Do you enjoy using vintage images in your collage, planner or art projects? They are a study in contrasts, having both simplicity and detail depending on the images selected. Some have bright, vivid colors, some are subdued and sepia ink tones.
It was exciting to find this package of vintage Halloween pattern ephemera in a local stationary store. The bright colors and fun images are what enticed me to purchase the collection. They are perfect for collage projects or cards.
I have various background papers already prepared from my artist dates. The papers are decorated with inks, paints, stenciling, stamping, just whatever supplies I felt like playing with that day. When I paint background papers I rarely have an end result in mind. Eventually I will have a project that these painted papers are perfect for. It is wonderful when I am able to find a background that matches the images I add to the card topper.
I think my favorite of these cards is the pumpkin one with the stenciled background. This effect reminds me of a spider web, though I did not imagine it that way before making the Halloween card. The edging on the owl card I made by stamping white paint over my painted background paper.
Have you had playtime with your supplies? It is a great way to loosen up our mind. Be sure to approach your playtime without any expectations, no end goal other than to get messy, have fun and discover how your tools work.
And, if after some time you find that your background will not work in your planned projects, you can always paint, stencil or stamp over it. Sometimes I have cut up the background papers to be used in collage or the side strips on a card.
There is not right or wrong way. It is a time to experiment and discover.
Let’s play!
