I hosted a swap called “Junk Can Be Beautiful” and it involved making a mixed media collage art piece using nothing but scraps, leftovers, recycled material and stuff you didn’t like on a 4″x4″. What started out as one project, in my mind I came up with six.

Inspired by a holiday dinner with Joe’s family, we each got these crackers you pull apart, they pop and there is a toy inside. Everyone put all the pieces in a bag and the challenge was for me to make art out of it.
So here we are.
This is the first of six projects and I’m dedicating this mixed media collage art to Joe’s brother, David. In his cracker, he got a set of paper dominoes, a pink hat and the cracker was tied with red ribbon. There was a joke inside as well which I rolled up and tied with a tiny piece of the ribbon.
We had fun talking about how to play dominoes since none of us had played in a gazillion years.
Instantly, I thought of a secret. The secret to a good time is dominoes, even if you don’t remember how to play them, it’s fun to talk about it.

Started with Torn Paper

Torn Paper with Crackle Medium for Texture
Using simple corrugated cardboard, some die-cut pieces, crackled torn paper, paper hat, the dominoes and the little scroll, I just had to put it together.
Choosing the colour was easy, I picked something close to the colour of the hat and then went with a complimentary colour for contrast.
Mixed Media Collage Art with Dominoes
Ready to Make This?

What did you think?
Do you have some junk stuff around your home that you can make something with? Please share your ideas with us in the comments below.
thank you! Joe’s family thought I was crazy thinking I could create “something” from all the leftovers 🙂
Your dominoes ATC made me think of different games we used to play so many years ago. Games we use to love could be an ATC theme! Your idea for this series is wonderful.
That’s a great idea Kathleen and you know what Joe found yesterday as we were decluttering the home office (which used to be my studio).. altered Dominos. I was learning how to create art from an actual domino. A swap I joined way, way back in time, my partner made me the most amazing key chain from altered dominos and I remember thinking “I could never make something so beautiful”.
I love your idea, opened up Excel and slotted it in for the March ATC Swap! Thank you for the inspiration.
Brilliant! You are more inspiring every day!
Thank you Laine!
Love this! Always learning something new from you!
Thanks Maggie…
Great idea!!! got to go through my junk pile and find some toy that belonged to one of the kids or grands and put it in their album!! You’re a true inspiration as always!!
Thank you! Now, I’d love to see you create something from a little tiny toy that comes in a Kinder surprise egg 🙂
I’m thinking about all the games I have stored away…hmmmm. Uncluttering the clutter
…love it
uncluttering the clutter… love it!
Love the way you have turned scrap from a day with meaning for you, into a piece of artwork.
thank you Robyn, the 4×4 I created for the swap hasn’t been posted yet…but that one I should have created an extra. You know that kinda art love you don’t want to part with 🙂
You just inspired me with one of your comments above — now I have a new project in this vein to work on. Thanks. 🙂 This is a great piece that you created. Love it.
Glad you like it Annie… wait until the next one.. it’s in blues 🙂
Crazy ideas generally turn out the best! Cheers, Gisele!
you’re 100% right… crazy ideas = being free! Cheers right back at you! x0
Totally right up my alley, so inspiring as usual. Thank you!
glad you like it Becky.
Joe picked Elizabeth Nesbitt as the winner of the giveaway, winner announcement was also posted on the YouTube video. Thank you everyone for playing! another two giveaways starting next week.
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