Art Journaling Backgrounds & Documented Life Project 2015

I am thrilled to announce I will be published in Art Journaling magazine out January 1st.  (Correction: I guess when Stampington said "next" issue they really meant "NEXT next issue" coming out April 1st.  Have to wait another 3 mos!! UGH)  I submitted a small vintage paper and ephemera art journal and was honored they chose it for the bound book section of the magazine.  I'll post pictures soon!

So, this post is about Art Journaling...which I LOVE!!!

My art journal gives me a place to try new techniques, practice, play and not worry about having to be perfect.  Some beautiful things have come about in my journal so I thought I'd share the beginnings of an art journal page background with you over the next couple of posts. It is not finished yet, but here are the beginnings.

I've been playing to warm up for the The Documented Life Project-2015 which starts on January 1st.   It is a free weekly challenge and participants post their photos and exchange ideas all year. Can't wait!

 Here is my process so far.  I started with a little bright ink and some random papers such as hand painted tissue paper and Gelli printed book text.

Added some acrylic ink drips, parts of an old letter and some cursive text stamped in purple.  You can't get too attached to anything specific at this point because you are just building up both visual and tactile texture. 

Then come layers of paint, and stamping through stencils and sequin waste. I added some circles cut out of decorative paper and some hearts from a stencil I cut out of an old cereal box.

Continue on with markers, paint, more stenciling, white gel pen and random marks and here is where we are currently.  I now have to do some small detail work with pens and ink.  I will post more photos later this week. 

I love it so far! I need to find a favorite quote perfect for this page.  And here is the flip side of the journal that I did at the same time.

As always, thanks for stopping by and choose 2015 to start your Art Journal!  Let me know below what quote YOU would add to these pages for the new year.

Happy Journaling!

Jan

Vintage Flatware Ornament Tutorial

Ok..so let me start by giving credit where credit is due. I saw this idea on Pinterest or Etsy or somewhere as a gift topper idea. I like that..but also I plan to use the small utensils on my vintage Evergleam aluminum Christmas tree as ornaments. 

Here's how to make them. You will need:

• Silverplate flatware 
• Adhesive of your choice, clear drying
• Clear acrylic spray
• Glitter
• Ribbons & fabric scraps

Start with some old silverplate flatware. Spoons work best but you could also use flat serving pieces as well.

Polish it well.  I use polishing compound, but silver polish will work fine too.

I seal mine with a gloss spray sealer to help prevent future tarnishing.  Then spread your favorite adhesive in the bowl.  I use E6000 or Goop adhesive.  

Let it settle to smooth out some and then cover it with glitter and pat it down smooth.  Let dry overnight and then tap off excess glitter.  I have used both a fine glitter and a glass glitter.  Both work well and look great!

After that, just find some fabric and ribbon scraps to match your glitter and tie them to the handle.  I tea dyed mine to make them look vintage. I will be drilling a hole on this one below near the tip of the handle to use for an ornament.

Aren't they gorgeous!!

You could also add things to the tied ribbon to hang down in front of the glittered "bowl" such as crystals, small Christmas picks, or small millinery (hat decorations) such as ribbon flowers or small velvet leaves.  Anything your heart desires.  I think these would look great on a tree with small white lights.

Thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed the tutorial. These are fun and easy to make and are beautiful.

You can find old silverplate at flea markets, estate sales and antique shops for about $1 per piece on average. 

Have fun and please share with me the photos of  your results, I'd love to see them!

As always, thanks for stopping by and I love to hear comments below.

Jan

Tuesday's Tips: DIY Christmas Gift Tags

Okay, sorry about last Tuesday's Tips. I was at Camp Lejuene, NC, to see one of our favorite guys graduate from MCT.  Upon return my computer had given up the ghost to a plethora of computer viruses so had to go to doctor. But, we're all good now!

Today's Tuesday's Tips is all about DIY Christmas Tags. And for you non-DIY folks I've included a BONUS printable download at the end.  Can't get much easier than that!  The links are just under each photo.

