vintage paper/collage art – Page 12

Nature’s Blessing Journal Swap page examples

Books, swaps, vintage paper/collage art, wallpaper

By Karla Nathan / July 27, 2014

I've been so pleased with the sign ups for the Nature's Blessing Journal swap! Thanks to those of you who have joined in! There is plenty of more space, this is an open ended swap. I'll just keep making books until I have enough.

Some of the swappers were asking for more detail on how the pages go together. So, I thought I'd snap some pics of the ones I've started myself as examples.

There are a LOT of pages to make. But as I said, at least half need to be usable for the new owner. Such as the one on the right, above. That page is nothing more than journal paper with a border at the top and the bottom. The one on the left is one that I finished myself. (Although, there actually is some space for writing a note, if the person who owned the book wanted to use it that way)

Here is the basic start of each "folio" (single sheet of paper that makes 4 pages when folded).

Fold a piece of card stock in half, decorate each of the four sides.

I will put 3 folios together to make a "signature".

There will be 3 signatures per book, made up of 6 sent in by 6 different artists, and three fresh, blank pages from me.

The book will be used as a functional journal. So, I'd like to see at least half the pages open to be used by the person who receives the book. Like the page on the right here, once again, I've used ledger paper. This time, it is accented with lace trim and a single butterfly.

Since the six folios (24 pages) you send in will go to six diferent artists and you will receive artwork from six different artists. You can make each of your six exactly the same, or do each in a unique way. What ever you like.

The page on the left didn't save any space for future use, but is a completed arty page.

Another way of making the page useful is to add an envelope to hold memorabilia.

My envelope got a bit of foof with some hand drawn daisies that match the paper I glued it to.

Pockets are good to have in a journal too. On the left, not only is there paper that can be used for writing, there is also a pocket to tuck away tidbits in, like the vintage envelope I've added.

The page on the right is covered in pretty paper (I used wallpaper scraps) with a vintage postcard stapled down in the corner, then trimmed in lace.

I've tried to add lace or ruffles on at least one side of each folio, so that when it is added to the stack of signatures in the book, there will be pretty trims peeking out the sides, top, and bottom of the journal.

Please feel free to add lots of trailing ribbons, laces, etc.

On the right hand page, I've added a fluffy millinery bloom to stick out of the top of the book. And the page on the left has luscious, old trim down the side. That page is from a text about flower origins, and has a couple of cherubs and a hand drawn border, leaving the center open in case the person who gets this page in their book wants to glue a photo or something to the center.

Here is a very good example of just how simple making the pages can be. Both of these pages are just covered with wide crepe paper, with a trim at the bottom. (I'll be foofing the one on the right a bit more, I just wanted to show you the basic.)

So, pretty background paper, plain or fancy, a bit of trim or lace, and that page is done, ready for the owner of the book it goes into to embellish it up as much as they want.

This is for my book, so I added a tinted coloring page, to illustrate an option for finishing a plain page.

Everyone gets a page to color and add to their book however they'd like. I'll show some coloring tips in a future post.

These pages are both examples of "usefulness" . The blue one is open to be finished by the book owner in any way she'd like. Photos, notes, scrap glued onto it, etc.

The patchwork wallpaper page has a pocket from an old post card added and it is filled with vintage grafting paper.

These also show some of the variations on the theme. What do you feel nature has blessed you with? Here, I am saying that fluffy kittens, sweet birdies, and flowers are something I am thankful for.

Plus, I found this poem about Spring to add to the page. To me, the changing of the seasons is a magical time of year.

Please feel free to add 3D items, this book should be thick and rich! With lots of trailing trims, like this old lace I've used.

Here is another way to create a space for writing. I've used washi tape to secure a stack of old paper into a tablet shape.

On this page by Beth, she even glued down a mini notebook.

See how pretty it looks on her page?

And oh my! Loook at this one that she did. You open up the cabinet card folder and have space inside to add your own picture.

On the left page, she has add clear envelopes with simple tags for the new owner to finish, and on the right, she supplied a pretty piece of paper to write daydreams or plans on.

I found myself extremely attracted to pockets when I made some folios.

Note that the center of each page is left plain so that I can punch holes to tie the signatures into the book?

I'll show some more examples later on, as well as some more coloring page tips. The finished pages aren't due till Sept. 20th. So you still have time to join if you haven't already. Or you can order a completed, blank book to finish yourself, instead of swapping pages.

Feel free to ask any questions. And more info can be found here.

