Saturday, February 11, 2017

Napkins, Napkins I do love Napkins!

I never thought I would have so much fun playing with napkins.  This is my  version of 50 shades of Red in my art journal.


Why is it that the pictures never seem to show the REAL picture!!!  But I did have fun making this page - cutting up pieces of the flowers on a napkin and sometimes tearing them up - finger painting and stenciling and using a black out line pencil.  Then I let black ink run down the edges of the paper and then smooched the ink with a baby wipe.  The butterfly is a TH die cut and the seed bead body is a trick I learned from my friend Anne.

I do have another memory about my Nanny.  She and Paw did not have very much money.  But she sure did like to fussy up her home.  Dime store dishes of stale hard candy left over from Christmas were in her wee living room.  A found bird's nest full of marbles set by her front door. She would find these marbles when seeping the city side walk in front of her house.  The side walks were made with brick and oh so beautiful.
Now this is going to sound horrid but periodically she would catch a butterfly - somehow put it to sleep without harming a spot on it's wings.  Then she would tenderly pin the butterflies to her drapes.  She didn't  have many but what she had looked beautiful flying across her curtains.

I am posting this page To Art Journal Journey  - 50 shades of Red.
And also to Creative Carte Blanche - Love is in the air

I want to thank all of y'all who have so sweetly taking the time to comment on my blog and to read about my Nanny and Paw.  I hope all is well.
Sandy xx

52 comments:

froebelsternchen said...

Your page is simply AMAZING Sandy--all this tecture and the different reds are so beautiful! a FASCINATING STORY about your Nanny... I wonder how she put this butterflies to sleep.... lovely that making the page reminds you of her!
I got some old family photos recently - my dad found them and sent them to me...
I love to see the old photos - have to make some pages with them for sure!

Happy weekend and have a good start to the next week Sandy!
Thank you very much for joining us again at Art Journal Journey!

oxo
Susi

Linda Kunsman said...

This is a beautiful page!! I love using napkins in my art too. The addition of the seed beads on your butterfly is wonderful. And what a story about the butterflies too! thanks for joining in at AJJ!
PS- I see you live in Fl-boy would I love to be there now instead of PA...

Valerie-Jael said...

I love the story of your nanny and Paw, so beautiful. I love using napkins, too, and I am always on the lookout for nice napkins going cheap! You made a gorgeous journal page, Sweetie. And it's snowing again here - I want spring! Hugs, Valerie

Cheryl Grigsby said...

Love...everything! I love using napkins, too. So many pretty ones and I just love the texture. I loved the story of your Paw and especially, Nanny. I love the simple way she went about making her world beautiful. And I loved your art journal page. Very, very pretty, well balanced and the colors are gorgeous. Thank you so much for sweetly sharing this on Creative Carte Blanche (you are such a cutie, I had to copy you!! <3 )!

Redanne said...

This is so, so beautiful Sandy, I love the stencilling over the napkin and of course, the butterfly with the bead body (thanks for the shout out my friend). Another great story too!! Hugs, Anne xx

Pam Sparks said...

awww photos... all about the light! It's challenging! A beautiful page! Gorgeous techniques Sandy! Beautiful memories too!

pam said...

Love this stunning page Sandy!great idea to use napkins, gorgeous colours.
Lovely story about your Nanny & Paw.
Hugs Pam x

Meggymay said...

Another beautiful page Sandy, the butterfly is lovely . I like using n.apkins as well.
Yvonne xx

Rita said...

So beautiful Sandy. I am doing a block with napkins at the moment. Love pretty napkins. Hugs Rita xxx

Let's Art Journal said...

Lovely page, the napkins worked wonderfully and the colours you have used are so rich and warm :-). Have a great weekend! J :-)

dutchess said...

Fantastic colourful page Sandy....never thought of using napkins...going to see what I have got...take care xxxxx

Astrid Maclean said...

Looking brilliant Sandy!! Like you I LOVE napkins, you have used yours so well here, - great effect!!

Stamps and Paper said...

Hi Sandy....we did projects using Napkins at our craft club meeting last Weds....I find napkins brillaint for making mens cards and they are so quick and easy to make... Your post make me laugh with '50 shades of red'..the front of your journal looks amazing

Anne

cathylynn said...

