Encaustic

12 Free Bird Projects and Techniques

We're celebrating Put a Bird on It month with 12 hours of free projects, techniques, and eBooks featuring our feathered friends today.
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Make an Art Supplies Wish List and You Could Win

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 .
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photo Friday–brick remnants

Today’s photo comes from one of those gift moments in life. This is one of those times where you’re just walking down the street, minding your own business and something special appears. I took this shot in Portland, ME. A town I highly recommend you
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photo Friday-converging lines

Taking a new look While walking in New York City recently, I realized the dichotomy of the dirt and filth of the streets, buildings, bridges, and sidewalks against the beauty of the city when taken as bigger chunks. This is a photo I shot while walking
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Faux Mixed-Media Art Techniques - No Foolin'

My kids revel in April Fool's Day. They spend hours conjuring up devilishly creative ways to "get" their parents. (The best was a fake letter from Olivia's college of choice rescinding her acceptance. Or maybe that was the worst.) We've always told them they can do anything, as
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Encaustic Art Can Take Many Forms

One of the aesthetic pleasures of working with encaustic medium is the smooth, rich surface that seems to make the artwork glow. But that doesn't mean encaustic art has to be flat.
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Mark-Making Techniques: of Tombstones and Tape

I'm intrigued by the postage stamp-sized antique cemetery down the road from the barn. Not only are the headstones are beautifully chiseled with letters and images, but the entire cemetery is enclosed with an ornate wrought iron fence. From an artist's perspective, this little plot is a feast
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photo friday–a flash of color

I’m feeling super saturated today! I can feel spring right around the corner. I can buy three bunches of brilliant daffodils at the supermarket for just $6. And I am looking forward to wearing my fun green-feathered fascinator on St. Paddy’s day. No,
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Studios Spring 2013

If thoughts of Spring have you longing for fresh color combinations and new thoughts on organizing your creative space, the latest edition of Studios magazine, with an inside look at over 20 studios, is the place to start! Inside this inspiration-packed edition, you will. . .
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10 Collage Lessons Learned in 2012

Making collage art seems simple. After all, schoolchildren do it all the time. But, making an original, well-designed piece of collage art takes more than a session of cutting and pasting pictures from an old magazine (though that is a lot of fun and very relaxing).
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Digital Art: How to Print Your Own Tissue Paper

It's probably safe to say that the digital scanner vastly increased the possibilities for using and reusing your artwork. Scanning a two-dimensional piece so you can print it out over and over again as digital art — and even manipulate it in the computer first — allows you to use it in
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Cloth Paper Scissors: January/February 2013

To kick off the new year, we've put together our very first Bucket List issue.Some of the best mixed-media artists around are ready to show you how to get started, get further, and try something new.
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A Dozen Collage Tips (and a Once-in-a-Lifetime Sale) to Celebrate 12-12-12

In case you didn't notice, today is December 12, 2012, aka 12.12.12. Therefore, I feel obliged to offer you a dozen of something. How about 12 tips for collage art ?
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Gel Medium Transfer with Film: Technique by Jane LaFazio

When you want to apply a drawing or painting to fabric and you don't have the resources to print your own fabric, what do you do? Use an image transfer technique .
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Encaustic Collage: Putting it into Practice

So many of you commented on the encaustic blog posts last week, saying you were excited to try encaustic art or delve into it more. For myself, I was curious to try using natural elements and Pearl Ex powders from Jacquard.
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Encaustic Week Prize Package Winners Announced

Well, that was fun, wasn't it? I hope you learned a lot from our week of encaustic endeavors. I know I did. The Interweave/Jacquard Encaustic Prize package for blog comment winners. I'll have a final wrap-up on Wednesday, but here's the news
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Encaustic Week–my look at assemblage and wax

When the idea to do this Encaustic Week was announced, I immediately knew what I wanted to talk about. Assemblage! As editor of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, I get a really good look at a lot of new techniques that I want to try. I’m always wishing
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Encaustic Week Day 4 - How to Make a Transfer on Encaustic Wax

Welcome to Day 4 of Encaustic Week! Today, with the help Michelle Belto's book Wax and Paper Workshop: Techniques for Combining Encaustic Paint and Handmade Paper , I'll show you how to add a transfer to your encaustic art .
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Encaustic Week Day 3 - How to Make an Encaustic Collage

I have loved the look of encaustic collage art for many years, but it wasn't until I watched Amy Stoner demonstrate how to create one that I was moved to make one of my own . She made it look so easy!
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Thoughts on Thursday: Mixed-media art for the NBCF

