vintage paper/collage art – Page 14

Fairies and friends will always cheer you up

Books, fairies, Tutorials, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / August 29, 2013

I've been fairying it up around here. I draw these little girls onto plain paper, then cut them out to use as patterns to use on vintage text and wallpaper. After they are assembled and glued to a background, I embellish them with some millinery flowers.

This one is in a very old metal frame.

This one lives in a painted and distressed,wooden frame that I lined with rose patterned wallpaper.

At the bottom of the frame, I glued a branch of little blooms and used that to hang some butterfly charms on.

At first, I'd made the heads from text too, but I missed having a facial expression, so I cut out new heads from the border of the text and used markers to add a sweet, little face.

Both of these will be added to the Boutique. That is, if I ever get around to adding anything to that poor, neglected little shop again…. If you are interested in either for $35, you can send me an email at: Karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

This sprite is one that I am keeping for myself, I've added her to a book that Beth made for me.

Don't you love the binding on it? She knew I was having some personal troubles and made the journal for me to fill up as a distraction. Plus, she listens to my complaints. Now, that is a friend.

Between poor Ry losing his job (rather unfairly) and the hours I've spent trying to help him find another, worries about this and that, as well as feeling crappy, I'm afraid I've been a bit cranky. I don't even know why she is still my friend, all she ever hears from me are complaints.

Ry has some interviews, I've been to the Dr. and have treatment now for esophagitis (from swallowing a heavy, string wrapped around a grilled tenderloin and scratching my throat, I thought it was gristle and tried to be polite by not spitting it out, since we were at a friend's house for a dinner party), and the other problems? Well, things work out somehow, don't they?

It's going to be fun filling up this journal with doodles, and doodads, and dwaddles. Getting creative again has made me feel better already!

One of the patterns I'd made for these kids was lying on my desk and it reminded me of a shadow, so I added it to the next page of the journal.

This fairy is a new creation too.

She and this angel have been added to the Mini Dress Form tutorial, with some simple how tos to embellish the basic forms that are taught there. If you have already purchased the class, these are a bonus and you will find them under "fairy" and "angel" in the category list on the side bar of the blog.

If you'd like to join the class, you can do that here.

PS-Leave a comment on this post, if you would like to enter my two giveaways. I'm away at the moment, but will draw names after Labor Day weekend

Craft Day at Gail’s- vintage wallpaper tags

vintage paper/collage art, wallpaper, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / July 19, 2013

Last weekend, my friend, Gail, invited me to a craft day.

I didn't really have a project to bring, so I decided to make tags. I packed a lot of old wallpaper scraps, some other ephemera and card stock. Then, I tore the papers into rough edge bits and strips, then I drizzled glue over the card stock and layered the strips of old paper onto it.

After it dried, I ran it through the Cutlebug using a three part tag set die cut.

This made an interesting background to embellish with some tidbits I'd brought along. I had a handful of lace, a small bag of flowers, some ribbon, two vintage greeting cards, a die cut rose and some ink pads.

When I'm working with wallpaper, I keep a container near me to save scraps. No piece is too small to save, you never know when you'll need an itsy bitsy piece, and why cut into a big hunk for a two inch strip?

Plus, I'm cheap. I don't like to waste scraps of pretty paper if they can be reused. Tags are an excellent way to use up the remnants of a bigger project.

This was an ideal project for craft day. It was easy to pack up and bring, didn't take much thought, and I could chat while I worked. Gail and her daughter-in-law, Marj, had both been to my studio at Birdsong, and I felt like I already knew her grand daughter, Corrine from FB stories and pictures.

But the other ladies were new friends, and the projects ranged from crochet to scrap booking. Everyone brought something to work on while they hung out, that is my favorite kind of craft day.

Gail made us a tasty lunch, and gave me a tour of her cute place. She loves vintage roses as much as I do, and her home was filled with pretty pink blooms.

She also had houseful of things she'd bought from me, back when I used to host antique sales at my house. I knew she'd been a generous customer over the years, but I didn't realize just how much she'd got. It reminded me of visiting my mom's house and how every where I looked, I saw something I'd made or painted.

Gail might just have more of my stuff than I do. I felt right at home!

Thanks, Gail!

