Thursday, July 30, 2015

What Should Girls Read?

When I was cleaning and organizing the garage last month I ran across a couple shadowbox frames that Jay made me for a project many years ago.  I decided I either needed to use them or get rid of them. 

Today's project is the result of that "use 'em up" decision. 

The frame opening is 12 x 12" to fit a page of scrapbook paper.  I painted the frame with Black Soot Distress Paint and let that dry while I decided on the paper for the background.
I chose this one from the Correspondence Paper Stash because of the great graphic and the gray tone.  Once it was glued down, I added a thin coat of MM over the top to seal the paper.
Once dry, I added Distress Paint Hickory Smoke and Vintage Photo to the surface, manipulating the paint with a wet wipe to control the opacity.  I wanted to see the graphic through the paint.
While the paint was drying, I dug through my ephemera and picked out a report card from 1913-1914 I had been saving.  I also cut out a few pictures from the idea-ology Photobooth Strips.  Since I'm going with a vintage look... I must have Vial Labels included in the mix!
I also cut the Sizzix Globe Thinlit (my favorite die) from Distress watercolor cardstock. 
I colored the globe with Tumbled Glass and Fossilized Amber Distress Stain and added it to the shadowbox with Multi Medium.
 Hickory Smoke Distress Paint worked well to grunge up the globe a bit.
 And then a Walnut Stain Distress marker to add depth.

Here is the finished collage.
 (please click on photo to enlarge)
When I was going through the small stack of saved ephemera I found a page that said. "what should girls read?"  It was an advertisement for a woman traveling the country, talking to girls about books and reading different subjects.  That one phrase, cut from the page, was the catalyst for the rest of the piece.  I took out the pictures of men I planned on using and replaced them with more pictures of women of different ages.  The string starts with the arrow pointing to the phrase and then winds around to each woman, like information passed along as we read, learn and share.

 The rest of the photos are just closeups.  Hope you enjoy!

Adornment arrow + gold alcohol ink
Dual Duty Button and Carpet thread
Picket Fence Distress paint was used to frame the photos.

The tiny names are also found ephemera (one of my favorite finds to date).  I first used them here last October.  Maybe I should have made a copy before I started cutting them up because I sure don't want them to end!
Vial Labels + Remnant Rubs
Writing done with a Stabilo pencil

Hope this gives you some inspiration to make something on the fly.  Nothing planned, just a small bit of ephemera.  You will never know what the words you find will lead you to create.

Carry on,
paula



51 comments:

  1. So just how do you managed to whip something together from leftovers in the blink of an eye that looks like it took days to complete?!!! Love the whole story to this beautiful framed collage. Jenny x

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    1. thanks Jenny. I had the idea of the photos and string/nails in my head before I got to the work table so that is half the battle sometimes!

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  2. I am so happy you decided to use it! What a great project!!!

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  3. This is a gorgeous project. Love this! Thanks.

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  4. So glad you decided to "use 'em up!" This is such a fun project!

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  5. I am glad you used your hand made shadow box frame. This turned out beautiful. I love the string and globe tying it all together! And those tiny names! You could have your friend Tim :-)) put them in the product line.

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  6. Another gorgeous project, Miss Paula! I like how your mind works!! ;)

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  7. You certainly have a way with words. I love this, and the string as a visual metaphor for sharing information across distances and generations is also a great way to tie it all together visually (also reminds me ~ nostalgic sigh~ of making tin can telephones and having friends over to play). This girl reads, your blog.

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    1. lol, I tried my best to not get lost in the words this time. Seems I just can't keep my words short! thanks Vicki

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  8. Paula this turned out very nice! love how they are all connected..Vintage indeed...

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  9. another fabulous project Paula xxx

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    1. thanks Kath! I sure appreciate all the inspiration over on your blog! Keep it going on!

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  10. 1001 reason to love Paula ! My, my, my ... this is so awesome ... so much photo booth fun and a creative message within ... ENJOY it ... Heck yeah ...LOVE IT !!
    It's because of YOU I own three ( maybe four) boxes of found relatives and two boxes of photo booth! Just played with both on my last CC3 Challenge #33!

