Thursday, February 4

love birds....artful thursday #5 paper collage tutorial


well, it is 11:20pm here in utah and i am just uploading my photos for my post and baking sugar cookies for school tomorrow. (if i finish by midnight it will still be thursday) yup, one of those days. you may have noticed i haven't posted anything since last weeks artful thursday.... yup, one of those weeks.

my love birds project idea came from a sweet little shirt one of my students wore to school last week. i asked her mother if she would send me a scan of the image.


i wanted to make a paper collage with the little love birds on a swing. here is how my afternoon went:

first i googled bird silhouettes and printed off my favorites. i didn't like how the birds on the shirt had their necks tucked weird and how the two love birds were facing away from each other.


here is the sketch i did to make a pattern. i cut out both birds using some pretty french book paper and set them out on my background paper. (kitchen spice rosemary by BoBunny) you never know how collages will grow so i placed the birds in the middle of the paper and drew the swing and text around them.



next i sewed along the swing sketch three times. i like the metallic silver thread by Coats. it is rather fragile for sewing on paper so i always use regular thread in the bobbin. roll the paper up like this to fit in your sewing machine.


then before i glue anything down i always letter the text, just in case i choke.
using my favorite 10/0 royal gold paint brush and some golden's fluid acrylic in titan buff i paint along my pencil lines first. after the paint is for sure dry i carefully erase any left over pencil marks. then i outline the letters using a 005 micron pen.




using a bag of small millinery flowers from my desk i lay out some around the swing. it was then that my son came home from school to report that he had no homework, wanted to hang out, could he not do a job today, and then pointed out three really great ideas to add to my collage.

go figure. he suggested i needed to use the green velvet leaf laying on my desk, some coral crepe paper from the pile, and some tiny plastic stamens from a dish nearby. he was quite pleased with himself and left with no job to do...
with everything glued down the collage felt like it was still floating so i framed it with some wallpaper and crepe paper ruffles.



i have been buying frames at the thrift store to spray paint and use for hanging all the art my kids are doing. this frame was $2 and ended up fitting perfectly. ever notice how a frame really finishes a piece? fair warning, there is one more thursday until valentines day and i am planning to make some silk velvet hearts. then i will move on to something un-heart related.
happy thursday, julie

32 comments:

Little Pink Studio said...

Oh Julie! I am completely smitten with this! It's the sweetest little collage I've seen in a very long time.
I so wish you could do a kit for this!
Cerri xoxo

Tia said...

Now that is pretty dang cute! And your son overseeing your project made me giggle... kids are a trip, aren't they?

lheurebleue said...

adorable! thank you!

Lisa Russell said...

This turned out SO nice! I love the framing and ruffle around it. A great collage!

*jean* said...

ooo my, this is just beautiful!!!

LindaSonia said...

Oh my, this is absolutely gorgeous. I must duplicate it for myself. Thanks so much for sharing. LindaSonia

Anonymous said...

good one! i just added a lot of different emo backgrounds on my blog
http://www.emo-backgrounds.info

Funky Finds said...

oh i love this!

KarenB said...

It's adorable, as usual. How fun to have your son's input. Makes it even more precious.

Kim said...

So cute! Love love love the bird images.

Rachel Carpentier Rydel said...

Julie, this has got to be the cutest thing I've ever seen! I know what I'll be doing this weekend!
Rachel

Dede Warren said...

This is darling sweet Julie! Thanks so much for sharing these wonderful tutorials with us all. It seems like years since women really shared thru their blogs freely. Everyone's got an online business, and I know it's nice to bring in money (we could all certainly use money, I know)... but posts like this take me back to the good old days of blogging. Days when we shared with others for the sake of friendliness and giving. Sharing freely on our blogs as a way of encouraging others to jump in with us, and create something fun. Thanks for bring back the good ol' days Julie!!! I for one appreciate it!

Jessica Rodarte said...

Oh, inspiration exudes from your blog! I've been lurking for a bit, but I have to tell you I love this project. :)

Kristal said...

Holy Cow, Julie, it's GORGEOUS!!! Wow, I have really gotta try this...someday...when I finish all the other projects!!
I know exactly what you mean about "one of those days/weeks". I think I've been having one of "those years" for the last few. But it can stop anytime now, I'm tired of it ~ LOL!! I started my project yesterday and at least posted that it was in progress, but had to upload pics today :0( My son came home the day before with an F on a test...wasn't happy. So, now my day stops at 2:30 so we can study together. **sigh**
Anyway, thanks so much for adding to the list! Looking forward to next week!

~*~Patty Szymkowicz said...

absolutely precious and lovely in every detail!!!

thank you so much for sharing!
oxo

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ancee said...

Julie, I am such a follower of your gorgeous art...the projects that you are showing on Thurs are fantastic! I found your book, Pretty Little Felts in Joanns & went running around the yardage dept showing it to anyone who would listen to me, how fantastic this publication was....it must have worked because the next time I was visiting the store, it was gone! Hope they will enjoy it as much as I do (love all those small little projects! Would love to know what kind of make & model sewing machine you use???? Your stitching is so beautiful. Thanks for your inspiration, Nancy

Julie Collings said...

hi ancee,
thanks for your comment. i use a bernina 730, it was used when i got it in high school. the old gold and avocado one, i just love it!
julie

Michele said...

This is soooo soooo sweet and pretty. Thank you so much! - michele :)

LBB said...

This is adorable! I for one can't wait to see another Valentine/heart-related artful thursday post from you! :)

Jen Bowles said...

This is sooo lovely!! And thank you for the detailed instructions, looks like fun!

Suz said...

I adore your heart things! You can keep doing them until next February!

This collage is just darling. Thanks for the tips about sewing paper. I am just beginning and don't have a clue.

paige said...

LOVE IT! Can we add you to www.wherewomencreate.typepad.com? Have a great night!

Nicole Austin said...

very sweet! i love how inspiration can come from anywhere, anytime. thank you for these artful thursdays! so much inspiration. :)

Beehive Art Salon said...

so cute Julie!! why are you not working for Martha Stewart?

Lori Gardner said...

you couldn't wait you darling you! it is so adorable...cant wait to see it in real life! hug!

Jayme said...

What a darling collage! Thank you for sharing it. The tutorial was clear and easy to understand. I'm going to try it.

I just received the book I ordered from you and I can't thank you enough. The little kit is so sweet - I don't want to take it apart. I'm loving your book!

Pam Aries said...

Sweet Tweets! I just love your blog...so glad for OWOH ,,haha!

paperbird said...

Beautiful Julie. Can I just tell you I love artful thursday!

Anonymous said...

Cool story as for me. It would be great to read something more about this matter. Thanx for giving that information.

Rebecca said...

Absolutely georgous! What a great lesson! Thank you.

Unknown said...

darling love birds :)
thank you for such detailed instructions..
christine
happy valentine's day to you!

http://elopetosandiego.blogspot.com/

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