random.on purpose.

Perception and Manipulation

Okay, first a disclaimer:  I realize that my brain operates oddly.  I think we have established that.  I have been a "fringe-dweller" pretty much my entire life because I can't find anyone on the same wave length ( a few come close, but there are still times when I get that "Wha...?" kind of look, or the reply to what I said doesn't correlate to what I was thinking when I said what I said, etc.  I'm sure everyone has this experience now and again, but I have pretty much decided that that's my "comfort zone".)

Anyway, when I was tearing apart the dining room chairs I was reupholstering for my cousin, I let my mind wander like I do (who needs a Zen garden - I've got staples to pull!)  I was reflecting on the whole dot thing (see previous posts), and the responses I've received from various people, most of which have been along the lines of "who'da thunk?", which led me into why I see things that others don't, or they see things that I miss, etc., etc.

Backing up the thought train for a moment, let me give you some background:  I've had training in Reiki Seichim and Eye Movement Processing and gone to many wellness and/or holistic seminars and read many books ranging from orthodox religion to New Age self-help to Your category here blah, blah, blah.  I guess I wanted to be Enlightened.  It worked, to an extent, and I will now impart some of this Wisdom to you:

What we see (our Perception) is unique to us, and is based on our background - where we were born, how we were raised, what education we had, what our life experiences have been, etc.  Our perception may or may not be truth, but it becomes our Reality when we find someone who agrees with, and therefore validates, our perception.  Two people having the same experience are NOT having the same experience at all!  Case in point:  If I listen to my children discussing something that happened in their childhood, no two stories will match exactly.  Their recollection of events is colored by their perceptions at the time.

Why I'm telling you this is:  If you look at polka dots and say "Those are polka dots", you miss seeing all the other things that polka dots are capable of being.  Likewise, when we label people, we miss seeing all the other possibilities in them.  So much for perception.

On to manipulation:  I was mulling over why I liked the two results when I didn't try to disguise the dots (or manipulate them into being "not dots") better.  Maybe the polka dots are resistant to being anything other than what they are.  People certainly like NOT being manipulated. 

Lessons in Papercrafting; Lessons in Life!  Like I said, weird mind, but now you see why I still maintain that everything is interconnected, and everything is really the Same Subject.  You just have to look for the connections...

Dots All for Now

Apparently I didn't scratch the itch in my brain hard enough, as I still had a few ideas floating around as far as ways to alter this polka dot paper.  They were actually the original ideas, so I probably should've started with them instead of getting all carried away with trying to make the polka dots into something else.

Anyway, I executed two finished products and a sample to add to the list.  Guilt-free, I might add, since I spent 12 hours yesterday packing, and 6 hours today reupholstering my cousin's dining room chairs. This first one is distressed (as in crumpled and torn) and antiqued (as in brayered over with Desert Sand ink and inked edges, as well).

The next one is called "Ignore the polka dots and keep stamping", and is a CD folder:

I actually like both of these better than any of the previous ones - closer to my style and better aligned with my design sensibilities (yeah, like I'm an authority...)  Anyway, I'm quite happy with these results, and both were MUCH easier than trying to manipulate dots into being "not dots".  The final item is just a piece that I sanded to tone down the brightness of the dots and make them softer - like the ones Korin used in her card and all...  Didn't want to CASE hers, and hit a wall idea-wise (just too tired!)

So, that's the rest of the Polka Dot Story.  I'm done and done and done!  Also, it's past my bedtime...

I do have another experiment that I started tonight with transparencies, but I need daylight and less-bleary eyes to finish it, so I'll share it a different day.  Good night, all!

Dotty Experiment

Okay, pop quiz:  Which of these five cards...

uses this polka dot paper?

Answer:  ALL of the above!

Here's the scoop:  I should've been packing last night (I'm on the move - again...sigh...), but just couldn't motivate.  Also, despite my short attention span, once I get an idea it kind of makes my brain itch until I get a chance to execute it (or at least try), and this one has been festering for a while.

I have a stash of paper (like all papercrafters do!), and some of it is older and/or outdated and/or just plain ugly.  I've been mulling over what to do with some of it by way of "altering", to turn it into something else.  I started with polka dots, as they're not my fave, although Korin made a really cute card (and more) with some the other day.  You can see it here. 

Anyway, I decided to see how many different styles of paper I could turn these polka dots into.  First up, I cut a square 3 dots by 3 dots, stamped a large flower over the center dot, then smaller flowers around it:

Next, a row of three dots (pretty much all the same color) stamped with a ladybug stamp:

Then, I used a variety of small stamps to make a sort of random print.  The only altering I did besides the stamp was to color in the ears (and paws) of the bunny and dog:

On to the next one.  I used a sort of abstract stamp with a lot of open space in the center (notice that I wasn't fussy about if white showed - lends to the fun, I guess...), then stamped with a small flower stamp to fill in some of the white space:

Finally, a single row of dots, overstamped with the same image in two colors.  Again, not fussy about lining them up.  I like it better with the wavy lines above and below than if I'd stamped them nice and even:

 

I'm sure there are other ways to use this stuff, but those are a few I came up with.  I intend to alter other papers I'm not crazy about, and I'll share those ideas, too.  One other thing - uses for the scraps of dots left over.  Punch out tiny shapes for other projects, or punch out the whole dot to use as a reinforcement on tags, etc.:

Okay - your turn!  Go think outside the box and see what you come up with.  I'd love to see, so feel free to share!  I guess I have to go pack now after all...