50 shades of red grabbed my attention! What fantastic page you have created! I love what you have put together here and your story about your nanny is awesome. I must say I have never created anything with a paper napkin or have used real butterflies to decorate with. Gee Sandy creativity runs deep in your family. Love it all! Hugs, Cathy-Lynn xxx

Sarn said...

That's a WONDERFUL Art Journal page using a napkin Sandy. Top marks.

Cute butterfly embellishment too - and a sweet tale.

Hugs, Sarn xxx

cuilliesocks said...

Absolutely gorgeous page Sandy, the colours are fabulous and your design is amazing.
Lovely story about your Nanny and your Paw, memories are wonderful when they are good ones, Kate x

KT Fit Kitty said...

This is beautiful and creative, Sandy! I like what you've done with the napkins! Thanks for sharing your memories about your grandmother. I can imagine those butterflies must have looked amazing! Enjoy your day!

Mrs.B said...

I love the journal page Sandy, gorgeous colours and textures with the red and gold and the butterfly looks beautiful with the seed bead body.
Another wonderful story of your Nanny and Paw, sounds like she had a pretty house.
Hugs, Avril xx

cotnob said...

Your art journal looks fabulous Sandy, lovely rich colours - it sounds like you really enjoyed creating it.
Such wonderful memories of your Nanny and Paw, it certainly was a lovely, more simple time.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

quakerhillfarm said...

Your page is just beautiful with such pretty shades of red. Nanny is what my children call my MIL. Such great memories.

My name is Erika. said...

How did I miss this post? This is beautiful Sandy. I love the background. I can imagine lots of things when I look at this-all of them good! Hugs-Erika

Pat said...

Beautiful art journal page Sandy, lovely colours, sounds like you had a good time making it. Another great story about your Nanny, I love reading them. Hope you have a good week.

Pat xx.

Candy C said...

Hi Sandy! I'm with YOU! I love playing with napkins! They are so beautiful and make some of the coolest designs and journal pages, etc. I can't go into a Tuesday Morning without scouring the napkins aisle. They have some awesome things to choose from, if you hit it right! This 50 shades of red album page is really nice! Thanks so much for sharing with all of us at Creative Carte Blanche.

Lori said...

Hi, Sandy! Lovely page you created with napkins and finger painting. Very inspiring. I enjoyed reading more about your Nanny and Paw!

Sue said...

Your page is beautiful Sandy, there are so many gorgeous napkins around now. I enjoyed reading your stories about Nanny and Paw, my Grandma was a great collector of bits and bobs too, but none of them ever matched lol. Happy days xx

Unknown said...

We share a mutual love of napkins! Beautiful colors and texture. And I do like that seed bead body on the butterfly!

Craftychris said...

Lovely story! So many wonderful memories. Absolutely gorgeous page - beautiful colours and lots of texture, it sounds like you had oodles of fun making it too! Happy Valentine's Day! xxx

Marilyn said...

Gorgeous page and I love all the reds. The beads on the butterfly are wonderful. That's quite a story about your Gran and putting a butterfly to sleep. Not sure how she may have done that but I immediately had a mental pic of her with a teeny tiny handerchief soaked in clorophorm.

cheryl said...

hi sweetie this is one great page,just adore all those lushes reds you have used really brings the page to life. The scan and cut I use sweetie is the brother 900 hope that helps. ps need you to email me,please so i can make and send you something massive hugs cheryl xxxxxx cherylbaker94@outlook.com

Darnell said...

Your journal pages are really stunning, Sandy! I love this beauty and love playing with napkins, too. I posted a card from one not too long ago. I also loved your kitty page and story! That sweet face with the butterfly on his nose really made me smile!! Hugs, Darnell

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I can't believe how far behind I am visiting. You did a marvelous job with the napkins, and that butterfly is stunning. I'm really impressed!

Susan said...

Beautiful page! I will have to run to my stash and see what I have in the way of napkins too! You did such a lovely job! Thanks for joining us at Creative Carte Blanche!

Sharon Fritchman said...

I love your gorgeous page!!! I can see why you LOVE napkins! And the story you shared, too, is simply wonderful.

Myrna said...

Art journaling is so freeing and is such a beautiful way to express yourself! Love your butterfly Sandy! My mom had such a love for them. Beautiful page!

