Monday, July 25, 2011

inspiration monday


i seem to have a lot of "experimental background papers" that are, let's face it, just plain lemons.    so, you know the saying, when you've got lemons,  make some lemonade!



one of the things i like about this paper is all that juicy color......but to my eye, it's just too splotchy.  so one thing i love to do is take a scrap of card stock and cut an opening out of the middle to create a little window (i've cut mine into a 1.5" square, but you can use any size or shape).  then place it on top of the paper, and move it around......there are lots and lots of fun little art pieces hiding in there!  make a quick tracing with a pencil around the edge of the window shape and then cut out the piece.......



and there's a pile of little art lovelies before you know it!  suddenly that big lemon of a piece of paper is looking much better!




and here's one way to make some lemonade with those little snippets of art happiness: 
draw a frame shape onto a piece of watercolor paper (i'm using my moleskine journal)......




and paint it in.  i drew my frame with a tombow watersoluble marker, so i just used my waterbrush to activate the ink.  when it dries, you can go back with your micron to touch up any lines that have faded.



once the frame is ready, glue one of the little art snippets in the middle.....



then add all of your special touches, and maybe even a title for your new little masterpiece!



keep painting frames and adding art snippets......




and before you know it......



you've got your very own lemonade gallery!!
have fun!


{my art gallery lemonade recipe:
the original background paper was created using bottled inks and this saran wrap method.
other supplies:  card stock, black tombow marker, waterbrush, micron pens, 2B pencil, glue stick}






42 comments:

Mary said...

brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!

a perfect way to use all that gorgeous color.

xxoo

linda said...

Wow! Super cool and I love your backgrounds too.. but the framing really is interesting... whole different perspective!

Dolores said...

Lori this is so cool. As I was reading, my mind was taking over and I thought, 'what if the opening were a diamond shape, or maybe a circle...?'
I love those little masterpieces.

Heather said...

i agree with Mary - brilliant! I love the yellow brick road -

Unknown said...

This is so cool! I "test" my paints all the time on a scrap piece of watercolor paper so it would be great to examine them closer and see what I find!

Unknown said...

Ah this is great! Just love all your creative ideas :-)

Jeanette said...

This is absolutely fascinating - what a great perspective! I love snippets and the titles you've added, they are fabulous! I think I want to make more lemons to then make the sweetest lemonade! Thanks for sharing, my wheels are turning. Oh.oh...Your "Inspiration Mondays" are spectacular!!!

Martha Lever said...

BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Claire M said...

Fantastic! What a wonderful idea!!

Betty Jo said...

What an incredible idea! This is truly inspiring. I too test my paints on a piece of watercolor paper. Just the other day I was thinking what a waste of good paper it is; but no more. I'm going to make a lemonade gallery!! :)

La'son said...

Those are SO BEAUTIFUL! Oh my goodness. Your work breaks me way down. Thank you for sharing.

Dymphie said...

this is so brilliant, there really is no end to your creativity :D

Martina said...

Wow, such a CUTE idea - love it!

Janie Husband said...

oh, what a great idea, lori....love it....now i know what i can do with all those "markings" papers i am doing for mitzi's class.... ;-)

Cynthia Schelzig said...

So very, very cooooool.....love it and your little masterpieces look fabulous in their spiffy little frames!!

Lana Manis said...

Lori ~ this is amazing! I love how you found so many lovely landscapes from that one piece of artwork!

Patty S said...

!!!!GENIOUS!!!!!
i love lemonade! and you made it so well! lol
great idea lori - thanks for the inspiration! xo

Createology said...

Absolutely Artistically Brilliant! Not only did you create beautiful little pieces of art you created beautiful little pieces of meaningful art with the captions and eye for beauty. Happy week dear...

rachel awes said...

that was like watching fireworks!
i oooooed & ahhhhed as i scrolled
dowwwwwwn. beautiful!!! xox!

joanne sharpe said...

okay, i think BRILLIANT is the word of the day for you!!!! This is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great project. I am inspired by YOU YOU YOU!!!! xoxoxoox

A'n'G Johnson said...

you are genius and wow - how cool is it that they did create their own little pictures where you could see the sky and bay and such. all of a sudden this was not just one but many masterpieces! well done!

Bonita Rose said...

love this idea, thks for sharing this with us! hugs xo

Terri Kahrs said...

I'm echoing Mary's "Brilliant!" What fabulous little works of art and such a creative way to capture all of that yummy goodness -- a simple hole in a piece of paper!!! LOVE it!!! Hugs, Terri xoxo

Pat said...

I like your lemon--but the lemonade is pretty great too! Either way, you just drip with creativity.

Jane Monk said...

This is spectacular ... thank you so much for this!

mama bleu said...

wow....this is so cool!!!

Andria said...

Love this! I can't get over how many of your tiny pieces look like little landscapes. And to turn them into little framed pieces of art? Inspired!

katie purcell said...

I TOTALLLY WILL BE DOING THIS!
A REMINDER TO ME THAT IN OUR LIVES GOD CAN TAKE WHAT WE THINK IS NOT VALUABLE AND MAKES IT INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL!

LOVE THIS!!!!!!
LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!!!

Tara said...

Love it....

hugs,
tara

Barbi D said...

So awesome!!! tfs

Atticelf said...

Gasp! What a wonderful idea. I want to go make some papers messy right now.

Anonymous said...

Lori - you never cease to amaze me! LOVE that idea of framing "lemons!" I have LOTS of lemons lying around & now I know what to do with them. LOL
Thanks for your inspiration!
Grandma Nancy Sapp

Diane said...

Love this!! And love all of that color--great post and blog--so glad I found you!

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

I'm happy to find your blog.I linked that workshop on my blog, so Diane found him too. You inspired me so much that I tried it again with the little pictures, I had so much fun.
Thanks for sharing all your wonderful creative ideas, your blog is fantastic and you are so talented!

LivArtNow said...

Fantastic!! Love your creative idea, and I'll try this for sure :) I came here from Anja's blog, she also tried your technique with wonderful results. Thanks for sharing,
Linda

Unknown said...

these are gems!! love it. Still peeking at your blog when I have a quick break. I love your posts. I was inspired by your lino stamps, so much so that I made a whole bunch on Sunday!

Anonymous said...

thumbs up !:) love this:)

Kathy McCreedy said...

Lori,
These are just adorable and VERY clever!!! I just way something Pinterest and thought "this looks a lot like Lori's work"... and it was yours!!! :D

Rebag said...

I am in awe...love your blog and your work.....Came across your site via Pinterest!!

Anonymous said...

love this idea! i'm a total beginner, and i'm wondering how you make your 'experimental background papers'? they are gorgeous! any suggestions you can offer would be greatly appreciated! : )
~ann

Teresa aka Tess said...

Oh Lori, these are just wonderful. I also love the names you gave those little masterpieces.
Hugs, Tess

Sierra Osmun said...

How do you get the texture and all that? I'm teaching a little art class and I wanna do this for it.

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