Project 1--Insert Box

Gift Box (top view)

This year's first project is a handmade box that will hold theater inserts. These are the inserts that are placed in the Playbills at a Broadway theater when an understudy goes on. These were gifts given to understudies and swings. The size of this box will hold standard half-sheets of 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper (4.25 by 5.5 inches).

Step One: Assembling the top and bottom trays out of Binder's Board.

Step Two: Selecting the covering materials (Marbled papers and Canson paper)

Step Three: Covering the trays. Making the relief cuts.

Step Four: Top and Bottom trays covered.

Step Five: Covering the bottom and top liners (velvet paper covered matt board).

Top View

Side View

2014--Year in Review

Image from Yahoo! Images

Last year was a great  year for me regarding crafting and being creative. Here is a list my resolutions from last year and their results.

1. Similar to doing the 31 days of Halloween, this year I want to do a 31 Days of Christmas. I don't quite know how I will organize it but will work out those logistics later. COMPLETED. Check out the Christmas in November series here.
2. Several years ago, I designed a Advent project for Kat's Advent project. Of course, life and commissions got in the way. This year, I would like to complete that project. FAIL. Didn't even make one challenge.
3. I would like to continue to post craft entries Monday through Friday, without fail. COMPLETED thanks to the 365 Day Challenge.
4. I would like to complete a craft a day project and share it with people. I have chosen to complete a decorated envelope per day and to post it to my Flikr account (DrRuss2011) and my blog. Here is the summary of challenge that I completed last year. This year, I will continue the challenge but only decorate the front side of the envelope. COMPLETED. Check out the Envelope Challenge here.
5. I have chosen to participate in Iron Craft 2014. I postponed my decision to participate because for the 2013 Challenge, I was able to complete all 26 challenges. I just don't want to feel like a failure if I don't complete all of the challenges for 2014. There is no pressure other than the pressure that I put on myself. I have really enjoyed getting to know the people that have participated and that was the factor that tipped the balance to continue in 2014. COMPLETED. Check out the Iron Craft Challenges here.
6. Take more art classes. I enjoy taking classes at The Center for Book Arts in NYC and will try and save up some money to add a couple of weekend classes. FAIL. I didn't even make it to one class.
7. Take a dance class. I never really took dance classes when I was growing up and felt too awkward to take them when I was an adult. This year, I finally realized my reticence--I could not stand to look in the mirror at myself. I might actually take a HipHop class at the Broadway Dance Center. FAIL. I didn't even make it for one class.
8. Print more. I want to use my Print Gocco more this year or at least screen printing or letterpress. COMPLETED. I designed and used several postcards and a Thank You card using my Print Gocco.
9. I want to make more postcards this year. These could be doodle cards like the envelopes or printed postcards. I have always loved sending a quick postcard to people. COMPLETED with success.
10. I want to write more letters/postcards. I want to be primarily responsible for the recover of the USPS financial woes by sending out more mail. COMPLETED with success.

Not only did I complete the Iron Craft Challenges, I complete 26 other weekly projects (check them out here) in order to complete one project every week. So, all in all-- I great year.

Happy 2015

Photo from Yahoo! Images

No--I haven't fallen off the face of the world. I just decided to take the New Year's extended weekend off from blogging. I have lots of new stuff to share. I have decided not to do a 365 Challenge this year in order for me to share other spectacularness with you this year.

Please follow along for a fantastic 2015. BTW, I WILL be participating in the Iron Craft Challenges for 2015. If you want to play along, please visit my friends at Just Crafty Enough for the details.

Much Love--(dr)Russ

Envelope #365

December 31, 2014

This is it. The last one. Envelope #365. I never thought that I would be able to make it but I am so happy with the results.

The most satisfaction that I enjoyed this year was the alphabet series and the stencil/crosshatching/plaid (tartan) patterns.

I hope that you enjoyed following along. I am still determining if I want to commit to another 365 challenge next year.

Iron Craft 2014 Challenge #26--Year End Cards (Project 52)

For our final Iron Craft Challenge, we were asked to prepare something based on "Celebration." I chose to share my holiday Christmas card. I always celebrate Christmas by sending out handmade Christmas cards. This is the seventh in my series of Stained Glass Christmas cards based on the Twelve Days of Christmas.

These are done with hand tinted vellum and are designed to simulate stained glass. You can leave the card open on the mantel with a battery operated tea light and it looks like stained glass. The card is a tri-fold card with the first two panels (with the openings) fold upon itself to hold the vellum.

The insert is made from Japanese confetti mulberry paper made with silver and gold leaf. It is mounted on gold metallic card stock.

Envelope #364

December 30, 2014

This was another one of my favorite styles. I called it Whale Belly because it reminded me of the parallel lines that appear on the underside of a whale's stomach. There was something very calming and meditative about trying to draw lines that did not connect.

Envelope #363

December 29, 2014

The last three doodles will be dedicated to my top three favorite styles of doodles for this entire year.

My third most popular style of doodle was Bubbles. I don't know why I derived such pleasure out of this sort of doodle but it was a very relaxing and comforting style. The funny aspect of this doodling was that I would create clockwise circles on some occasions and counterclockwise at others--with no discernible difference.

Envelope #362

December 28, 2014

Envelope #361

December 27, 2014

Envelope #360

December 26, 2014

Envelope #359

December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas to those who participate.

Envelope #358

December 24, 2014

Project #51--Disney Projects: Lady and the Tramp

This is the final in the Disney series of paper cuts--The Lady and the Tramp. It has been fun cutting out all of this characters and there are several more to do but this will bring the year to a close on this series. The only project that I have left is the final Iron Craft Challenge and I will have completed all 52 projects for the year (26 Iron Craft Challenges and 26 projects of my own). It has been a very good year for crafting for me.

Have a great holiday season.

Envelope #357

December 23, 2014

Christmas Box

Top View

The brief was for a Red Christmas Box. I hope that this fits the bill. The interior is 7" by 9" by 2" and is designed to hold a knit hat.

Interior with velvet paper inserts

Envelope #356

December 22, 2014

Envelope #355

December 21, 2014

Envelope #354

December 20, 2014

Envelope #353

December 19, 2014

Envelope #352

December 18, 2014