A Mixed Media Clipboard

Well, I intended to have my first post of 2012 posted much sooner than this....and here it is January 6th already. The first week of the year is just about over and here I am....behind on posting! Yesterday, in a conversation with friends, the subject of time passing by quickly came up. We all are just amazed at the speed with which our hours and days are flying by. So, I'll just say I'm sorry to be late....but I'm here now and that is about the best I can do. I know you are feeling the same way.

I don't know what year this photo was taken of my Mother-in-Law...I'm sure she is a very young girl in this photo. She's the one on the right. She told me once who the other girl is, one of her friends, as I remember. But, unfortunately, I didn't write her name down, and now I don't remember who she was. Aren't they cute? My MIL's name was Alleen. She lived to be 91. And she was very cute all her days! I really like this photo, so I made a copy to use for this crazy idea I had for a clipboard. Seems I am trying to think of how many different ways I can use papers and gel medium to make art. Who knew?

Anyway, I decided I had to feature Alleen and her friend on this clipboard. Now, naturally, after finishing this project...I have decided I can never clip papers on it as I don't want to cover the girls up, preferring to enjoy that one moment in their lives. So, I will hang it on the wall and consider it artwork and smile every time I see them. (I was inspired to make this by some clipboards I bought at our guild retreat...the idea of my friend, Shannon. I bought five of them and have them hanging in my little Nest right at this very moment and I love them dearly. I'll show them to you soon. I also have two others I've made...I'll show them to you soon too.)

At the top of the clipboard, I fastened a rose and leaf made from paper clay. They were fun to make and I'd like to do more with the clay. There's a bit of painter's canvas and some cheesecloth there too. I gessoed, then painted the whole clipboard, including the metal. I used scrapbook papers, paper napkins, text from old books, and, of course, that copy of the photo, a permanent pen to draw dots, and then gel medium to adhere everything. I do love that gel medium!!! I highlighted parts of the papers with oil pastels, and then put a couple of coats of gel medium over the whole clipboard. As you can see on the back...there is an edging of dots....I want to put a few flowers in there, but just haven't done it yet. You know, of course, because I've said it often...I never know when to quit!

And, you'll remember, that I love putting words on everything....so these were cut from one of my collection of old book pages. I can't say exactly what these mean as they were cut from two different pages....but they sounded really sweet and old-fashioned when put together and I thought Alleen would have liked them. If you can't make it out in the photo....the text says: 'the dew of their memory...in a midst of a flowery mead.'

So...there you are....another of my projects. I'll be showing you the others soon and you will let me know what you think of them....I'm always interested in what you think of my work...and I like to think I might inspire you to try something you've got on your mind but might need a little 'push' to get started. As I always say....I don't really know a thing about doing these projects, but challenge myself to TRY, so I hope you will do the same. It's FUN! Take care out there...see you soon. pat

PS. The green here is really a not so bright lime...looks darker here!