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Monday, April 28, 2014

paper bags

One of the art groups I belong to is having a "brown paper bag" swap.
What we create, and how we create it, is entirely open, as long as we use a brown paper bag.

I've been busy painting small lunch bags:









I have to say I'm completely in love with these and I'm not sure I can give them away.  There are another dozen in various states of completion.  Maybe I'll like them less and will be able to part with them.

My grand idea is to stitch a few together into some type of book and to add something fun to the "pockets" that are created when you fold a lunch bag in half, and one side of the page has the bag opening at the edge.

Just like the world outside my door, the good ideas are blooming.  I'll share the finished project with you when it's done.

What's blossoming in your neck of the woods?

23 comments:

  1. These are amazing Karen! Seriously fabulous color and pattern combinations. I'm not sure if I could give them away either! Looking forward to seeing them in that book!! xx

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  2. Sounds like a cool art group. Any chance you could send me a message and let me know what group it is? I love these bags! They look like such fun and I can't wait to see your finished book! :)

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  3. Oh and by the way Karen.. I just have to say that I find your blog such a great source of inspiration; both for ideas and also to light a fire under my butt to get busy on my own blog.. I struggle to find a rhythm with it, it seems. I'm learning lots from you! :)

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    1. thanks, Shannon! I just sent you a message via FB.

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  4. Oh a book! Great idea! Can't wait to see!

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  5. These are fantastic! The colors, the variations in tone/shade. The shapes. So stunning!

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  6. Those bags raise the bar on carrying a peanut butter sandwich

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  7. Your painted lunch bags are so beautiful. Maybe use them as gift bags for birthdays or mothers' day gifts.

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  8. These are awesome! I always enjoy seeing what you're up to. And by the way - it's snowing here today (so not much blooming). Thanks for the color hit.

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  9. Wow, these are gorgeous! Usually purple and green dont really bloe my skirt up, but your particular colors and designs are great. I wouldnt give them away either!

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  10. LOVE your combinations of colour and pattern. Wouldn't these make great gift bags!

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  11. I've loved painting on paper bags since we had that playdate at Corinne's. The fourth one down is my favorite!

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  12. I agree with all of you - these are SO fun and bright and perfect. A book is a fun idea and I'll be curious to see how it comes together. Thanks for the bright ideas!

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  13. These are just lovely, Karen. What art group do you belong to? Perhaps using them as luminarias with a candle in each one to light a path at an event. Or you could line an open shelf in your kitchen with them with small items inside, such as measuring cups or plastic bag clips.

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  14. Looking fantastic and finished to me. Can't wait to see where this takes you. Thanks for the inspirational video below and your choice of song. Can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday night. Lovely blog, btw.

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  15. These are all awesome! And what a great idea for a book. And spending Saturday night the way you showed us is just the way I like to spend mine as well.

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  16. I think I told you how positively scrumptious these are in some other e-venue - whether they are used as lunch bags or to just gobble up the Yummy colors. DE-licious! Thank you for the visual delight!!!

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  17. How cute. How fun! Many of them have a mid century feel about them! My deal, baby. I just took home a bunch of brown paper from a package at work. Don't so many paint colors go good with brown?!

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  18. Hi, Karen--I found your blog when searching for marbling techniques and got completely hooked on your posts! I really appreciate your spirit of experimentation, your generosity in sharing your process and discoveries, and the gorgeous art you create.

    May I ask, please, what kind of paint (acrylics? gouache?) you used on these lunch bags? I'd love to try painting some and binding them into a book using your technique. Thank you!

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    1. Thanks Jennifer! I used acrylics for these (most of my paints are the liquitex basics brand but any acrylic , including craft paints, would work)

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