First up, reusable chalkboard gift tags from Rust & Sunshine blog, Michelle DuPuis.  These are a little more expensive per tag, but note they are reusable for next year! Great idea!!

Reusable Chalkboard Gift Tags

This second one is for my little more advanced crafters but is so cute. It is a printable download from pleasenotepaper.com and then some work once printed.  

The trick here would be to find a craft punch the exact size of the ornament print out which is a 2" circle punch, or you could try a circle cutter. Great way to use up leftover Christmas paper or scrapbooking paper scraps.

An alternative would be to just use cut out circles with whatever size punch you have and glue them on top and then draw in the ornament hanger and stamp the greeting. 

Ornament Gift Tags

One Dog Woof has a lot of simple and easy tags in this blog post, but my favorite is the holly.  How much easier does it get??

Homemade Christmas Tags from One Dog Woof

And finally, the printable download from Design Editor blogger Katherine Davis. Cute and easy.

 

Printable Download Holiday Gift Tags

Christmas is next week so I hope this helps you get a head start on your gift wrapping.  I know, I know...some of you are already done! But, perhaps you can add a cute little tag to your gifts instead of writing names on the paper.  We've all done it!

As always, thanks for stopping by and I look forward to, and enjoy, our comments.  Please stop by my Etsy shop, link at the top.

Happy Holidays!

Jan

Don't Forget Your Pet at Christmas With These Easy DIY Projects

It's so easy to get wrapped up in the holiday rush of parties, meals and gifts and forget about our furry friends.  Below are a couple of easy and quick ideas for you to make sure they're always part of the festivities!

And don't forget to see my vintage trunk turned cat litter box DIY project at the bottom!

Easy dog toy and good way to use up fabric scraps!

Easy DIY Dog Toy From Fab-You-Bliss

Yes, cats are pets too...how cute is she!

Catnip Toy by My Garden Insider

Great gift idea of customized dog (or cat) tags.

Customized Dog Tag Tutorial by Eagle Rowe

And, BONUS, since many of us may travel with our pets over the holidays, here is a great article with tips to travel well with yours. 

Great Article on Traveling With Pets

And here is a photo of one of my own projects which I just love.  

 I hate having open litter boxes around with cats and when you live in a small place you have limited options on where to put them.  Well, I picked up this old chest for $15 at a flea market with a hinged lid and turned it into a cat litter box I felt comfortable putting out in the open.

Here's what I did:

1) Replaced the floor with plywood to strengthen it a bit and then added 4 short furniture legs and some trim.

2) Cut a hole in the side just big enough for the cats, and some small air vents in the back.

3) Painted and distressed the new parts to match.

4) Found a suitable plastic box large enough to serve as a litter box that would fit inside.  

Voila...that's it. Cats love the privacy despite it being out in the open. 

As always, thanks for stopping by and I always enjoy your comments below.

Jan

Visit Jypsy Studio on Etsy

Tuesday Tips: Easy Christmas DIY "foodie"Gift Ideas

Yes, it's time to start thinking about Christmas gifts as Black Friday looms at the end of the week.  For me personally, unless I HAVE to hit the stores this weekend I'll avoid them. 

That aside, I've found for this week's Tuesday Tips a few DIY ideas for some cute and easy "foodie" gifts that would be appropriate for teachers, neighbors, co-workers or service providers.  

Please visit by clicking on the link below the photo for wonderful ideas for creative Christmas gifts.  Some more labor intensive than others, but am sure most of you crafty types can manage. They're all fun, festive and fairly easy.  

Clever, beautiful, easy and tasty, this tutorial has great step-by-step photos as well as a printable recipe card to include with your gift. I will definitely be making some of these!!

Caramel Apple In A Jar by The Gunny Sack

A cute idea for a Hot Cocoa Kit for those cold winter nights! Brrrrrrrrrrr

Hot Cocoa Kit

Reindeer Noses.  The site just has photos and a brief explanation, no template to download, but I thought it was just so cute!