The September/October 2012 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors included this wonderful article called Artists Give Back in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The article featured 32 pieces of inspiring art donated by contributing artists from Cloth Paper
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Encaustic Week Day 2 - Encaustic Painting Techniques

Once you do witness the magic of encaustic, you will not only want to use clear encaustic medium, you'll want to start playing with wax and colors, or encaustic paint.
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Encaustic Week Day 1 - Encaustic Supplies & Giveaways

What is encaustic? Encaustic comes from the Greek word enkaustikos, meaning "to burn." Encaustic art involves using melted beeswax or encaustic medium with or without pigment with other media and materials.
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Image Transfers and Art Journaling: A Blender Pen Technique and More

Whether you make journal pages to create art, to experiment, or a little of both, it's fun to make image transfer techniques part of the mix. Image transfers can give your journal pages depth and interest whether you use them in layered backgrounds or as focal points.
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What Defines Mixed-Media Art? You do

Often, when I try to explain what I do, some people question me as to what constitutes " mixed-media art ." When I tell them it means a work of art that uses more than one visual medium, I either get a blank stare or a look that implies I think they are dense. As if to say, "Of course
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Never Too Hot for Encaustic Inspiration

I really thought this was going to the summer of encaustic art. I imagined myself out on the porch with my electric fry pan, wood boards, encaustic medium, papers, and fabric, whiling away the day creating encaustic collage.
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Our Five Most Popular Collage Art Posts - What Can You Learn?

To me, collage is the most accessible means of exploring mixed-media art. Start with ephemera and glue for paper collage and add paint; choose fabric and add stitch for fabric collage; "glue" with wax for encaustic collage; or play on the computer or tablet to create digital collage.
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Mixed-Media Art Techniques: 5 Things I've Learned

As you may know, I spent a few days at the CREATE Mixed-Media Retreat in New Jersey last month. Most of my focus was on interacting with members of our mixed-media and fiber art community
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Mixed-Media Art Techniques for Creating People

What's the first recognizable thing we draw as children? Often it's a stick figure. As grown-up artists, too, we like to include people in our mixed-media art : loved ones, interesting strangers, imaginary characters — even ourselves.
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How to Make a Collage - Learning from Each Other

How do you make a collage ? What materials do you use? I'm often asked that question, usually right after I tell people what I do. People who don't do art or who aren't familiar with the kinds of art we create here are genuinely curious. So I feel kind of bad when I answer them. Because the
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She Mixes Collage and Drawing for the Look of Lace

When I first saw Roz Leibowitz's artwork, I thought I was looking at collage on lace. Only closer inspection showed that what I perceived as crochet and cutwork was actually hand drawings.
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Free mixed-media art projects? Tell us what you think!

What types of projects have you come across in your journey online that you just love? For me, the best kinds of free projects are the ones that pop-up at the same time a big task is winding down. I love it when they come into my life as time becomes
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A Winning Combination - Encaustics and #PinTeaTuesday

I am so pleased to announce the winners of two of our latest giveaways, The Encaustic Studio blog hop giveaway and the #PinTeaTuesday challenge. The winners of The Encaustic Studio prizes are: Lucky winner #1 is iamspringb, who will receive The Enkaustikos
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Encaustic Studio Blog Hop and Giveaway

Welcome to The Encaustic Studio weekend blog celebration blast! Ten fantastic bloggers from all around the country will be joining the party and sharing their thoughts on the new book, The Encaustic Studio by Daniella Woolf , hosting book giveaways and writing about their work in encaustic .
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The Five Mixed-Media Art Books You Need on a Deserted Island

I love the "stranded on a deserted island" game. You know, the one where you have to decide which two books ( Pride and Prejudice, The Complete Works of Shakespeare ) or records (James Taylor's greatest hits and Steely Dan "Aja") or friends (not going there) you would choose to
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Art Studio Tips for Creating with Kids

As my girls have grown, the nature of "art studio time" at our house has changed. When they were little, half the fun (for them) was making a mess and the other half was exploring the visual and tactile sensations of playing with paint, glue, and clay. Now, they're both into drawing, jewelry
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Encaustic Art Transfer Technique with Carbon Paper

The exchange led me to wonder if they even make carbon paper anymore. It turns out they do. You can still find carbon paper at your local stationery store (or online), and it's a great method for mark making in encaustic art .
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Photo Friday–Okey doke artichokey!

