kim Switzer – thread spools
Gen Robinson - buttons

See your name on this list! Make sure to email me your address by next Monday (May 24th) and we’ll get your goodies shipped right off to you. Thanks for playing along. It was so much fun to be your personal shopper!

Oh, and what did I buy? Stay tuned and we’ll be posting our photos from our trip to the antique show.

Cheers,

Personal Shopper—Brimfield is Here!

Jenn Mason — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:01:00 GMT

If you’ve never experienced the thrill of an antique show like the one held three times a year in Brimfield, Massachusetts, you have live. As I work diligently on the July/August issue of Cloth Paper Scissors, I know that the show has started and I’m missing out. Never fear. I go tomorrow (and Sunday!)

People are tweeting from the show and taking pictures of their loot. I am sitting here in Stow, Massachusetts praying to the deity of rust, the muse of found objects and the mistress of good deals hoping that there are wonderful finds to be found tomorrow.

The weather will be perfect and assistant editor Barb Delaney will be along to keep me from buying something crazy like a full-sized harp or trophy swordfish.

What do you collect? What would you look for? Let me know either here or “Like” us on Facebook or follow us on twitter and join the conversation. I will be looking for one (or more) of the items in the comments, Twitter, and Facebook responses. I could be your personal shopper for the day! You may win your very own collectable, found object or ephemera!

What would you look for? Milk glass, skeleton keys, an old mason jar? Let me know and you might win. I will announce the winner(s) on my blog (and Facebook and Twitter) on Monday, May 17th.

So speak up—let your voice be heard and follow me on twitter (3G signal willing) from the show all day on Saturday!

Cheers,

10 Things I want to try from March/April issue

Jenn Mason — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:52:00 GMT

Last week I posted a list of all the things I learned from the March/April Cloth Paper Scissors, and I issued a challenge. Many of you stepped up from the challenge and I hope you enjoyed the game!

We have a WINNER!

The winner of this contest is Kristine May! Congrats, you’ve won a copy of Jeanine Stein’s fabulous book Rebound. Please email jmason@interweave.com with your address and we’ll ship it right out to you.

Kristine also sent us her list of 10 things that she learned from the March/April Issue.

What I have learned from the March/April issue of Cloth Paper Scissors is:

1. Graffiti is not just for box cars, murals, or Brett Cook-Dizney (though his murals are AMAZING!).

2. When you're out of wax - Burn GLUE!!!

3. CREATE workshops are actually not that far away!!

4. Leo Sewell is incredible with junk, trinkets, & found objects!!

5. Pitt Pens.....are wonderful!

6. There is still time for 'A Haunting we will go' Challenge!

7. With all this inspiration, I will be doing my part to save the world ~ I won't be throwing anything out!!! (any ideas for organizing all this stuff?)

8. I can forget my intention to 'Simplfy my life'. (see #7)

9. I love, love using and seeing recycled paper with text, but still can't get passed tearing up a library book!!!

10. Embroidery stitches (chain stitch) can bind books!

Now for my new list.

**10 Things I Want to Try from the March/April Issue**

1. Seth Apter’s graffiti wall challenge.

2. Silk screening.

3. Designing my own graffiti tag.

4. Try to make an entire art piece with junk, a la Leo Sewell.

5. Find glass negatives like Linda Blinn’s.

6. Add leather latches to a journal.

7. Any projects from the reviewed book Playing with Books.

8. Make a pennant flag for the CREATE retreat.

9. Try gesso spray paint.

10. Make a book from my stack of collected business cards.

What are you going to try? Or what have you already tried? Come on, share! Leave a comment and let me know.

Cheers,

Top 10 things I learned from the March/April Issue

Jenn Mason — Thu, 06 May 2010 18:26:00 GMT

As we say good bye to the March/April issue and hello to May/June, I thought I’d take a moment to tell you about what I learned from cover to cover…

In no particular order:

1. You can use binder clips to hold layers together when silk screening or even stenciling.

2. There is a place where I can use my old (or unsolicited) credit cards.

3. Tape can be used as a mask when using encaustics.

4. Cyanotype fabric can be purchased ready made.

5. Egg cartons make good book covers (without the eggs in them.)

6. Metal letter punches can be used on metal tape.

7. If you fold and clean your studio, you’ll have more room for more stuff.

8. If you have unused wet paint on a paint palette, you can keep it fresh by putting it in the freezer.

9. An old button hole makes a fabulous eye.

10. Cereal boxes can be recycled into art.

What did you learn from the March/April issue? Can you find the articles that match up to each of these top ten lessons learned? Send me an email with your numbered answers to jmason@interweave.com by 12 noon (EST) on Monday, May 10, 2010, and I’ll pick a winner to receive a book written by the author of #10!

