Saturday, October 1, 2011

MY MOJO MONTHLY OCTOBER - UNDER COVER!

SEE THE NEW MY MOJO MONTHLY HERE!

Welcome to October's My Mojo Monthly! A place to think, enjoy and share ! An inspiration challenge about the WHY and the WHAT! It's really good to see you and I can't wait to share some more ideas. Make yourself at home and join me for a good read and some truly inspirational art. Whatever your artistic passion may be, you are welcome. There's lots to see and another great prize on offer. Remember you have all month, so indulge a little! This month it's an Under Cover theme...all will be revealed very soon. But let's go straight to My Featured Artist, none other than the uber-talented Tammy Tutterow!!!

FIVE QUESTIONS TO MY FEATURED ARTIST...
I very honoured and thrilled to introduce Tammy. She really is THE product savvy lady on the block! She can take any crafty product and transform it into a wonderful, heartfelt creation. Vintage, home-spun beauties that will keep you coming back for more. 
Who is Tammy Tutterow in five words?
shabby, passionate, dreamer, loyal, inky

Where are you right now as an artist?I am exploring. For a long time I thought of myself just as a stuff maker. I decided this last year that I wanted to branch out and try new things and explore creativity, to step outside of my "stuff" box a bit. I have explored art journalling a bit, become an art tag maker, made more scrapbook pages, and am actually think of myself as a stamper. In addition to trying new things, I have been making a point to remember and enjoy some of my first crafting loves like sewing and needlework.
Which of your creations is closest to your heart? I have several that I really love, a few that really impress me and make me feel think, "Wow! I made that!" think one that touches my heart though is a double frame that I created to feature a photo of my great-grandma and great-grandpa. It features a photo of them that without fail makes me smile every time I look at it...
  
 ...and remember someone who was so very special.
I think the frame really showcases the special photo and is a wonderful tribute to them.  
Where do you find inspiration when feeling Mojoless? 
Products. I am very inspired by products. When I feel stuck, I pull random products that I think I might like to work with or have been wanting to use. I pile them on my work table and pick through them until something sparks.
You are going back packing in the Himalayas for a year and may only take 3 crafting items. Which - and why? Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I seriously use it on nearly every single project.
 Manila Tags, a perfect surface for inking, drawing, stamping, etc. Therm O Web Super Stick. My favourite glue stick.  It will adhere anything to those tags. 
Yikes, I need a pen to journal or draw on those tags... I am totally going to cheat and sneak a pen into my bag too! 

Tammy many design credits include Tim Holtz, Basic Grey, Fiskars, Sketch Support, Glitz and Big Picture Classes. Tammy's blog can be found here. Do check out her fabulous Tuesday Tutorial and Sunday Stamping features!

Back at HQ...
A big, thank you to Tammy for sharing. I know you're all still gazing at her amazing art! As said, we're going Under Cover! and I've been getting busy with book covers. I've been using books for a while now, not just the pages but the covers too. They make fantastic bases for your artwork, and are of course cheap and cheerful, especially as we go digital. Charity shops and flea markets are heaving with them. I just love peeking under the dust covers in search of the right one and not just vintage ones. Newer books can also be hiding their pretty side. Don't be put off by a 1980's home brewery book! Take a closer look.
This book has lovely mustard canvas covers, just perfect for an Autumn feel and when flipped on their long side, they make a great album. I used a little Rusty Hinge Distress ink on the edges and then layered up some of my favourite patterns, papers and trimmings including a Wendy Vecchi butterfly and words.

I remove the cover in one piece, slice down the spine and fold over the raw edges for a neater finish. I've also lined the inside of the covers with stitched papers and added a selection of bright and cheery pages. I've used lots of different papers and textures mixing a bit of vintage with some modern papers...and a splash of Wendy Vecchi.
 Don't be afraid to play with elements from different styles... they can can work together really well!

 I made two holes with my Crop-a-dile and added two rings. They really are sturdy covers so you could also create an Art Journal knowing they'll stand up to some handling...



Can a girl have too many butterflies? This mint coloured 1970's cookbook is the perfect setting once edged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I white-washed vintage adverts with gesso and stamped the Wendy Vecchi butterfly in various shades of Archival ink. I then glued them to card, curving them before they dried to prevent wrinkling, cut them out, and aged them with more Distress inks.
I love how random words show through, each one is unique! Simple repetition is the key. No sentiment needed...
 the story and detail is in each butterfly. I think it could suit many a room or wall with it's subtle undefined mood.
And here's a little one to end with. Blue and brown does it very time for me. I found an old vintage child's book with such a sweet cover. Although rather shabby, I was able to scan the image, reducing and cropping to get a better result. I punched out a circle, selecting the best composition along with two more circles punched from scrap papers. I glued them onto card, mounted them on Kraft base along with a simple stamped phrase. Just too cute!

