Thursday, May 6, 2010

Fun and Games

A while ago, someone in my Altered Books Yahoo Group posted some altered Dominos that she had stamped and covered with microbeads to make pendants. (I'm afraid I don't remember who it was -- there are so many awesome artists in the group!) That and a Google search inspired me to try it out myself. So, I guiltily broke up a set of double nines that we've had since BC ("before children," that is) -- after an unsuccessful posting of a request on Freecycle for an incomplete set, of course. (We have two other sets -- each slightly different -- so I didn't actually feel like I was depriving anyone of any fun!)

So, I started out with some of these:


With Podge-It glue, I applied some bits of a decorative paper napkin to several tiles, then glued on some micro beads and a bead with a decent sized hole to thread ribbon for a necklace. I liked the general effect, but was disappointed with the poor adherence of the microbeads.


Next, I tried a magazine cut-out and some scrapbooking paper with rub-on letters. For the one on the left, I used double-sided tape to adhere the microbeads -- but I don't think it was strong enough. I haven't found the perfect glue yet. Any suggestions?


I was having a lot of fun, but the microbeads were bugging me -- so I tried some with just decorative rub-ons. I quite like the effect :) I was thinking they could be used for gift tags and things like that. I turned the one on the left into a brooch by putting a pin on the back.


Easy-peasy!


Alas, I didn't have many appropriate rub-ons, so I turned to my current default art medium -- Sharpie markers:


I made the mistake of applying a clear coat thinking it would protect the markers -- but it made them bleed instead. Sigh. Live and learn, I guess.

Here are some others I did while listening to our science CDs and waiting for the children during their gym class:



Of course, creativity inspires creativity, so DD12 got in on the action:


Unfortunately, the clear coat ate away at the microbeads and double sided tape on hers (the one on the left), so I'm going to have to find another way for her to adhere the microbeads on it. But it still looks pretty :). She used a magazine cut-out and a vellum word for the one on the left and Sharpies for the one on the right.

I'm glad there's still a whole bunch of Domino tiles left to play with -- it's really rather addictive! It's not "Blow me away!" art work -- but it's "I could do that!" art. And that's exactly what I want you to say --

"I could do that!"

So do it -- and let me know how it goes! :)
Do you have any other ideas for ways to decorate and use altered game pieces?

6 comments:

  1. Those pens are pretty neat. I have a question....I am knitting a few shawls to give a Christmas gifts, and have been sort of casually looking around for Shawl pens with flair.
    The dice idea looks like it might go well with two shawls that I have which are kind of colorful and youthful looking. But I wonder if you know of a different kind of closure that would work well on a shawl or scarf....something that would not poke holes in the knitted piece, but would hold it in place fairly well, without falling out.

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  2. OK...Once again I require editing...
    I am giving these things AS Christmas gifts.
    :)

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  3. LOL -- now don't be getting all self-conscious about your writing around me, Missy. I was only compensating for my physics failures ;)Your writing is generally flawless and ALWAYS engaging!

    Now, did you mean Dominoes? Cuz I think altered dice would be pretty cool, too -- especially large ones. When I first read your question, I immediately thought of those little metal hair clips that have tiny teeth and you pinch them to clamp them in your hair. Something like that glued on either side of the back of a domino (visible OR hidden) might work.

    The other thought that came to me as I begged for sleep to return to me at 3:00 a.m. (I gave up pleading, as you can tell by the time of this post!) was to glue a napkin ring to the back of a domino so that the front points of the shawl can be fed through it to keep the shawl closed. The size of the ring would determine how high the closure would be because of how much material would fit into the ring. Does that make sense? What do you think?

    I can't wait to see what you decide to go with! Does your jewelery-making DD have any innovative ideas? (OK -- did I spell jewelery correctly??? That's one I always have trouble with and there's no spell-checker in the comment boxes!LOL)

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  4. I think you did a wonderful job on these dominoes... I especially like the one with the bird and the Sharpie marker! I think the bleeding just adds more interest and it's not something you can "plan"! Nice work...

    Sharon
    http://www.mystoryart.com

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  5. Thank you, Sharon :)I really appreciate your comments!

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  6. I guess what I need to do is find a jewelry supply catalogue which carries some kind of "blank" shawl pin....something similar to those hair holding doohickies with the stick and the anchor.
    I am mulling it over.....at 4am.
    We have a large family of raccoons in our shed and the mother, who appears not to have a creative bone in her body, woke up the dogs by whistling loudly.
    I will go surf around for my "blank" and let you know what I find.
    Are there knitters around here?....sniffing around....

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