Craftside

Recycled paper projects from the book Experimental Eco Design

I want to start this post by telling a story, or maybe an experience is a better word for it.

I needed to take my car in to get a recall part installed and I came prepared with a cross stitch project and my ipod. My fellow waiting-roomers brought their laptops and blackberries and were busy in their personal portable worlds. I decided to branch out and read the actual paper magazines that were strewn around the various side tables. They were ones I don't generally read and boy did I learn a lot! I came away with 3 pages of notes on things I read about and planned to research and learn more about.

All I'm saying is that reading different things in addition to your bookmarked favorite places or in the section of the book store you always hit can lead to some really great creativity.

Such is the case with this book:

Experimental EcoDesign:
Architecture, Fashion, Product

By

Cara Brower, Rachel Mallory, Zachary Olhman

This book highlights new ways of thinking about
sustainable design. It is a collection of outstanding and
innovative product, graphic, fashion, and environmental
designs. The thoughts of the world’s leading designers—
Ezio Manzini (Italy), Ed Van Hinte (the Netherlands),
Droog members Richard Hutten (the Netherlands) and
Bless (France), Tom Dixon (UK), Jan Dranger (Sweden)
and Edwin Datschefski (UK)—provide grounding in the
materials, methods, and processes behind outstanding
projects.


Experimental Eco Design offers inspirational reading for
anyone interested in green design, while behind-the-scenes
profiles of key companies and individuals enables working
designers to further their knowledge of good working
practice and techniques. A directory offers an extensive
source listing of materials, manufacturers, design studios,
and organizations.

Cara Brower and Rachel Mallory are graduates of the
University of Cincinnati’s prestigious five-year graphic
design and co-op program.

Rachel is a trained
industrial designer who lives in California. Cara, a
trained graphic designer, lives in New York.

Click on the images below and read all about these great cardboard chairs that not only are made from recycled cardboard pulp but can be returned to the soil with no lasting mark on the earth!

So using the concept of molding recycled paper into something new this is what I came up with:

I kept the extra paper napkins that came with my take-out (they would normally just get thrown out after being on the table) and went to my candy molds to see what would make an interesting element, well you really can't go wrong with a bunny now can you?

I ripped the paper napkins into random small pieces and moistened them with water on a paint brush to get them to sink into the mold. I kept layering the paper napkins until I had 3 or 4 layers.

I allowed it to dry and then I popped it out of the mold.

To jazz it up a bit I painted it with Plaid's Extreme Glitter in Gold.

Then I hot glued a bit of ribbon on the back of each element to form loops. My plan is that these could be used as ornaments.

I stapled them onto the card taking care to encase the ribbon and not pierce it.

It is now safely stored in my Card Album and will be awaiting any additional touches or be ready to give.

Today's question:

What was the last thing you read that was out of your norm? And how did you happen apon it?

As a thanks for answering you will be entered to win a free book!

Papier Mache Skull with a Surprise Natural Rust Effect

Since getting this book I have had my love of Papier Mache rekindled.

Contemporary Papier Mache
Colorful Sculpture, Jewelry, and Home Accessories

Contemporary Papier Mâché is a colorful collection of papier mâché projects by artist and teacher Gilat Nadivi. With an emphasis on recycling everyday items to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces, Nadivi instructs readers on how simple materials, basic techniques, and a healthy measure of imagination can be combined to make a range of distinctive creations. Projects described in the book are diverse; they include human figures engaged in everyday activities, animals that are tall, small and in between, home accessories such as picture frames, bowls and magnets, and more.

Recycling is an inherent component of almost all papier mâché, and Contemporary Papier Mâché really takes this principle to heart. Old wires and hangers act as bases for human figures, empty rolls of tape become fashionable bangles, discarded water bottles are transformed into women's figures. After trying out a few projects in the book, readers will find their eyes open to the artistic potential waiting to be discovered in basements, garages, and recycling boxes.

Tools for these projects are minimal, and supplies are easy to find. As for guidance and inspiration, readers will find plenty of both within the pages of Contemporary Papier Mâché. The book begins with a chapter on materials that describes the supplies readers will need for the projects. This includes basic materials such as papers, glues, work surfaces and paints, as well as fabrics and other decorative enhancements. It also includes suggestions about items that can be reused (and revived!) through papier mâché. The techniques chapter describes various papier mâché methods as well as painting and lacquer application.

