My sister, Rose, has a long history with collages having visited
nursing homes for over twenty years with her scrapbook projects. Her ministry caught on with a number of
church members and friends contributing church bulletins, cards, calendars, fabrics
and their labor to make it possible for her weekly workshops. Sometimes she had as many as sixty
participants all needing the cut cardboard, glue, and arty materials to compose
their own posters. She encouraged the participants to add their own titles to
their compositions.
Her use of
graphics technology has grown over the years. I asked her how she went about
composing her butterfly (above). I am
pleased to share her experience. Enjoy
and Envy!
This will take some explaining to do. Again, as in many of my projects, they come
together almost by coincidence or accident.
I've been working on reorganizing and resorting my multitude of
"basement stashes"--mostly things left over from twenty-one years of
doing poster boards for four nursing homes.
And . . . I am kinda the "catch
all" for people who have things
they "hate to throw away."
For the butterfly, Joan M. gave me a
foot and a half high Mothers Day card that she had received from her
children. It laid kinda sideways in the
back of my cabinet for over a year--collecting sawdust and such. So as I was resorting, the huge card seemed
to scream at me, "I've laid around long enough! Do something with me."
Also I have wonderful friends. Cathy and Renee do a lot of computerized
embroidery. They are generous and keep
me supplied 'cuz they know that somehow I'll mix their special items in some
kind of far-out project.
So, from recent gifts, at least
thirty embroidery samples (flowers, Santas, teapots and cups, saucers, fairies,
birds, etc.) were in a stack on my work table.
Hmmm, I say. . . I really enjoy using their things . . . and then
there's this "huge flowery card" staring at me . . . and my brain
clicked into . . . "I'll cut the card up, trim the teapots and cups, add
my glittery butterflies and ?????"
 |
| Mounted on Cardboard. |
So as I finished
"composing" I mounted the above on cardboard. I took several pictures of it and loaded them
into my computer. After getting it the
right size, exposure, contrast and saturation, I used my various computer photo
effect programs to form the butterfly by showing the original image first and then watching how the programs can automatically "do their things"--with
just a touch of the right keys. It's fascinating every time. I used Amazing
Edges to high-light the butterfly image.
It can be changed into all different colors and shapes. I use Image Tricks Lite for some of
the effects. I use Fotor to make
many of my frames . . . also Image Framer.
Since most of the programs do only
"one thing", I usually have to use 3-4-5 programs to achieve the
finished results. I also use Fotor
for the texting -- or Picaso.
There are an infinite number of ways
that one image can be elaborated upon.
None of the ways are complicated . . . just takes some time. Most of my
photo effects apps I have obtained free.
I think I paid less than two dollars for the Amazing Edges
app. I use that program a lot because if
my image isn't quite straight (I have much trouble as a photographer)--it may
seem straight but the framing programs seem to cause the image to be a bit
"kaddy-wampus" and the framing lines don't match my image. The program covers up in creative ways
"my sins."
My head is
spinning. I think it best to quit complaining about boring, gloomy days.
(If any readers would like to contact Rose about her ideas,
projects and techniques please leave a comment at the bottom of the blog.)
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