Gum Wrapper Art Box

I admit it. I'm the crazy person at work asking people to save plastic bottles, soda can tabs, bottle caps, and yes, even gum wrappers! I can't help myself! The guy in the office next to me chews gum - a lot of it. He had several of the wrappers on the low file cabinet next to his desk one day when I walked in and I was immediately drawn to their potential. Copper, silver, gold, and green. The colors and textures were like a lure to a fresh-water fish. "Will you save those for me?" Without batting an eye, he replied, "Sure!" He has faithfully done so for weeks as I have pondered what to do with these little strips of shimmering possibility. As I began collecting them in my drawer at work, I also used the last tea bag from my wooden tea box. I placed it in the same drawer as the gum wrappers and as they met, an idea was born. A gum wrapper covered tea box. Why not?

Here is what you will need to complete this project:

• foil gum wrappers
• an empty wooden tea box or container of your choosing
• adhesive spray or glue
• sandpaper
• stamp and ink
• spray fixative
  

I take great joy in turning what would be trash into something useful or art that brings me or someone else joy.  I hope you enjoy this project.  

See it.  Create it.

For my project, I folded the sides of the gum wrappers along their original folds and glued them to the front, sides, back, and bottom of the empty wooden tea box, overlapping the top edge.  One one side,  I used a contrasting color for a single strip - just for the heck of it.

Below is a picture of the box with the gum wrappers in all in place.

Next I stamped one of the sides for added interest.  Be careful as the ink will smudge.  Allow to dry (I waited several hours) and then lightly spray with a fixative.

Gently sand the lid and the sides of the lid so that when removed, the lid will not rip the foil.

There you have it.  A creative and interesting looking box.  Now, what will you create?

Clip Art - Literally

So today I needed a clip for a packet I was compiling for a client and as I pulled the container of clips from the cabinet I saw the black and silver gems in an entirely new light.  Even the most mundane things, such as metal clips, can take on symmetry and grace.   I decided to do an exercise, dumping the clips onto my worktop and letting art happen.  I snapped pictures along the way, taking advantage of two different lighting sources.

I encourage you to try this exercise.  Make it a point to look at everything today in a new light. Seek out ways to make the ordinary, well, extraordinary.  What was just a simple pile of clips this morning became much more.  Try the exercise with just anything you encounter during your day.  Rely on as few different components as possible.  For example, I didn't use anything other than clips.  

What may seem like a simple exercise may just open your eyes to the amazing possibilities around you.  See it.  Create it.

Here they are, the clips that inspired.

I began clipping them end to end.

Their utility as clips begins to fade and the grace in their form begins to appear.

Another perspective.

 

Other shapes.