Makin' the Grade!

We sure have enjoyed some nice "fall" weather this week, which has allowed me to be inside my Closet to get another project done for a few challenges. Last Saturday, my daughter and I  went out junkin', and I found this great aluminum clip-boardy thing. It opens up to 2 separate levels to store your papers, and a special little place for your pens, too!  I've always wanted one, so I can do my paperwork while I wait  to pick up my kids at school and at the farm while I wait for my daughter to do what she does best--ride and care for horses--her love!

It just so happens that Craft Hoarders Anonymous is hosting another great challenge:  #16 Who Loves School and Office Supplies?  The Design Team has really outdone themselves, putting their supplies to use on some awesome projects!  I'm pretty sure Gloria started this blog with me in mind...at least the "hoarders" part!  (Huge grin)  I really love vintage anything, and I collect  hoard old office supplies and a few school supplies, too. So this seems to be the perfect time to use some of those great supplies and create something that is both fun to look at and that is functional, too.  Always Miss Practical!

 I cannot help but imagine each person's life as I pick up what they once used and think of what they were doing at the time they were holding it.  For instance, one of the items I used on my school supplies portion of my project is a freshman school schedule.  I can imagine this girl keeping her folded schedule in the pocket of her parochial school sweater,  where she could check it after each class to see where she needed to go next.  (Just like my sweet daughter.)  I can almost hear the giggling at her locker, while she shares a secret with her best friend.

Because this is a clip board, and I intend to use it as such, I needed it to have a somewhat smooth writing surface. Therefore, I had to make this in a one-dimensional collage--an extreme challenge for me.  If anyone asked me to list my creative strength, I would have to say it is that I really understand and enjoy  using dimension in my projects.  I do want to include a few dimensional objects  here, though, and I was able to carefully place a few where they won't interfere with my work.

Many of the items I've used on this are photocopies of the original, if they were a part of a book or set, or a box, but some are the originals.  Not everything I've used is old, however, as I wanted to show some contrast between Then and Now on my project.  I am just tickled pink that I could put some of my packed away treasures on something I can use!

Other than Tim Holtz' Faded Layers Technique, I really didn't use too many special techniques on this.  To age  the copies, I used Distress Inks, spritz and flick technique, and  Tim's Spritzer Tool to add some "age". In some cases, the photocopies already showed the item's aging, so there was no enhancement, and I did not age  the old originals at all.  I used some Antique Linen on newer items and the old school schedule to take the brightness down a bit.

The background is masking tape; taped  over freezer paper--an item no craft studio can be without, in my opinion. I colored it with alcohol inks and blending solution and used Tim's Faded Layers Technique using various Tim and TCW stencils. Once dry I covered it with a coat of Perfect Paper Adhesive, and allowed that to dry.

I had to show some of that Faded Layers technique before I covered it all up!

I couldn't resist joining in with the "Fall Back" September Challenge at Eileen Hull's Art With Heart blog, since September is a month when most students "fall back" into school.  I've used lots of school supplies and related ephemera on this.

I used a lot of fall colors on my background, some are seen on the tag, the back and in some of the items I've used in my collage, so I am entering it into the following autumn colors challenges:  A Vintage Journey would like to see a strong Tim Holtz influence on our fall colored projects in their challenge #15 The Colors of Autumn (I think Tim has influenced me plenty on my purchases of my vintage items--I know he has a love for the old stuff, too, and has his fair share.  His influence is also shown in the techniques I have borrowed from his Compendium of Curiosities Vols. 1,2, and 3 and in my use of his stamps, stencils and Idea-ology.) AVintage Journey has a generous shopping voucher for Country View Crafts On-line store for the winner.   The Artistic Stamper September challenge Autumn Colors wants to see Autumn colors on our projects, too! I would also like to enter Eclectic Paperie September e-Play Challenge "Fall". (I've stepped out of my comfort zone by making a near one dimensional collage!)

I'm joining in at Inspiration Journal's challenge, "Fall Is In the Air", where they have a generous $50 to spend at Inspiration Emporium if your entry is the lucky winner!  They say back to school is one way to interpret their theme, and I've got a lot to say about back to school here!

The current challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is Stencils and Stamps, and I wanted to join in, since I used so many stencils and some stamps, too!  My stencils used are by Stamper's Anonymous; Tim's Collection, Dylusions, and TCW.  All stamps used are by Stamper's Anonymous; Tim's collections and Stampin' Up and were stamped in Archival Ink. Distress Inks were used with  stencils from TCW and Dyslusions.  The "Received" stamp is a self- inker from my husband's office.

I recently found a new challenge blog called The Mirror Crack'd, and their first challenge is Anything (Mixed Media) Goes.  I am super excited to join in with my clip board project, and expect there will be others, in the future. Check it out and join in!  There's some great talent from the design team there!

