Materials
Sometimes folks ask me about materials. Originally, I wanted things to actually work: the pencils, the matches, the slingshot, the shotgun, the bass guitar, but this is beyond my skill (and not too safe). the slingshot is made of stretchable material (old nylon stockings and bookbinding glue) but I doubt you could throw a pebble very far with it! I made the pencils early on, and stuck real graphite and real erasers in there so they'd "work", and it satisfied me at the time. A few months ago I replaced one eraser with bubble gum. thanks to Steve L and Demetri K for the idea, and to Brian B for his comments. I'm glad I did it, it's more consistent with how the project is now.
But I don't need everything to be what it isn't. I don't want to hinder the process by strictly avoiding "things that aren't what they are". If I do that I will never finish, and it won't be fun. Ultimately they're just props in a story. For instance, the beer can is aluminum, but it's cut from flashing, then painted, rolled, and glued. The envelope is paper, but it's an envelope shape cut from a larger sheet of paper, then painted, folded, and glued. The "toilet paper tube" in the Trophy is cardboard, but it's cut, painted, and rolled bristol board embellished with blotter paper. Next pencil I make will likely have burnt wood for a tip and, yes, bubble gum for an eraser, but the crown will still be aluminum, just like in a real pencil, because it's fun to shape and emboss and affix, and because it's such a beautiful material. I try to find a satisfactory balance with each piece.
MATERIALS
2B pencil box Gouache, pencil, ink and paper on cut, folded & glued Bristol board
A Chance to Chew: Tastes for Tongue and Teeth gum
Outer wrapper: acrylic pen and colored pencil on paper
Inner wrappers: silver leaf on cut and folded deli paper
Gum: scoring and plaster dust on polymer clay
Acorn Oils, gouache, acrylic ink, and colored pencil over paper, paper maché, and paper clay
Ashtray
Ashtray: Acrylic ink on polymer clay
Matches: Ink and pigmented ash on board
Oak Smokes: Ink and burnishing on handmade paper, oak leaves, charcoal, paper shavings
A Trophy Inks on embossed cardboard, wire, paper, cotton, and polymer clay; cut, rolled and dyed Bristol board with blotter paper
Bed
Bed: Painted, cut, and glued cardboard
Mattress, pillow: Ink and sewing on fabric with polyfill
Snow sheet, Soil sheet, Grass and Daisies blanket: Sewn and glued fabric
Bird's nest
Grass: Acrylic ink or gouache on cut paper
Twigs: Acrylic ink on cut, glued and twisted paper
Birch Bark: Ink, pencil and gouache on cut and curled paper
Torn “Thank You” grocery bag: Acrylic Ink and pencil on glassine
Bit o’ Grit sandpaper Rust, mica, gouache, and pen on paper
Bird block Colored pencil and acrylic ink on air-dry clay
Bookshelf Cut, glued and painted cardboard
Boxer shorts package Acrylic ink on cut and heat-sealed plastic
Bread tie Colored pencil and ink on cut plastic
Buttons Acrylics on drilled and carved wood
Cake balls
Tube: Acrylic ink on taped and glued plastic
Balls: Spray-painted air-dry clay
Cap: Acrylic ink on polymer clay
Calipers Polymer clay with epoxy over armature, colored pencil, ink
Car shard Glued and inked Shrinky Dinks
Chevaline beer can Acrylic, graphite and shellac on cut and shaped aluminum
Chickadees and Cheese jar lid Acrylic ink on cut, embossed and shaped aluminum; colored pencil on paper with foam tape
Clothes hook Acrylic and pigments on air-dry clay over wire
Coffee cup Acrylics and ink on cut, formed, and waxed Bristol board
Cotton swab Paper clay over wire with gouache, paper, and amber resin
Dead fern
Pot: Acrylics and flashe on air-dry clay
Soil: Pigmented paper clay
Fern: Colored pencil and acrylics on tracing paper over glued wire
Card from Joanna: Colored pencil and acrylics on paper
Dead yellow jacket Polymer clay with hot glue, ink on wire, oil pastel on plastic film
Desk
Desk: Pen on painted, cut, and glued cardboard, acrylics on clay with wire and wood
ABC Gum: Acrylics on hot glue
Diary (In progress) Colored pencil, pencil, and ink on paper; ink on gessoed board
Doorknob Polymer clay over metal armature
EARIE Amp, Erie PA
Acrylics, acrylic ink, Bristol board, cardboard, colored pencil, glitter, ink, nylon, polymer clay, PVA, Shrinky Dinks, thread, twine, yarn
FEATHERMATIC Tuftometer Acrylics, aluminum, colored pencil, glass, graphite, magnet, needle, plastic, polymer clay, vellum, wire, wood
FERT Dung-a-long Colored pencil on board, dyed braided thread
Fingerjoint box Colored pencil on cut and jointed cardboard; polymer clay and Shrinky Dinks
Fingernails Colored pencil on air-dry polymer clay
FINETIME Flexible Form Colored pencil on cut and glued Bristol board, ink on paper, cut and glued glassine, smooshed erasers
Flattened nickel Acrylics on air-dry clay
Flying Saucer postcard Ink on paper and Bristol board
Fur-tide bottle cap Acrylic, shellac, and hot glue on cut and shaped aluminum
