Enjoyed creating these mixed media collage postcards for iHanna International Postcard Swap. These cards are crafted out of recycled pieces of cardboard, along with some vintage ARTchix Studio images, scraps of old sewing patterns, bits of imprinted paper napkins, acrylic paint, gelli prints, and odd wisps of wrapping paper—a blend of textures and colors and fun celebrating the abundant sea and aqua blue waters that make this archipelago nation of 700 Bahama cays and isles extra delightful—along with a vibrant international community that calls these island home! These 10 cards are winging their way to various parts of the world, and I’ll soon photograph and post those that land here too! Handmade art. Snail mail. Adventuring art hearts! Thanks, iHanna.nu for coordinating this lovely exchange!
Yes, I’m smitten with mixed media collage—these were created for the ARTchix Studio artist trading card swap and are winging their way to other collage enthusiasts. Here’s to finding even a tiny bit more time for doing whatever makes your heart feel light—Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
I created these scallop-shaped collages for an ARTchix Studio swap at the end of summer—all with a sea theme, and splashes of mixed media goodies: vintage bathing beauty images and laser wood cuts (from ARTchix), plus tropical umbrella-paper & stamped cupcake-liner toppers, colorful blue/green background papers, tissue paper, watercolor crayons, and even snippets of paper doily “scallops” painted with gelato sticks and fortified with layers of Mod Podge® to make them more durable. The art-scallops string together with ribbons and festive ties into one see-worthy garland 🙂 … oceans of fun!
And deep oceans of thanks to the amazing Helga Strauss Stevens, owner/creator of ARTchix for inspiring so much creative joy, not only with this theme and so many others over the years, but also as a pioneer in supplying vintage & contemporary mixed media images, custom-made embellishments, and ephemera and cool stuff of all kinds when she started ARTchix 12 years ago. She’s the one who started me on my collage journey, and I am heartily grateful, and ever in awe of her talents, generosity, kindnesses, and fun-loving spirit. Brava, Helga, Brava!!
p.s. … and here are the lovely, beautifully-detailed, whimsical, and smile-inducing scalloped artworks I received in the swap … waves of thanks to all the artists who made these and the extra bonus goodies in the packages too … thank you!
sea scallop collage by Michelle McLean of artfulembellishments.com
I had fun weaving some “exotic travel” thought-twigs & vintage glamour threads into these “Nest” inspired artist trading cards for an ARTchix Studio swap this past spring. Artist trading cards are little 2.5″ x 3.5″ mini mixed-media masterpieces created just for the joy of making art, and traded with other collage artists. It takes a bit longer to get lovely old-fashioned snail mail here in The Bahamas, and I was thrilled to find these Art Nest beauties (from fellow ARTchix swappers) waiting for me in the “post”:
Aren’t these sweet? And GORGEOUS?! These tiny treasures are so fun to look at and hold … so many layered and textural details and captivating images. Completely inspiring and heartwarming. From my cozy art nest to all the very talented creators of the cards pictured above: Thank You!! And to everyone out there having fun creating art in your own little studio or dining room table nook: art on!
ps … ARTchix hosts all kinds of themed swaps throughout the year and sends darling packets of little art goodies to participants … you can follow them on FB (here) or on their blog for swap announcements if you want to play along (& find occasional digi-freebie images; beautiful!). Like everything on m’blog, this is Not a paid commercial announcement. I just dig art and collage stuff and wanted to share! Tra-la …
I like this quote. It’s a great reminder for me, and for anyone who wants to rev up their writing, art, business, or any creative endeavor—including life! Lowered expectations at the beginning of a process helps obliterate the paralysis that comes from expecting yourself to be unrealistically amazing all the time. Is there somewhere you can lower your standards in order to get started? Can you trust (even just a little) that simply starting will lead you to take the next small step, and then the next … and that whatever you’re working on will develop (sort of like a Polaroid coming into focus), sharpening and getting clearer and more polished along the way?
I know that lowering expectations helps me get started. It will also help me get this quickly posted right now, in the midst of several other projects, rather than waiting for a more perfect moment to write a longer post about the many enthusiasms I have for the gentle and deceptively-powerful Kaizen Muse Creativity tools and philosophies—creative support and va-va-voom that I’ve already written about glowingly here! Enjoy …
This weekend, The Bahamas kicks off its celebration of 40 years as a sovereign, independent democratic nation—a stable country with a long history of 325 years of peaceful governance as a British colony prior to independence—and a country of 700 islands set in crystal clear waters that have carried peoples from many lands to its shores over the centuries. The Bahamas crest embraces the motto: Forward, Upward, Onward Together.
