CSI Typography Contest

I spent last weekend at the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) convention. I was helping out at the Quilled Creations booth most of the time, but I did get around to many of the other vendors. From across the room I saw this red head and I thought, "Hey! I know her!" Sure enough, it was Beckie from Infarrantly Creative. (And, I actually don't "know" her, but I do read her blog everyday so I feel like I know her.)  Anyway, we started chatting and bonded a bit over our love for transforming junk.

Beckie told me she was super busy getting sponsors for her various blog projects and she wasn't kidding! Look at this prize package for this week's CSI Project!

I am fixing to do another special typography project soon, but I don't think it will be done by Friday noon. So I am tossing my hat in the ring with this favorite project. It was a special love note for Cliff.

When I saw this great quote art on Ohdeedoh I started looking for the right canvas to make our own quote art.

I found this frame for just $4 at a local thrift store. It looked like it was a framed canvas. However, when I took it apart it was just a thick frame and a thin fabric wrapped cardboard.

 It was perfect for this project!  I recently saw someone who used a cut up book to make a text mosaic and loved the idea for the background. Perfect since my husband is a writer.

I used the Elison press at school to cut two old books into squares for the text mosaic. I used an old book of quotes and a book called Love and Glory. If you look close you can see lots of fun quotes, my name as one of the characters in Love and Glory and of course the word "love" many times. I chose the books mostly for their shades of age.

I used Modge Podge to glue the squares in an alternating pattern. I tried to select a variety of shades of yellowing.

Next I printed out a snippet of ee coming's poem i carry your heart printed in a large American Typewriter font. I scribbled with a dark pencil on the back to make carbon paper.

I secured it to the canvas with painters tape. This worked really well and did not damage the collage at all. I used a pen and pressed hard to trace the words.

I call this method the poor woman's Silhouette. 

Next I used a Sharpie marker to fill in the letters. They are not perfect, but I am pleased with the overall effect.

I'd say it took two episodes of Glee (on Hulu) and two episodes of Dancing with the Stars to make this project. I can think of many other cool backgrounds. Perhaps a smaller photo or scrapbook paper.

I hope you didn't mind the repeat!