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!

Paper Portraits

"The Love Letter"

Going back over my photo files, I've rediscovered a favorite subject of mine - portraits. These are mostly fictional characters which I created a few years ago, using layered papers and Pigma pens.

"Suspicious"

In both of the above portraits I used different papers to play with the strands of hair, and commercial scrapbooking papers for the backgrounds.

I think the hand is too big in this one, or the mouth too small - haven't figured it out yet!

Last of all, a self portrait, called "Nature Filled", done as a result of an absolutely beautiful day, visions of which just stayed in my head for days.

Time to play with some new paper portraits -

coming soon!

Night Window

Simply put: scrapbooking paper, a paper doily, 

an exacto knife, scissors, and a bit of glue.

Tiny worlds waiting to be created -

a meditative and gratifying process!

Happy Spring!

Although snow is predicted for the morning, I'm 

still feeling like spring is in the air!

Here is an impromptu cutting I did tonight while watching tv.

Very simple, but it felt good to work with paper again.

Must do more of this!

Paper Landscape

I've been very neglectful of this blog, which is a shame, because I really do love working with paper. I'm a little amazed that several people have signed up to follow Paper Perks and I sincerely thank you for doing so. I'm hoping to do more paper cutting and mixed media work in the near future.

Meanwhile, I'll offer this little landscape made from scrapbooking paper from the local craft store. So many lovely colors and textures to choose from! Hope you enjoy it!

 

Spring is Near

"Sunny days
sweeping the clouds away
on my way to where the air is sweet...
Can you tell me how to get,
how to get to Sesame Street?"

Funny how, nearly thirty years after my daughter was a little one, the songs from Sesame Street still reverberate within me - this one on a sunny day, and the Rainy Day song in wet weather! I used to find myself humming them on my way to my part-time job!

We have been having some very lovely sunny days here in New England, and everyone is enjoying the milder weather! I pulled out this older paper cutting to celebrate the hope of Spring which is working its way into my bones! Great things are on the horizon!!!

Family Portrait

In this 'portrait' I loved juxtaposing this sophisticated lady with her playful cat. For so many people, pets are important family members, providing  companionship, love and enjoyment.
I used a variety of papers to create this picture, as well as very fine pigma pens and colored pencils.

The Queen of Soul

I saw Aretha Franklin last week - or rather,  experienced  the lady's essence - in a wonderful concert in Boston! A true diva, with a magical voice and range!
After finding the perfect red glitter paper for her gown, I decided to do a paper cut of Aretha - simple and clean. I drew her face after looking at many, many pictures of her on the web. Hope I did her justice!!

Sunset

This papercut picture was made for my good friend Janice,

who does beautiful artwork

which she shares with me

all through the year.

Happy Birthday, Janice!

Intertwined

I finished this scrolled vine today after adding more and more elements until I had to tell myself to stop! I think it looks like stained glass and I'm happy with the colors. This is the first creative thing I've done in weeks, other than making curtains, and it feels good to get moving again!!

Paper Roses

Original Papercut by Judy Hartman

I was working on this papercut tonight while listening to old episodes of The Donna Reed Show on Hulu.com.

As I sat out on my porch with windows open and a cool breeze coming through, I couldn't help but drink in the 

peacefulness of the evening and the innocence of the 1950's situation comedy. 

The simplicity of thepaper roses 

seemed fitting for the mood 

of the evening.

Evening Song

Original design by Judy Hartman

I did this paper cut this afternoon, using scrapbook paper, scissors and an exacto knife. It's funny - I meant to draw the design on the patterned side of the black paper, so that the black side would face out. I had already done the drawing on the black side when I realized my mistake! I decided to continue on and I think it turned out to be a happy accident! I like the look of the outline broken up by the stars. What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great weekend!

Judy

Welcome!

Today I'm beginning a new blog about my interest in paper arts.

For years, I've worked exclusively in fabric, but, with the recent wave of interest in scrapbooking, I couldn't help but notice all those enticing, printed papers out there in the craft stores! I did start a scrapbook at one point, but soon lost interest in that as I realized the potential of using decorative paper just as I would use fabric in applique pictures. So I began collecting paper and now have an absurdly large stash of both paper and fabric (along with, of course - ribbons, laces, embellishments, etc.)!! I've also noticed some amazing paper artists on the web, whose work I hope to show here. 

I'm kicking things off with this little bird, made with a paper outline and a paper doily. A couple of weeks ago I did a lace bird tutorial on my other blog, Fabric Art & Crafts, which you can find here. The bird can be made with either fabric lace or a paper doily.

Time will tell whether I can keep up with two blogs, but for now - thanks for stopping by!