How to make a champagne cork cage chair

bird song art event, how-to projects, jewelry, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / July 9, 2014

My good pal, Hope, was a Birdsong newbie this year, and a very welcome addition. She is fond of bubbly, but had never opened a champagne bottle before.

My youth was spent as a single mom who waited tables or bartended to raise my kids. I've opened a few champagne bottles in my time, so I gave her a lesson.

My tip is to cover the cork with a towel, and then wiggle it side to side. The cork slips out and the towel stops it from putting your eye or your light fixture out.

Hope is a skilled and avid journaler. She documents everything, so she took pictures of the lesson.

Since I knew she was sentimental, I saved the cork cage for her. And turned it into a chair.

I had a charm thingie that was part of a necklace I'd made in a class last year, but it was a bit large for me, so I took it off the chain, and wired it to the back of the cage, and the squirted in some glue and clamped it together over night.

Of course, I remade the necklace so I could wear it without the larger charm I stole from it.

I then glued old paper to the "seat" of the chair, and added a bit of ruffled crepe paper as a skirt, and topped that with tatting.

There is a hole at the top, that was once used to suspend it from the chain. I left it as is, in case Hope wants to hang the chair from her journal.

If you wanted to make one, you could use a brooch as the chair back, fabric or paper to cover the seat, and lace or ribbon for the skirt. I should drink more champagne, it would be fun to have a collection of these chairs!

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ps- I'm having a Summer Clearance sale in the Boutique. I've neglected that poor little shoppette too long, I need to clean up, clear out, and refresh it all. You are welcome to soak up some summertime savings and help me get a fresh start, by using this link and getting 50% off everything in the store:

http://www.karlascottage.com/?code=Summersale

(You must use that address to get the special price. Going to the regular address does NOT take you to the 50% discount)

Packing for Vendor night

vintage paper/collage art, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / April 30, 2014

Maybe I should have planned ahead for vendor night at a Downton Affaire…. I waited till the week before the event to think about what to take. I knew I had some things in mind, and didn't worry too much. Till I saw how little the pile of stuff I'd been setting aside was! I had to whip up some items, and then I had too much for my suitcases.

A better plan might have been to get things ready early, and ship them ahead, huh?

(this is written and pre-posted before my trip)

I'm flying Southwest, so get two free 50 pound bags plus two carryons. So, I figured that my goods would all fit in the bags, but that was before I made up a stack of art journals with ephemera kits for embellishments, and cut a TON of vintage wallpaper.

I've been shuffling things back and forth between my roller bag, and two large suitcases, weighing, removing, thinking, and reweighing them all day.

The heaviest things, like the box of Frozen Charlotte dolls, will have to go into my carryon, along with the journals and maybe about a half ton of that wallpaper.

I also had to rethink my displays. I can't just pile it all on a table, it has to be easy to shop through and be attractive enough to make people want to come to look at the goodies in them. I found that cardboard, covered in vintage wallpaper was the way to go.

This quickie display screen is part of a priority mail box (those are the lightest boxes) folded in half and covered. It is ideal for hanging things on and weighs 3.2 ounces. Yes, I weighed everything on a postal scale, before putting it in the suitcase.

Periodically, I weighed the suitcase with a digital luggage scale and was shocked at how fast the weight added up.

Of course, my millinery packs are very light weight, and easy to throw in the bag. I wish everything was that simple.

The vintage dolly fairies don't weigh much either.

But even with the heavy books, Charlottes, and wallpaper being in carried instead of checked bags, all those little lightweight things add up!

Yikes! I'd better get back to it. I've got a lot more weighing and shifting to do. Plus, all the last minute things that I need to do before the flight.

This is what our backyard looks like right now. I've been getting bids for a new patio, and finally have it set to get done, but need to run to the zoning office to get a permit before I go out of town. I'm worried about getting the courtyard whipped into shape before Birdsong.

I'll leave you with some photos of what I'm trying to cram into my suitcases. I hope I have room for some clothes…. At least those lacy tops and dresses that will fit the Downton theme aren't heavy!! Hopefully, I'll have space for my clothing too, I haven't even got that far yet.

EDIT- Silly me! I had my hand held digital scale for luggage set for metric not pounds!! Once I figured that out, I had plenty of space in my bags. So, the bags are filled, nothing is left behind and I am on my way. See you when I get back!

Charlotte Bunny Baskets

holiday decor, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 30, 2014

Do you ever have a day that just flows happily through you? Where time just melts away because you are so involved with what you are doing that all of a sudden you realize it is evening only because your tummy reminds you that dinner should be served soon, but you are happy because you know you don't have to be responsible for that dinner?

