Wednesday, July 18, 2012

A Hoard of Sorts

Self realization... I have accumulated, a collection of paper!

painted papers


magazines and brown paper bags


cereal boxes, vintage papers, printed clip art, stickers, 
junk mail, playing cards, coupon inserts, and corrugated cardboard.

I thought... 
"Are you kidding me, how much I am actually going to put to use here?"
Honestly, I have always had great intentions to 
make, create, and collage with this mass collection of paper. 
I realized... I have not!
I had to come to a decision. 
As we are getting closer to our big move, out of California, 
I can not see myself packing up all of this paper... do you? 
Either I get productive, or I will have to eliminate these piles 
of what a call, "creative clutter, waiting to be reborn!"

I've made a few decisions.
Create a collage journal. HOORAY!
I will use a vintage 1942, book which I have already altered the pages. 
In this journal I will go through my stacks of painted paper,clippings ... and create away!
Cut. Tear. Paste. Paint. Stamp. Doodle.
No rules, simply apply.
Here is a peek into the first few pages...
of what I have worked on today.




The other idea I had, was to stuff envelopes calling them-
"stash from my studio" 
to share with you!
send me your snail mail if you are interested.

Enjoy. The liberation of UN-hoarding. 















28 comments:

  1. Good idea to use that stash of papers, I know all about things like that! Didn't know you were planning to move! Hugs, Valerie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Valerie!
      Yes, soon after my Husband retires. Will keep everyone posted!! :]

      Delete
  2. The liberation of UN-hoarding
    I emailed my address
    I just finished an altered book for my daughter
    The title on the book was 'yes my darling Daughter'
    I had to alter it for her!
    Sandra

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    1. Hello Sandra!
      What a wonderful gift. :]
      I love transforming books, what fun.
      Got your info. THANK YOU.
      Enjoy your visit...

      Delete
  3. What a great idea to use all those papers! Love your pages!
    Having been through a big move a few years back I know the dilemma of what to do with things we accumulate. Would love to receive something from you.

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    1. Hello Beverley
      Yes, moving is not one of my all time favorite things to do! (LOL)
      Got your info. THANK YOU.
      Enjoy your visit... ~xx

      Delete
  4. It doesn't take long to accumulate a huge stack of fun stuff, does it. Even if you get rid of all of it now, you will have a new stack of goodies to play with before you know it when you get moved and settled. I would love to take some off your hands. :)

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    Replies
    1. Hello Deb
      Yes, I agree... I will hoard again, once I am all settled in! YOU ARE SO RIGHT! (LOL)
      Just can not help it, seeming I am a mixed-media artist.
      Got your info. THANK YOU. :]
      Enjoy your visit...

      Delete
  5. I do the same thing but, bar the magazines which I do put in the reycling, I just move everything from place to place. Your idea of using it up is much better - and I LOVE the piece with the envelope lining.

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    1. Hello Deborah
      Sounds like you have a system for your stash?! :]
      Maybe I need to try this, clip out what I like, then off to the recycling bin it goes. I think this would help.
      Thank you for your sweet comment on the collage page, you noticed the envelope lining!! ~xx

      Delete
  6. Surely a good decision to use all those papers! and I love the first pages you've done! I'm emailing my address!

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    1. Hello! ;]
      So glad you stopped by for a visit... got your info. Thank you.
      I will check on postage ~xx

      Delete
  7. So true - it's so easy to accumulate paper and then not use it. I love how you have used yours; such vibrant pages. I might have to dig down into the box full of paper next to my desk ...

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    1. Hello Jackie
      Thank you for your inspiring comments! :]
      Yes, dig deep... (LOL) you are too cute!! ~xx

      Delete
  8. I, too, have lots of paper in the studio. I should do what you're doing and get rid of some of it.

    I see you've been very busy while I was on blog break. I enjoyed looking at all your art.

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    1. Hello Janet!! :]
      So wonderful of you to stop by, love your company. ~xx
      THANK YOU, Glad you like what I have been working on.
      Yes, you should... I think you will find it very rewarding, spreading inspiration.
      See ya' soon on the net. Take care.

      Delete
  9. Stunning!! I love your work April, I have to say you were my first crafting friend I knew about doing art journaling.
    All the new Scarp'n with Flair DT members are seriously raving about it, and doing it.... I have yet to jump on that ship though. I think it's b/c I'm not sure what I'll come out with... and I'm not sure I'd want to share it even if I did.
    Sending you my mailing address... and once you move and have your new address I will send you back some of my "hoard" ;)
    Your swapping friend,
    ~Elysia @ http://mischievouscrafts.blogspot.ca/

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    Replies
    1. Awww... you are so sweet!! :]
      Thank you for sharing that. ~xx
      My best advise is, just dive in... start with creating painted backgrounds in your art journal.
      This way, you will have more than a blank white page staring at you. Trust me ;]
      Got your info. Thank you.
      Enjoy your visit...

      Delete
  10. Fabulous idea April! Look forward to what you come up with! Think I have too much paper of my own to dare ask for more xX Fi

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    1. No worries... thank you for stopping by for a visit. ~xx
      Yes, I am pretty excited too!!
      I always vision the finished book, while I am creating & altering it. Have to remind myself... it is a process. :] RELAX & TAKE IN ALL IN.

      Delete
  11. I was totally surprised that you are going to move! I hope it will be an easy move. I haven't moved much so I'm lucky. When we did move, we could fit everything into 5 or 6 boxes, that you could carry! Of course that was ages ago.
    Love seeing your journal with your stash! It seems like when I try that, it comes out to be a total mess!
    Really love the steps you take to make one of your paintings! I don't paint, so I'm intrigued by your process!
    For some reason, I'm not getting your updates in my email, but it doesn't matter because your blog is the first one I check after I check my mail!

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  12. Hello Karenann! :]
    Thank you for stopping by for a visit, adore your company. ~xx
    Such sweet & encouraging comments, thank you. :]
    Yes, I wish it to be an easy move too. We will get through this summer, then plan ahead for our future. Excited and scared all at the same time!!
    I am sure, there will be more de-clutering as the serious packing begins... I want to get a head start.

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  13. That sounds like MY kind of project, April! What a great opportunity to go through all your papers, and determine which ones should go with you and which ones can be properly memorialized in this notebook.

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    1. Hello Andria
      You are exactly right!!! :]
      Will take time and effort, but I feel it will be well worth it in the end.
      I will have created a collage art journal, gone through the "stash", and shared some along the way...
      otherwise all would have been in the recycle bin upon moving.
      Take care. ~xx

      Delete
  14. April, it's as if you've written this post FOR me! LOL I came to exact same conclusion this week as I began making gift journals for friends and family that I will see on our vacation. I like your idea of a collage journal. I'm going to do much the same thing, but I think I will make more of a smash type journal. Having said that, how can I resist the offer to receive more paper from you in the mail? LOL I LOVE the way these pages turned out! Looking forward to seeing more. Congratulations on your new adventure. How exciting it must be to begin a new life phase with your move. :o) Hugs!

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    1. Awww.... thank you Angelia!!
      How fun... I am glad to hear, you are creating a smash book for your "scraps" of paper.
      Love to see photos on your Blog? :]
      Will keep you in mind for the future, when it is time to de-clutter again. LOL
      Also, thank you for sending positive vibes my way, our move will be an adventure for sure!! ~xx

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