In the post yesterday was a big puffy envelope. And I could tell by the distinctive script that my lovely friend from up north had sent me something. She's a lapidary, mosaicist, and all-around woman of gemmery, and the envelope did not have the appropriate heft of a stone, bracelet, necklace, or charm.
What could this fat envelope, which weighs next to nothing, contain?
STAMPS! A veritable treasure trove of cancelled postage! I'm a very lucky girl.
Last evening, I committed more play with dry brushing.
I started out wanting to put a bold image down with paint on a rubber stamp, and then dry-brush over it. But I liked it so much I didn't want to brush over it. Also, it's almost too bold an image to be used repeatedly on a page. So, I decided to stamp half a page with it, and do something else with the other half. After initially stamping with purple paint, I stamped over the purple with metallic paint in gold and silver. I may have to cut or tear these and use them as scrap material in my journal or on a collage. Or, I may find I want to work with this page further.
Here's the second half of the page. Here, I used a premade alpha stencil with dry paint pouncing in red. Then I dry brushed over those stenciled letters. I didn't like the brushing over them. So, I re-pounced the stencils with a dry brush of tan paint, adding red back in as I went.
I like this surface for the most part, and will probably keep working with it. Or, I may add it to my journal. I love the texture and the depth of the layers underneath. This layering with dry-brushing is good stuff. (Also, I have a thing for letters.)
This morning, I used a gift certificate and went to Michael's for their Martha Stewart sale. I scored some awesome clear bird stamps, shown in this blurry photo. These will be put into play very soon.
It's a gorgeous day in L.A.
Too beautiful for deep thoughts...
Our jasmine is budding and we have a white bloom!--soon it's going to smell very sweet around here.
What could this fat envelope, which weighs next to nothing, contain?
STAMPS! A veritable treasure trove of cancelled postage! I'm a very lucky girl.
Last evening, I committed more play with dry brushing.
I started out wanting to put a bold image down with paint on a rubber stamp, and then dry-brush over it. But I liked it so much I didn't want to brush over it. Also, it's almost too bold an image to be used repeatedly on a page. So, I decided to stamp half a page with it, and do something else with the other half. After initially stamping with purple paint, I stamped over the purple with metallic paint in gold and silver. I may have to cut or tear these and use them as scrap material in my journal or on a collage. Or, I may find I want to work with this page further.
Here's the second half of the page. Here, I used a premade alpha stencil with dry paint pouncing in red. Then I dry brushed over those stenciled letters. I didn't like the brushing over them. So, I re-pounced the stencils with a dry brush of tan paint, adding red back in as I went.
I like this surface for the most part, and will probably keep working with it. Or, I may add it to my journal. I love the texture and the depth of the layers underneath. This layering with dry-brushing is good stuff. (Also, I have a thing for letters.)
This morning, I used a gift certificate and went to Michael's for their Martha Stewart sale. I scored some awesome clear bird stamps, shown in this blurry photo. These will be put into play very soon.
It's a gorgeous day in L.A.
Too beautiful for deep thoughts...
Our jasmine is budding and we have a white bloom!--soon it's going to smell very sweet around here.
10 comments:
Oh you lucky, lucky girl you!
Stamps, stamps and more stamps...
My Da was a stamp collector. The mint type, however, he taught us (me sisters and I) how to soak canceled stamps and peel them from envelopes.
Near everytime I see canceled stamps,
I'm brought to fine memories of my Da.
Ah, tis a wonderous thing, the approaching signs of spring.
Happy day to ya!
cheers~
ArtFire is great huh? I've been using Etsy for a while, but it has got sooo big that I feel stuff gets lost. I like the set monthly cost at ArtFire. Also knowing they are talking about the recession and then acting on it. I find their templates really easy to use. Go ArtFire! BTW glad you like the painting.
Whoa..whatcha gonna do with all those stamps?
Shoot....I forgot the rest of what I was going to say.........OH! There was an exercise where we cut up papers to use in our projects in class on Saturday....I'm sad to admit I've never had any papers out of a book to cut up..but I think this is a really cool idea! Well done, Chris!
Wow Chris, all those stamps! Your images of Spring are so mood inducing. I love Spring, minus the allergies. I just hope it stays below 80. Fat chance here at the gulf. So are you a pilatelist or are you going to use the stamps for art projects? I have a feeling with all these projects of yours that you are just a girl who wants to have fun!!!
Art makes one feel young, doesn't it?
Great post Chris : )
that is a seriously juicy package of stampage! can't wait to see what they turn into. :)
sounds (and looks) like you are having a blast with your newly learned technique - lovin that it's got you into a groovy artfest-test!
... and thanks for sharing the pretty pictures. :)
Your backgrounds are great! And I hate you because you have Spring. Okay, not hate. Just envy. It's still frackin' winter here. I fell on the ice today. Snowstorm a comin'. My head hurts and John's leg is aching (he broke it 25 yrs ago playing football). We're like a couple of farm animals, predictin' the weather. Oh, what a crabby post this is. Sorry. But really thank you for the flower pictures, I forget what color looks like outside other than brown...
Wow, what a friend! I love all you are doing with your art. And goodness, you're not kidding about your gorgeous day in LA. We're starting to warm up a bit here in England. (shhh! I probably shouldn't say that too loudly.)
I love those bird stamps!!!
Okay I am now "officially" jealous! (no not because of spring...I live in Houston)...but those STAMPS and the bird stamps! Can't wait to see what you do with those!!!! :)
Obviously you are going to have a beautiful & creative weekend! xo...deb
Spring is such a tease, isn't she? Showing some of us her softer side and being fickle and temperamental to others. Still, the shot of the jasmine in bud reminded me of the heavenly smell when I used to visit California in the spring. Jasmine isn't a perennial here in tough and craggy New England, so thank you for that!
I love your experiments and can certainly identify with liking something too much to keep messing with it. But I do have to echo Julie -- what are your plans for that treasure trove of stamps?
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