Art Magazines

I love looking through art magazines for inspiration and ideas. While browsing at Border's I discovered Somerset Studio magazine. An online search for art magazine led me to Altered Arts magazine. I had to have them!

Somerset Studio magazine is chock full of ideas for paper crafts, rubber stamping, ATC's, art jounals, assemblage and altered art. The magazine has been around since 1999. It's published six times a year and is well worth the $7.95 newstand price. Of course, as with any magazine, a subscription means a savings over newstand prices.

Somerset also offers other art magazines:

• Belle Armoire - marries fabric art with rubber stamping and embellishments
• Stamper's Sampler - rubber stamping magazine
• Somerset Memories - devoted to scrapbook pages, journals, and memorabilia
• Art Doll Quarterly - art dolls, sculpture figures, polymer clay, and wire armature

http://www.stampington.com/html/somerset_studio_magazine.html

Another of my favorite's is Altered Arts Magazine. This magazine specializes in paper arts, mixed media collage and altered books. I am actually in the process of creating the artwork that is on the cover. The magazine came into publication in 2004. It is published six times a year and sells for $5.95 an issue. Altered Arts also features a Club Kit for purchase. Each Club Kit is $28.95 and contains a variety of products including unmounted rubber stamps, collage sheets, transparencies, and a design sheet that details at least two different projects you can create using the items in the kit.

http://alteredarts.com/

Make an Altered Paper Mache Jewelry Box

My favorite place to shop for supplies is Craft's 2000. There are only three nationwide, and fortunately one is nearby. I bought several paper mache jewelry boxes for $1.99 each (at Michael's Craft Store they are either $2.99 or $3.99) and plan to list some on eBay and give some as Christmas gifts.

I found a piece of ocean/map themed scrapbook paper laying around that I've been dying to use, so my first jewelry box was one in a nautical theme. Excluding drying time, this project takes about 45 minutes to complete.

The first step is to paint the raw paper mache box with a thin coat of Gesso. I do this first to prevent the paint from soaking into the box, which will cause it to bubble (I learned this the hard way quite a while ago). Gesso dries quickly, sometimes while you're applying it, so use just a little at a time and keep the coat thin, or it too can cause your project to have bubbles. I let my box dry for half an hour before going further. Next, apply an acrylic paint. I used Sky Blue for this box, and it coordinated beautifully with my paper.

After the paint had plenty of time to dry, I added a thin coat of clear, matte varnish. I do this by using a stiff, flat paint/craft brush and apply the varnish to the brush, not the paper mache item. It's important with paper mache to keep coats of glue, paint and varnish very thin. If you apply too much (and "too much" can be very little) paper mache will bubble. Some prefer spray varnish. I've found that if I'm not careful in applying that, it too will bubble if I spray too long in one area. Liquid varnish works best for me.

I cut pieces of ivory colored felt to line my box and to line the ring holders but I suppose you could use scrapbook paper. That might not be the ideal thing to use for the ring holders but it would work for the bottom of the box. After you have cut the felt or paper and are sure it fits properly, use craft glue to adhere the felt or paper to the box. Spread the glue with a small, old paint brush (or newer brush, just remember to wash it out as soon as you're finished with it) - putting the glue on the brush first, then applying it to the item. Putting glue on the brush first keeps the glue lines from showing through your paper and felt, and makes it easier to get all the way into the corners.

While the inside was drying I cut pieces of my scrapbook paper to fit the sides and top of my box. Again, I used an old paint brush to thinly spread the glue to the areas where I would apply paper. After you've given the glued paper sufficient time to dry (I would wait at least an hour) apply another very thin layer of varnish over the areas where you've used paper.

Now for the fun part, the embellishments! I used thin twine to around the top and bottom of the box to create the look of rope. Next, I applied tiny seashells and starfish to the top using E6000 glue. Inside, the same, but added a pygmy seahorse. Let the box dry overnight before handling.