Hi friends, it’s Friday and it’s GORGEOUS here in Massachusetts. We’re a little afraid that we might get snow in August with the weather being so unseasonably warm right now, but you know what? I’ll take it. I’m feeling so moved by the weather that I
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Announcing the Pass On Your Passion Winners

I was inspired by all the ways you are passing on your passion for art with others, young and old, friends and strangers. So, without further ado, here are the winners!
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March is National Craft Month: Pass It On!

Mixed-media and collage artists have a lot of passion. And we're so lucky, because we're passionate about so many types of art and techniques — usually at the same time! To celebrate National Craft Month, Cloth Paper Scissors Today and Interweave's
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The Best Encaustic Art Technique Book for Mixed-Media Artists Yet

I don't usually do this, but I am about to gush over a new technique book. The Encaustic Studio: A Wax Workshop in Mixed-Media Art by Daniella Woolf is simply the best, most comprehensive, and most inspiring book on encaustic art techniques I have ever seen-and a video comes with it, too boot.
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Embroider Your Fabric Collage with Wit and Whimsey

Many years ago I began collecting examples of vintage embroidery such as tea towels and napkins, little pieces of fabric art from the past. I particularly liked the ones with a tea-theme; I had a notion to cut out the motifs and incorporate them with other vintage fabrics to make tea cozies
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All About Image Transfers: Free eBook Just Published

Image transfer techniques can be used in just about any form of fabric and mixed-media art to create artistic visual imagery. All you need are the right tools and the know-how.
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Cloth Paper Scissors January/February 2012

Learn how to start your own art group. Meet artist Patti Munro. Make molds with resin and clay. Do some faux encaustic painting. Get 365 Art Prompts for 2012. Discover a new use for recyclables. Add fun and color to your studio with Word Birds and stand-out scissors. Check out the results of our "A
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Beyond Beeswax - Encaustic Collage Ideas You'll Want to Try

We've recently added a new editorial team for our sister publication, Stitch , to our Sudbury, Mass., offices. Among the getting-to-know-you questions asked between the new and pre-existing staff members is, "What kind of art do you make?" Followed closely by, "Oh, can you teach me
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Easy Packing Tape Transfer with Digital Art

A few months ago I wrote about how to make better photo transfers on fabric, metal, and so on. I asked for feedback on your favorite kinds of transfers and tips, and many of you responded that you enjoy making packing tape transfers.
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A Mixed-Media Anniversary Gift List

A few weeks ago my husband and I paused in the middle of knocking out a wall in our kitchen to discuss our wedding anniversary (which is today). As we pondered how to celebrate, Nick asked, "Is there a 'traditional gift' for 22 years?"
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Learn Encaustic Techniques with Our New Free eBook

In the past year, I have become enthralled with encaustic collage-and I'm not the only one. More and more mixed-media artists are exploring this technique, traced back to the ancient Greeks, that allows you to enrobe papers, fabric, and found objects in beeswax and paint. The warm, rich, glossy result
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How Do You Collage? Five Ideas to Try

When did you first learn how to make a collage ? Was it in elementary school where you cut pictures out of magazines to concoct a self-portrait? Was it an Earth Day exercise to see how you could repurpose trash into a piece of art? Or maybe a watercolor class where you added dimension with papers or
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How to Be a Fearless Artist

How many of us are so fearless in our art that we are willing to go beyond what a medium can do to seeing what it might do? To chuck everything we've been taught about the "right way" and put faith in our own way? To be like the archeologist who must disturb or even destroy the setting
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10 Creative Tips for Tough Times

Times are tough for a lot of people right now, and lately, the world seems more unpredictable than ever. But rather than abandon artistic pursuits, it seems to me that creative people are more passionate than ever about their art. Even if it's not a livelihood, it's a lifeline; the thing that
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Watch and Learn: Encaustic Collage

It has been a very fruitful summer at my house: we have enjoyed a bumper crop of family togetherness featuring heavenly vistas; friendly animal encounters; and diversions of the antique, artistic, and culinary kind. But as much as I've enjoyed this summer, I'm looking forward to fall. I prefer
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Do You Dare Take a Fiber Art or Mixed-Media Challenge?