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    1. well Rea' I'm glad I could help you in your Found Relative addition! I saw your CC3 project - it was great!

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  11. Oh ... my! I cannot tell you how amazing this is. Such a fabulous idea and the connected relatives you created and the love of reading,learning &sharing and the spectacular crafting -- I'm in awe. So glad you found these shadow boxes and decided to use them today. I love this Paula!!!!! Mary Elizabeth

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    1. thanks Mary Elizabeth - appreciate your words today. I love when I find words that work so well!

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  12. I love your project Paula and the story it tells! You truly have a beautiful gift! :)

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  13. I love, love, love this. I seriously think this is my favorite project you've ever done. I am such a big reader and I just adore anything that has to do with reading and travel. Man, what I would do to have this hanging on my wall :)
    Jess

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  14. Love how you used your forgotten frame - love the creative design you made!

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  15. Great use of that frame. Love how it evolved. So vintage. That hickory smoke adds a wonderful grunge. Which by the way my brain kept seeing as Holy Smoke and I had to do a couple of double takes, ha ha.

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  16. Paula...you are just creative! This 12x12 shadow box is awesome! I love all of the Tim elements you've added here. The globe die cut is a recent purchase and I love what you did with it. Great coloring and shading. Love the photo booth pics and how you used them along with the vintage names!!! So clever!

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    1. thanks Candy! You are going to love the Globe - it is my all time favorite die.

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  17. So beautiful! As always a great inspiration! BAbarayaya

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  18. Beautiful project Paula! I love, love, love the old report card. What a treasure!

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    1. I probably should have scanned it before I used it but I figured that is what makes a piece special, no one else can make it exactly the same. (I'll probably regret that thought, lol)

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  19. You know how to make magic with what I would probably throw away! Love how you took that frame and then made this original design. The report card is my favorite addition...know I have an old one of mine stashed away somewhere.

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    1. thanks Judy! I think working with junk is always good! xx

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  20. Makes me think of going to school in my Aunt's one room schoolhouse when I was a little girl. This is WONDERFUL Paula. Wow. j.

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  21. Amazing piece Paula! I'm going to be on the lookout for vintage frames and paper at Junk Bonanza in September. TFS!

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  22. Fabulous Paula, love how you have used the string to lead the eye about your shadow box and what a wonderful quote to start you on your journey! Deb xo

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    1. thanks Deb - appreciate the comment. I'm glad you liked it (I know I sure do)

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  23. Great piece, Paula. Your thoughts on making copies of one-of-a-kind ephemera hit home as I admit to not having done so and then regretting it. But it feels better to use the real thing so it's a Catch 22. Also, big thanks for the Stabilo pencil link. I've always wondered exactly what Stabilo pencil many artists use that seems more like a wax marker than graphite. Your link answered my question perfectly!

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    1. thank you miss bee. I agree - a catch 22 every time. I know I should have at least scanned it but I was in the zone and didn't want to walk into the office because the computer is there and would become instantly distracted by other tasks at hand. I already know I will be on the hunt for others to replace this one in the stash. I also agree that there is something about using the real thing - it elevates a piece like no other can.

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  24. "What should girls read?" ...Your blog! Because, seriously, wow! I love what you've created and the lovely story behind it. I love the gold alcohol ink on the arrow, it makes it look really vintage and the string is such a fab idea. It reminds me of all the crafters connected around the world on the web. Nice work Obi-wan. ;)

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  25. This girl is loving reading your blog post and loving the artwork! Paula, this project is fabulous and I never would have thought I wanted that globe, but now I do. Love this and want to thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. Have a beautiful week!

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  26. This girl is loving reading your blog post and loving the artwork! Paula, this project is fabulous and I never would have thought I wanted that globe, but now I do. Love this and want to thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. Have a beautiful week!

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  27. Such a fabulous project Paula. How wonderful to read the process of how this came together with all the different elements slotting in place as though they were meant to be together! Thankyou so much for visiting my blog and leaving such a lovely comment. I'm a great admirer of your work and am really apreciate that you took the time to visit my blog and comment on my July Tag . Best wishes Toni x

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