Inspiration collage

I really love doing collage. I made a few ATC's several weeks ago using some old letters I found that my grandfather had written to my grandmother before they were even married. It was during WW1...I so treasure those letters.

I hadn't decided I was going to use them again. I had all good intentions of making a vison board. I started off with some turquoise interference paint, but not sure where in the world that got to! I wasn't too thrilled with it...I loved the green in it, but it just looked like an ugly brown on my canvas, so had to do away with that. Of course, I ended up with lots of PINK...but I used splotches of golds, stamped on bubble wrap, and then found some mulberry paper I had and decoupaged that down. Did some rubber stamping with my ART stamp(most got covered later), and then suddenly found myself putting on organza photos of my grandparents, my parents as children, me as a little girl, and of course a faerie or two to add some magic.

I think my grandparent's love for each other(married over 50 years) as well my parent's love(married over 60 years) was/is magical..and also faith and comittment came into play too. I tore bits and pieces of the letters and decoupaged them down, and added some more rubber stamps(keys, keyholes, JOY, and fleur de lis), using that distressed walnut ink..I really like it...much more than Stazon. I also found the invitation to my grandparent's wedding and added that, as well as an old bone button from my grandmom's sewing basket. You can't see it here, but in the squarish shape on the left there's a very ethereal face that shows through...I'm thinking that's my grandfather's mom. He once told me that she watched over him. I touched it up with Pearl Ex and glitter. Used a wet brush and blended everything a bit, and finished with roses(my grandfather's favorite!).

I am so inspired by those letters...I can't tell you how in making this, I felt so totally absorbed. I love art when this happens. No rules, no boundaries, just doing...feeling...and allowing it to happen.

I thought it looked cute next to my little old old porcelain girl that I added faerie wings to...she has such a dirty face, but I left her that way. She's just who she is and I like her like that.

I hope my grandparents are looking down and that they like it too. Hugs and kisses Mom and Pop!!!! Your love lives on forever....