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Sandy
Another amazing page. A work of art.
Not sure about the butterflies pinned to curtains ..... I think I'll stick to prints lol!
Best wishes.
Ang x

Bonnie said...

I haven't worked with napkins on art, just at the table. After seeing this, I think I need to put them to better use! This is lovely with all that red and the sweet butterfly! My aunt used to have us catch butterflies and she'd put a drop of alcohol in the jar. She mounted them on velvet in a frame. They were pretty, but not as nice as seeing them flying around. Hope you are well.

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Looks like you're having such fun with your mixed media adventures Sandy. This page is gorgeous! Full of texture, colour and beautiful details. Wish I could achieve these results, my messy play just turns out messy! lol.
Lorraine

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Another beautiful background collage using napkins (I have to remember to save them for collage). Beautiful pages for the 50 shades of red theme. Take good care, Shirleyxx

Words and Pictures said...

Ooh, look - lots of lovely posts to catch up with! Sorry to be so late to the party, but I'm happy to be here now.

I just love this post - both words and picture. The warm glow of your journal page is fabulous, especially with that golden text running through. And I loved hearing about your Nanny fussying up her home. The butterflies pinned to the curtains may not be to everyone's taste, but it's certainly original, and the idea of the collected marble birds' eggs in the nest is so sweet.
Alison x

Neesie said...

Fifty shades of red - Ha!
Your napkins look fantastic... clever you. The gold text really looks great. I've got some catching up to do, so must dash
Thanks for sharing your beautiful journal page :D

sarascloset said...

Sandy, so sorry to be late to the party! It seems my e-mails come in faster on my computer than it takes to load the pages and I'm running as fast as I can to catch up! But I'm so happy to get here, finally!

First off, your page is brilliant--love the use of napkins and your overall composition. Great idea using the seed beads as your butterfly's body and your stenciling looks fantastic (something I totally need work on!)

Being reminded of your Nanny and Paw as you create is what it's all about, and I loved reading this little tidbit about how your Nanny found things to decorate her home. Growing up EXTREMELY poor on a farm, I remember things my Mom used to do to try and make our simple farmhouse more inviting. I really like the idea of the butterflies on the curtains--shame she didn't have a little die cut machine to crank them out back then! Sending warm hugs from "up north" in NC!

~*~Patty S said...

Your butterfly page turned out great Sandy!
The black edging is a very nice touch along with your pretty butterfly and the stenciling adds such interest too!
Thank you for sharing your precious Nanny and Paw with us. The butterflies pinned to the drapes is like something out of a movie ��.
Happy March to ya oxo

Candy C said...

Hi Sandy. Thank you so very much for the comment you left on my blog about my mirror mirror journal page. You are so sweet.

Linda Mc Enery said...

Hi Sandy Thank you for your beautifully kind comment on my blog. I just had to pop over for a visit to yours, and what a treasure it is! You too are hugely talented and I loved taking a stroll through your creations. I loved the human element you have added, and the sharing of your soul. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit! Wishing you all the best

Annesphamily said...

Hi Sandy, I love reading your blog and the stories you are sharing. Blogger/google is giving me a hard time so I will try to follow you later.
You are so talented and I love what you did creatively. I love butterflies so that was extra sweet.
Thank you for all my lovely gifts in the Tea Mug exchange. So good to meet you here.
Blessings, Anne

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Sandy
Hope you are well. Thanks for your lovely comments. Just to explain, CE is Creative Expressions and SB is Spellbinders. Sorry for any confusion.
You take care.
Ang x

junemac2 said...

what a beautiful creative page. love this so much.

Lori said...

Just dropping in again to say, "Hi!"

Craftychris said...

I have already commented on this lovely piece! Just wanted to say hello and thank you for your lovely comments! I hope you are ok? You haven't posted for a while. Take care. Hugs. xxx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I just dropped by to thank you for all the lovely comments you have left over the past few days. Your encouragement of my recycled projects means the world to me.

Words and Pictures said...

Just dropping in to say I hope you're enjoying a lovely Easter weekend - however you celebrate (or not).
Alison x

Shellie Almond said...

I truly enjoyed getting to see what you received ! Everything was beautiful! This exchange has been so much fun and blessing ! Hope you have a blessed week!