Tuesday, May 12, 2009

An ATC design question!


Someone told me if I crinkled up a peice of brown paper bag, then painted it with Gesso, it would look like leather. There must be a clear Gesso, because when I painted mine with white Gesso, it just looked like a white crinkled up paper. I actually used an opened toilet paper roll, cut to 3.5 x 2.5 size. The pic on left is the back, and on the front side after painting on the Gesso, I added some brushed on blue calligraphy ink. From this point now I am stumped as to what I might do to turn this into a work of art! Maybe I should trash it, but something keeps telling me not to. I think it already has a neat look to it. Anybody got any good ideas???

14 comments:

  1. well call me insane, but i love it just as it is....but there are endless possibilities with doing more to it, draw with ink on it, stick things on it...photos. fabric, art, shimmery things etc...endless...for me i like it as it is. hugs

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  2. Why not use brown paint after the gesso dries?

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  3. I've never heard of clear gesso either! Only white or black.
    I think you should make this a very textural piece. Glue stuff on it and add glitter, etc. Go wild Julie!!!

    I have a pretty hanging succulent in my yard and I don't know what it is. I want to email you pics of it. Can you send me your email?
    Thanks!

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  4. Ooooh! I really like the texture of this...Maybe cut it into ATC size...maybe getting 2 cards and decorate? I think I may need to try this too! :)

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  5. The crumpled paper makes a lovely, textural background, Julie. I think white daisies would be lovely but I'm sure there are many ideas out there just waiting for you to try. Beadwork would also be nice and give some added texture....the possibilities are endless. I'll look forward to seeing what you do with it. :)

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  6. A friend of mine made a wall that looked like leather with brown paper... he put crumpled paper on the walls with walpaper paste and glazed it with a wall glaze tinted gold... I don't know how you'd do it with gesso...

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  7. Whatever you decide to do will be perfect! Have fun in the process. the good news is there is a limitless number of toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, etc. you won't run out...you can try different ideas/processes on each one making an infinite number of brown paper ATCs!!! Even a postcard if you feel so disposed!
    LOL Are you having fun yet?

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  8. Thanks everyone! I think I will try some of what Lolo has said...just making it into a very colorful, textural peice! Souly-B...if I sent this to you at this stage, you would be sad...it really does need something!!!

    Claude...that sounds like an interesting wall, for sure! Did you like it????

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  9. Margaret- I could only squeeze one atc out of one toilet paper roll. Hey, we could probably get quite a few out of a regular paper towel roll though! :)

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  10. Julie
    Interesting. I couldn't quite visualize how it would look like leather...hmmmm... I really don't know what to offer on that topic...
    I'm just looking atyour Potted cactus and ATC post below this comment section...they look so pretty sitting there with the little pebbles in the plastic saucer.

    Your tires are doing well too..
    have a lovely day
    Judi

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  11. Leave it to you to come with something so thought-provoking! I like all the ideas you got and can't wait to see what you do with it.

    Hey, since it is a toilet paper roll maybe you should paint an outhouse on it. lol

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  12. Cool ocean blue.
    There's reason to keep Julie:)

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  13. Cover cardstock with pieces of masking tape torn into different sizes. Keep the pieces really small. Overlap some of the pieces of tape and angle some in different directions. If a piece of tape wrinkles, rub the wrinkle as flat as you can with your thumbnail. Fold some pieces of tape over the edges, then, brush on brown or black tempera paint. Spread the paint really thin. You can use a couple of coats if desired, but very thin.You'll be able to see the tape texture, which is what makes this look like leather. Let dry before handling. Tempera paint is really the only kind that works well with this. Glue a same sized piece of cardstock to back to cover tape.
    Hope this helps.
    Aiyana

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  14. ooh, very pretty paper. I love it as a canvas, can think of lots of fun designs.

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