Thursday 16 June 2016

I'm a scrapper...

...apparently, because I like to utilize everything.  I had a bag full of fun foam bits left over from my recent foray into the world of fun foam gears.  They were all shapes and sizes, and just begged to be used.


I chose a full sheet of fun foam and started placing them on top in an abstract design.  When I had one I liked, I adhered them with gel medium.


That looked a tad boring, so I started incising them with my handy-dandy double-ended incising tool. Does anyone have any idea what this thing is called?  I'm sure I must have known at one time, but it's now buried somewhere in the archives of my artist brain, unable to be recalled.


Some hours later I surfaced to a fun foam texture plate that was totally different.


Each bit of the raised surface was patterned like a tangle gone crazy.


Of course, I had to do a test run on the super-size 12 x 14 Gelli plate, and pulled this first print. It somehow reminds me of a souvenir map of Venice I had in my stash.  Can't you just imagine all those lovely canals filled with exotic gondolas and even more glamorous gondoliers?


After pulling a few prints (no way could I stop at one) I love how the mother colour on the fun foam plate pulls the look of the plate together, in spite of the variety of coloured foam bits.


I'd love to know how you use your scraps from projects...feel free to put a link to your posts on this matter in the comments below, since I'm sure my readers would as well!

36 comments:

  1. Win, what a fantastic idea for those scraps. The printed piece looks like a background for some ink drawing or ? ? ? . The options are endless. I am sure some gelli plate printed transparent fabric could be stitched to it too. How exciting.

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    1. Thanks, Eileen - I was pretty pleased with myself for this one. Since I've more scraps, there may be another in the works! AND, you could use the Gelli plate to print it on fabric, as well as stitching to i!!

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  2. Win, this is really cool. I just threw out scraps I was keeping forever! I will have to give it a tri.

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    1. Oh, I bet you're combing through the refuse even as I read this! Even if it's gone for good, I suspect that you'll be making your own scraps before long. I suspect that you could use them stamped into paint on your beloved Yupo paper too.

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  3. Boy did you ever have fun! The foam plate will give you many pattern choices to play with for future projects. One point about the format of your blog; it may be just my old eyes but I have a great difficulty seeing the links that you share in the text. I know that I can highlight them but at first look there is almost nothing there - a challenge for your reads?

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    1. Thanks for the note on the visibility of the links, Val - I'll get that changed asap.

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  4. This is awesome, so intricate and creative! It makes a beautiful print.I have been wanting to make some fun foam plates for some time, and now I feel inspired! (and I think it's called a stylus. that's what I call it anyways, lol)

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    1. Thanks, Kimberley - so glad to be an inspiration. Stylus, of COURSE it's called a stylus. Thanks for jogging the artist brain!

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  5. Oh my! Just a fabulous texture plate! I want it...guess I will have to make my own..if I can find that bag of fun foam somewhere lost in the tiny studio LOL

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    1. Thanks Shel - I can hardly wait to see what you do with this idea - just as soon as you can find your fun foam in the studio. :D

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  6. Oooh! The Gelli print is awesome! I made stamps with it. I Run it true my Big Shot whit a Tim Holtz gears die and glue it on a acrylic stampingblock. So now I have gears stamps.

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    1. Thanks, Gerda - it turned out better than I expected. I love your idea of Big Shotting your Gelli prints, especially the gears bit!

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  7. Brilliant Win. I've got some of that stuff lurking somewhere, might just have to find it. Thanks for sharing this great idea. Happy crafting, Angela xXx

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    1. Oh I can see some foam plates coming up in your future if you can just find the fun foam, Angela - thanks for stopping by!

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    1. Thanks, Roz - one of those experiments that actually worked! :D

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  9. Stunning, Winn! Loved seeing the print you pulled.

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    1. Thanks, Vicki. That Gelli printing is so addictive that one can hardly stop at one print, and I didn't, of course. And isn't that the fun of arting?!

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  10. Oooh, that looks great Win! Must have been a bit fiddly to make that plate but so worth the effort! Will try it one day!

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    1. You're absolutely right, Zsuzsa - it was fiddly to start with, but the tangling soon moved me into the 'lost zone' that so often accompanies a good art session. I do hope you try it - I'd love to see your results!

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  11. Oh Win - you are such an ARTISTIC SOUL. When I see one of your posts pop up - I always get chill bumps. YEP - so true! Why? Because I know what I will see and read will be a true DELIGHT. And of course, this is no exception. WOW. YOU blow me away. What a FABULOUS display of intricacies you did with your foam. And what INCREDIBLE results. I'm AWED and ASTOUNDED. WOW WOW WOW. Ok - going back to peer at your pretties some more now. What an amazing post!!! XXj.

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    1. Many thanks, Joi! I'm pretty pumped about what 'getting lost in art'can do. It's such fun to follow the crazy whims of 'what if'! xo

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  12. There you go again playing much too hard, salvaging bits to create beauty. You are an inspiration. You've significantly raised the bar with your rich layering of harmonious colour.

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    1. Thanks, Alice - it's just the best thing ever to follow wherever the Muse wan't to go, right?! xo

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  13. I think it's called a handy-dandy double-ended incising tool, isn't it? :)
    What fun. A great piece of art on its own, and then those gelli-prints!

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    1. Absolutely right, Tracy - at least in my artist brain world! And yes, there are times when I think all the plates that my students and I use would be fabulous artworks on their own.

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  14. What a super artsy recycling idea ! Amazing! Happy weeked!
    oxo Susi

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    1. Thanks, Susi...it was great fun, and looking at the bag of fun foam scraps, I suspect there may be another in my future!

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  15. Such a great use of all those scraps Win. As always, interesting textures and layers of rich colour.

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    1. Thanks, Laura - I loved being able to create something fun from these bits, and what could be better than Gelli printing with them?!

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  16. Beautiful Gelli print from your foam stamps. Fantastic idea and art! Have a wonderful weekend, Shirleyxx

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    1. Thanks, Shirley - that was one of those 'what ifs' that went in the right direction! xo

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  17. Wow very cool creations I am impressed...one of the reasons I love digital art so much is No Scraps and No Mess a big bonus when you have little grandkids wandering around. Your pictures are so beautiful I may just have to rethink this. Have a great week.

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    1. Deann, I can totally relate to your enjoyment of No Scraps/No Mess digital art (and oh those pieces you do are so astoundingly beautiful). My studio is jam-packed with tons 'magical things' that I hope to use one day, and for me that's half the fun of it all. I'd be happy to send you some to start your collection of magic! :D

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  18. Have I ever told you that you are ah ma zing Win??? You are so clever and such talent- such inspiration! What a cool idea!! xx

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    1. Oh many thanks, Jackie - I just love playing with art supplies and finding new ways to do so! xo

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