tracey kazimir-cree's sunshine factory

The day before yesterday, I was in a car accident. We won’t talk about that in detail. But here’s where we make lemonade: My automobile is being totaled. Yesterday Tim and I went over to the mechanic’s and got out all of our personal items. I also found some bulbs and pieces of metal and grabbed the CD magazine out of the smashed CD changer in the back. I’m taking a class tomorrow with Leighanna Light at The Artists’ Nook and it’s entitled “Reliquary of Inspiration”. I was originally going to do a shrine for my former dog, Zuni, but decided it would be more timely to do one for my beloved 1992 Ford Explorer, which is about to be laid to rest.

So today, I called my mechanic and asked him to pull off the rear view mirror and save it for me because I’m going to make art with it. He was amused, but I’m sure he thinks I’m a wacko.

And I’m ok with that!

Altered Wine Bottle Bud Vase

I had fun with this one, layering on the deli paper I colored with Color Mists from Outside the Margins. I also used some of the neat basic wire techniques that Andrea of SunSpirit Studio taught me earlier this year. FUN!

I made this today, using an old cardboard box that a gift came in. I used the insert in the box to create a little frame for the stamped wooden piece (from judysstonehousedesigns.com).

Tonight, I was working on a project where I needed to stamp outlines of squares onto my surface. Not having that kind of rubber stamp, I knew if I could only find a square gift box or similar somewhere in my stash, I’d be set. I found a 2″x1/2″x1/2″ (approx) matchbox in my “trash” cabinet! I spread acrylic paint onto some waxed paper and made a makeshift stamp pad. I stamped the end of the matchbox cover onto my project! It was perfect!

The best part was while I was stamping, I wondered where the matchbox came from. I realized that I picked it up in a restaurant in Kansas City when I worked for Hallmark Cards around 1998. I kid you not, that matchbox went from Kansas City, to my home in Albuquerque, then moved back to New Jersey with me, where I moved two more times and now it’s settled in Colorado, where I’m at my second address.

The point is that you never know when something is going to come in handy. As long as you are collecting a stash and you have the space for it and you USE stuff from it, it’s never a waste of time and effort when it comes to your altered art. Whenever you are about to toss something into the trash, take a second look at it. Can it be used as a stamp? Try it out! Not only are you expanding your design potential, you’re saving that stuff from going into the landfill. I’m starting a drawer called “Weird stuff to use as stamps.” Comment and tell me what you’re using!