Young Love ATC

This artist trading card features a photo of my paternal grandparents about two weeks after they were married in the summer of 1920. I don't know what kind of wedding ceremony they had (my dad doesn't know either), but their smiles definitely say "newlyweds."

My grandparents were married almost 40 years. They probably would have been married even longer, but my grandpa died of a brain tumor when he was about 60. My grandma lived to the age of 89.

I love the dress she is wearing in this photo. I wish I knew what color it was.

Thanks for stopping by!

I created this ATC for the January 24, 2010, Gothic Arches Challenge Blog, which can be found here.

Supplies:
Pinecone Press ATC matboard; decorative papers from Cosmo Cricket and The Paper Studio; Bazzill black cardstock; vintage photo distress ink; timber brown Stazon; Making Memories gold leaves; Sticko brand number stickers and mini black rhinestones.

Sweet Tart #2 ATC

Here is a second Artist Trading Card I created over the weekend. I'm sending this one to a friend who for some reason used to call me a Tart. (That was before I became respectable.)

This ATC came together quite quickly since it is similar to the first one I made (posted here). I made a few changes that to me make this ATC more pleasing to the eye.

I hope you have a sunny Monday! We're expecting snow again.

Supplies:
Black ATC matboard; old sheet music; old book text; Basic Grey patterned paper; Ranger Inkssentials glossy paper; Adirondack alcohol inks; distress inks: shabby shutters and worn lipstick; Archival jet black ink; Tim Holtz Eiffel Tower collage stamp; postmark stamp by Inkadinkado; diamond stamp by Paperbag Studios; transparency from ArtChix Studio; Prima paper flowers, mini black brads; computer-generated text; black craft wire for hanger; sheer black ribbon.

Sweet Tart #1 ATC

I've been wanting to try my hand at an Artist Trading Card (ATC) for some time now, and I found the perfect inspiration this weekend. While sorting through yet another pile of paper scraps, I found some small drip and smash backgrounds that I made a while ago. The scraps weren't large enough for a card front but were more than sufficient for an ATC, which measures only 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

Like the ATCs of others that I have admired, mine is a mixed media effort. It features a transparency from ArtChix Studio within a Gothic arch.

For more information about ATCs, you can visit this website.

I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of working within such a small palette and will definitely be making more of these in the near future.

I hope you were inspired this weekend to create something new. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Black ATC matboard; old sheet music; old book text; Basic Grey patterned paper; Ranger Inkssentials glossy paper; Adirondack alcohol inks; distress inks: shabby shutters, worn lipstick, and walnut stain; black Stazon; Tim Holtz Eiffel Tower collage stamp; postmark stamp by Inkadinkado; patterned heart stamp by Craft Smart; transparency from ArtChix Studio; small rose ephemera; Prima paper flowers, mini black brads; computer-generated text; black craft wire for hanger; sheer black ribbon.

Victorian Get Well

In addition to getting my craft area cleaned up and organized, I've vowed to make a real effort to use up the piles (yes, piles...sigh) of paper scraps I've accumulated. Sometimes it's a struggle to do that and sometimes one ends up with a wonderful card, like this one! The black card base, magenta glossy cardstock, and the background paper were all in my scrap pile.


The background paper was achieved with alcohol inks (plum, lettuce, and silver metallic) using the "drip and smash" technique.



This is a 4.25 x 5.5 inch card. The right side of the card front was trimmed by one inch to reveal the inside of the card which was embellished with two silver Victorian fan brads and three small clear rhinestones mounted on the same magenta glossy paper.

It was difficult to get a photo that really does this card justice. In reality the colors are quite vibrant, and the magenta and black are a striking combination. Here's a photo from another angle.


I'm sending this card to a friend who recently had surgery. I hope it will brighten her day.

Thanks for popping in!

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Outpost, Stampin' Up!; Bazzill black cardstock; magenta glossy cardstock (unknown manufacturer); Ranger Inkssentials glossy white cardstock; Adirondack alcohol inks and blending solution; Archival jet black ink; Stazon dove gray; black satin ribbon; pink and white fabric flowers; silver brads; clear rhinestones; silver Victorian fan brads; corner rounder; round and scalloped round Nestabilities; Cuttlebug.

For more information about Artistic Outpost, the company that sells the rubber stamp I used for this card, please visit their website here.

Vintage Collage

After I finished my 2009 Christmas cards I took a much-needed hiatus from crafting. In the meantime I've been doing some cleaning and reorganizing in my craft area. It feels so good to do that! Feeling rejuvenated, I was ready to start a project using some new materials that I received for Christmas.

I'm sending this card to the friend who had my name in a Secret Santa exchange. She sent me some fabulous items, including the K & Company decorative papers I used in this card.

The stamped image is in a set from Artistic Outpost called Generation Redux. It was a Christmas present to myself.

I hope you're having a fun and relaxing weekend! Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Outpost, Stampin' Up!; brown cardstock by Bazzill; tan cardstock by Color Mates; decorative papers by K & Company; Grungeboard oval frame; inks: Adirondack pitch black, Archival jet black, frayed burlap, old paper, and walnut stain distress inks; clear embossing powder, Loew-Cornell pastels; Cuttlebug corner dies; Janome Sew Mini; copper brads; hand-crocheted flowers in ecru.

For more information about Artistic Outpost, the company that makes the rubber stamp image used on this card, please visit their website here.

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe that it's 2010 already. Seems like just yesterday we were worrying about the problems our computers would have dealing with the change from 1999 to 2000. It really is true that the older you get, the faster time seems to pass.

Speaking of getting older...

Happy Birthday, Ma!

I'm thankful to have a mom as wonderful as you.

Best wishes to everyone for a happy and healthy year!