Thursday 8 May 2014

Memories and more

Hi everybody!

Here the weather has been very changeable, so walks just now have to be well planned to dodge the April showers which are coming a month late. But wet weather does allow more time at home for crafting!

Yesterday I made this little piece with my beloved cardboard. This was an especially nice, thick piece, which is great to paint on. I partly peeled and distressed it, glued a piece of felt and some scraps of netting onto it, and then gave it 2 coats of gesso before distressing the edges with DI vintage photo. Then I used embossing ink to add some Frantage EP in gold, white, and 'dirty mix' - various left-other colours scraped back into the same jar! I love the texture this EP gives.



Then I played around with  UFOs (untidy flying objects) from my desk, and arranged them till I liked the composition. I used some hessian (burlap), white flowers and some fibres. The little photo of the kids was already cut out. I don't know who they were, but I love the way they are looking so seriously at the camera, the little girl and her big brother both in their best clothes, waiting to see what life would bring to them.  I placed the photo on some ancient book scraps, and distressed them with antique linen and vintage photo before fitting them behind the frame, printed onto transparent foil. I mounted it onto a little tag made of some lined cardboard. The 'memories' tab was in my stash, and has been fixed with screw brads. Distressing cardboard, paper and photos to give them a vintage look is one of the things which I  like most by Tim Holtz, and which has inspired my work.  I am linking to 'Fond memories' at a Vintage Journey, a challenge led by a very dedicated and talented group of ladies. I kept the embellishments simple, with some white flowers, perhaps to remind of the simplicity of childhood.








This is a small canvas I made for one of my DT pieces at Gecko Galz.
It is a 4x4" block canvas, which I painted with acrylic colours to coordinate with the Gecko Galz image from the Nature's Bliss Jewel it sheet. I printed the image onto canvas. After painting the canvas I glittered and embossed it with various Frantage EPs to add texture. I framed the image with a fine gold border and some twine, and added some textile flowers.
(material list: canvas, image, textile flowers, EP and glitter, twine, acrylic paints in green, cream and terracotta.)





I am linking, as always, to Paint Party Friday, hosted by Eva and Kristin.

And last but not least, an image from a graffiti artist who uses garbage bins etc to place his works here. I don't always like graffiti, but I do like what this person makes, and am pleased that he never sprays on any of the monuments or old buildings, just using the mundane, everyday things and transforming them!


Have  a great day, take care, and thanks a lot for coming by!

50 comments:

  1. Lovely, lovely, lovely! I adore your Memory-artwork. All on it match so well together. Gorgeous hand made art, Valerie. The other work is lovely, too. And your friend's graffiti is beautiful.
    Here it's raining heavyly and I suppous I will do something artwork,too.

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  2. I love both of the pieces you have made today. The first one is really delicate and fragile, in spite of the rough cardboard background, and the little canvas is very pretty, love the texture. Your local graffiti artist is good, too. Hugs, Sarah

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  3. Einfach bezaubernd dies Karten! So schöne, kleine Details!
    Das Graffiti ist toll ... sieht wie wie Tim und Struppi aus!
    GLG, LonettA

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  4. Hi Valerie :-) .......loving the fabulous texture you have created on the background piece and beautiful florals. The stamped image is so sweet. Thank you for sharing with us at a Vintage Journey this fortnight and enjoy your walk
    Crafty hugs Annie x

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  5. Oh Valerie, love the textures on the first piece and it looks gorgeous the way you have finished it. The GS image printed on canvas looks amazing too against that stunning painted background. Gorgeous pieces both of them. Love your graffiti artist, such a fun way to brighten up dull wall Lastly I totally adore your UFO acronym, must remember that one.... Oh and thanks of course for adding your lovely make to our challenge over at A Vintage Journey!

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  6. boah wow,der Canvas sieht ganz grandios aus,tolle farben und Gestaltung,gefällt mir seeehr gut,die karte ist auch Hammer,toll die creme farben und schönen Details.
    hab einen schönen tag,ich muss nachher wieder zum Arzt,hab keine lust *grmpf*

    Knuddel Jeannette

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  7. Both pieces of artwork are stunning Valerie and I do so love the way you recycle things and also the way you make the images stand out with the amazing surroundings you create for them

    The graffiti artist must have seen you at work :)

    Have a wonderful day

    Love Chrissie x

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  8. Eine wunderschöne Arbeit, liebe Valerie! Ich bin begeistert von den Strukturen und der Tiefe Deiner Arbeit. Ich mag das sehr!
    Viele liebe Grüße zu Dir
    Erika

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  9. grandios schöne Karten Valerie..und das Graffiti erinnert an Tim und Struppi---klasse, dass er immer auf Alltagsdingen sprüht und nichts "verschandelt"---lol----

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  10. Magnificent pieces Valerie. I love them all . Hugs Rita xxx

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  11. Two beautiful pieces Valerie, they're both so pretty. Love Tin Tin on the bin too! Xx

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  12. Beautiful piece Susi....great way to use UFO's. xox

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  13. You know I love all this gorgeous texture! I wish computers have feel-o-vision, LOL!

