Author Archives: karlakrafts

Apr6

100 Days!

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100 Days!

I am participating in the 100 days project on Facebook. During this project, you are challenged to focus on one aspect of your creativity every day for 100 days. I chose the creation of collage pages. This experiment is to see if I can copy and paste the Facebook posts to this blog. Here goes!

the100dayproject2022, Day1, I think my focus will be on paper manipulation. This page is based on momigami, a Japanese folding and oiling technique. I stop short of fully saturating the paper with oil, photograph it (I like the impressionistic look it gives the photo) and then add metallic paint to the creases. This page is from the Oct, 2017 issue of Southern Living Magazine. #100daysofcollagepapers

A farm in Weaverville, NC
Kneaded (Momigami)
Dry brushed with gold using a make-up wedge
Jan16

Try, Try, Again

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Try, Try, Again

I recently tried dissolving inks with Citrasolv, a degreasing agent I discovered on You Tube. The artist using the solvent was Froyle Davies, and I have become a big fan of her collage work.

After watching her video. I immediately ordered a small bottle of Citrasolv on Amazon, together with a few empty little spray bottles.

Froyle, along with several other You Tube artists, I learned, dissolves the ink from the pages of National Geographic Magazine. The ink moves and makes bubbly designs.

I didn’t have any Nat Geo’s on hand, so I searched for glossy pages from other publications.

I tried three colorful catalog pages, one from Southern Living and one from glossy South Park Magazine, as well as a local sales circular.

I laid them all out on a plastic trash bag in the garage and gave them a good spritz of Citrasolv. I checked them in 20 minute intervals to see what happened. Basically, they went from wet to dryer to dry. The ink didn’t move.

The Citrasolv did make the garage smell like an orange processing plant!

Jan2

Horizontal Lines

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Horizontal Lines

You need them for journaling. I got this idea for a stamp from Nastasa at Treasure Books. https://youtube.com/c/TreasureBooks

I was cutting flaps off boxes to cover for storage, (I got lots over Christmas!) and decided to see if I could use Natasa’s idea. I fell the day after Christmas and skinned myself up pretty good. Skinning cardboard was no problem! It didn’t even hurt!

Dec4

The Christmas Shopper

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The Christmas Shopper

I have recently formed an addiction to junk journaling videos. I am especially intrigued by those that show journals made from brown paper bags.

I got the idea that a journal made from a standard lunch size paper bag might make a good shopping list/wallet.

The inside needed a note pad, and I added a ruled 3×3” sticky that I “grunged“ with Tim Holtz distress inks.

In fact, most of the embellishments are from Tim Holtz. As for the others, the gold heart is from wrapping paper, the saying is from a magazine, the angel from a catalog, her star is a sticker, the red star is punched from a toothpaste box!

I left the bag open, and the top makes a pocket for credit cards, coupons and/or cash.

I trimmed it with Dollar Tree lace.

A pen was supposed to tuck in here, but it kept “the wallet” from closing neatly.

So, I tucked the pen, from Amazon, under the tie on the front. The baker’s twine is from Dollar Tree. The pen clip helps hold the wallet shut. Ta Da!

Nov21

Changing Crows

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Changing Crows

I hope to change this primitive looking plaque and cover the ominous “counting crows” saying with something else. I am thinking a small wool appliqué project.

I got this beauty for $6 at Michaels as part of their Halloween clearance. I plan to make it less morbid and more colonial.

Oct27

Covered Box

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Covered Box

It’s finished (when it dries!)

It took days, but I didn’t have to buy a thing.

I had the paper, the glue and the spray paint. Amazon supplied the box. I was pleased to see that the box came from Carolina Container in High Point, NC! I was still shipping (shopping) local!

The ribbon trim still had it’s 75 cent Hancock Fabrics Clearance sticker. I am not a hoarder. I am an investor!”

Oct23

Recycling an Amazon Box

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Recycling an Amazon Box

I am not entirely sure it’s worth it.

I have all the supplies, including a pack of what I thought was a variety of scrapbook paper. 25 sheets of the same thing. I usually buy scrapbook papers in 2’s. I have plenty of this.

I already had the gold spray paint I used on the inside of the box, and of course, I have lots of glue. I’m trying different kinds, including basting spray. Elmer’s Extra Strength Craft Bond Glue Stick is the current leader, but I’m about to run out (second stick.)

Overall, it’s not costing me anything new, but it is time consuming.

My plantar fasciitis is back with a vengeance, so while I’m staying off my feet, I may as well watch glue dry!