Since taking over the bloggership of Cloth Paper Scissors Today six months ago, I've had to challenge myself. Challenge myself to make art with materials or techniques I never thought I would try. And to put my "art" out there for all of you to see. And judge.
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Metal Art: 5 Ways to Work It

I had just dropped my daughter off at her riding lesson Saturday when I saw a sign that said "Barn Sale." Somehow, my car spontaneously turned in the direction the sign was pointing, down the lane to the rustic red barn and the treasures within.
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Encaustic Tips You Might Have Overlooked

Encaustic art is hot right now (sorry, couldn't resist the pun), with many people (including me), hopping on the beeswax bandwagon. I'm captivated by the encaustic collage process and the results it produces, and I've been experimenting at home with fabric, papers, and found objects. I'm
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Choosing the Workshops that are right for you

You’ve saved your money, made your plane reservations, found a roommate to share hotel expenses with (if you save on your room, you can afford more workshops!—right?) and the time has finally come to attend your first (or second, or third, or…) art retreat
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5 Free Mixed-Media Projects to Make Before You Forget

I love new art project ideas. As I cruise art blogs and follow my friends' Facebook links and tweets, I get all excited about some pretty, shiny, clever, or easy (preferably all four) project at least three times a day.
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Encaustics, Collage, Photography, and Image Transfers are Kid’s Play

Jenn Mason Cloth Paper Scissors Editor Hidden Valley by Becky Mason I was having a art discussion with my daughter this weekend as we talked about an upcoming art show that we were both planning on entering. Becky, 11-years-old, wanted to matte
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Encaustic Week Wrap Up

Jenn Mason Cloth Paper Scissors Editor Well, that was fun! A whole week of encaustic art , encaustic painting, and encaustic medium! I think we could really cover encaustics for an entire month because there is so much to learn. Speaking of things to
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Encaustic Tips and Techniques

Jenn Mason Cloth Paper Scissors Editor Day 4 of Encaustic Week Today, I’m offering tips and great places to find more information and inspiration on encaustic painting. Tips from our pros: From Crystal Neubauer Use an oven thermometer – even if the pallet
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Take a look!

The March/April issue is full of exciting techniques and wonderful, inspiring art. If you haven't seen it, you must. You don't want to miss anything in this fashion-inspired issue . Check out Pattie Donham Wilkinson's "Shoes that Make
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Encaustic Week with the Pros

Jenn Mason Cloth Paper Scissors Editor Day 3 of Encaustic Week Today I have a special treat for you…some insight from the pros. Whenever I want to learn something new, I get online and start researching. I look for videos, blogs, websites…you know the
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Encaustic Basics

Jenn Mason Cloth Paper Scissors Editor Day 2 of Encaustic Week Thanks to everyone on Facebook, Twitter, and the Blog for your questions, ideas, and input! It seems some of you are fans, some of you are wanna-bes, and some of you had to look up the word
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Encaustic week!

Jenn Mason Cloth Paper Scissors Editor Today is the start of something new. And no, I don’t mean that in a big self-reflective way. I have a big idea and, well, it’s going to take me a week to chat about it. In fact, I have a bunch of big ideas and we
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Cloth Paper Scissors March/April 2011

Meet the talented Sandy Webster. Experiment with Restructured Paper. Learn how to make fashionable paper quilts and how to make necklaces from newspaper. Create a wire and clay sculpture. Walk a mile in hand-crafted mixed-media shoes--or just make your own pair. Mix fabric and stitch with encaustics
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Diver or Wader? What's Your Mixed-media Style?

How do you approach a new (or new-to-you) art medium? Do you wade in slowly, reading up on everything there is to know, researching the tools on the Internet, maybe taking a workshop? Or do you just grab the basic supplies and dive in, learning as you go and buying specialized materials as needed?
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Wax Sentimental: Quick Encaustic Collage Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day! I remember my first Valentine's Day with the man who would become my husband. He made a reservation well in advance at the fanciest restaurant in town. I spent days writing a meaningful love note, while he, unbeknownst to me, shopped for a piece of jewelry. On the big night
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We Put A Bird On It

Portlandia: Put A Bird On It When I saw saw this clip, I just knew that I had to share it with you all. Over and over again, birds pop up on the collage and mixed-media art submissions that we receive. Occasionally we’ll get a letter to the editor
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What say you Mr. Groundhog?

I have a pile of snow in front of my house. I have a BIG pile of snow in front of my house. This photo is not from this year. No, this year the pile is so big you can’t see the green on those carriage house doors. It’s so big
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Thinking snow... and wondering what you're thinking.