Check back on Monday afternoon to see if you’ve won!

Cheers!

Eat the Frog

Jenn Mason — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:22:00 GMT

Oh Kermit, I'm so sorry but in response to a contest posted on the CPS Today Blog and in the CPS Today Newsletter, I must reward creativity.

The blog asked readers to send in three word (or less) phrases they might like to see stamped on a pendant to me via our twitter account (@CPSMagazine).

mkparker is our winner with the following tweet: @CPSMagazine "Eat the Frog"---Mark Twain's quote "If you eat a frog first thing in the morning, the rest of your day will be wonderful."

I'll be sending mkparker her very own brass blank from Vintaj stamped "Eat the Frog" by yours truly with letter punches.

I have never actually eaten frog before but the quote just makes me giggle picturing myself running down the street in the morning to the park in my robe with a towel on my head looking for a frog to eat. Of course, this is wholly unrealistic because the park I would run to is a designated "dog" park until 9am. And everyone knows that a no self-respecting frog would be caught dead in a dog park.

So congrats to mkparker! Look for more contests "hopping" up here and there. (See what I just did there?)

Cheers,

Just Rewards

Jenn Mason — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:14:00 GMT

Did you find the time to finish your pendant yesterday? Yes? Hurrah!

Ok, here is a little reward for you--more pendant lovelies. If you came by earlier this week you might have read this blog.

I spent a little more time on these pendants just to show you what else you could create, as well as give you some ideas on how to embellish the pendant that you'll receive from the swap.

Beaded Pendants

I just added a few little embellishments to these from some of the delightful products that Vintaj sent us to try out. See the "BE" in the butterfly? The pendant on the far right is my artier piece and therefore one of my favorites. I'm sure you can't see it in this picture but a piece of the text says "Every age has its admirers". I added "LoVe iT" with alphabet metal punches (and a hammer and steel block). The bottom left piece needed almost nothing so the lace metal flower was just the thing I needed.

Resin Wonders

These were pretty simple additions thanks to more of the Objects and Elements goodies we have here in the office to try out. The tassel on the far right pendant was made with little stone beads, seed beads and eye pins.

RESISTor

This piece I made just for fun--It says Resist ME. After seeing Alice in Wonderland, I thought about the looming Spring holidays and resisting all the chocolate candy. I used the letter metal punches again and blanks from Vintaj.

Have a great weekend.

Cheers,

Is "time" your muse?

Jenn Mason — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:11:00 GMT

Did you read about the pendant swap in Cloth Paper Scissors and immediately say to yourself, "Self, we should enter that challenge!" Did you then proceed to forget all about it? Yikes! Today is just about the last day to get your swap here (using Priority mail) by our April 5th deadline. And I'm not foolin'.

So, technically you're not out of time--yet. And if you can whip up a little something, put it in a padded mailer and send it off you will feel so much better. Perhaps you were planning all along to create something at the last minute. Perhaps you thrive on deadlines and only let your muse into your studio when a deadline is looming.

I'm not sure I like working under pressure, but I know I'm capable of it. Sometimes really strong work comes while I'm listening to the minutes ticking away. How about you? Are you a proud procrastinator fueled by pressure? A deadline junkie? I thought I'd provide you with a wee bit more inspiration in the form of other pendant possibilities today and then step out of the way so the mad flurry of flying pendant pieces can be packaged and posted.

Big Ole Crystals

I love working with these guys. I got hooked on working on crystals when I took a workshop taught by two new friends, Linda Blinn and Jennifer Francis Bitto, (who eventually became co-authors with me). Linda and Jen like to work with transparencies and more ornate crystals and foils, and the end product is ethereal and captivating. I like to work with these simpler shaped crystals that I collect at antique fairs. I work on building up layers of ink, paper, stamping and more.

These two examples were created in one of my workshops I taught this past fall.

Tiny Crystals

These pendant are much more complicated even thought the crystal part has been significantly simplified.