Reindeer Noses

As always, thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment below to share one of your favorite DIY "foodie" gifts ideas.

Jan

Visit Jypsy Studio on Etsy

Tuesday's Tips: Three Great Blogs & Sites

Welcome to Tuesday's Tips where each Tuesday I will share great finds with you.  Being true to the nature of my blog, these will focus on arts & craft tips, DIY how-tos, unique finds or stunning photos & art.  An occasional recipe might sneak its way in there as I love to cook. 

This is the inaugural post and I decided to go with three great blogs/websites I ran across that have not only great ideas, but beautiful photography as well. And there's even one for you guys.

Guys first!!

The Blog: Uncrate/ The Find: The Beambox

Guys, this one is for you so be bold and check it out.  It's all about where to find the "stuff" guys like. Links to purchase sites, unique items and a place to "stash" stuff you want to remember for later.  Cool site for the guys.  (Send a link to your sweetie if you find any cool Christmas ideas we always ask you for!)   Here are the headings if you're still unsure: GEAR - STYLE - CARS - TECH - VICES - BODY - FOOD.   'Nuf said...

The Blog: A Beautiful Mess/ Project : Foolproof Turkey & Gravy Tips

Written by Elsie and Emma, A Beautiful Mess is a lifestyle blog written to focus on simple ways to create a beautiful and inspired lifestyle. Elsie and Emma share craft projects, recipes, fashion and decor ideas and DIYs on their blog daily to help make your life a little bit sweeter. Seeing as how it's Thanksgiving next week, I figured we could all use Turkey Tips. If you're looking for something new to try this year, read about how Emma brines her turkey for added flavor and moisture. Make sure and look around their blog for more beautiful photography and great ideas.

The Blog: Alisa Burke/ The Project: Doodle Platter

Written by Alisa Burke, she is a self-described artist, author, teacher, wife and mom.  She is always looking for new ways to redefine creativity. She draws inspiration from street art, graffiti, art history and fashion and it is not uncommon to find unique recycled items in her art.  This is a great DIY Doodle Platter...create your own for the holidays.  

That's it for today.  Share your cool sites in the comments below. 

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Jan

Jypsy Studio on Etsy-check out the new vintage fashion illustrations available in my shop. 

Surrealism In Art

Salvador Dali "Slave Market and Disappearing Bust of Voltaire"

What is surrealism in art? I thought I knew but wanted to do a little more research to understand its origins, its key ideas and the "why" behind how we see it interpreted in art.  So, I thought I'd share what I found here with you and provide a few examples.


According to several different internet resources, the origins of surrealism are based in Paris with a small group of writers and artists who sought to channel the unconscious as a means to unlock the power of imagination.  Disdaining rationalism and literary realism, their thinking was that the conscious mind represses the power of the imagination.  Officially founded in 1924, it has come to be seen as the most influential movement in twentieth century art.


In my words, if you can turn off the conscious mind and just let what's in your head flow out naturally....it may not make sense, but it is what it is.

Some historic names that you would associate with this type of art include:

• Salvador Dali-artist
• Man Ray-photographer
• Andre Breton-photographer
• Joan Miro-artist
• Marc Chagall-artist
• Alexander Calder-sculptor

"Tears" - Man Ray 1936

Joan Miro-"Summer" 1937

Marc Chagall

Alexander Calder

The concept is still alive and well in art today and with such tools as digital cameras and Photoshop the possibilities are endless.  I have a few modern day artists that you  may have never heard of but that I really enjoy and would like to share with you.

Nicoletta Ciccoli

Tom Haney-Kinetic Sculptures...one of my favorites!!

Mark Ryden

Linda Herzog

Greg Brotherton-Sculpture

Abelardo Morell-Photographer. Turns whole rooms into Camera Obscuras.

"Woman" - Jan Partain

Other definitions I found:

Dictionary:  Pure psychic automatism, by which one proposes to express, either verbally, in writing, or by any other manner, the real functioning of thought. 