Creating

vintage paper/collage art, wallpaper

By Karla Nathan / July 19, 2013

If you are visiting for the Where Bloggers Create Studio Tour, you can see my pictures here

So you don't think I've done nothing but goof off, here are a few things I've been making.

This collage is done on a book cover.

And this one in a jewelry box.

This is a frame that had a few die cut roses in it. I covered it with modeling paste, scraped some off, added lace and images, ink, and embellishments.

Part of my Summertime Adventuretime is about creating for just the plain old heck of it.

Not to make something to sell or to teach.

Just to connect with the joy of making it.

Tagging along, some stuff for sale, and a BIG Summer Sale too

bird song art event, how to's, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / June 27, 2013

Lori had some great vintage images and pretty papers in her kits for Birdsong. Her project was a wreath wrapped in frothy fabrics with tricked out tags tucked in it (how's that for alliteration?). Since I didn't add tags to my own wreath, I made some tags up separate because I wanted to play with the images she had included.

I'd also wanted to try using the Dimensional Magic by ModPodge with crystal glitter over it. I outlined the image (not the background) with the D. Magic, then slowly filled in, and the stuff did a good job of staying where I'd put it.

While it was wet, I coated it with clear glass glitter, and then tapped away the extra after the glaze dried and it was safe to pick it up.

I've got about 6 bottles of that stuff, because we used it on the knotted ribbon necklaces class that I did, and I had a bottle of it out on each table for the students, and a little bit goes a looooong way.

This tag is all from Lori's kits too. I tore the label off her kit and left the edges rough, glued it onto a tag, then inked the edges. I scrunched up some pattern paper, and added some of the twine trim Lori provided and a rhinestone from my stash. Then, I did the same glaze and glitter trick as on the other tag, this time over the whole thing.

She had a playing card in the kit too, and I used it as a tag. I made a ruffle from some of the text she provided, and cut the bottom off of another playing card to go over that, and topped it with a millinery flower.

The center is a piece of pattern paper layered with text, and an oval image from Lori's stash. I did the Dimensional Magic and glitter over the torn out oval, and I think I got too much glitter, because it dried a gloppy mess and you couldn't see the image at all. So, i cut a rose out of something else and glued it over the top and added another pretty bit of sparkle and some millinery buds. It's also tied with the twine from the kit.

On this one, the D. Magic and glitter once again obliverated the image. I guess you have be careful to have a light hand with the glitter when doing this. Or to use a very simple, clear, graphic image. I think it turned out really pretty over the first one, the lady's black and white face.

Around the screwed up image, I glued odds and ends that were in the kit, in a free form frame. And I liked that part, it was too bad the rest was a mish mosh mess.

After it dried, I tried to fix it by gluing a snippet of text and a bird out of a book from the 1800s. I'd used this same text and some birds from it for each of the kits I'd made up for the necklace class. These were the birds that we put in the pendants, although this bird is a little more colorful than the ones I used for the class.

I know, it was only a little tag, but I hate to leave anything badly done, so I did what I could to salvage it. I finish all my projects, and save the bad ones as much as I can. I figure that I've already invested time and materials into a failed piece, why let it go to waste if a little more time will fix it?

If you are interested in one of Lori's lovely kits, I found two of them left here when I cleaned up. I offered to sell them for her, and ship them out. Her wreath kit comes with the form, the fabric,images, papers, trims, and tags.

It's self explanatory, and a simple, pretty project.

The kits are $35 plus postage.

When I sold my own leftover kits, I counted wrong and sold more than I actually had, so had to whip up a few more real quick. Well, I made up some extras and have one knotted ribbon and one captured fairy birdcage (that comes with a free online course) left for $30 plus postage, each.

Please email me if you are interested in any of these, with your zip code and the email address you use for PayPal and I'll send you a invoice with the postage figured.

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

As well as one completed necklace that I used as a sample. The one that says "nest" with the brown antiquing is available for $65.

The white one that says "nest" in this photo too. I think I'll keep the blue one myself. The rest of my samples are at Somerset right now, for an article in Jewelry Affaire. I might have some of those for sale later, but it could be months before they are returned.

And if that isn't enough shameless huckstering and trying to sell stuff to you, here is a little more.