Git Up N' Go Defibrillator Co. label Acrylic ink on origami paper
Gum Tucker toothbrush (with Wobbly Nib) Acrylics and hair on polymer clay, ink on hot glue
Hangman napkin Ink and pencil on embossed paper
Jacks
Jacks: Acrylics on polymer clay
Ball: Glow-in-the-dark pigmented PVA on polymer clay
Package: Acrylics on oaktag, heat-sealed and folded plastic, wire
JUST Jel-eum petroleum jelly Ink on air-dry polymer clay, ink and acrylics on paper, pigmented acrylic medium
Keys Acrylic inks on air-dry clay
Level
Level: Ink on paper clay over cardboard with water and food coloring in a plastic straw
Brass plate: Colored pencil on polymer clay
Electrical tape: Ink and glue on vellum
Library paperwork Ink and pencil on paper
Li'l Vinny paintbrush Acrylics on air-dry clay over wood and wire, hair
Maple leaf Acrylics on cut and wired paper
Matchbook Colored pencil and gouache on paper; pigmented ash on cardboard; sandpaper and wire
Mica Cut, shaped, and painted plastic
Mirror
Mirror: spray paint on plexiglass, acrylics on paper clay
Stickers: colored pencil on vellum with tape
Backing: acrylics on board, on polymer clay, and on dyed and twisted thread
Moss-pocket Fernulated Spittle Tabs
Bottle: Acrylic ink on polymer clay, acrylics and pencil on paper
Pills: pigmented plaster
NESSO Clips with Grip Cut, filed and folded wire inside cut, folded and painted Bristol board
Note from Brian Pencil, colored pencil, and ink on cut paper
Note from Tammy Pencil and colored pencil on cut paper
Oak Smokes
Package: Colored pencil, ink, and acrylic ink on paper, aluminum leaf on paper, silverpoint, cellophane
Cigarettes: ink and burnishing on handmade paper, oak leaves
OLDSKIN Tassletoes
Acrylics, cardboard, colored pencil, ink, paper, papier mâché, PVA
Pearl-handled pocketknife Pigmented acrylics on polymer clay, pin
Pencil 1 Graphite, paper maché, wood putty, embossed aluminum, acrylics, eraser
Pencil 2 Graphite, paper maché, wood putty, embossed aluminum, acrylics, bubble gum
Pine wisp Acrylics on cut paper with sewn nylon over wire
Pins Acrylic ink on air-dry clay
PRO me-thee-us lighter fluid can Acrylic ink on cut, folded, and glued aluminum with polymer clay
Puppin Spool of thread Colored pencil and acrylic ink on paper clay, ink on origami paper, cat fur
Rabbit's foot Milkweed and ink on shaped plastic over wire; aluminum leaf on polymer and air-dry clay
Razor blade Acrylics on air-dry clay
Security envelope Ink on cut, folded and glued paper
Sling n' Smite Pebble Projector
Branch: Painted air-dry clay over armature
Sling: PVA on nylon, ink on paper
Box: Ink on cut and glued board, painted embossed paper, paper maché, ink on blotter paper, acrylic on Shrinky Dinks, colored pencil on polymer clay
Pebbles: Colored pencil on air-dry clay
Snake Who Choked on a Crabapple
Acrylics, cardboard, colored pencil, kneaded eraser, nylon, paper, polymer clay, PVA, styrofoam, wire
Snowbuddy hunting cap
Hat: Sewing, embroidery, and braiding on fabric
Tuft Club badge: Polymer clay with sharpened wire
Sock Sewn fabric
Space poem Colored pencil on dyed paper (Based on Space is Deep by Hawkwind)
Stuffed chickadee
Bird: Ink on frayed dental floss, pink styrofoam, pencil on wired vellum, and ink on paper over wired polymer clay and wax
Base: Acrylic ink, Shrinky Dinks, and glitter on air-dry clay
Sunset Walking Shoes box
Box and Lid: Colored pencil on cut, folded and glued cardboard
Tissue: Colored pencil on tracing paper
THANATOCKS broken clock Acrylics, ink, flashe, pins, nails, paper, cardboard, glow-in-the-dark pigmented polymer clay, silicone, plexiglass
Thank Yew (card from Alma) Pencil, colored pencil, and ink on cut and folded paper
Toy car Acrylics on polymer clay, ink, rubber, pins
Trod-Alot sneakers Ink, acrylics, colored pencil, and sewing on canvas paper, foam, rubber, and polymer clay with woven string
Trouser Time pair of pants Glued yarn on cut and sewn fabric, embroidery, polymer clay
Turn-A-Mot Taxi clip comb Ink, aluminum leaf, and acrylic on Shrinky Dinks with acrylic ink on polymer clay over wire; dyed thread
Twisty-tie Acrylics on paper over wire
Vine Gouache on polymer clay
WELL Camp Cup with Acus Oculus Needle and Leave Hem-lock tea
Cup: Ink and acrylic ink on cut, shaped, and glued aluminum flashing and embossing tin
Box: Colored pencil on cut, folded, and glued Bristol
Tea: Shrinky Dinks, colored pencil and acrylic on cut HMP inside cut, folded and glued fabric; colored pencil on paper with wire and twisted thread
Whiffle ball Acrylics on paper maché
Wisdom teeth Acrylic ink and colored pencil on air-dry clay
Woodcock waste can Acrylic ink on cut, worked and glued aluminum flashing
Wool-itz “Natural” sweater
Sweater: Cut and sewn blanket
Tags: Embroidery on fabrics
Patches: Glued yarn on fabric
Burr: Acrylic ink on cut, glued, and shaped aluminum flashing over paper clay and painted paper
Yo-yo Acrylic inks on clay and paper clay over armature, woven thread