Altered Photo Frames

While at the craft store I ran across some unfinished wooden photo frames for $1 each at Michael's Craft Store. I thought they might be nice to alter since there is two inches of space around the frame. They measure 6 inches by 8 inches, hold a 4x6 inch photo, can stand on either the long or short side, or be wall mounted.










These were very simple to make. I gave them a coat of acrylic paint (and crackled one), varnished them, then attached embellishments with E6000 glue. I love using silk or Prima Flowers, real seashells, Scrabble tiles, charms, and rhinestones in my creations.

I've been thinking of making a few as Christmas gifts. It would be very easy to personalize them for that special person or event. Some ideas I've thought of:

Football theme for my husband - I have a great picture of my hubby that I took while we were at a Detroit Lion's football game. You can see the field in the background. I may do a football themed frame for his picture.

Ballet theme for my granddaughter - My granddaughter takes ballet lessons and I have a studio picture that was taken of her in costume. A ballet themed frame would set the picture off nicely.

Animal theme for my dog's photo - I have a beautiful picture of my miniature schnauzer that I would love to put in a doggy themed frame.

Retro theme for my mom - I found an old photo of my mom taken in 1956. It would be fun to embellish a frame with things that brought back memories of her past.

Other great themes could be holidays (Easter, Christmas, etc.), a birthday, a birth, a wedding, or a a favorite hobby. You can really let your imagination run wild with themes for these frames. Happy crafting!

Embellish It! For Free or at a Discount

If you like to add embellishments to your artwork, I have some suggestions on how to aquire them cheaply, or in some cases, for free.

When buying embellishments for ATC's, remember, most people like to put them in clear trading card sleeves or in the trading card books. Before buying something, ask yourself if the ATC would fit in the plastic sleeve with that embellishment on it. Thin embellishments work best.Buying things from craft and scrapbook stores can be expensive and I avoid them as much as possible. I buy embellishments from several craft supply websites listed in my links section. I've also bought many embellishments from sellers on eBay so I would get the shipping discount. eBay is probably one of the best places to find embellishments. The trick is to find a seller who has many different items you're interested in, and who offers a good shipping discount when you purchase multiple items. When you find a seller, check their eBay store and see what other arts and crafts items they offer.

Dollar Store: You can find a lot of bargains at a dollar store. Buy the fake Barbie doll clothes and accessories at the dollar store and use them like you would Jolee’s. Some stores have a small scrapbook section where you can buy supplies and even rubber stamps. I have bought small playing cards, play money, puzzles, play coins from the toy section, fibers, stickers, paper bingo cards, paper doilies, raffle type tickets, rhinestones, small seashells, sea glass, printed/patterned napkins, beads, books (to use the text pages or to alter), and tissue paper. You may also want to look for silk or dried flowers, lace, raffia, rick-rack, small envelopes, clothes pins, buttons, seed packets, beads, corrigated paper, paper clips, yarn, embroidery floss, and bows. Use your imagination when scanning the isles and ask yourself "Is this something I could use to embellish my artwork?"

Thrift stores are a great place to find items like books, which I use to alter, or use the text pages as backgrounds for artwork and ATC's. Foreign book pages make great backgrounds for ATC's and a nice addition to altered art, mixed media, collage and assemblage pieces. I especially like French and Chinese text. Also check out second hand book stores for foreign text books, math books, dictionaries, sheet music, etc. Those kinds of things make great background papers. Thrift stores are a great place to find bingo, Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, and Monopoly games - using the cards and money to embellish and the game pieces as charms.

Garage or Rummage sales: These are great places to shop for small craft items and things that can be used as embellishments, too. Look for fabric, ribbon, books, puzzles, games, yarns, beads, old pictures, film negatives, fibers, jewelry, old toys, etc. Assemblage and altered artist's can find many cheap, great pieces to use in artwork, at garage sales.

