Pink Bird Studio

Helga's Challenge - Using Recycled Materials

In honour of Earth Day, Helga has a new challenge on her blog - using recycled materials.  I am entering these envelopes that I made from an old calendar.  The calendar (by Cavallini and Co) is sturdy enough to make an envelope that will get through the mail without having to reinforce it with other paper. 

I made two envelopes.  I used old lined ledger paper to make the address labels, along with an old air mail sticker (both ledger pages and sticker from Ruby Dog's Art House in Vancouver).

This one features a butterfly from ARTchix Studio along with the ledger pages and old calendar page.

Here is what the backs look like.  It's easy to make your own envelopes.  Just take apart an envelope in the size you want and use it as a template.  Cut it out and fold up.  Use double-stick tape to put together.

Have you made something using recycled materials lately?  Why not enter Helga's challenge?  Along with doing your part to keep perfectly good art materials out of the landfill you will also receive a chance to win a prize from ARTchix Studio!  You have until Monday, May 2. 

New ARTchix Goodies!

It's always fun when ARTchix Studio releases new products.  Here's what I've done with some of their latest.  You can find all of the products used in the "what's new" page on the ARTchix site.

First up is a lovely butterfly Eco Shape.  After I painted it, I added the eye and clock images, also from ARTchix.  A bit of glitter and black pen and it was done.  This shape would be fun to make a mini book from, add to a journal cover or page, or a greeting card.  They could also be punched and strung as a garland - fun!

 

The next piece was made from a flower Eco Shape.  I punched out a piece of a red and white Bingo card and then added the ARTchix woman image.  The letters are also from ARTchix.  I then stamped a background stamp onto a green card and mounted my flower using double-sided tape. 

I love the way these Eco Shapes take paint, and are still thin and light weight enough they can be used on pretty much any substrate.  And I am really fond of some of the new shapes too - stay tuned for more samples to come. 

 

Sunday Postcard Art - Dance

It's been a few weeks since I've had time to enjoy a Sunday Postcard Art challenge, and I have missed them!  This week's theme is "Dance". 

Letters, lovely ballerina and German scrap border from ARTchix Studio.  Flower and checkerboard stamps from Rubber Stampede - on a Bingo card of course!

 

Helga's Challenge - Flowers

Helga has another great challenge on her blog - anything to do with flowers.  Basically you can take a picture, paint, draw, collage - anything - and you have a chance to win a fun gift from ARTchix Studio.

I was working on a new collage - this time it's on cradle board instead of canvas.  Here's what I started with:

 

I almost left it like that - I thought it was pretty fun in B&W, but I perservered.  I painted these poppies on top of the background.  I think they're kind of fun, but I'm not sure they're done.  I always want to add more paper or some sort of collage element(s).  Do you think it needs more?