Free Man in Paris - TMTA

I made this ATC for today's Think Monday-Think ATC challenge which is Top Hat. I have some ArtChix Studio transparencies of dapper gents in top hats, so this card came together easily.

The background was made with some old Tim Holtz papers and the blended paper technique. The postmark is a Tim Holtz stamp. I computer-generated the text, which is the title of a Joni Mitchell song.

Thanks for stopping by for my 100th post!

Supplies:
Cardstock base; Tim Holtz patterned papers; ArtChix Studio transparency; Tim Holtz stamp; Colorbox sapphire silk pigment ink; clear embossing powder; Stazon black ink; antique linen and bundled sage distress ink; white acrylic paint; Adirondack silver acrylic paint dabber; Derwent charcoal pencil; computer-generated text.

Collage Coterie: Class of '44

This vintage gluebook page completed for Lesson 5 features a high school graduation photo of one of my aunts and a variety of school-related images including pages from some old textbooks that belonged to my maternal grandmother and great-grandfather.


The Practical Speller book image in the top left corner and the number three Flinch card in the bottom right corner are packing tape transfers. Both images were originally on a piece of Tim Holtz paper that I bought several years ago.

Thanks for visiting my blog! Have a great day.

Supplies:
K and Company patterned paper; family photo; scraps from vintage geography, botany, and grammar books; reproduction vocabulary card from an unknown source; Elocution clipart from 7 gypsies; Practical Speller and Flinch card images from Tim Holtz; clear packaging tape; tea dye and walnut stain distress ink.

Collage Coterie: Buy War Bonds

I completed this ATC for Lesson 4 to illustrate the Golden Ratio, which is a method to determine where best to place the components of your collage.

This is one of my uncles who served in World War II. The background began with a copy of a 1943 envelope purchased at an antique store. The USO logo was on the back flap of the envelope but there was no stamp. I have since learned that letters mailed by servicemen at that time did not require postage, but they could be censored by authorities.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Cardstock ATC base; copies of 1943 letter, ration stamps, and family photo; pumice stone and antique linen distress ink.

Romancing the Flaws

One thing that art students are encouraged to do is to experiment without worrying about the final result. Try a new technique, play with a different medium, stretch your boundaries. And that is exactly what I've been doing the past few nights. I have decided to call this process "Romancing the Flaws," after a phrase I found in a book.

This is a 6x8 inch canvas panel where I practiced several new techniques. This piece has its flaws, but it's not completely without merit and it gets me one step closer to one of my goals: creating larger, canvas-based, mixed-media collages. The most important thing is that I'm learning.

Have a great weekend!

Supplies:
6x8 canvas panel; ivory and white acrylic paint; vintage dictionary page and sheet music; clip art border, prayer card, and little girl photo from Green Paper Packages; butterflies from Graphics Fairy; tea dye distress ink; dark moss chalk ink; modeling paste; brass stencil; Derwent charcoal pencil; buttons and lace from my stash; text from a book by Sarah Ban Breathnach.

Collage Coterie: Little Miss Muffet

I created this gluebook-sized page (4.5 x 6 inches) for the "Colors in Nature" prompt in Lesson 2 of the Collage Coterie class I'm taking. I may add some embellishments to it; but I'm not sure yet.

The butterfly wings and mushrooms were copied from my childhood encyclopedic dictionary that has several colorful plates of various American flora and fauna. My little Miss Muffet is from a snapshot included with the class materials. I've attached the original photo below so you can see how I altered it to fit my collage.

I can't believe it's Friday already! School started this week and we've had a couple of cool (for August) days so it really feels as if summer is over. I for one am looking forward to some pleasant fall weather. Thanks for dropping by and have a great day!

Supplies:
Cardstock base; vintage sheet music, dictionary page, and An Evening with Burns title page; faux vintage patterned paper from my stash; white acrylic paint; pumice stone and frayed burlap distress ink; Derwent charcoal pencil; clip art as described above.

Here is the photo as originally provided by Mary Green.

Man was Made to Mourn ATC

I'm working on a larger project that needs some drying and thinking time, so in the interim I decided to make an ATC for today's Theme Thursday challenge "Vintage Men."

This mixed media card includes a curly-haired gentleman from Alpha Stamps, the title of a Robert Burns' poem, some white acrylic paint, and a little bit of stamping.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Cardstock ATC base; clipart gentleman from Alpha Stamps; clipart background from ArtChix Studio; poem title and torn text from a 1927 book about Robert Burns; white acrylic paint; rubber stamps by Inkadinkado and Paperbag Studios; stormy sky, frayed burlap, and walnut stain distress ink; Derwent medium charcoal pencil; black Dresden trim; black button brads.

My First Anniversary

On this date last year I sat down at the computer to figure out how to create a blog, and after many (many) hours I finally hit the "publish post" button for the first time. Now here it is, a full year later and I'm still hitting the publish button--and more frequently than ever! I'm rather surprised at myself because I have never been one to keep any kind of journal. But I am so enjoying this endeavor and I have learned so much in the past year: computer-wise, artistically, and of course, personally.