I've got a ton of new things to add to my Boutique. But I'd like to clear it out a little bit first, and start fresh. So, I'm offering a 30% discount till July 1st. You'll need to use this link:

http://www.karlascottage.com/?code=30%

And type in this code at check out:

30%

Birdsong Eve

bird song art event, jewelry, magazine pictures or articles, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / June 6, 2013

We've gotten the nicest gifts for Birdsong! Hope made these felted nests with sparkling, sugared birds and even included bags of mica flakes for everyone too.

Karen sent this lushly embellished train case for a door prize.

Not only is it made with sweet birdie details, she has also filled it up with "tweets" too.

In the box were some birdie beverage napkins to use for our weekend, and a big ass bag of candy.
Sadly, it came a week before the party, so the bag isn't quite as full
as it was when it arrived, and my ass is the big one now.

Terri has sent these ephemera packs, and I spy a bird theme in the packages.

Look at the sweet details she added to the label! A touch of glitter is an elegant touch.

I've
been whipping up more samples for my class, because these three were
shipped off to Jewelry Affaire. I was very pleased to share our
Birdsong weekend project with Somerset.When the magazine comes out in
October, it will be fun to reminisce while looking at the photos.

Our
party starts soon, I'm all tingly just thinking about it. This year,
I've promised myself to be done and ready plenty early. I want to relax
and enjoy my family and friend's visits. We are doing a dinner party on
Thursday night and calling it "Birdsong Eve". There are 26 of us
meeting at a restaurant downtown to kick off the weekend.

I'll
be preposting to my blog, but will not be checking emails much, so
please forgive me for not answering comments. I'll be back next week
with pictures of our gathering.

Projects from An Enchanted Affaire

Snow White, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 16, 2013

My friend, Lesa Daily, makes the cutest birds! Her class at Enchanted was something I'd been anxiously awaiting, and it was every bit as wonderful as I'd known it would be.

Don't her little birdies just peep with personality? These are some from her vendor night table. I fell hard for that first one, it's a beauty.

Lesa's kits were cute as a bug too. The rose is a brooch made from coffee filters and I've enjoyed wearing it on my white denim jacket for a pop of spring color.

Her class was a birdy crown, but I made mine in two pieces. I wanted the crown to be out at the holidays, but the blue bird was to be year round.

There he is on my shoulder. Isn't there a song about that?? Zippity Do Dah Zippity Yay… somehow that is not quite right. But I'll be humming it all day anyway.

I could get hooked on making these lil guys.

Mine is foofed up with lots of tulle that I'd brought along. And a wreath of flowers on it's neck.

My pal, Natalie had a fun class too. Her pendant was one of my inspirations for the Birdsong necklace we will be making. Hers is the one in the instructions, mine is the one lying on top.

And here is how I'm doing our Birdsong piece.

And oh my, this was a fun class too! Julie Nutting
had us painting a background then crafting a paper doll from strips of torn paper. I used my own wallpaper and changed it up a bit by adding a mirror behind our Snow White.

Mine lost some of the whimsical charm of the original when I painted a face on her. But I still like it. And had a blast during the class. All three classes were delightful! (that is my new favorite word, Sugarwings and I have been using it nonstop).

Carol Spinski was the photographer for the event and she provided us with hundreds of free photos to download! I snagged a few of my faves and will share a few with here.

The rest of these photos are all done by Carol.

A Book of Enchantments

Books, Hand painted, jewelry, parties, Snow White, vintage paper/collage art, wallpaper, We're having a party, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / May 8, 2013

The weekend in CA at An Enchanted Affaire was filled with fun and friendship-from so many nice people…

People like Charlotte, who I've known a long time through blogs…

And my husband's sister, Terry, who came along to her first big art weekend…

And goofy gals who I am lucky to meet up with again at various getaways like this…

And tables full of new people to get to know.

Teaching at one of these is the best way to meet people, I was flitting from one end of the room to the other, pausing to talk to everyone at the tables.

Here is part of my table. I took classes as well as teaching this time, and asked to have "newbies" sit with me if they wanted. It was fun to get to know some different people. At most events, I sit with my same friends every time (and really LOVE that) but I realized that I'd met them all at these kind of places and I should open myself up to meeting some more new friends.

Good idea!!

This is another one from the class I taught. Being up and moving around during class made for a good time to get photos of everyone at work. Normally, during class, I'm so involved with the project, I don't get to see what everyone else is doing.

