Tuesday, March 22, 2011

A Glue Book of Collaged Scraps

Hi there.  Can you tell by my title that I don't know what to call my little project? ;) 

Warning: I am about to ramble (I believe in the UK it's "waffle.")  There is more glued collage scrap art at the end.  Scroll down now if you wish.  Now back to the full-length program.....

Do you have one of these?

Or maybe even one of these little miniature ones?

Yep, me too.  In fact, I have, ummmmm, several.  So I got myself one of these on Etsy:

It's a grand little vintage train case, complete with satin pockets and straps to hold fast to your necessities.  Why?  Well, I was very much inspired by an article I read in Stampington's "Hand Crafted" Volume 6 magazine by Rebecca Sower called "Rebecca's Traveling Companion."  She had me right in the beginning, describing the many hours she spent sitting and waiting for her kids while they attended sporting practices.  Like me, she carted along journals, books, magazines, the latest iTechnology.... but kept wishing she could be more productive, more creative.  So she got herself a vintage train case, and proceeded to very carefully select and package up the most gorgeous artful ingredients - images stamped on canvas, vintage ribbons, beautiful beads, rhinestones - you name it.  She stressed the importance of thoughtfully considering each addition to the case.  "You will be disappointed with the results if you just quickly toss materials into a case, snap the lid shut, and throw it in your car," she cautioned.  She developed a traveling art studio that was a work of art in itself.  And she created many things of exquisite beauty during football practice.

"Aha!" I said, "That's perfect!  That's just what I'll do!"

So I purchased my beautiful vintage train case.

And...... nuthin' happened.  I kept saying to myself that I would soon sit and carefully and cautiously select the most exquisite items to go into the case, and I'd be on my way.  But I procrastinated. I hedged.  I stalled.  And all the while, my tins and bottles and boxes full of scraps, tags, images stamped but never used, backgrounds not completed or not needed... they all stared at me.

So I did this:
Yep, with 10 minutes left before we needed to depart for piano lessons, I dumped the above ingredients unceremoniously into the train case.  I carefully considered only four items:
 A small moleskin journal, scissors, a glue stick, and a little box for sorting things into.

And I had a ridiculous amount of fun while waiting for my daughter.  In addition to the pages at the top, I did this:
And then this:
My method is far from ideal, and one day I will mindfully consider what to put in my case, and create a traveling kit of artfully organized beauty.  But for now, this worked okay.  On my second outing, I will take along a catalog or two from the recycling bin - I found I needed something on which to apply glue, and an old catalog is perfect, because when one page gets all sticky and gooey, you just turn the page and start gluing on a fresh surface. 

I haven't put the slightest dent in my scrap pile, but I've had tons of fun!!

31 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

Fab idea, Jean, that book will be a treasure trove of memories!

Anonymous said...

what an amazing idea....and you are certainly creating some fab pages....look forward to seeing more.

Debi said...

It is a fa idea which has turned into a gorgeous project :) I love this book - just Yummy x

LeAnne said...

Oh my! This is so clever & creative! It reminds me of something I saw Cathe Holden do here:
http://justsomethingimade.com/2010/03/vintage-suitcase-repair-free-digital-download/
I am afraid I have several of those "piles" of scrappy things....deep, deep, haven't-looked-into-them-for-a-long-time piles, in fact!!! I am working on my ribbons, though! :D
Your end results are fabo!

Barbara said...

What a great idea! I hate sitting around with nothing to do when I could be creating! I just recently started making little books and love it! Some ind. packs of handi-wipes would have to go in my case. I really get messy with glue stuff! Thanks for sharing!

Terry said...

Love that little case! Now I think I get what a glue book is!! I have a little collection of scraps in various places. You may have inspired me to organize them! Love your books!

1CardCreator said...

I have the scraps for sure but no pretty case to put them in, lol. Love your pages, they both came out gorgeous.

Daniele said...

what a lovly glue book , full of lovely bits and pieces that fit together so well.
hugs

My name is Erika. said...

I need to check out that article because its a fantastic idea and I could so use something similar. Great pages too...I can tell you had fun making them.

Val Rich said...

From the results (beautiful pages), it's obvious you had a fab time. Lovely excuse to keep doing it.

Love Val(UK)
x

Jan Hennings said...

A beautiful collage book...love seeing all your treasures. Thanks for the sweet comment you left on the Scroll's Work Blog :)

Netty said...

This is such a wonderful way of spending your time waiting for the children and with such terrific results. Brilliant pages and so lovely to look at, so its a little piece of this and a little piece of that and a brilliant case to work from. Thank you for sharing Jean. Annette x

Unknown said...

Well what ever you tossed in the case worked! what wonderful pages

love Dawn xx

Louise (KardKrazy) said...

Jean, I adore the suitcase, your glue book, the whole thing!

Jane Wetzel said...

this is just fabulous! we have done these "glue books" in art school and your case is such a cool idea!

Suzanne C said...

These are gorgeous! Keep em coming! Fabulous pages and love what you did with your little box of goodies!

Lori said...

What a cool suitcase! And your glue book pages are stunning! So now I suppose you're going to offer to drive everyone and sit and wait? lol!

Unknown said...

OMG.. What a great Idea.. I might have to steel this idea. And your glue book looks amazing. Very cool my friend..

Hugs, Linda

Jacqueline said...

Really taken in by your post Jean! You have made some beautiful, stunning pages while waiting!! I love the idea behind it - something that would suit me too because I hate wasting time doing nothing too!
Thanks for sharing this!!

Lynne Moncrieff said...

Jean I have a vintage suitcase if you ever want to up-size LOL.
Such a great idea for people, like yourself, who are on the go. Amazing what you achieved,all these pages, how rewarding.
Wishes
Lynne

Zue said...

Glue books are a brilliant idea. I first came across them on Mary Green's blog and I have done some. Your work is so pretty you have inspired me to have another bash.
Lovely!! You make it look so easy.
Sue xx

Anonymous said...

Your glue book is amazing!

Love that case! What a great find. I have collage stuff everywhere and on every surface...

Lululiz said...

I love the idea of a travelling micro studio in a case, thats just brilliant! I will have to give this some more thought and try my very best to find some sort of case. Definitely a to-do project. Thanks for the inspiration. Your pages turned out great!

Gerri Herbst said...

Love the pages, very beautiful. I use antque suitcases to store my art supplies too! lol.

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh what a great idea, Jean!! And I love your pages!
That little trunk is amazing--you must be thrilled to have it too!!!
I'd like to ask you if you'd like to be a Guest Artist on my online magazine next week...If you can, just let me know.
I'm at cindylou_20@hotmail.com

XO
Cindy

Anneke said...

Lovely suitcase and an awesome book! All the pages look terrific!

Maureen Morton said...

I have that same case! I keep my Nestibilities safe inside. Love vintage things and your work! Thanks for all the inspiration.

Jen said...

What a cool idea!! Love the pages you created that day!!

jo said...

Absolutely gorgeous!!! May have to do one like this too!

Lynn Stevens said...

WOW WOW and WOW, Love your pages and what a great case.

JulesinParadise said...

I read that same article but my "traveling case" is not nearly as pretty as yours nor my end results as amazing. Love your journal!