Lexie Lou Creations

Altered books by Alexis Swanson/Lexie Lou Creations

I'm always curious to see how other artist types use our collage sheets, so I was thrilled to receive a note from Alexis Swanson, the artist behind Lexie Lou Creations, who used our Pulp Romance and Hardboiled Heroines in her grunged-up and distressed altered books. Lexie Lou Creations on Etsy offers altered journals, planners, greeting cards and framed original art, as well as assorted accessories and adorable handmade embellishments for scrapbooks and altered art projects.

Altered Planners from Lexie Lou Creations

I'm a huge fan of a dirty grungy mess, so I'm absolutely in love with her designs, which blend vintage papers and ephemera with new images and a healthy dose of Jacquard Lumiere paints and Tim Holtz distress inks. I was dying to more about Alexis' creative process. Here's what she had to say:

What inspires your designs?

It depends on what I’m in the mood for. Around the holidays, I get more sentimental about family and friends. Therefore, a lot of my work will incorporate old family photos or memories with friends. As the weather changes, I change up my colors. I use brighter colors during the winter as things are so very dark and gloomy for the most part. I also turn to the materials around me. I start digging through my shoe boxes full of old newspaper clippings, vintage report cards and old manuals I’ve picked up throughout the years and start making art.

Altered Greeting Card from Lexie Lou Creations

How did you get started on Etsy?
For the last three years, I had a shop on Ebay. I sold a lot of my smaller items, but noticed that my more intense work wasn’t getting too much attention. After looking at the amazing work others were selling, I decided to pack up from Ebay and get over to Etsy. The shoppers on Etsy are very savvy and know that a lot of time, effort and passion goes into the items for sale.

Any tips for recreating your amazing vintage-grunge look?
I use the advice that my aunt gave me when I asked her about her creative thought process: Don’t think about, be about it. I’ve translated that into not caring about even cuts or perfect squares and embracing mistakes in the process. My personal technique that you will see in almost everything I create is the painting, inking and tearing of tissue or napkin papers. I tear almost anything, but tissue papers have the most magnificent texture and effect. Additionally, I always have old books, postcards and anything else I can get my hands on from flea markets that have interesting text and type. Those are my faves!

Have a Junkmill-inspired creation you'd like to share? Send me an email or contact me through Etsy.