Encyclopedia:  Surrealism is based on the belief in the superior reality of certain forms of previously neglected associations, in the omnipotence of dream, in the disinterested play of thought.

Wow, aren't you glad I cleared THAT up!  Whatever the definition, the work is often intriguing, whimsical, eerie and thought provoking.  

So, those odd thoughts you have that you think nobody else could possibly have.....maybe they're just unexpressed art.....hmmmmm.

As always, thanks for stopping by! I enjoy reading your comments below. 

Jan

Jypsy Studio on Etsy

NATURE'S CANDY: Harvesting Pecans on the Hightower Farm

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the Hightower Farm near Ralston, OK.  Mike's dad has a grove of pecan trees that are his hobby and passion.  I had the opportunity to see and learn from the master the process from harvesting to the fun part....eating.  Of course what I share here is after growing the root stock, grafting on the desired variety, growing for several years and fighting pests, disease, weather and crows.  A BIG thank you to the Hightower family!

Below are a few photos of the process and a short clip of the "tree shaker" in slow motion that Mike took.  Enjoy! 

I'm just sorry I can't share the eating part with you...sorta. 

This shakes them down.

This picks them up!

Our harvest prior to the final cleaning and shelling processes.

The video file of the shelling process was too large for the blog so here is a You Tube link.

The video is a little sideways wonky near the end..sorry about that.

Pecan Shelling Machine

Laid out to dry before we do the final cleaning process by hand!

A bag made it into my carry-on luggage for the trip home.  I'm trying to save some for Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving but it's REALLY hard! And, bonus, Mike's mom is sending me her recipe which we got to sample while there. Yay me!

Okay, okay...so I've eaten a few!!

So, if you find a local pecan farmer and he's selling shelled pecans for $4, $5, $6 a pound, or more, now you know why. Support him and buy them. They're soooooooooooooo much better than what you'll get at the grocery store, I promise. 

As always, thanks for stopping by! Comment if you LOVE pecans!

Jan

My ETSY shop - JypsyStudio    (sorry, no pecans)

NY Fashion Illustrator: Ernest Gross

Sometimes you just get lucky at an estate sale.  Back in the back in a tiny bedroom I found a box of fashion illustrations done on tracing paper, drawing paper, vellum, etc., that were just wonderful! They were definitely from the 40'-60's.  Many of them had attached fabric swatches and some were signed by either Ernest and Elsie Gross.  Elsa was his sister who passed away about a month ago at the age of 97, and these were in her house. 

After a little digging and some help from my online art buddies (Thank you Dani) I finally found a little info on Ernest Gross.  Very interesting stuff, I just wish he'd signed all of them.

In any case, here are some photos for you to enjoy.  Some of them are just amazing and am going to frame them somehow.  Some may go in my ETSY shop as I have quite a few. But, wanted to share with you guys.  Evidently his family treasured his life's work.  I will try to do the same.

The little rhinestone trim on this one is fantastic!

Ernest Gross, (American, New York City, 20th century) 

Fashion designs for Hattie Carnegie, Pauline Trigere, and other fashion houses with designs appearing prominent magazines and newspapers.  Gross was a New York fashion designer from 1939-1979.  Gross was a prominent artist in the fashion world with illustrations preserved at Pratt Fashion Institute and others. 

He was born in 1919 in Pennsylvania and I found him listed on the 1940 Census in Beaver Falls, PA, at the age of 21. His occupation is listed as "costume designer" and he is living with his parents, Adam & Ethel, both born in Hungary, and his two siblings, Elsa age 22 and Eleanor age 13.  Elsa eventually married a man named Kasunick and Elsa Kasunick was the name on a shipping label of the box of drawings I purchased.  Ernest passed away about 5 years ago at the age of 90. 

As always, thanks for stopping by.  If I find out any more interesting information on Ernest I'll post it.  I would love to have a photo of him.

Please leave a comment, I always enjoy reading them!

Jan

My ETSY shop-JypsyStudio