Challenge, Nice Stuff and Info...
So there you go, just a few ideas to get you thinking about alternative substrates. Did I cover everything? Sorry! I'm sure you have many more ideas brewing and I'd lurve to see them. I mean who hasn't got a few old books kicking around? Upcycle and be merry I say...
SHOW ME YOUR CREATIVE SURFACES! 
Remember My Mojo Monthly is all about the why AND the what! Have you got a great take on this theme, or another creative gem to share? I'm looking forward to seeing and reading all about about your inspirational and art...GO ON, DO TELL!
I'll be checking in regularly to take a look at your work. Huge congratulations to September's winner Kissiana for her stunning Art Journal. Well done! This months Giveaway is great set of Tim stamps and a really fabulous book by Sheri Gaynor. You'll love it and...next month we'll be meeting Jo Capper-Sandon!!!
My Mojo Monthly welcomes all hand-made crafters and artists. A few guidelines on submitting your work:
- In the spirit of MMM please write a few lines in your post about your creativity and why you want to share your work.
- You are very welcome to share challenge pieces, just tell me a bit about your inspiration.
- Please link directly to your post and not your blog so I can find you.
- Please add a link in your post to My Mojo Monthly, thanks!
- Multiple challenge photos without description will be removed.
- Feel free to take the MMM button for your blog - please do!  

'Tis now the hour of sweet farewells...time for me to sign out and you to get creative. Thanks so much for calling by. Don't forget My Mojo Monthly is open all hours...feel free to drop in again soon. Just look at those girls...Three little maids from school are we...

Wishing you oodles of inspiration and arty love!
Sarah.

28 comments:

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

What an amazing art...!!

greetings, Alie :-)

Kezzy said...

Wow fantastic interview, I'm off to check out her blog. And I'm so going to love playing with this months mojo, I am an avid reader and have always loved books. Recently I have loved all the book art that have been in magazines and on blogs, and have spent time looking through my books for use to be altered and have loved scouring charity shops for other styles but havent done anything with them yet so really excited to play. Can I ask, are you allowed to contribute more then one mojo monthly project? Have a fab month. Kezzy x

Juls said...

inspiring post as all your mojo monthlys are .... I have wanted to experiment with altered books for a while so this might get me started, I am also thinking about book covers from much loved and fav books that I could scan ..... thanks for the inspiration, hopefully I will be well enough to play along this month!!! Hugs Juls

Unknown said...

I love the way those book covers look. I've been using book pages and text/illustrations for a while, but maybe it is time to look at the covers as well.

Lesley Edmonds said...

I love using old book pages in my art but have never thought about the covers before so thank you for the inspiration. Great interview too so off to check out her blog.

Thanks for all your inspiration.

The Sparkly Fairy said...

Great interview. I love Tammy's work. The tray is just fantastic!

Siobhan Brignull said...

oh How clever I've never though of taking the covers off the books, I'm off for a rummage now in my junk book collection . . x

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Loved reading Tammy's interview, very talented lady. Love your use of book covers too, layered beautifully and the butterflies look very effective too as does the CAS design. Tracy x

Kaz said...

WOW!! loved reading about the creative inspiration, love the Art too, thanks so much Sarah and Tammy I feel in the mood to crack open the inks x
kazx

Spyder said...

Love all of these really inspiring
(Lyn)

Lori said...

This is gorgeous! Tammy is so talented, love it!

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Super interview this month, Sarah. Love Tammy's art and YOURS! And you've already inspired me to start using book covers so I will definitely be back to join in the fun this month! Loving this month's challenge!

Hugs,
Linda

Hettie said...

Sara this has been a great interview with Tammy and I shall have a visit to her blog to see more. Thanks.
As for the project, I have been salvaging books from work so this is just the thing I need to actually do something with them. Thanks again.

Hannah said...

Hi Sarah, I get your monthly mojo emailed to me, but have never got around to checking out the challenges. They look fab, and this one looks brill. I have a few questions. Would scrapbook pages and cards inspired by the theme be acceptable to link up?
Thanks,
Hannah :)

jude said...

Absolutely stunning work and such an enjoyable read & interview.Iwill have to get my creative juices flowing i have covered many blank journals but not books as such.I have a childs board book that keeps looking at me so maybe it's time to get creative...lol

HeARTworks said...

I always read your MMM posts- they're great! Hope this time I can post something to contribute. I love making art journals and usually use old calendars. I'll find a book to alter. Thanks sarah for highlighting Tammy- off to visit herright now ! Patsy from
HeARTworks

Gabrielle said...

Yet again a wonderful interview and set of inspirational makes. I have been brave and had a go this month...

craftytrog said...

Wow! Some great ideas Sarah, never thought to use book covers as well as pages! Loved Tammy's interview too!
Alison x

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

As promised, I'm back with my make on a book cover. Had a blast and this time I didn't even wince when I cut the cover, just sliced it off and ran with it. Thanks so much for the encouragement and inspiration to use new creative surfaces!

penny4thoughts said...

Hi Sarah - I love your MMM feature! I had a chance to put together some of my pieces and post them on my blog - I absolutely love working with book covers!

FerrellGraph-x said...

Fabulous projects and inspiration!
Kindest regards,
Jennifer

MadeByKarla said...

I've been dying to take part in your mojo monthlys. I've thought every single challenge was very inspirational. Unfortunately, I haven't had time because of school. I hope you keep having these challenges for a long time so I can get a chance to join in ;) thanks for the inspiration!

Angela Toucan said...

thank you for your inspiration. I finished my project and found time to share it today.
blessings to you from Angela

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