I don't get those as often as I'd like. Usually, there are too many interruptions where every day life gets in the way.

But recently, I had a DAY ALL TO MYSELF.

About 12 hours straight of not talking to or seeing another person. I took advantage of it by working in the studio.

And the first part of the day was used to finish all of my Birdsong kits. That was a happy feeling right there. Then, I mindlessly sewed crepe paper ruffles. While that might sound boring, and sometimes it would be for me, on this day, when I had all the TIME in the world, it was almost like meditation.

After sewing all that crepe, I was ready to play with it, and figured out a way to turn Charlottes into Bunnies.

Then, I used that crepe paper to embellish some vintage nut cups. And line them with the moss scraps on the table from making the fairy kits for Birdsong. Most of the supplies were stuff that I hadn't cleaned up yet from making the kits (which means that my workspace was about 10").

It felt great to have no time limits, and nothing calling me away from my desk. I didn't have to pick anyone up, take anyone someplace, or even feed anybody. I just had a glorious, long stretch of TIME all to myself to work play. And to use the Good Stuff. Creating with soft, old velvet, faded millinery, and sweet Charlottes was a balm to my stressed soul.

And even better? My sweet son dropped by with Dewdrop about dinner time with a pizza. I had the best of both worlds, not only did I get all this TIME to myself, I still got to end the day listening to the giggles of a 3 year old and I got a dinner that I didn't have to cook.

Now, I have the resolve to tackle my taxes and all the other stuff piling up. I needed that TIME, uninterrupted, to be creative and get recharged.

And I even got these listed in the Boutique, if you'd like one.

Another person’s trash….

bird song art event, holiday decor, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 12, 2014

As I've been gathering up fairy making materials to fill kits for Birdsong, I've taken a few breaks here and there to make a couple of other things too.

Beth came over for a craft day and brought me a bag of her trash. Now, that might sound odd, but she throws away stuff that I am thrilled to get. Like a stack of old books, half started projects, piles of ribbon, doilies, sewing supplies, all sorts of stuff that she cleaned out of her studio.

We thought the little fairies were going to join us for craft day, but they were busy outside all afternoon.

This cardboard box lid was in there. She'd lined it with the bird print on text and some ribbon, then quit. I couldn't leave it like that. I added beeswax to the background, more trim, some rhinestones, a nest and more birds.

It reminded us of that challenge on Top Chef where the chefs go from station to station doing the next step in a dish others started.

I'm setting this aside to use for a drawing prize for Birdsong 4. I'll be using the doilies she brought over to wrap up drawing prizes too. I'm already setting things aside to make up bundles of gifts to pick from when I pull a name out of the flowered hat during our weekend.

And I have a bonus gift too, from Gwen McClure She is giving us a $50 gift certificate to Bottoms Up!

Sponsors who give us little prizes for the gift bags or something for the drawing will be added to the side bar of my blog for a year. Plus, I'll show off your kind gift on my blog.

And you will make the Birdsong peeps very happy! If you want to be a sponsor, please email me at:

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

This was made with trash from Beth too, or at least some of it. She tried out the hot wax I was using on the bird piece, but didn't like the technique. So, I rescued her waxed French postcard and layered it with lace, flowers, and this baby picture.

The wax was interesting, but I doubt if I'll make much use of it. I am too impatient to get it hot enough, and it was gloppy and hard to work with. I like things I can do without thinking about ahead of time or planning.

Gee, that sounds lazy.

Is it that hard to warm up a pot of wax before I need it????

I've added the baby collage to the Boutique, along with a few Easter Eggs on stands too.

Making kits

bird song art event, how to's, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 3, 2014

One down, one to go! I've been slugging away on making Birdsong 4 kits for my first project, this mobile, titled, "Songs and Wings."

When I saw this phrase in an old book, I knew it would be ideal for the mobile.

Strips of vintage lace, soft ribbons, and hemp twine dangle from a hand made wreath and each will feature a little treasure or two.

Making it and coming up with the design was so much fun. Packing up all the elements, was a little more complicated. Have you ever done kits? It is a process that takes a lot of time and care. And when they are made with vintage items, a lot of planning has to go into them, to make sure that all elements are of equal value and style, because these pieces are one of a kind.

Here is how I make up kits. First, as I create the piece, I keep a log of what I am using next to me on the desk. For instance, If I glue on a snip of velvet ribbon, I make sure to add that to the list. So that when the student is making her kit, she will also have some velvet ribbon to use. (don't you hate it when the teacher's finished piece is soooo cool because of all the great supplies she used, and then she gives you second rate knock offs of what she used herself? I've been there, and I've felt ripped off!)

