Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Hand-Crafted Book & Altered Book Cover

I enjoy mixed media and paper crafts, so I would like to share some of my favorite projects. Here are two: an altered book and hand-crafted book made from items I have around the house.

Altered book. This altered book was designed to be a scrapbook for my childhood pictures and memories. I have embraced using recycled materials and miscellaneous ephemera instead of store-bought scrapbooking materials (mostly). I took a large hard-cover book, appropriately I used one titled, "The Giant Book of Crafts." I painted over the cover with craft paint, and blended in some gold metallic craft paint. I added a curtain tie-back in a shimmery fabric to the front book cover, and added some fabric ribbon trim on top of the tie-back. I glued both of these with spray adhesive fabric glue. I found this old ratty Helen Keller book that was falling apart and so I used the Helen Keller cover to add embellishment to my altered book cover. I admit that I felt drawn to the Helen Keller cover, not only because it was appropriately titled, "The Story of my Life," but also because I always felt like I lived in my own little world as a kid. There is some irony there that makes me laugh. Anyway, given my status as a self-proclaimed bibliophile - using the altered book for a scrapbook just seemed right.


Hand Crafted Book. This book has plain white paper (no lines) on the inside. I used a cereal box for the front and back cover and covered them with floral scrapbook paper. I punched three holes through the covers and all the paper and tied it together with ribbons. Easy Peasy.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Elizabeth Shreve Paintings

A friend of mine - who also happens to live right down the street from me - is a wonderful talented artist. She studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and where she received her Master of Fine Arts. I love the colorful aesthetic and the irony of the roles we play as women. I have chosen a few paintings in which the women are clothed in an attempt to 'keep it g.'

Fears and Desires Magnifique by Elizabeth Shreve
Elizabeth's Paintings can be viewed at the Carl Hammer Gallery in Chicago.
I and Pie by Elizabeth Shreve
Pleasure by Elizabeth Shreve

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Repurposed Ironing Boards

ironing board table.jpg
From Apartment Therapy

On a recent quest to figure out a few ideas for a wooden ironing board top I acquired a while back, I came across this photo from Apartment Therapy on a unique use for ironing boards. You could argue that these are too narrow, but for informal sidewalk seating, I think it is perfect. How great is it that they fold up and have adjustable heights?

Originally, I was thinking that I might decorate the top of the ironing board with bottlecaps - as shown in my previous Junk Score Post. Since I only have the top of the ironing board, I was thinking it might be fun to add some spindles (like the ones below) as legs to create an ironing board sofa table.


Designer Collection of Spindles



Below is an example of an ironing board sofa table posted by Itsy Bits and Pieces.




From Itsy Bits & Pieces


Decorating for Kids



The best part about decorating for children is that I feel braver about adding bright colorful designs. Although I am drawn towards bright colors and cluttered aesthetics, I censor myself because it isn't quite mainstream. But with designs for children, the sky is the limit! Here are a few examples I have come across:

The rainbow tree stumps are a neat idea. Below is a daycare center room that has hanging plasticware as art. Dollar store items like these are super budget friendly. I can just imagine having a child who is crying, fidgety, or cranky and being able to entertain them with the handing objects, without having to bend over to find something off the floor. I especially like the large triangle structure for dual use with chalkboard on the outside and pseudo tent/play fort.

From KiDs Care

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Bottle Caps into Art and Decoration


 
One of the coolest uses of bottlecaps I have seen so far, and well executed I might add...

Just a great use of color and pattern. I have been collecting bottlecaps for a while, waiting for the right project to inspire me. I am from Wisconsin so I know plenty of beer drinkers that are willing to do their part in adding to my craft supply collection.

There are a number of different kinds of glues you can use for this type of project. According to eHow: Mom, Tacky Glue (like Aleene's), your handy dandy hot glue gun, metal adhesive glue, or Epoxy Resin Glue (this is a 2-part adhesive that only works when you combine the two together).

Sealing projects like these are also a smart idea. Spray on Varnish or polyurethane are both options. However, both need some research and investigation to make sure to be safe - because they are chemicals, so ventilation and skin protection are important.
A few more inspiring projects below!
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From Great Green Goods
From Chet Pourciau Designs

Collage and Mixed Media Art

Collage, Mosaics, and mixed media art is so inspiring to me. I look at this mass of objects and I see history. I imagine where every little piece must have come from. I am interested in how artists preserve and compose a piece like this. What kind of adhesive do they use? I think of all the little junk objects I have collected and would love to make one of these.
I have also considered doing something similar for my father's tiny tchotchkes.' After he passed away, I received a box where he kept his Jaycee pins, his tie clips, watches, cuff links, and other miscellaneous things he kept over the years. These would be ideal for this kind of a project. All of those objects are not worth any money and have seen better days, but I have a hard time parting with them for sentimental value. If I were to add them to a collage/mosaic piece like this and hang it on the wall - what a great way to honor my father! I am thinking about doing the same thing for all my little similar objects. After doing an internet search I found this "Memory Mosaic," from Fine Art America.

Memory Mosaic
Memory Mosaic


Sunday, July 8, 2012

Welcome to Junk Score!

Welcome to Junk Score! A place to gather ideas about living frugally by turning everyday items that might (Gasp!) be otherwise thrown in the garbage. Junk is our friend. Recycling and upcycling all kinds of materials to create treasure. Beauty can be found in repurposing and giving new life to items destined for the landfill. A little bit of trash to treasure, a little bit of shabby chic style, by turning junk into art and saving a money along the way. Yard sales, gargage sales, thrift stores, and flea markets plus a little elbow grease and we can create our own home decor, garden art, and other household items.