Outside of the varnish, these are 100% recycled materials. I started with paper grocery bags. These were cut into long strips, folded, then looped to the size of a bracelet. The one on the left used cereal box cardboard as a base.
They each got about three layers of paper mache, then had to dry for about a week. In the meantime I cut up a tattoo magazine for decoupage.
Once they were dry, I decorated them with the magazine clippings. Several layers of varnish (and even more drying time!) they are ready to go.
These will be for sale at SCRAP’s holiday bazaar this Saturday December 19th.
Posted in So damned crafty by Jenn, December 15, 2009 9:37 am Comments (0)
Tags: bracelet, decoupage, grocery bag, magazine, paper, paper mache, recycled, SCRAP, tattoo, upcycle
I am super proud of this piece. Happened across this terrific purse during a recent outing for source material, and was so excited I got started on it as soon as I got back to the studio.
I cleaned up all of the leather with leather conditioner before delicately decontructing it. Sewed in window appliques of Alexander Henry tattoo fabric and a few sparkly stars. Repainted the gold purse clasp and whipped up new lining for the bag in a rich chocolate color. A few of the windows were embellished with gold beads.
I’ve been keeping an eye out for more vintage purses that would be good candidates for this type of makeover, but haven’t found any as pristine as this one yet.
I’ve been working in the studio at least five days a week, and keeping up a steady pace has been very good for my work. I have many new pieces ready for June’s First Thursday. The studio will be open from 6:30 – 9:30 on June 5th. The studio is located in Suite 412 of the Goldsmith Building, situated at 20 NW 5th Avenue in downtown Portland. Please stop by!
