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Margarete Miller Creating art from vintage sources

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Art journal pages on index cards

The Rolodex art card project

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December 9, 2019 By //  by Margarete Miller 15 Comments

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My friend Pamela introduced me to Rolodex art a few years ago. I had never seen them before and when I saw some of her displays, I was amazed and very much inspired.

a stack of rolodex art cards

What an incredible idea. Use Rolodex cards as places where to make art, and then have them on display for inspiration later. I already knew I loved to create small collages, so I knew I could make a go with Rolodex card art.

It took me a little while to get started, but last year I began making some.

This year I wanted to create more but I began to think about how I wanted to display them.Β  I found this “open rotary” Rolodex card file at a second-hand craft store, which holds the cards in a circular configuration, and knew that this was how I wanted to display my cards.

A rotary Rolodex file with collaged cards

This file is an actual Rolodex product. It came with a bunch of old, yellowed cards. I’m keeping them and will use them as I continue to collage more. The paper is a bit thin, so I glue two cards together.

I love that I can flip through them and have visual access to all of them so quickly.

http://www.margaretemiller.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/VID_90400607_150919_945.mp4

How do I make them?

It can take some time to create a single card, so I prefer to do a series. I found pages of cards that are pre-cut at the Goodwill. They used to be a regular offering at most office supply stores. With the sheets, all I need to do is embellish, and when the page is complete (both sides), I can separate the cards easily. This process is great because I can get a colored background easily on multiple cards, or even run the whole page through my printer. This really gives me a lot of options for creating interesting collages.

A sheet of altered art Rolodex cards

Here I used rubber stamps that straddle 2 cards. After I separate the cards, they look like the ones below.

A set of collaged cards all done in a similar theme

In the cards above, notice the orientation of the notches–they are on top. That’s because these are B sides. The second side is “upside down” so that you can see it displayed correctly when you flip through. The A side is with the notches at the base.

Here’s the A side. It’s hard to notice the notches at the base. You’ll see them more clearly when they are separated.

A full sheet of collaged paper with pre-cut Rolodex cards

I finally got to use this neat rubber stamp with someones’s signature that I picked up at an estate sale. I bet that Manager would never have guessed his signature would be used for something like this!

Here’s how the cards look separated.

How do I cut out the notches?

One question I hear people ask is, how do I cut out the notches so cleanly? In the sheets, everything is pre-cut, but when I want to add papers near the notches, I use a punch for cutting the shape. A few years ago I found this punch by Heidi Swapp, though now that I am looking online, I don’t see it being made or sold any longer. This is what it looks like.

A Rolodex card die-cut punch

I hope they become available again. It isn’t perfect, but it sure helps when I want to collage on the whole card. You could always use scissors to cut away the hole; that’s what many others do. You can hardly notice when the cards are in the Rolodex file, anyway.

There are also dies that can be found online. I found this one on Amazon and it works quite well.

I love the idea of a Rolodex system as a gluebook. It’s a place I can store and display my collage art, so yes, it’s a gluebook!

 

 

 

Filed Under: collage art, gluebook

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Angela

    December 20, 2019 at 9:51 am

    I really like your collages. I was wondering about the book in the header. Are the pages made from thick card initially? I am guessing the size is about 2.5 inches by 5?

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      December 20, 2019 at 10:58 pm

      Thanks, Angela πŸ™‚ Do you mean the index cards in all of the banner images? They are extended index cards, so yes, it’s like a heavy cardstock. They are 3.5″ x 6.25″.

      Reply
  2. Roseanne Sabol

    December 27, 2019 at 5:22 am

    Hi, Margarete – I think these are beautiful and I’d like to make this one of my on-going projects for the coming year. I just found a YouTube video for using a Cinch machine to make the Rolodex holes. Who knew! Yay! Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/GLI65S9RXTI
    Warm regards. 😊

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      December 28, 2019 at 12:37 pm

      Awesome! Thanks for sharing that link. I’ve been wondering about techniques for doing that! Have fun with working on yours. I really enjoy finishing a couple and then coming back a month or so later to make more.

      Reply
    • Gillian

      December 31, 2019 at 2:32 pm

      Awesome link you provided! Thank you so much!

      Reply
  3. Trudy Tantalo

    December 27, 2019 at 8:37 am

    I definitely want to try this too, and may begin today. I’m super lucky I guess because I already own the circular rollodex and hundreds of cards. I actually used to use them for names, addresses, phone #s! Now my contacts are on my phone and I will use my supplies to make collages. Thanks so much, Margarete (and Pam!) for introducing us to this fun collaging option!

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      December 28, 2019 at 12:41 pm

      It would be pretty awesome, Trudy, if you leave some of those names and numbers in the Rolodex, along with your art. I love the idea that you keep “contacts” or have some memories or connection to the info you’ve got on those cards, along with art next to it. I think that would be so cool πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Sylvia Hildman

    December 27, 2019 at 9:54 am

    Some very beautiful photos. I really love this post and I have enjoyed all the groups creativity with these. I started a few cards for a small rollodex I had hidden away. I’m on the mend after all of Decembers issues, so maybe I can get with it again. THANK You so much for all you do.

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      December 28, 2019 at 12:44 pm

      Yay! That’s great, Sylvia. I’m so glad you’re on the mend and back to creating. Rolodex cards are a very doable project because they are small. Even just completing one leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment. I like that I can do as many or as few as I feel like and I’ve completed something. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  5. Barbara Edelman

    December 29, 2019 at 3:00 pm

    i already have a card-filled circular rolodex on my amazon shopping list. i’m going to remove the cards & letter dividers & spray paint the black plastic frame, probably turquoise because i have a ridiculous amount of turquoise spray paint left over from another project. when i start collaging, i’m going to use the letters to determine my starting point/initial element.

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      December 29, 2019 at 6:18 pm

      That’s great, Barbara, that you’ve got some solid plans for your soon-to-be-arriving Rolodex. I love your idea with the letter separators πŸ™‚

      Reply
  6. Gillian

    December 31, 2019 at 2:39 pm

    Oh my goodness gracious, I’m so happy to have found your group! I’m just starting out on the Journals, and investigating various methods. Pleased as punch to see the tea dying in a large pot, leaving overnight. I’m a big tea drinker, so this technique is right up my alley. Love this post too about smaller scale projects to start with index cards. I used to use a Rolodex on my desk, years ago, it would be nice to have still & create with my thoughts/artistry. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas!

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      December 31, 2019 at 6:07 pm

      I’m so glad you’re on this journey with us, Gillian! How neat to be able to incorporate a Rolodex into your creative life now. I’m sure you’ll find it so rewarding πŸ™‚

      Reply
  7. Jackie P Neal

    February 6, 2020 at 4:31 am

    Hello Margarete!
    Sitting here sipping my coffee and drooling(almost) over your cards! My art friend brought me a few Rolodex’s last summer, although mine are in the closed box form. I tried my hand at a few and oops, got the a & b sides wrong-LOL Anyway, love yours and your cards and your art always brings a smile and inspiration to me!
    Thank you!
    Jackie

    Reply
    • Margarete Miller

      February 6, 2020 at 8:26 am

      Thanks, Jackie!! I’m glad you found some ideas and inspiration in my cards. I, too, have a closed box Rolodex that I haven’t started using yet and I was thinking, maybe those ones don’t need to have the B sides upside down. I your case, if you’ve started one way, just continue as you’ve done. The point is that you’re making them. Know what I mean? πŸ™‚

      Reply

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