Hopefully, the ladies enjoyed the class. The first half of it was pretty much busy work, tons of gluing paper to card stock to create the background of the book.

After making the pages, we crafted the cover and assembled the book.

It looked like most people at least got that much done, not many were able to start decorating, though.

But I provided an overflowing kit full of goodies, so they had plenty to play with later when they were ready to start embellishing.

If I teach this again, I think it would be better in an all day class, so we can do the decorating of the interior of the book too.

There were lots of examples for interiors, and many ladies took photos inside of my own books for later on when they finish theirs.

Here are some completed covers by the students.

Here is another.

When they started working, I'd told them that it was absolutely impossible for any two of them to have the same book when they finished, even if they tried their durndest.

With vintage supplies, and a big page of collage images to chose from, the completed books were bound to be filled with variety!

Since my book was titled, " A Book of Enchantments" I decided that I needed a few enchantment spells to add to it. So, I wrote 4 little poems about finding joy, happy dreams, a true prince, and hope. They are printed on vellum and are part of the embellishment package.

(by the way, I made extra kits, if you want to buy one for $65, there are a few left. Many ladies bought a second while there, so I think that means they liked them)

EDIT: my email is down, if you could leave a comment or contact me on FB, I'll check those to see if anyone is ordering kits. They are selling, but there is still a few left.

Kim had asked all the teachers to provide a prize for the drawings, so I brought this assemblage.

It was won by my pal, Natalie, another teacher.

I LOVED HER CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I used a smokey quartz and ruby on my own creation.

I'll leave you with a few more photos from my class, and still have some more pictures of the event to show you later.

Gloating in my Early Birdness

Books, Snow White, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / March 28, 2013

Well, I still don't have the piles of extra wallpaper photographed and listed for sale in my Boutique. But the KITS ARE DONE!!!

As I was cutting up hundreds upon hundreds of pages, I thought it was going to seriously deplete my supply. But, I think I'm safe there… (I have two more storage places for papers too)

The fairy tale books that I have been buying went up on top of the Treat Cabinet for storage. I like having them separate from my other hoarded piles of old books, so that I don't accidentally use the pages for wrapping paper. These are special!

My poor, poor studio, still has not recovered from kit making for an Enchanted Affaire. But look! The kits are DONE. Two giant boxes are filled up and ready to mail when the time comes. What a nice feeling to have it all packed up a month early.

Well, mostly all of it. I still have to box up examples, extras, etc to take along. I'll probably add those to my suitcase. These boxes are heavy… what makes me decide to make such elaborate, complicated, heavy kits to ship all the way across the country??? I tend to get carried away by what would be exciting to do, not by what is practical to do.

The kits are wrapped in papers and ribbons that can be used when creating the project. And what is fun about these packets of goodies, is that no two are just alike. It would be impossible for two people to make the same book. And they are chock full of The Good Stuff. Yummy!

Fairy Cup Cakes

celebrations, fairies, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 26, 2013

My trip to Florida to see Guncle Randy and do a mini class is also a surprise birthday party. I'm writing this ahead of time, so I'm not mentioning details about who will be at the party.

Since the class is about fairies, and it was a party, I decided to make fairy cupcakes.

A kind swapper, Wendy, who was in my Fairy Book Swap, had given me a cupcake she made as a hostess gift and I've always admired it.

I hope that she doesn't mind me making some myself. These were done with Styrofoam balls in cupcake papers. Hers are a bit different.

I made a special, little boy sprite for Guncle Randy.

And an extra large serving of cup cake for the birthday girl.

When I get all unpacked and settled back in at home, I'll have some photos of the weekend for you.

Fluttery Florida Fairies

fairies, vintage paper/collage art, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / March 24, 2013

For the little class I am doing in Florida while hanging out with Guncle Randy, I'm packing plenty of pixie making materials.

Some will be free standing, others will perch in cages.

Instead of making up kits for each person, I decided to bring piles of supplies for everyone to chose from. They will make a cage/cloche thingy, then pick a fairy to add to it.

Everyone can make multilple fairies, which should be nice. Fairies probably don't like to be all alone.

Sugarwings says that they won't stay in the cages any way, the holes are too big and the little guys can crawl right out.

I hope everyone enjoys all the goodies I'm bringing to play with!! I know I am looking forward to delving in and making some more myself.