Hardware stores, or the hardware section of a large store, is great for finding small metal hinges, twine (to use as you would ribbon), skeleton keys, leafing pens (in gold silver and copper), wire, metal washer (which can be painted and glued to artwork), etc.

Office supply stores like Office Depot or Staples have things like unusually shaped paper clips, staples in different colors, shipping tags, price tags, stickers, watercolor pencils, paints, and other things that can be used in creating artwork. Office supply stores carry craft tools too, paper trimmers, gel pens, hole punches, and other things that are used to create artwork, and all at a cost sometimes less than buying it from a craft or specialty store.

Around the kitchen: Save labels from your cans of fruit and vegetables you've served at dinner. Those mesh bags that fruit and potatoes come in can be cut into small pieces and used to embellish your artwork - or you can cut a piece of mesh, lay it on an the background of your artwork and paint over it. You'll see the design on your background paper once you lift the mesh - and you can use that piece of mesh over again by either rinsing off the wet paint and letting it dry before using it again. Old or mismatched pieces of silverware can be used to make assemblage pieces.

Junk mail: Go through it all before trashing it. I've saved pieces and have cut out the words to use in my artwork. You can also cut individual words from the newspaper and from books, brochures, menu's, any kind of advertising. A friend of mine saves all junk mail paper and makes handmade paper from it. It's pretty easy to do - tear the paper into small pieces soak it to soften it, squeeze it into a ball to remove excess water, then lay it out and flatten it on a piece waxed paper, brush on a layer of watered down glue and let it dry. Glue it to a cardboard back and you have a nice background paper to paint and/or embellish. And don't forget to save used postage stamps and clip off those postmark cancellations too.

Another way I have added to my stash is to list some of my artwork or ATC's for trade in exchange for craft supplies, for example, instead of trading an ATC card for a card. If you join some of the Yahoo Craft or ATC groups and then post a message "Will Trade Artwork or ATC's for Craft Goodies" you will probably get some good offers. You can usually find at least one craft supply trade on Swap-bot at any given time. This is a good way to trade your extra embellishments, book pages, sheet music, charms, and craft supplies for fresh goodies.

If you're especially drawn to a certain theme think of ways you can find supplies cheaply or for free, to use in your artwork. To make an oriental collection of supplies and embellishments I went to a Chinese restaurant then saved the fortunes from cookies, took the paper placemats on the table, grabbed a few "to go" menus, and asked for chopsticks (which are usually free for the asking). Use your imagination when trying to gather embellishments for a theme.

Odds & Ends Findings: Brochures are also great too to use as background paper. When we travel by car, I stop at rest area's and pick up brochures for area activities, amusement parks, etc. Clean out your junk drawers and see what you find there that might be useful. The next time you want a snack, buy a box of Cracker Jacks, with the toy surprise. And don't forget those small toys in gumball machines that can be used as charms and embellishments. Save stubs from events you've attended and also parking, bus, airline, and train ticket stubs. Keep programs, receipts, old keys, coins, casino chips, matchbooks, 8mm or 16mm film, buttons, postcards, photo negatives, and bottle caps.

Find places that will send you free maps. My hubby and I belong to the AAA insurance group and we can get maps of the states for free just by walking in and asking for them. You can also request maps and brochures from the Chamber of Commerce simply by writing and asking for them. Because maps are available online to print for free, don't send your request by email. If you do, they will probably just send links to the same info online so you can print it yourself.

I hope these tips help and give you ideas and inspiration for finding free or bargain craft supplies. If you have any suggestions, ideas, or unique ways that you've found cheap or free craft supplies, please email me, or add a comment.

ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) Basics

ATC's, otherwise known as artist trading cards, are collectables, miniature pieces of artwork, akin to sports-themed trading cards. ATC's must be 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, or 64 x 89mm. The back of each card should include the artists name, contact information, title of the ATC, date the ATC was created, and number of the card if it's part of an Edition; sets of ATC's that are themed based, but where the cards are all different, it's called a Series. It's really up to the artist, swap hostess, and/or rules of the trading group, as to what to include on an ATC back. At a minimum, your card should include the artist's name and title of the card. I would not recommend writing out your name on the back of the card due to the rise of identity theft. I print my name on the back of the card and sign using just my initials.