I used real typewriter ribbon for my bow.  Let me tell you, this is not the easiest to coax into a bow! The clip is from my daughter's stash of school supplies, which I altered with a little alcohol ink to tone it down a little. The ribbon came on a spool in the red and black box at the bottom of my clipboard. I added a favorite Bible verse, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart." Proverbs 3:5 stamped ( Stampin' Up)on a tag from my husbands office.  He used these tags to label his architectural drawings.  I sprayed Dyslusions ink on a    Recollections stencil, laid my tag on it and pressed it with a clean paper towel for a reverse stenciling.  I dried this and inked with Distress Ink. I like having this reminder with me.

Next to my bow and glued to the clip at the top is an Idea-ology pen nib which I altered with alcohol inks. This pen nib reads "Notes". I also used alcohol inks to age the metal hardware at the top of the clipboard.

I included an original page out of an engagement calendar (now we would call it a planner, right? And who uses one of those?  We have our smart phones for that!) dated 1961, since that is my birthday year.

The "Office Inventory" list dated August 2, 1940 is a page out of a ledger when a local doctor was first opening his office. I acquired this at his estate sale a couple years ago. I laughed out loud when I read the automobile was $900! I stamped the chair next to "office furniture" and the pen nibs, and included a postage stamp from another of my collections, since it has another example of old office supplies in it's artwork.  I used a few other original postage stamps from my collection as well, as they had an office supply look to their artwork.

The Rolodex card is one from my still-used address file.I stamped it with a Tim image and colored the nibs with Silver Distress Stain.  I adhered an ad from a 1960's Student Directory.  Perfect for the office and school supply challenge!

The ad for Typewriter Inspection Company  also came from the Student Directory from Wilmington College, now known as University of North Carolina Wilmington, where my husband is a student. I included a partial statement from the TCW stencil on that, because I think those old typewriters are a thing of beauty!

I also included an original Western Union telegram blank and addressed it to "Art".   I love how it explains what office supplies to use to fill it out!  The cover of the book, which I ended up not including, says to "keep in touch with home and office"--how charming! My message is stenciled using that Art TCW stencil.

I've included a ruler, which my husband so happily sawed off for me.   It is one of many old ruler's and yardsticks I've collected.  I'm happy it will be useful on my clipboard to prevent papers from slipping off as I hold this in my lap, and for a handy measurement tool, too! (Miss Practical)

The lid lifts up, and on the inside lid I've included some of my school "supplies".  I actually purchased a handful of these old pencils at a yardsale a while back.  I bet they thought I was crazy to buy those!.  The "double-edged" pencil is one of my son's from elementary school! It makes me smile! I guess he just couldn't write enough!

My background is paper from Graphic 45 I've been hoarding a long time.  I've already mentioned the school schedule.  I love how I found it--all perfectly folded, and the classes she had checked off.  Looks like a late lunch period for her!

I've copied and  included a page out of my husband's childhood pocket New Testament, with the dates he completed each of the Books of the New Testament written in.  He gave this to my daughter who carried it to school, in addition to her required King James Version of the Bible when she was in Christian elementary and middle school.

Another stamped Rolodex card and a piece of  an index card  with Distress ink to take the brightness out and a gold star stenciled with Brilliance Gold Ink. Separating the two is a newly acquired book plate.  I sacrificed one out of a vintage box full.  That's the original grunge-perfect!

At the bottom, an original library card pocket and the check out card from one of my vintage books--due back in the library December 13, 1957!  Also a copy of a library card from my stash of vintage ephemera and a musical note paper clip--reference to my kids taking piano in school.  Lauren still takes, but outside the confounds of school. A brand spankin' new "Sign here" post-it from our tax preparer for some color.

Bottom left is a page from a very old book  "First Lessons in Arithmetic". The little  brownish-orange squares down the left side of the collage are pieces of old tape that were holding photos and ephemera in an old scrapbook from the 40's.  I love the look of the old tape.

Here's a few shots of the back end of my clipboard. I like to use lace on my work, but real lace wasn't so fitting for this type of project.  I used  a roll of adding machine tape, and a border punch to make the "lace", aging it with Distress Inks.  The ABC strip under this is a piece cut from a manila folder, which I've sprayed and spritzed with Dylusions Ink sprays and stenciled Distress Ink through a Dylusions stencil.  A star sticker from my stash was colored with alcohol ink and added.  I've sent all my gold stars to my sister who is a teacher.  She needs them more than I do. Or so I thought. I photographed this part before I completed the front, so my typewriter ribbon bow doesn't appear in these photos.

I think I've used pretty much every office and school supply I own.  Oh, this picture shows my kids first lunch and apple from kindergarten--just KIDDING!!! I don't consider this a finished piece...I'm thinking I will add some of my kids school work from their early years, perhaps in one of the cubby spaces, and already have one or two things picked out. You might guess I've saved a few!

Thanks so much for taking your time to read this long posting or at least to look at the pictures.  I'm happy to be able to share some of my vintage school and office items and ephemera with you!  I appreciate all your thoughtful comments, and read and enjoy everyone of them!