Gilding Lilies Greeting Cards

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Get Ripped

It's not what you think, I am an absolute tea totaler. I'm talking about ripped edges on paper, love 'em! I am always ripping up random stuff and sticking it in my paintings. I enjoy the layers, the texture, the visual interest, using vs disposing, the whole thing. One of my favorite free treasures are security envelopes (turned inside out). They remind me of mens suiting material. Since it's a well know fact, among my friends and family, that I am crazy about theses goodies, I have folks sending me their empty envelopes (thanks guys, you know who you are). Start looking, and you'll be surprised how beautiful they can be.
The little windows to peek inside are a complete bonus. Anyway, here are a few things that I've been doing with my ripped envelopes lately. First, I used gel medium to attach them to a page in my journal.



Then I start to play with them. This shows one of the pages after I journaled and painted over it.                                     

Next, I used it as a base for a collage in Photoshop.
I'm telling you, I think they are great. I'd go as far as to say that they are as beautiful as must art papers that you can buy. Now, if they only came in larger sizes...

18 comments:

michelle ward said...

*get ripped*, love that! Jennifer - lovely photos of the riped layers, and finished pieces. Love that you bring to light the humble insides of security envelopes - each so different and interesting. Great stuff! Thanks for sharing with the street team.

Kim Mailhot said...

Oh those do have sweet textures ! Very cool job on this Strip Ease crusade.
Cheers !

Julie Prichard said...

WOW What versatility! Great end results on both!

Debra said...

Oh I'd forgotten about the security envelopes! Yes they're just as good as any paper you can buy. I really like the photoshoped page - lovely job.

Anonymous said...

Love all the work you have shared, and seeing the variety of envelope interiors. Must see what turns up at work. I wish I could see a bigger version of your journal page, I'm fascinated by the image and want more detail...

Gilding Lilies said...

Thanks for the sweet comments everybody, what a great feeling.
Cath, if you would like me to send you an enlargement, let me know. Crusades are so inspiring!

Janet said...

Love your title! And your pages! It almost makes it worthwhile to get bills when they come with such interesting envelopes.

Kate Robertson said...

Great pages, I too forgot about using security envelopes, what a great idea. Love the page with the legs.

Clare B said...

I keep my envelope backs too - I haven't used any yet, waiting for inspiration, but I love your photoshop collage. (found through madeline bea's creative sunday)

Maureen Reynolds said...

Thanks for giving me an idea of what to do with the collection of security envelopes I've hoarded. We no longer get them..online payments...so they are precious round here.

I've never thought of using handmade backgrounds for lager digital work. do you scan them or print right on them?

Jester said...

Your pieces are brilliant, Jennifer, and those envelopes work so well. Oh dear, another thing to start collecting!!

inge said...

Hello Jennifer,
you get me digging in my paper basket !!!

I would say we don't have those beautiful inner linings in our envelops, but maybe I haven't looked good, so I will take a look in my paperbasket after this comment !

Your collections shows the difference and the beauty they all have : they get together also very well.
I like how you even used the little window.

Your collage is very nice as a photoshopbackground too !!

greetings from belgium
Inge

lena-dailyscrap said...

Beautiful pages! Love the textures - I can almost feel them...

K said...

I love your painted page!
I didn't even know that all those patterns can exist in envelopes, in Europe we don't have those :)

goudenregen said...

Those envelopes are so beautiful on the inside, great idea to use them in this way.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful collage, It is great to see the inside of all those envelopes, the patterns are so neat.

Regina said...

I've been using these for years. In fact, I have folders of them sorted by color! OK, maybe that's TMI!
Love what you did with this challenge.

Brigitte aka Scrappassie said...

Really beautiful, I need to check my mail more closely ;-)