An ATC should be of a reasonable thickness and strong enough to survive mailing, since most ATC's are traded in this way. You can further protect your artwork by putting your ATC in a transparent, protective sleeve. Artist's often use embellishments on their cards. If using embellishments, make sure your embellishments are small enough to allow your card to fit inside a protective sleeve. Also remember that your ATC will be traveling through the postal system and you don't want your card to be damaged because it is too thick to pass through the sorter. If you think your card may be too thick, send it in a bubble mailer. Better to be safe than sorry.

Many collector's put their ATC's in 9-pocket sheets used for commercial cards. These sheets have holes on the side which allows them to be put in an album or a three-ring binder. Some people display their ATC's on panels, while others organize their collection in boxes.

There are many trading groups listed online that you can join and begin swapping your cards. These groups are usually free to join and only require that you register with your name, mailing and email address. Check Yahoo, MSN, and eBay for groups, or do a search in Google for artist trading card groups or swaps. A good place to start trading is at Swap-Bot.

http://www.swap-bot.com/

An ATC should never be sold. Artist trading cards that are sold are called ACEO's, Art Card Editions and Originals. They adhere by the same rules as an ATC.

Frugal Crafter - Cheap & Easy Storage

I like to think of myself as frugal when it comes to crafting. I've visited enough scrapbook supply stores to know that the mark-up is over the roof. Craft stores chains, like Michael's, JoAnn Fabric's, and Hobby Lobby, are a bit cheaper than a specialty store. Even most larger chain department stores now have a scrapbook supply isle and carry supplies at a bigger savings over the specialty or chain craft store, but selection is often limited. Fortunately, I live near a Crafts 2000 superstore (there are only 3 stores nationwide) and their prices are unbelievably low - on the average, about 60-75% less than what you would pay at Michael's, but I've found even more ways to save money and will share my tips each week.

Before I begin handing over my budget crafting secrets, we need to talk about storage. Storage and organization is a must. Once you discover how many things you can reuse and recycle, you'll want to save everything, and you're going to need to be able to find what you've saved. If you can't find something, and have to rebuy that item, you've wasted money.

The dollar store is a great place to buy smaller sized plastic bins and containers. For larger storage pieces, watch the store ads for sales. Over-the-door, clear vinyl shoe organizers work great for larger items - and the clear vinyl allows you to easily see what is in the pouch. There are also over-the-door spice racks and pantry type shelves that can be used to store larger items.

If you have a lot of small craft items, like beads or charms, I would suggest a trip to the hardware store to pick up one of those compartment storage boxes with the clear, see-thru drawers, the kind used to store nuts, bolts, screws and washers. I bought the one pictured, 10x10 inch, for $6 and am able to easily organize and find my smaller crafting items. Looking back, I wish I would have bought a much larger storage box. Maybe I can pass this one off to my husband if I find a larger one on sale. If you want to save the $6 use styrofoam egg cartons to store small embellishments.

Over the course of a few months, I purchased three plastic storage carts on wheels when I found them on sale. When I bought my first cart I thought one would be enough. HA!! I was surprised that I had filled it within minutes, and in truth, I could probably use three more. I prefer the carts with wheels because I can pull them close to my work space and don't have to keep getting up from my chair to find something. Since the drawers are deep, and I had a lot of smaller items to put inside, I used clear plastic containers, bins, baskets, and cutlery drawer dividers to help organize my things. I also have a three drawer bin on wheels that measures 30 inches tall by 18 inches wide that I use to store larger and heavier items.