On July 10, 2013, The Bahamas will celebrate their 40th Anniversary as an independent nation
I love this animated video that celebrates “The Power of Outrospection” — an age of empathy and imagination: the twin pillars of lifting all of humanity forward, upward, onward together. It is produced by the RSA (a UK-based group that celebrates practical innovation and thought leadership in much the same way as TED—an organization of “…fascinating thinkers and doers …” that I have followed and long admired for their conferences championing the human imagination). RSA stands for The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce—and although it was founded in 1754 in a coffee shop in Covent Garden it has remained relevant through an ongoing focus on pioneering spirits and forward-thinking ideas that empower everyone. The RSA tag line … 21st century enlightenment … is beautifully illustrated in this short video that supports both that lofty goal while also raising awareness about the everyday moments of great empathy that have come together historically to uplift us all.
The modern day Bahamas was founded in just such moments of great empathy, and I hereby salute all the thought leaders and peaceful movements forward that are part of our world and part of The Bahamas today—as well as the keys to the country’s ongoing success and sustainability as part of a true paradise on earth. Happy Birthday, Bahamas!
Dominica Blue artist trading card by Paula Boyd Farrington
Sharing art makes for extra happiness. Especially when the wonderful ARTchix Studio encourages us to “Create Art. Share Happiness” with their blue-themed Artist Trading Card swap. I made three series’ of artist trading cards last month celebrating the color blue with a combination of ARTchix images & goodies and stamps on top of a background made from a larger one-piece layered “masterboard” that I’ll show you in a moment … first, here are the rest of the Blue/Bleu/Bleue cards:
Cuba Blue artist trading card by Paula Boyd Farrington
Bhutan Blue artist trading card by Paula Boyd Farrington
The next three cards included painted blue “doilies” and Endangered Floral vintage postage stamps:
Hawaiian Wild Broadbean Endangered Flora Blue artist trading card by Paula Boyd Farrington
Wallflower Endangered Flora Blue artist trading card by Paula Boyd Farrington
Dunes Evening: Endangered Flora artist trading card by Paula Boyd Farrington
The background “masterboard’ was made on a sheet of 8.5″ x 11” letter-sized paper covered in snippets of recycled printer sheets, paint swatches, wrapping paper scraps, bits of an old calendar page, and colored with various blue “gelato” pigment sticks (smooth color which mixes with water beautifully, in the same way that watercolor crayons do):
beginning of making “Masterboard” to be cut into artist trading card size background pieces
… and another “Masterboard” of blue paper scraps and paint swatches to make the backs of the artist trading cards
artist trading card masterboard background muted with gesso
… and then cut into artist trading card-sized pieces to be adhered as backgrounds onto the eco-artist trading cards (found in ARTchix Studio packaging … or you can make your own out of recycled cardboard!)
another look at the blue backgrounds cut into pieces to give the backgrounds a cohesive look although each piece is unique (this one I made for the backs of the cards)
The Blue Swap asked for six Artist Trading Cards to be sent, but the masterboard cut into nine background pieces and I found so many fun images and ARTchix blue bits to use, so I kept going and created one more series celebrating “Bleu”:
Bleu de Carte artist trading card by Paula Boyd Farrington
Étoile Bleue artist trading card by Paula Boyd Farrington
Bleu L’Aventure artist trading card by Paula Boyd Farrington
“Bleu” series of winged artist trading cards by Paula Boyd Farrington
Thanks to Helga Strauss Stevens of ARTchix Studio for all her cool stuff, and for the idea of making a masterboard (she’s talked about that before in her blog)—and to mixed media artist Nikki Smith for hosting the swap. How wonderful that so much Blue Happiness is winging its way through the post offices to everyone who signed up. I’m sure you’ll be seeing more photos of all the lovely Blue Bleu Bleue artwork on ARTchix’s Facebook page!
Enjoyed creating these mixed media collage postcards for iHanna International Postcard Swap. These cards are crafted out of recycled pieces of cardboard, along with some vintage ARTchix Studio images, scraps of old sewing patterns, bits of imprinted paper napkins, acrylic paint, gelli prints, and odd wisps of wrapping paper—a blend of textures and colors and fun celebrating the abundant sea and aqua blue waters that make this archipelago nation of 700 Bahama cays and isles extra delightful—along with a vibrant international community that calls these island home! These 10 cards are winging their way to various parts of the world, and I’ll soon photograph and post those that land here too! Handmade art. Snail mail. Adventuring art hearts! Thanks, iHanna.nu for coordinating this lovely exchange!
