MIXING IT UP
January 21, 2008
We were wrapping up development of the Gloria Page workshop right before Christmas, and I had the pleasure to view and review the project several times! Gloria inspired me to give it a shot! I have had very little experience in the craft arts, but I decided to make gifts for a group of women friends with whom I exchange gifts. As long as I was at it, I decided I might as well try combining some of the techniques I had seen in some of our other workshops … in for a penny….
I purchased inexpensive note booklets, the kind with brown tag board covers. Using a hand carved leaf stamp, I used a burnt sienna colored stamp pad and stamped the covers with a repeated leaf pattern. Over that I spread clear gel medium, and into that I again stamped a leaf pattern. After the gel dried, I brushed the textured surface with a thinned wash of fluid acrylic paint which settled into the depressions more heavily. Much to my amazement, things were looking pretty good! Of course, everything looks better during the holidays with a touch of metallic paint. Soon the booklet/journals looked very different from the original booklet and the covers felt “leathery”. As Gloria would say, “How cool is that?!”
I was proud to give these to my friends and I think they liked them! In truth, the gift I gave was to myself. Sad comment, but it was the closest thing to “play” I’ve done in awhile and I had a great time! In addition, the project could be sectioned into manageable parts which I was able to sandwich between work, shipping, cooking and the many other holiday activities. There is a lot to be said for the craft arts! I just might be hooked.
~Lynn~