I have a lot of ribbon. Whenever I needed it, I would have to dig through plastic storage bins to find what I wanted, and of course, the ribbon I wanted was always on the bottom. I came up with a solution for my most used ribbons. I purchased a cafe rod and two large, heavy duty hooks. Now you may be asking yourself "Why the huge hooks?" You need clearance from the wall for your ribbon and the hooks that come with the cafe rod are not long enough. Screw the hooks into the wall and make sure they are level, otherwise your ribbon will be leaning downhill. Most ribbon spools have a hole in the center, for the spools that didn't, I made a hole. I took the cafe rod apart and slid the ribbon spools on it. Once full, I put it back together and laid it across the hooks. Now my ribbon is in a handy spot. It rolls off the spool and I cut the length I need. No need to dig through boxes anymore.

Just as I would dig through bins to find ribbon, I did the same to find a rubber stamp. I looked through catalogs for a storage solution. I didn't find anything particularly for rubber stamps, and what I did find, that I might be able to convert and use, was expensive. Instead, I went to the lumber store and bought 8 pieces of 2 inch wide, 24 inch long, 2.5 inch deep, pre-cut boards. I measured out where I wanted to place my shelf boards and then used screws to hold the whole thing together. This project cost less than $15 and took less than 30 minutes to make. Now, instead of digging through boxes I can easily find the rubber stamp I need.

Next post I'll discuss trash to treasure embellishments and crafting items.

Art Supplies - Getting Started

If you have scrapbook supplies, you're ahead of the game. Below is my list of basic "must have" items you'll need for about any altered art or ATC project, supplies that are nice additions beyond the basics, and what I consider, luxury supplies - advanced craft skill items, things you can do without or things that are pricey.

Must Have Supplies

Scissors - a small pair for detailed work and a large pair
Ruler
Exacto Knife and Blades
Tweezers - for picking up small rhinestones
Tacky Glue - large bottle
Glue Dots - when Tacky glue won't do
E6000 Glue - for heavyweight items, metal, etc.
Glitter Glue - I found 3 bottles, 3 different colors for $1 at a dollar store
Glitter (usually coarsly ground)
Prism Glitter - finely ground glitter
Cardboard - save food boxes; cereal, mac & cheese, crackers, etc.
Cardstock - acid & lingnin free, in a variety of colors
Patterned Scrapbook Paper - acid & lingnin free, purchase in bulk on eBay
Paper Trimmer - a must for cutting and cropping photo's and paper

Beyond the Basic's

Ribbon - Michael's Craft Store usually has a $1 bin of ribbons
Fibers (or yarn) - I bought a large lot of various kinds of fibers on eBay
Embroidery floss
Buttons
Beads
Gel Pens, Colored Pencils, Markers and/or Crayons
Watercolor Paint or Pencils - either of these are a must have
Collage Sheets or printed sheets of graphics
Foam Adhesive Squares - gives a 3D effect when used to adhere photos/graphics
Charms
Brads - you probably won't use them often but good to have
Eyelets - save $$ by buying gold, silver, black and/or antiqued instead of colors
Eyelet Setter - avoid buying the set, just about everyone owns a hammer
Silk flowers or Prima Flowers
Rhinestones - various shapes and sizes
Punches
Wire - silver, copper, gold, and/or rusted
Twine
Hot glue gun (I rarely use mine)
Decorative Edge Scissors
Rubber Stamps
Ink Pads for rubber stamps
Clear protective sleeves (for ATC's)
Photo Corners
Premade Die Cuts
Chalk - the kind artists use

Luxury or Advanced Skills Supplies

Embossing Powder
Heat Gun for embossing
Die Cut Machine - Sizzix or Cuttlebug (personally, not worth purchasing)
Dies for die cutting machine

Around The House

Paper towel tubes and toilet tissue tubes
Empty tins
Empty containers Egg cartons
Baby food jars
Bottle caps
Strawberry or cherry tomato baskets
Pinecones
Clothespins
Old Christmas cards
Styrofoam trays
Mesh bags from fruit
Labels from canned goods
Broken/old jewelry
Old keys