Normally, I eyeball things, not measure. But when making a kit, I have to stop and figure out about how long that strip of lace was, or how much wire did that loop take, so the kit will hold the correct amount. And it is better to error on the side of too much rather than too little.

After the project is done and the list is made, I start working my way through it. I'll begin with one element, prep those, bag 'em up, put 'em in a box, then move on to the next item.

Once my box is full, over the course of a few days or so, I'll start bundling.

Once I have the correct amount of every single item that went into the original, I start "trick or treating". I'll open a kit bag, and go from pile to pile adding one from each stack to my bag.

While the design is still fresh in my mind, I write out instructions. As I type out the how to's, I save space on the paper to doodle some illustrations. Then, these and the collage sheets go to the copy shop, and when ready, get slipped into the bags as I wrap them up and add a label or decoration to the complete kit.

Usually, the bag is decorated with something worth saving and using in the project. A pretty bow, a flower, something along those lines.

I always make an extra kit up for myself. Since I try to be ahead of schedule and get these done months before the event (I get a creepy crawly feeling if I do anything last minute) I often have to open my own kit a couple weeks before the event to re-acquaint myself with what went into it.

I'm pretty happy to have these boxed up and ready to roll. If my arm wasn't aching from repetitive movents, I'd be patting myself on the back right now!

Here comes Pretty Cottontail

holiday decor, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 1, 2014

Lately, I've been working on building kits for Birdsong, but I just had to take a little break to create something JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT. Just because I wanted to make something.

I'd found this styrofoam, hollow egg at a flea mkt, years ago and came across it in the cabinet while looking for something I needed for the kits I was gathering together. At that point, I simply had no choice but to stop everything else I was doing, and sit down to remake this thing.
The interior of it was filled with a scene that included a bunch of this kind of stuff. The outside of it was covered in pale blue fabric and crispy, cheap lace. Ugh. I should have got a photo of the whole thing, but you are probably glad that I didn't, it wasn't all that pretty to see.

I remade some of the pieces from its center into this. The horses are saved for something else. I thought it would be cuter with a bunny pulling the cart. The wheels were painted and put back on, but I added mother of pearl buttons over them, to match the MOP paint I used on the carriage.

The egg itself got all of the lace ripped off (I'd love to know what fantastic glue had been used on it, that stuff really held!), and I decoupaged right over the fabric with pages torn from an old French book. That was a little harsh for me, so I brushed over the words with cream, then with white Mother of Pearl paint. And over that, some fine, clear glitter.

It's pretty from the back too, but simple.

When I started on it, the plan was jelly bean colors. Hmm, that didn't happen, did it? It turned into a soft, low color piece, which is often how things go with me. I love the tones of vintage lace and old pages, and lean towards using them even when I planned on doing something else.

To me, it makes the piece less Easter-y, something that you could display year round if you wanted to.

What will the bunny be bringing to you this year? If you'd like one of these pieces in your basket, you can find them here.

Sweethearts and some card making tips

celebrations, Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, how to's, Sugarwings, Valentine's Day, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / February 21, 2014

I hope you had a good Valentines Day? We sure did. Actually, a week of it! My Handsome Husband took me out to dinner one night, then the next, we all got dressed up and went out for a fancy meal with Sugarwings, her mommy and her mommy's sweetheart. And this was all before Valentines ever arrived. On the day of, I had the grand fairies and we decided to play with food coloring out in the snow.

Of course, not all of the artwork can be hearts and love notes when you are creating with a 3 year old, and most of it all got trampled. When Ryan came down his stairs later as it was starting to get dark out, he thought there had been some sort of massacre in the snow from all the red squirted everywhere.

Sugarwings took off for a weekend with her mommy while Dewdrop spent some time with us. We got all dressed up with her and went out on the town again, to do a little dining and dancing while a friend's band played.

Then, and yes there is MORE. My husband and I went out to dinner AGAIN with some friends. I think I might just forget how to cook. I could get used to this life of restaurants and celebrations.

Except it all came to a crashing end when I had more gum surgery on Monday morning. No more dining for me for a while, it's jello time now.

Between galas and bashes and dinners and celebrating, I made up some cards to send out. These are a little different for me, not all elements are pure vintage. I had this rose print paper, and thought it was perfect for the holiday.

To start, I folded a chocolate brown sheet of card stock to make the card, and inked all the edges inside and out. Next, I cut out the rose paper to fit on the card, and with an exacto blade, cut slits in the faux picture frame on the paper, to slide in a Victorian die cut cherub.