The pendant on the left had green permanent ink dripped onto the crystal and allowed to dry. The metal disk is from a trip to Tinsel Trading in NYC. I believe it's a large military sequin of some sort. I used a paper punch to cut the bird out of vintage text and added it to the metal with soft gel gloss. The tassel at the bottom is from bits of gunmetal chain and black mother of pearl beads.

The pendant on the right was colored in a similar fashion and then I cut decorative paper to fit the different facets on the back side of the crystal. Additional "dangly" items include a vintage stamp in a piece of plastic tubing, a vintage key and an old washer that had been sealed. (No one wants a rusty neck!)

Other Pendant Options

This simple little pendant on the left is created by dripping permanent ink into a small section of clear plastic tubing (found in the plumbing section of the hardware store). A little piece of a vintage postage stamp was inserted before slipping it over a head pin with a crystal bead on each end.

The pendant on the right was a small cloth collage that started with a piece of inkjet printable cloth, followed by ink, paint and bits of papers. Small copper eyelets were added to the top and then copper wire was used to attach it to a metal necklace form.

Come back tomorrow and take a look at some changes and additions I made to some of the pendants I shared with you earlier this week. So go! Get a move on! Git to it!

Cheers,

Time's a Tickin'

Jenn Mason — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:32:00 GMT

Rainy days and Mondays all ways get me down...but not next Monday! April 5th is the deadline for our Mixed Media Pendant Swap (read more here) and I am so excited to finally be able to go through all of the swap entries and see the marvelous things that you sent in! What?!? You haven't sent anything in yet. Hmmm. Well, there is still time to whip something up and send it to us if you're quick!

I thought I'd take a few blog posts to share what I'm working on here.

These Pendants are actually created on two different types of wooden beads that I bought in NYC last week. I love walking through the fashion district looking for fun bead and accessory stores. We even stopped at Mood! (Although it was a little difficult to find.)

To create these pendants I used soft gel gloss by Golden Artist Colors to add papers and other collage elements to the bead. Then I added laser copy transfers, charcoal pencil sketching, fluid acrylic glazes, some heavy body acrylic paint in titanium white, scratched some text with the back of a paint brush, drew with a Pigma pen (01) and then covered the pendants with Ice Resin from Objects and Elements. I loved this resin. It was easy to clean and it is non-toxic (which means it doesn't smell). I mixed some Pearl-ex into some of the resin too so if you see a shimmer, that's what it is.

These two sweet little lovelies are just starting out in my opinion. I think I will add some kind of fun dangly and bright addition to this with a jump ring (or two). They were created on two pieces from the bezel and frame collection of Vintaj. I used one of their daisy embellishments which I dry painted in white and then colored with permanent inks. I used a little more of the interference Pearl-ex in this as well. The smaller bezel has a paper flower that had been polka-dotted with a Pigma pen before being encased in more Ice Resin. (Did I mention that I love that stuff?)

Lastly, I did some seriously deep bezels from Objects and elements. I LOVE the depth. For the backgrounds I used scraps from my last gelatin print session (don't throw anything away) and adhered them to the back with more soft gel gloss. You want to make sure that any paper you used is completely sealed (and dry) before you add the resin. In the circular pendant I layer bits and beads and tiny slivers of the orange gelatin prints. In the long rectangle I added an old spring from a pen my puppy chewed up and added a few little beads to it. I also sprinkled in just a touch of a chunkier copper Pearl-ex. The oval bezel doesn't have a back on it so on the right hand side you can see past the sprin and out the back. (There is paper on the left hand side.)

I hope to add a little detail or two to these over the course of the week and I'll share them with you as they morph.

In the meantime I hope I've inspired you with enough information (or at least a reminder) so that you can enter our pendant swap. You probably can still ship out your pendant by Thursday if you send it Priority. Don't be left out of the fun!

Cheers,

CREATE with me

Jenn Mason — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:08:00 GMT

Perhaps you've already seen this video in our first Cloth Paper Scissors TODAY newsletter. If not, take a look at my video announcement about CREATE, our first ever art retreat. As we finalize information, I hope to be providing more of these video snippets.

Keep an eye out in your inbox for the next CPS Today Newsletter where I'll be sharing some springy backgrounds!

We're always up to something creative here at Cloth Paper Scissors--so be sure to check back often.

If you're just to excited about CREATE to contain yourself, go to our new forum that we created specifically to share your thoughts, ask your questions and to join with other like-minded creative types.

Cheers,

Feeling Lucky?

