Happy New Year!

    Wishing you a very happy

Recycled Paper Collage

Recently I took one day's junk mail and recycled it into this collage.

(The scraps went into our normal recycle bin.)

Now isn't this more fun than regular recycling? I think I'll try it again!

It's amazing how many different patterned papers line business envelopes!

Latest 'Cuts'

I've added paper cuts to my fabric art blog, but want to keep doing Paper Perks, so some work may appear on both blogs.

This is the new banner for my other blog. I don't remember whether I've introduced my cats, Angus and Rosie (named after characters from the original Upstairs Downstairs) on this blog, but they are a great source of inspiration for me!

Here's another picture of them

which goes along with this "newspaper article"!

You can create your own article here just for fun!

I'm still learning this craft of paper cutting, usually work on a very small scale, but want to do as many as possible to improve my skills. Why - because I love it!!

Have a great weekend!!

A Card for a Friend

I recently spent a few days at the summer home

 of a very gracious friend, and made this Thank You note for her.

Her last name is Reynolds and this is her nickname for her home on Cape Cod.

I wanted the card to reflect the beautiful hydrangeas

 and roses around her house.

Hope she liked it!!

Art With a Heart

Recently I was searching for paper artists online, and I came across the beautiful work of  cut paper artist Vanessa Stone. After looking at her creations, I went to her blog and read about an idea she had to give away a piece of her artwork in exchange for the recipient donating something to a favorite charity!

I was fortunate enough to be the first to respond, and received this lovely papercut all the way from England!! In return, I am making a donation to my local food pantry, which is always in need of support.

I think this is a wonderful idea, and I urge my readers to visit Vanessa's blog, see her wonderful work, and look forward to her next gift offering, which she hopes to do monthly.

Many thanks, Vanessa!

Lily

Last week I finished this mixed media portrait

of my friend Lorna's granddaughter Lily.

The hair is fabric, the bow is made from ribbon

and the face, dress and collar are paper.

I used the edge of a paper doily to trim 

the collar, and pigma pens and colored pencils for the face.
Oh, and the buttons are real, of course!

These are photos and they don't really show the shiny fabrics

of the hair, also the fact that the matting is white,

but it was too big for my scanner.

This was a very time consuming project,

but well worth it in the end!

A Basket of Flowers

This cut paper picture was made with the help of some flower punches,

and the basket, leaves, ribbon and bird were cut freehand.

A little touch of spring

sent off to someone special!