52 Weeks of Collage Part 2 Week 5

This week, I did another collage on a wood panel. This one features two butterflies, Japanese calligraphy and handmade papers, and some vintage music.

Collage Week 5

New Collage

I purchased some vintage Japanese pharmacy labels (from Etsy seller ApricotCircus) in a lovely shade of lavender and was inspired to do this collage. I also used some pages from an antique Japanese book, a sample of one of my old note cards, handmade papers and vintage stamps. The postage stamps aren't Japanese, but the colors went really well.

Japanese Ephemera Collage

Love Always

Happy Valentine's Day!
I did this "Love" collage using layers of tissue paper and Japanese decorative papers.

Very Pink

My collage for week 49 is a cheery combination of pinks and lavender - perfect for a rainy week. I used an antique postcard from Belgium (post marked 1873), a bit of vintage wallpaper, Japanese decorative papers and rubber stamps.

Collage week 49

Autumn Colors

Even though it was really hot today in southern California, my collage for week 42 uses some autumn colors of browns and gold. The Japanese calligraphy, from an old envelope, was put on decorative paper using my nifty new transfer paper. It was combined with various Japanese washi papers and a print from a Chinese Chop (seal). A chop, or seal, was used in Asia (and still is) to sign documents and art. They are usually carved in stone and sometimes in ivory or bamboo. I have one with my name carved in bamboo but the one on my collage is from a stone chop purchased in New York's Chinatown. I have no idea what it says but it looks really cool.

Collage week 42

Paris Perfume

My collage for week 41 started with a vintage Art Deco French perfume label in pink, black and gold. I added some Japanese papers, an old candy wrapper and a piece of vintage wallpaper. Voila!

Collage week 41

Geisha 2

I made another attempt at using the transfer paper. I used the same photo and here is the result. The image cracked a bit when I transferred it - I think I tried to remove the backing paper too soon. It does give it an aged appearance though. Before transferring, I tore the top edge of the photo and do like how it came out. This collage was done on an old Reader's Digest book cover. Some Japanese type, washi paper and gold star tissue complete the collage.

Collage week 40

I almost forgot to post my latest collage! The collage for this week started with a vintage postcard. I added a red rubber stamped wreath (my own design) and layered on Japanese washi papers, a scan of an old book cover, and a vintage bird illustration.

Collage week 29

Collage Update

Since last weekend was a road trip, I didn't get to post my weekly collage, and yesterday I was just lazy. So here are weeks 27 and 28.

The collage for week 27 has a rubber stamp of a fern, a large vintage butterfly, vintage wallpaper, Japanese washi paper and some gold accents.

Collage week 27

The collage for week 28 also has gold accents (Japanese papers and rubber stamps) but I also used vintage music and bits of vintage type. The black and white corners are from an old bookplate.

Collage week 28

Nothing but Trouble

For some reason, the collage for this week gave me a lot of trouble. The first layer I put down was really ugly so I covered it up. I tried a rubber stamp and it smeared so I covered it up. Nothing was coming together. The result is a simple collage. Not a lot of layers or techniques. Just vintage wallpaper, 2 Japanese washi papers, a vintage Japanese match box label, a postage stamp and a Chinese character.

Collage week 21

Collage in Blue and Black

I have boxes of all kinds of scraps that I use for my collages. Sold papers, patterned papers, vintage wall paper, vintage ads, type, stamps...When I cut or tear a piece of paper, the remainder goes in the box for next time. My collage for week 14 was made from scraps that needed no altering - everything came out of my boxes as is in shape and size. I used some Japanese papers, Japanese newspaper and a Japanese postage stamp of a woman in traditional dress. The collage was done on a heavy weight textured paper (which doesn't show in the scan) and is approximately 5" x 5.5".

Collage Week 14