The Stashbuster Raid. . .

This Thursday It's All About...The Stashbuster Raid!  It was high time for me to get into my boxes of papers, stacks of magazines, stamps, inks, pens and paints and help them achieve their true potential!  So here are four journal pages: one two-page spread and two individual pages, which amount to a major raid on my stash of supplies!

For the single page at top, I  dipped into my stash of papers, watercolors, pencils and matte medium.  I drew outlines of the Matryoshka in the sizes and shapes they would be when finished, and chose the papers that would make up the background and the snow.      

I painted the domed images with multiple washes of watercolor to the background paper, then adhered the section of handmade paper snow with matte medium on top of it.  The Matryoshka were first cut out, then painted with watercolors, then glued to the final piece.  Additional shading, filigree stickers, and paint-splattered snow were added last, along with the handwriting.

The two-page spread is Pablo Neruda's Oda A Las Cosas Rotas (Ode To Broken Things) written in Spanish, onto two pages that have been developing over the last couple of months. The dress image is cut from my magazine stash, and the lips and eye are drawn with Micron pens and Marvy markers.  The background is acrylic paint and mediums and the stamp is Tim Holtz "staples".

Part of a poem titled "Three Guests" by Jessica Nelson North was gleaned from my large collected stash of second-hand and flea market books and encyclopedias that I cut-up, scan and alter as the mood strikes.  This poem is from a volume of a children's encyclopedia. I acquired the entire 21 volume set at a used book store for just under $10!   It reads:  "I had a little tea party, This afternoon at three; 'Twas very small, Three guests in all, Just I, myself and me." 

The chocolates and bow were carefully cut from a magazine ad, using scissors and a craft knife.  I added three vintage flowers to the gift card, and adhered the image with matte medium to a colorful background, painted and pounced upon with acrylic paint.  Last, I added the handwriting with a brown Micron pen, and a snippet of cotton lace trim at left. 

Have a great day, Everyone!   

Comments

[Rosie]

I love these pages! The Russian themed page is beautiful and very evocative of Moscow - DH said that!!
The double spread (cosas rotas) is beautiful. I love the vibrant backgeounds and the eye is amazing!
I remember that poem by Jessica Nelson - it was all too familiar when I read it I found my self saying the words before I'd even read them!!
Your work is wonderful and Marcie will live happily ever after on my bag till we are both old, frey and in need of washing! Thank you! xoxoxo

[carolann]

Awesome work hun well donexxxx

[p]

wow.. someones been busy! love your staples stamp

[Dawn]

Brilliant stuff Barbara
Well Done on joining This Thursday!

Dawn

[Christine (Craftling)]

Excellent stuff, Barbara! Great to see something completely original. :o)

Just wanted to drop by and thank you for your brilliant response regarding word verification on Rosie's blog! When I announce the winner and summarise my findings, may I quote some of what you said?

I think it will be useful to make the point you did that Captcha wasn't intended for the small volume of comments most people get on their blogs.

Thanks again. Off to have a browse around your blog! :o)

Chris xx