Jenn Mason — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:08:00 GMT

I am! I had the chance to play with some letter punches (thanks Vintaj), alcohol inks, fabric ribbons (thanks Objects and Elements), wire and beads and I created this Lucky pendant in honor of St. Paddy's day.

It was a loud project for sure. It required a hammer and a steel block to pound an old sterling silver spoon flat, a coping saw to cut off the handle and then pliers and more hammering to bend the rest of the handle back to make the "bale". I will definitely be on the look out for uniquely shaped, odd spoons on future junking trips.

Have you ever tried making a mixed-media pendant? I'll be coming back often as we approach the deadline for our "Mixed-media Pendant Swap" (click here to read more about the swap.)

So check back for more of my pendant creations and have a Happy St. Paddy's day--or as my mum would have me say, "Top O' the morning to ye!"

Cheers,

Remember Ruthann-A lesson in sharing creativity

Jenn Mason — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:44:00 GMT

My facebook page reminded me today to stay in contact with Ruthann. Unfortunately I can't do that because Ruthann's shining light left us last May. I met Ruthann when she worked with my husband and over the years I saw her creativity grow. I would send her early copies of my books and eventually talked her into submitting her artwork for consideration for a book. She was an all around wonderful person but our contact existed primarily through creativity. She was generous in her compliments and I can't help but think how proud she would have been of my new position here at Cloth Paper Scissors. What my friendship with Ruthann reinforced is my need to encourage creativity in everyday life.

I'm sure many of you have people in your life like Ruthann, those people who can't wait to see the next thing you create and who have ventured out of their own box because of the joy they experience when they are inspired. I encourage you to spend time thinking of them today and creating something with that energy those thoughts bring to you.

Go ahead! Be creative. Celebrate life--both past, present and yet to be.

And, Ruthann, thanks. I will never be able to forget you, and I'm glad I never will.

Weekend Inspiration Part 4

Jenn Mason — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:04:00 GMT

Good morning and my apologies. I actually wrote this post yesterday but it disappeared into cyberspace.

Today's Muse is Deniseb1069 and I just couldn't pass up her short and sweet prompt:

Deniseb1069 wrote

on Sat, Feb 20 2010 10:43 PM

Show me a mixed media representation of what's in your heart today.

I recycled some old glazed postcards and gelatin print samples, added some glue, flocking, and glitter and created my Mail Art Affirmation. I used the saying that I also love to use when I'm doing book signings--Follow your art.

Short, simple and sweet--Just like Deniseb1069's prompt.

Remember to email me if I've used your idea this week. I've already sent one these postcards off--I look forward to them all finding "home".

Cheers,

Weekend Inspiration Part 3

Jenn Mason — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:22:00 GMT

Simple cut and paste is what it took for today's suggestion from Whenigrowup.

I was immediately threatened by the letter "z" challenge. I knew this was NOT going to be one of the suggestions that I was going to choose. Then I decided that I was taking the wimp's version of inspiration--only choosing the easy solutions. So, I added the "z" challenge to my list and thought about it for a while. Eventually the idea of the alphabet came to me. I like to dabble in calligraphy now and then so that was the next logical step; figuring out how to work calligraphy and the alphabet into my piece. Then that little voice in my head said too easy, try again. And then, the idea of creating a ransom note-like sampler came to mind. The letter z was the first letter I found in an old magazine--red on charcoal--perfect. I had been trying to figure out how to make it prominent amongst 25 other letters. I knew I wanted letters both big and small but the z still had to stand out and using the red helped pull it all together.

Where is my affirmation? Well, you caught me. I don't have one. But, I definitely gave you enough letters to make up your own! If I've used your idea this week, make sure to email me with your address so I can ship the postcard to you!

whenigrowup wrote

on Fri, Feb 19 2010 12:00 PM

The letter "Z". Paint it, stamp it, fold fabric into a "Z", words that begin with "Z" (but the letter "Z" must be prominent), stencil it, zentangle a small "Z" attachment, droopy eyelids communicating "zzz's", an arty stamp from a country (real or imagined) that begins with a "Z", whatever your mind can conjure!

Materials Used: Red Identipen, Magazine letters, Soft Gel gloss, Sakura Plumie gel pen

I cut out all the letters and adhered them to the postcard with soft gel gloss (hence the shine) and I let it dry. I then penned in the alphabets using the black gel pen and the red permanent identipen.

Read more about the initial challenge here.

Weekend inspiration

Weekend inspiration 2