Altered Rolodex Cards

One of the highlights of becoming a Curriculum Coordinator in my school district ten years ago (a job I did for four years) was ordering all kinds of fun office supplies for my desk, including a rather important-looking Rolodex to keep vital phone numbers at my finger tips.

Never mind that it never held more than ten filled cards, and never mind that it was pretty much already obsolete, since everyone else was already using more technologically-advanced "address books."

Imagine my delight to discover that altered Rolodex cards have become a "thing" in the world of art I love to follow.

I don't remember how I first stumbled upon Patty Van Dorin's blog, but it was there that I first saw the most deliciously altered Rolodex cards, which she refers to as a "Scrapodex." 

From her site, I found Brian Kasstle's altered Rolodex cards, along with Karenann Young's work.  The design and detail in their small Rolodex collages were amazing.  And inspiring.

I found an inexpensive Rolodex at Staples, and after staring at it on my desk for several months, I ventured to create some altered Rolodex cards of my own.

I found it more difficult than I thought it would be.  After all, it isn't as small of a canvas as an inchie, which involves handling pretty tiny pieces.  And it isn't as large as a collaged art journal page, which can involve a lot of considerations regarding content and composition.

I think I was trying to make it more difficult than it needed to be.  I think I was putting more pressure on myself than strictly necessary.  I fell back on using quotations on the cards in order to include meaningful text.  And while I like the result, I wasn't really looking to make another project for keeping favorite quotations at hand.

I have been watching artist April Cole have fun with her Rolodex creations, and I am planning to "revisit" the project later when my mind is less cluttered with other pursuits. 

Altering Rolodex cards has everything about it that I enjoy:  small size, almost instant gratification, collage (my favorite form of play), and now a community that loves to swap them with one another.  What's not to love? 

Wishing you a creative, artful weekend!