Saturday, January 31, 2015

Creative Projects That Inspire My Heart

Today we're celebrating Unruly PaperArts blogozine's Inspire Your Heart With Art day. This is the place to link up something you've made that makes you happy to be an artist.  Something that is not restrictive to the creative process.


HOW TO JOIN THE PARTY--all directions in the 4 comments refer to the Unruly PaperArts blogozine.   Example:  #2 means follower of UPA, not me.

1. Link up any of your own creative projects (papercraft or mixed media) that inspire your heart, ie. uses products and colors you love and styles and imagery that makes your heart swoon, or that were simply created from the heart.  This means no Design Team or other Challenge Criteria should be used to make this project.  It is simply what you love to make with no restrictions or limitations as to what you do or use.  You can share your project throughout the event period (31st Jan to 2nd Feb) using our Party Link Up. The Party Link Up will be listed here below and open from 12.00am 31st of January.

2. You must be a follower of this site.

3.  Leave a little love for others, by commenting on at least the blogs of the person listed in the link up before you and the two people behind you.

4. Display our Party Badge (shown above) on your blog and link back to UPA HERE when you post your creation to your blog, galleries etc.



As you know, I see myself as a paper crafter.  What makes me "heart art" is when I can play with all those messy art products I've purchased, get out of my comfort zone, and just "let it go" ....

think song lyrics here to the popular movie, Frozen:

It's time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me
I'm free
Let it go, let it go


Immediately I am somewhat breaking Rule #1 in that there is some challenge criteria used in my projects, but they are just a starting point--suggestions--to start the creative process.  And for me, what I love to make always hinges on where I can display it.   For me to learn, I seek tutorials from "the product designers" and then experiment with the products I've been introduced to.  It's great to get them off the shelf, break the seals on the packages, open them up, and then just play and see where the elements take me.

So here is a tag I made that takes me out of my comfort zone.  I created my own theme of "heart art" specifically for today's UPA link up party.  I chose ChitChat words that define what this art journey means to me.






Materials:
#8 manila tag
Tim's tissue wrap
Glue and Seal
Distress Paints:  Peeled Paint and Broken China
Distress Stain: Walnut and Tarnished Brass
Water mister
Chit Chat words
Black soot and Vintage Photo Distress Ink markers
white acrylic paint with splatter brush
gold ribbon
gold marker to edge tag



misc. chipboard letters and heart covered with
white gesso, painted with
Tarnished Brass Stain, coated with
matte gel---then art letters covered with
fine micro beads, heart covered with
Stampendous gold halo mix glitter













I used matte gel and micro beads as demonstrated by Finnabair in her CHA video.


I'm sharing this tag here:  

Tim Holtz 2015 Tags:  January
Finnabair Sparkle and Shine challenge
A Vintage Journey:  Love is In the Air


While I was at it, I decided to get Week 16 done for Claudine Criner's Altered Playing Cards challenge.  You can see her two card samples at her blog HERE.  She uses paint and Tim's tissue paper in her samples.  Since I had these supplies out on my work counter for the tag, I got these cards done too.  (I'm so far behind--anything to help me catch up!!!!)

Again, although there are some suggestions, this project is just for fun and we can create anything we wish!



I used Tim's Distress paints for the base coat.  I started with Peeled Paint on one card and decided I didn't like it as a color under the map so I wiped off as much as I could with a paper towel and then put on a top coat of Broken China.  On the other card, I used Seedless Preserves.

I chose digital images from Vera Lane Studios etsy shop to color, fussy cut and place on the card bases.

Plum card:  sticking with the "I heart art" theme, my card focuses on making art.

Green card:  I knew from the start when I changed the base color to green that I wanted to do something with that map on the tissue to represent a "go green" earth day theme.  I thought this digital was perfect for finding art in nature. I was sooo tempted to add pearl centers to the flowers but I'm determined to keep these cards "flat" for shuffling.


While I was printing out these digital images, I added a few more on the page to make a couple of greeting cards.

This is a thank you card for a teenage girl who gave up her room while we were visiting so that we'd have a great space to stay in!  I used Copics in colors that matched her bedspread.  Actually, I chose these particular Vera Lane Studios images because they looked so much like the bedspread design. My random paper patchwork colors are from the Christy Tomlinson She Art collection. You'll note the card doesn't actually say thank you-because the images and sentiments I chose are highly personalized.



And that is how I make art from my heart. Start with some on-line inspiration. Do my own thing. Share it.  As you can see, there usually is a snowball effect--one thing leads to another.  How did I get from chitchat stickers to inspirational word clouds?

I hope you share something artful that inspires your heart.  I'd love to see it linked up at UPA here.

18 comments:

Clare Lloyd said...

Love your sparkly heart and your ATCs

Claudine said...

Wow, these are all wonderful projects. I love your take on Tim's January tag. I also love the altered playing cards you created, I really like how you incorporated the Vera Lane images and the Thank you card is just as perfect.

ddazzled71 said...

Helene your Tag is gorgeous, love the thoughts behind it and those micro-beads are a beautiful finishing touch to your heart and word art. Really loving your APC's for week sixteen too, so fabulously fun and I see you were following the advice of the first one. So pleased you had time to play and join us for our Inspire Your Heart Day Event. xx

Sharon said...

So much eye candy Helene!! Love your sparkly tag for Inspire your heart with art link up at Unruly. Also love the apc's - I love the background technique for that week. Great xard too! All inspiring pieces!

Mary Ann Potter said...

Sparkles and sayings --- so cool! Isn't this fun? I love seeing what other folks have created for this link-up. Your pieces made me smile!

Krisha said...

Fantastic tag!! and just adorable ATCs.

Mynn xx said...

What a cool array of creations! LOVE that amazing tag! The sparkle and colors are amazing! HUGS! :) Mynn xx

Terry said...

Helene, you have two fabulous projects here. Your Tim tag is screaming "Love Is In The Air" and I love that big sparkly heart of gold!Thank you for joining us at A Vintage Journey!

Judys Lace Creations said...

Love that heart tag. Your later works are fab.What a cute stamp girl and love what you've done with her.

Ibarra Creations 4U said...

I love the colors and all the shimmer on your tag! Your ATCs are so adorable!!!

Michele said...

wow Helene! the tag is a stunner! i'm glad you tired something new. your altered cards are just beautiful. i am so far behind on the altered cards game at this point that i do not know if i'll ever catch up! also, love the thank you card. what a nice young person who gave up their room for you! take good care and have a happy week! xo

sarascloset said...

I saw your Tim tag on A Vintage Journey and had to come for a closer look! This has got to be a favorite in the running! Love your creativity with this piece!

Maremi's Small Art said...

Such a yummy tag ! Love the sine heart. super cute. Thank you so much for sharing your art work with us. Thank you for taking part in Finnabair 'Sparkle & Shine' challenge. Best of luck. Hugs, Marta xx

Words and Pictures said...

Love your gold and green take on Tim's tag - that heart is gorgeous! Thanks so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey.
Alison x

Astrid Maclean said...

Fabulous take on Tim's tag! Love how you did the sparkly star! Thanks so much for adding it to our Love is in the Air challenge at A Vintage Journey!

Riikka Kovasin said...

Loving that tag! Thank you for joining the Finnabair "Sparkle and Shine" challenge!

ionabunny said...

Great tag. Love the bling. The cards are gorgeous. Bright and quirky. Love the VL images. Hugz

Brenda Brown said...

Love your tag Helene, the gorgeous greens and beautiful gold heart.
Thanks for sharing your talent at AVJ.
hugs Brenda xxx

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