The January February 2011 issue has been on the newsstandsfor a while now...the first issue of the new year! I love it and hope you do, too. What better way to spend a cold winter's day than with Cloth Paper Scissors ? Check out the "Mini Book"
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Cloth Paper Scissors January/February 2011

Meet the incredibly colorful Adnan Charara. Experiment with polymer clay book covers. Learn how to mix papermaking with encaustics, and how to make fabric mail art. Create a folder Journal. Take a flip through our reader challenge "mini books." Jump into your own artist collaboration. Look
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What’s Happening Wednesday: Challenges, Events, and Mixed-media Updates 11/3

Looking for the latest and greatest news. Check out this blog on Wednesdays for current updates. contest winners chinacapri is the winner of Sue Pelletier's Original artwork. Quiltstoo@2 is the winner of the "little bits" package. Congratulations
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Using Heated Wax to Make Art Cool!

Looking for something new to try in your next studio session? Have you looked into encaustic art yet? I have been wanting to use encaustic medium in my art for some time now. After watching Amy Stoner’s new Cloth Paper Scissors Workshop DVD, Encaustic
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What’s Happening? Wednesday: Challenges, Events and Mixed-media Updates

Looking for the latest and greatest news. Check out this blog on Wednesdays for current updates. contest winners chinacapri is the winner of Sue Pelletier's Original artwork. Quiltstoo@2 is the winner of the "little bits" package
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Cloth Paper Scissors September/October 2010

Meet Ann Wood and her whimiscal creatures. Learn easy faux silkscreaning and try our paper and plaster pumpkins. Experiment with Steampunk style earrings and play with texture and layers. Create a painted fedora with the Crafty Chica and celebrate the Day of the Dead with Michael deMeng. Take a look
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Check out our new artisan art!

The Artisan Search 2011 continues… Looking to find new and exciting art and artists, Cloth Paper Scissors has challenged artists to send us their best art in one of five categories: Mixed-media Stitch , Art Journal and Book Making , Printmaking
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Inspiring ways to use new products

This Just In Whether it’s a product, a tool, or a storage item, we have all used our things in imaginative ways to help make our art spaces or our art our own. A child’s lunchbox repurposed to corral ribbons, a vintage hutch storing paints
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Encaustic Collage Video Chat

I was recently alerted to a local encaustic conference by Amy Stoner, one of our new DVD artists. In the spirit of an industrious beat reporter, I made the trek up to Beverly, MA for the fourth annual Encaustic Painting Conference and spent some
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We Want You! Show Us Your Art Mojo

You may have been reading Cloth Paper Scissors for four months or four years. You know your way around rusted metal, ledger sheets, and image transfers with your eyes closed. You drink encaustic wax and eat peanut butter and gel medium sandwiches for
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Cloth Paper Scissors July/August 2010

Learn how to make mixed-media pendants with musling. Read about Susan Lenart Kazmer's love of found objects and jewlery. Discover new ideas for Guerrilla Art. Travel to Paris with the Oiseaux sisters. Get the basics on metal embossing. See the results of our "Pendant Swap" Reader Challenge
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Top 10 things I learned from the March/April Issue

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
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Cloth Paper Scissors March/April 2010

Silk screening made easy; Artist Profile: Leo Sewell; Artist to Artist: Erin Zamrzla; Graffiti Paper Quilts; Burned Glue & Paper; Embracing the Blues; "Celebrate Birthdays"; Books with a Repurpose; Mixed Adventures of a Superhero Series; Birdscapes; Add Dimension with Wood; "Mother
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Cloth Paper Scissors January/February 2010

Designing Fabric; Sketches on fabric; Mixed-Media approach to quilting; dyeing technique; Sub Urban Art - selective Rusting; Edges; Monoprinting with texture plates; Journal quilts; Spontaneous explorations in color; Re-create your sketchbook images on cloth; Edges; Goddess at the last minute with Robbi
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Cloth Paper Scissors November/December 2009

Handmade stitched & stuffed projects; Gift tags - painted, stamped, and collaged; Sculpted and painted mixed-media art; Techniques using liquid pencil; Turning math into art; Art dolls with character; Using a hot wax stylus with encaustic paints and collaging with beeswax; Finding inspiration in
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Cloth Paper Scissors January/February 2008

" True Colors" Reader Challenge; home is where the art is; create print-like quality with a hnt of mystery; repurpose overalls into a personalized apron; create an eye-popping still -life; make small mixed-media heart quilts; paint, collage, stitch paper quilts; design papers with rubbing plates
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