The process of making

Those who read this blog in 2010 may remember that I often shared my working process, and explained how I did things.  At that time I was very much focused on making pins, pendants, and magnets like this one:

My friend Carol Traxler was the happy recipient of this magnet, given to her this Christmas.

Anyway, I was down at PeaceLove Studios some time ago and I was working on a project that I call a "background."

This is what I mean

The people down there know all about my collage work and actually think it's not bad.  One of the people there was watching me work and asked just what I was going to do with it.  They were intrigued when I told them that it was the starting point for magnets et cetera.  The above piece is really a jumbled mass of scrap paper either recycled from previous projects or torn from larger pieces.  The first layer is the scrap paper, then I either add stamped images--in this case scrollwork--or use rub-ons.  I've discovered, though, that rub-ons don't seem to work as well anymore.  My hands object to the pressure I have to put on the rubbing stick to get the damn rub-on to transfer.  Guess I'm getting old!

One important note: in my process I generally do these backgrounds on drawing paper.  It's heavy enough to tolerate the glue, but light enough to be manipulated.

I also scan the backgrounds that I create for use in other projects.  For example, I do make greeting cards and have used these scans for background material.

Once I have a background finished, the next step is to find something to use as the base for the magnet.  I used to use Bazzill Chips which were available from places like Addicted To Rubber Stamps and through Joanns.com.  However, I've found that the chips are less easy to find--Bazzill isn't making them in the shapes they used to, for example.  I still have chips left over from before, and likely will keep using them as long as I can.  However, I'm searching out alternatives.  One possibility is to use wood shapes.  The problem is finding shapes that are good quality and not too thin.  I did find some at Joann's not long ago and plan to experiment with them.

Moving on, the next step is to glue the paper to the base.  I usually do several at one time, in whatever shapes I have.   Once that's finished, this has to be pressed down so that it can cure.  And hopefully stick.  I almost always, after cutting the pieces apart, have to reglue the edges.

Once the pieces are finally glued to my satisfaction, I can get on to the fun part--decoration!  There's always an image of some kind--animal or person, though this year I may start using inanimate objects.  I can add pieces of paper doilies, German scrap (http://www.collagestuff.com/cat16.html), rhinestones--basically anything.  And, if it's a person I use for the image, there's usually a funny comment of some kind--well, I think they're funny.

Once the embellishments are on, the piece is coated with decoupage medium, usually Mod Podge.  Once that dries, I decide if it's going to be a pin or a magnet and add the appropriate piece, and that's it!

It's an involved process, but I enjoy it.

This is another one that I've done:

Hope reading this long post about my process has been interesting.  Sort of.