Gilat Nadivi (Tel Aviv, Israel) has been working with papier mâché for more than fifteen years. After studying at the Beit Berel College of Fine Arts, she embarked on her career as an artist, beginning in mosaic and moving on to papier mâché. In addition to running her own studio, Gilat instructs students of all ages in papier mâché, an art she describes as therapeutic, relaxing, and enormously rewarding. Nadivi has participated in several exhibitions and workshops.

One of the projects in Contemporary Papier Mâché is a bowl made by casting the outside of a bowl (second picture down on the left of the cover). This got me thinking, thinking about all my fun cake molds and this is what I came up with:

Let me tell you a bit about it.

First I debated putting a release in the mold before putting in the papier mache, I decided not too. So it was a bit of a challenge getting it out about 2 weeks after I put it in. It took about that long to dry. But check out the amazing effect caused by the moisture being directly on the metal-rust!

It was completely unexpected, unplanned and a total surprise, but how cool is that?

If you are into papier mache click on Papier Mache below or on the right to see more papier mache projects!

I haven't figured out if it needs any further embellishment/surround/hanging accoutrement??

Any suggestions are welcome!

And as I was adjusting the photo for this here blog posting I played around with the brightness/contrast features and color adjustments in Photoshop like in this posting - The Complete Guide to Altered Imagery and I'm not kidding!. Here are a bunch of the adjusted photos for you to enjoy/download and play with too!

My Crafty Chica Empowerment Guardian Entry and Glittering Tip

Here she is:

Our Lady of Plaidbunny, The Guardian of Scissors and Protector of Safe Cutting.

I just so happen to have this wood coffin in my Halloween decorations and I thought it would make an excellent grotto for Our Lady of Plaidbunny. I lined it with scrapbook paper and decorated it with found objects, pom poms and of course more glitter!

You may be wondering how I got those great little glitter bunnies on Our Lady of Plaidbunny. Well let me tell you:

First I used a paper punch to punch out a bunch of bunnies from paper (in a coordinating color to my Crafty Chica Glitter-Bollywood Blue.

I then rolled a tube of Scotch tape with the sticky side out and placed it into a Snappy Tray. I then spread a bit of white glue onto each paper bunny and stuck it on the sticky tape tube.

I sprinkled the glitter onto the bunnies and allowed to dry. Then I poured the excess glitter back into the container.

The bunnies were ready to then glue onto Our Lady of Plaidbunny. I just love how the black (Be Bop Black) glitter has bits of green in it that pick up the green in the plaid fabric

If you need a bit of inspiration for your Empowerment Guardian or anything else you have that needs your special touch, grab a copy of  The Crafty Chica Collection
Beautiful Ideas for Crafts, Home Decorations and Shrines from the Queen of Latina Style and get crafting!

The Crafty Chica Collection
Beautiful Ideas for Crafts, Home Decorations and Shrines from the Queen of Latina Style

By

Kathy Cano Murillo

Over 60 colorful craft projects, decorations, and shrines that celebrate “Latino Style”.

Kathy Cano Murillo, known as the Crafty Chica, launched her publishing career with two lively books: Making Shadow Boxes & Shrines and La Casa Loca, which means “the crazy house.” All of the projects that she designed for those two books are now featured in this classy-meet-campy companion collection of Latino-American pop art. The projects include everything from party gear to home decorations; garden accessories to gifts; and shrines to jewelry. More than 60 fabulous ideas incorporate paint, fabric, collage, embellishments, and a heavy dose of glitter. A book that every hip crafty chick needs in her collection.

Kathy Cano Murillo is a syndicated crafts columnist for The Arizona Republic and Gannett News Service. She is known for her pod-cast and web site, www.CraftyChica.com, which receives 900,000 hits a month. She is the author of five creativity/crafty books and makes regular appearances on local and national TV demonstrating her projects.

Here is the info for the Contest the Crafty Chica is holding-The Deadline is Friday!!!!!