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  14. Hi Valerie. Both your pieces are gorgeous. I love the textures and little details on both. Always a great way to use those little UFO's floating around the studio. Now they have a place of honor in your wonderful creations.
    Hope your weather clears for a nice walk. We are storming here today and I love being in the studio on days like this.
    Happy Thursday!
    XO

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  15. Everthing you created here is lovely Valerie! Love all of the artistic touches!

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  16. Stunning work Valerie, the first piece had me gazing at it as I read the directions, then going back and reading again how you did it, so beautiful! Lovely piece for Paint Party and I love the little graffiti guy with his dog. Take care, big hugs, ~Diane

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  17. What you do with cardboard always amazes me. the piece is LOVELY. The small piece - I especially like. At least in the photos is looks almost like needlepoint. interesting texture. Great graffiti. take care. hugs, Donna

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  18. Gosh, gulp, Valerie, this is so far from what I do that I really love it. I always like your corrugated card pieces as it seems to inspire you to great things. I also like your second piece with the gold and the magenta flowers, I'm not sure how you print the birdies on to canvas but it is very effective.

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  19. Im with Donna on this one ! Amazing texture and layering what a masterpiece ! The graffiti guy is superb

    Marie

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  20. Deine beiden jetzt fertigen UFOs sind total klasse geworden. Da möchte man direkt mal mit dem Finger drüber fahren und die Textur anfühlen.
    Das Graffiti ist spitze, gefällt mir gut.

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  21. Valerie such gorgeous work here, romantic and special!

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  22. Gorgeous projects, the textures and details on the first one look fantastic. Love how you print on to canvas in the second lovely project, and the graffiti artist could come and paint my bin any day.
    Yvonne xx

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I am sure he would get lots of invitations, he makes great stuff!

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  23. Gorgeous textured collage, love them ! Especially the one with the bird. Have a great weekend, Shirleyx

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  24. Excellent work as always! Great job Valerie. :)

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  25. Wonderful Mixed Media Pieces!!!

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  26. Your work is fabulous, I love all the layers and textures.

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  27. I love these pieces - the texture is amazing!

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  28. Valerie simply gorgeous...I love the layers, textures and color..this is such a feminine detailed piece! Love how you transformed an ugly piece of cardboard into something spectacular! I love the graffiti too... a character from the past I think!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  29. Lovely and very creative art pieces, Valerie. Have a great and sunny week! Thank you for sharing

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  30. Very good, I like this creative composition!

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  31. I love your two pieces - there is something so comforting about all those bits of ephemera arranged with such love and care. They are beautiful and nostalgic.

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  32. Hello kindred, I have missed visiting your realm..such exquisite creations..love the textural pieces..very powerful..and I always adore anything vintagey..gorgeous my friend..you are magical! Thanks for sharing your awesome works!
    victoria

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  33. Your work is so amazing. To me all the techniques and products you mention are like a foreign language! But I love the end results. I especially like the canvas with the birds.

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  34. Wow, these are lots of fun and very pretty! Love your use of ephemera. It all comes together so nicely :)

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  35. Drooling over here, Valerie! I just love the texture and the fibers with the EP mixes is gorgeous! The photo of the children is so lovely. Both are beautiful and amazing! Thank you for sharing your treasures with us at A Vintage Journey. Hugs!

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  36. Valerie you always surprise and impress me with your art. How you put that background together is so amazing to me. I love that you can just let go and do that. Then to add all the other items to create a stunning piece of art. Wonderful!!!!
    Hope you are feeling well.
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  37. Never seen you before and love your work. I just discovered a local place called SCRAP that has leftover stuff they sell -- recycled to upcycle. You inspire me to try more of that! HPPF! Kate from dkatiepowellart

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  38. These are very beautiful mixed media pieces Val. The bird composition is just gorgeous! All the layers, textures and colours work well together, especially the burlap creating a natural rustic feel to the entire piece.
    Have a great weekend!
    Annabelle : )

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  39. absolutely gorgeous projects Valerie!!

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  40. You use cardboard so well! Love the delicious mix of textures, and I am still crackign up about the UFOs . . . :D

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  41. The background of the first canvas is so beautiful. Love the meaning of UFO's-:) The mini canvas with the birds and the many texture is my favorite.
    Happy PPF

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  42. lovely textures this week, beautiful x

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  43. Really beautiful pieces Valerie!!! Love all of the texture and details. Have a great weekend !

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  44. It's very pretty. I like your "UFO's" off your desk.

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  45. Klasse Arbeiten!!! Die Textur ist so schön, ich bin ganz begeistert, ich mag die Sachen total!!!
    lg Uli

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  46. a true mixed media piece! Wonderful work!

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  47. Stunning pieces both. I love all the texture & colour.

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