To make the frame a bit more 3d, I used a soft brown marker to outline the inside of the frame and create shadows.

Around the card, I doodled with a metallic gold ink pen. The message inside the card is with the same ink.

To finish, I glued two sets of millinery petals, and added a red rhinestone to the center.

This card was made in much the same way, then I added velvet ribbon, a crepe paper ruffle, a painted brass piece and a millinery leaf to the edge.

For the brass, I used Martha Stewart craft paint that is made for metal, painted it on and wiped it off.

This time, the card also features a painted metal piece, that I've tied ribbons to. On top of it, I glued some vintage butterfly wings and on those, a pink cake topper lady, who is now a fairy.

I had another pink lady, and used her over some die cut butterfly wings that my friend, Hope, had given me. I layered her over another painted brass piece and some lace.

This one was made after I ran out of the pretty rose paper but was still in a card making mood. I cut sheet music into a heart, inked the edges and added a crepe paper ruffle to the back.

Onto the card, I added a Victorian die cut lady. Her dress had been baby blue, but I changed that with markers for a more Valentiney look. Her wings are two different butterflies printed onto vellum paper, and slid under her shoulders.

I added some millinery and a touch of sparkle with Stickles glitter.

I just love the way vellum paper looks with images printed on it. This photo is on vellum, and I cut a heart out of sparkly, white scrap book paper to layer underneath, then put both over a tan mat for contrast. It went into a frame, not onto a card.

If you'd like to try the snow painting, it is simple as can be. A small amount of food coloring in a jug of water is all it takes to make the paint. Then, put it into squirt bottles. It is surprising how fast it goes, though, so be prepared for a lot of refilling.

PS- if you'd like to sign up for a chance to win a copy of Where Women Create, please leave a comment on my previous post, or on FB.

Kansas vs Maui

drawing, paintings, photography, Travel, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / February 3, 2014

Happy February! Man, what a cooooooold, brrrr-ey winter. I was so lucky to get away to Hawaii and escape the worst of it, but I still feel like I've been a human popsicle most of the season. Some of it is because of the propane shortage, the price of heating our house more than doubled, and I've been keeping careful track of thermostat settings.

Geez, I thought Hawaii was expensive. At least a vacation is a memorable, relaxing, and worthwhile way to spend too much money.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love a cozy, warm house and know it's important. But I'd sure rather pay half as much to do it.

Normally, we prepay for our gas for the entire year way back in August, to get a set price. If I'd had the foresight to do that last summer, we wouldn't be paying double now. But I'd still be cutting back and turning down the thermostat, since there is a shortage. It's scary to think of running out! Our firewood supply is low too.

Maybe we should turn the heat to a minimum, pack up and fly back to paradise, spend the money there instead of on propane!

I wish.

For now, I'll enjoy my album from Maui. I printed the finger painting water color sketches I'd done on my iPad, and used those in the book along with a few mementos and some pictures.

The ap doesn't allow a lot of detail, so printing them, and adding hand drawn elements and words with ink really gave them the punch they needed.

Here is one directly from the ap. I don't think it needs any further detail, Dorothy Rosebud's furry mess of a hairdo is bad enough without more clarification. But the shaggy layer is helping her keep warm, so it will have to stay til either spring comes or the price of propane comes down!

Hearts,flowers, and rosemary

cottage, flowers, Valentine's Day, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / January 31, 2014

Beth came over last week for a craft day. It had been WAY too long, because we were just now exchanging Christmas gifts!

She gifted me with this great, Victorian coffee pot, to use as a vase. I can't wait to fill it with roses, but since I'm going on a trip, I settled for a handful of dried rosemary. Because I don't think my husband would even notice or appreciate it, if I bought fresh flowers for the dining room before I went out of town. I'll wait and treat myself when I get back, because I know I will be very appreciative of them.

And I love it that my hands smelled like rosemary all day after cutting it, even though the plant has been out in the garden, dried and dead through all kinds of weather. It still smells wonderful. The only problem is that I can't stop thinking about making a pizza with rosemary and provolone…

This pot is perfect! Just the right amount of tarnished, beaten-up-ed-ness.

Beth and Karla hadn't been to a craft day in much too long. I need to make time to do this sort of thing, it's good for the soul to laugh with friends while creating.

Beth was working on stitched hearts for Laurie's swap.

Hers were so pretty that I wanted to make one too. But mine is glued, not sewn. I used some of the fabric she had given to me along with the perfectly tarnished coffee pot.

Dang, I wish I'd had time to join the swap! This is going to be a nice one. I'm looking forward to seeing the results on friends' blogs.