5.16.2007

CRUSADE #8 and the Winner Is.....

An amazing artist, Michelle Ward, has prompts on her site, called crusades, to inspire us in our artmaking. Click here. The latest crusade involves the sharing of "cheap tricks" or inexpensive things we use in our art. And I just got so excited when I read the topic because I am all about cheap! My husband (who calls me "T") didn't give me the nickname "Thrif-T" for nothing. LOL
The first thing that came to mind was the good ole circle-maker---the jar lid. Or glue cap. Anything like that. A soda pop top makes a nice circle with a bit of wave to it. I also sliced with my exacto blade the lid from one of those dollar store pill keepers. It makes nice rectangular shapes when used as a stamp.

One thing I have started to do, after reading about others doing it, is to save the paper towels used for clean up. In the photo below I used the towel to wipe up some purple messes and then stamped in it with the lids and the bottle top.
The flower stencil is actually a side of a candleholder that I took apart. And the thing underneath is the reel that I used a long time ago to wind film onto in the darkroom for processing.

Below is the front and back of a book I am working on for a shape themed round robin. ---My first round robin so I am excited!-- I used various lids and the cap from my glue stick as stamps. I just brush the paint on and stamp. Gotta love the lids!


The red plastic circles are games pieces from a game called Tiddly Winks. My friend Marni gave me those and I love them! You can find the game on ebay. Also I used the covers from an old book for my book covers. Just gesso and paint.

hmmmm....any more cheap tricks? Well, when I wipe off my brushes sometimes I wipe onto old book pages. These pages are great to use later to punch shapes from and for cool backgrounds. I used the punched shapes for the first photo. And an old paper towel. I see that peeking through.
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I have to say that I was so so very happy when I logged on tonight and saw all of the entries for the drawing. Some names were new to me and that is wonderful because that means new blogs to visit and great souls to get to know. :)
so...OK. I have all the names in a bowl. Olivia has to pick....and she needs to hurry because tonight is the season finale of "Bones."
here she goes.....
and the winner is ....
Susan Tuttle!
yay!
This was fun. But bittersweet because I wish I had something for everyone.
Ok. My time is up. The TV is calling me.




18 comments:

Anonymous said...

tricia - thanks for joining in the crusade and sharing your clever cheap tricks! lots of great stuff here to use in art-mkaing. i really love the bottle cap stamping i spy on one of your pieces. and that coil thing? forget it! that is cool! love seeing everything.

paige said...

oh love the circles collage!

Jeanne said...

Wow thanks for sharing all your cheap tricks. Very cool! Congrats to Susan on winning the drawing!

Gypsy Purple said...

This is fantastic...thanks.....

Anonymous said...

Great cheap tricks. I love the impression you get when you stamped your wire coil, that's really cool.

Anonymous said...

These are awesome cheap tricks; and what is more awesome is what you do with them :) Thanks for sharing!

x said...

Ohh great tricks, have to sneak some for my paintings and my altered book. ;) Thanks for sharing, you do great art. ;)

Jo Wholohan said...

Your circle journal is amazing Tricia, im so glad i found you, cant wait to share this round robin with you :)) So excited!!!

You are truely gifted girl!!!!

Hehehe I save my paper towels too :))

charlotte said...

just came here for the first time via Lauren's link...love your work, the generous gifts of your techniques and honest thoughts as well. thank you.

Janine Davies said...

Love the idea you came up with for the pill dispenser! Must try that!

Thanks for the tips!

Anonymous said...

great cheap tricks, love the cut open pill box and the spiral film thingie. the bottom of soda pop bottles also make great marks. and the pages for the ar rr are just gorgeous

Anonymous said...

GREAT ideas! LOVE the pill container one! You have me searching the bathrooms looking for an old one now! LoL!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Brilliant ideas here, environmentally friendly too, always a good thing in my book!

Anonymous said...

I love the pill box idea! and you know how much I love to use circles!

carlene federer said...

Great cheap tricks! Love the idea of wiping your brush on book pages, gotta try it! Your round robin pieces is very cool as well!

Anonymous said...

I love your RR book - what a great way to use tiddleywinks! I'm sure I have some in my very large stash - just need to dig them out (I'm going in, I may be a while!). I followed your link from my blog btw - thanx for visiting mine! Sue x

Penny Rabbit said...

Love, love, love all your "cheap trick" ideas! Omigosh, you are such a clever girl! I can't wait to check these out....Love all your circles!

Amanda Edwards said...

my goodness, you are a creative button! I am one of those people who just love to make art out of EVERYTHING so I totally get your mindset. Well done for recycling so much!