1. Decorate one of the Crafty Chica Empowerment Guardians. Available at select Michaels stores or on Amazon.com.

2. When you are finished, take two pictures of it: One of you holding it, and another of it by itself.

3. Upload the picture to the Flickr Crafty Chica Inspiration Gallery with the header: CONTEST ENTRY. In the caption area, share the name of your Guardian, what her theme is and how you hope she will inspire you.

4. Send The Crafty Chica an email with the link to your Guardian, your name, age, and city you live in.

Deadline is Friday October 10th. A panel of crafty folks will choose a winner and The Crafty Chica will announce it on November 1st.

Entries will be scored on creativity, originality, innovation, and the personal inspiration that went into it. It can be healing, comical, kooky, happy, serious - whatever moves you! *Enter as many times as you want (a different guardian for each entry)!*

Winner will receive a paid spot on the Crafty Chica 2009 cruise. You'll share a room with another cruiser - however if the winner has a family member who wants to go, that family member will receive a reduced rate! That is a smokin' deal! Keep in mind, they depart from San Diego, so you will have to provide that transportation. The prize pack includes your room, all workshops, meals, and basic beverages. Does not include incidentals, you will need a credit/debit card upon boarding for those.

If you are already signed up for the cruise, you can still enter and win!

Sculpting for Fall in your Favorite Medium

This book is SO pretty! It is positively a wealth of "yummy" ideas and techniques.

Fun & Fancy Cake Decorating
Tips and Techniques for Decorating Unique Cakes for any Occasion
By
Kate Sullivan

Kate Sullivan has baked wedding cakes and party cakes for some of New York’s most interesting weddings and events. Her sought-after recipes, designs, and tips are compiled in this extraordinary volume now available in paperback.

Featured in numerous magazines, and on television, Sullivan is a respected and creative baker. For the first time, she brings her knack for creating the unusual to those of us who want to bake more than a layer cake but aren’t sure how.

Fun & Fancy Cake Decorating features her delicious recipes and unique cake-decorating tips, as well as personal stories about creating and delivering cakes. She has used cookies as cake toppers, made dozens of multicolored flowers on a hat-shaped cake, and created cakes in the shapes of taxis and diner coffee cups. Whether a lush, vibrant “Monsoon Wedding” cake or a larger-than-life, 3D “Cup o’ Joe to Go,” Kate’s cakes always inspire people to ask, “How did she do that?”

Basic and special techniques are illustrated in detailed step-by-step photographs, as well as complete cake recipes for Kates’s favorite cakes.

Kate Sullivan’s wedding and party cakes have been featured in numerous magazines, including Oprah, the New York Times, Self, and Time Out New York, as well as on VH1 and in Broadway theater. She lives in New York City.

Is this not the cutest or what? I think these elements would make great fall decorations in virtually any medium especially of course as picture on a cake, yummy!

(Click on image to enlarge)

These are great images and instructions. I think I am going to try this with polymer clay and wool felt roving. Have any of you made acorns out of a different material? I would love to see!

Wilma Flintstone Papier Mache Bracelet

How often is your jewelry inspired by a cartoon character?

Inquiring minds want to know.

I was flipping through

Contemporary Papier Mache
Colorful Sculpture, Jewelry, and Home Accessories

and among the over 20 diverse projects I saw this:

How fun are these beads?

Still not seeing the Wilma Flintstone look?

Here, let me show you how it came to me:

First I whipped up a bunch of papier mache balls. (And at the same time I was experimenting with casting in a rubber ice cube mold, check back to see what becomes of those little treasures.)

This is the point at which they did seem to appear rather stone/pebble/rock like.

I then proceeded to poke holes in the beads after they had dried somewhat on the outside (kind of like crusting over) but still soft inside. I used a paper piercing tool from Timeless Touches (hey it's paper right?)

I then prepared them for painting. I poked a tooth pick (fancy tool) into one end of the hole and the other end of the tooth pick into the cork board. Since at his point I was really feeling the rock look, I went with an opalescent white paint, just enough to give my "rocks" a bit of sheen.

And here you have it-one Wilma Flintstone papier mache "bead-rock" bracelet:

So if you go retro or stone age have a great time making some fun papier mache jewelry inspired by

Contemporary Papier Mache!

To see another project from the book click here or over on the side under Papier mache.