To my dear friends who have been following along from day one, I give my sincerest thanks. I am so grateful to have such caring and enthusiastic people to share life with. I also appreciate the readers from around the globe whom I have not met, but who are kindred spirits in the pursuit of art and all that it represents.

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to read my blog and for leaving comments. You have warmed the frost of this ol' hermit. In return, I hope I have brought some sunshine to your days and perhaps inspired you to pursue your own artistic endeavors, whatever they may be.


Once again, I thank you for visiting my blog and wish you a fabulous Monday!

Supplies:
Cardstock base; vintage sheet music; three miscellaneous papers for background; clipart image from Green Paper Packages; Robert Burns' poetry from a 1920s book; butterfly from my 1960s cyclopedic dictionary; white acrylic paint; Derwent medium charcoal pencil; pink pastel (chalk); frayed burlap and Victorian velvet distress ink.

Free Moustache Rides ATC

After seeing some other ATCs with a Bingo card background, I dug out an old piece of Tim Holtz paper with Bingo card images and created this card. Don't ask me how my mind went from the free space on a bingo card to moustache rides. It would be easier for me to explain plasma physics to you.


None of the background papers is vintage, but they appear to be thanks to the blended paper technique. I also added a faint shadow to my gent using a charcoal pencil (it's not highly visible in this scan). This technique was part of Lesson 2 in Mary Green's Collage Coterie class. I like how this card turned out and I am especially pleased that I decided to go with a landscape orientation on this one.

Supplies:
Cardstock base; gentleman clipart from AlphaStamps; patterned paper by Tim Holtz (bingo card), Graphic 45 (checkerboard), and unknown (vertical text strips on right side); computer-generated text; white acrylic paint; Derwent medium charcoal pencil; antique linen, frayed burlap, and walnut stain distress ink.

Prince Albert: Hero in Edinburgh ATC

"And now for something completely different" (spoken in my best Monty Python voice). That Love Awaiting ATC was just too saccharine for me, so the next ATC I made was at the opposite end of the spectrum.

What could be more masculine than a Prince Albert cigarette paper? I collaged a variety of papers around it including some wonderful text about the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who apparently burned down a house "welcoming the new year in bacchanalian fashion." (Must have been some party!)

Look for more references to Burns and tobacco products in upcoming creations.

Thanks for dropping by!

Supplies:
Cardstock ATC base; miscellaneous background papers from my scrap pile (the yardstick paper is Tim Holtz and the German text is from an 1889 publication, but I'm not sure about the others); Prince Albert cigarette paper; dry-cleaning tag; text from a 1920s book; Scrabble tile; brushed corduroy and walnut stain distress ink.

Love Awaiting ATC

I decided to participate in the "Collage-a-thon" at ATCs for All this weekend. I don't know what to expect but I think it will be a good experience for me. So I cleaned off my work space, organized my scraps, and here is the first ATC I created.

This card is much more feminine and romantic than my usual style, but it's growing on me. I used the blended paper technique on my background papers and used white acrylic paint to tone down the bright pink Dresden bird and metal flower. Can you believe I made such a sweet card?


Stay tuned for more ATCs. I hope you have a great weekend!

Supplies:
Cardstock ATC base; vintage sheet music and German text; 7 gypsies patterned paper; Victorian woman clipart from Mary Green of Green Paper; white acrylic paint; pink Dresden bird and fuchsia metal rose from ArtChix Studio; words cut from a book; Victorian velvet and pumice stone distress ink.

Collage Coterie: Small Packages #2

I am much happier with this second version of my Small Package ATC that used the blended paper technique in the background. I am so in love with this card, I may have to sleep with it. (OK, I'll just put it on the nightstand. I wouldn't want it to get wrinkled.)

Not only did I dry-brush some white acrylic paint onto my background papers, but I did the same to the bronze Dresden trim borders. (FYI--I returned to my first version and added a similar Dresden border, and now I'm much happier with that piece.)

My grandmother has been gone for over 15 years now and I miss her more than ever. She was an artist and it saddens me that I can't share my art with her. Oh, how I wish I had developed this hobby earlier! We could have had a lot of fun discussing our respective art projects and I think she would have enjoyed seeing her picture used this way.

Thanks for dropping by and have a great weekend!

Supplies:
7 Gypsies ATC base; vintage sheet music; vintage German text; white acrylic paint; brushed corduroy distress ink; 7 Gypsies patterned paper; pressed and dried hydrangea blossom; bronze Dresden trim; pearl brad; matte gel medium; paint brush for dry brushing; stipple brush.

ATC Holder

Last night I decided to create a special holder for my Scripted Pear ATC that today is enroute to its new home in Las Vegas.

As you can see, it's a simple tri-fold design with a Velcro closure. The pocket is not sealed and has a square bottom to accommodate an ATC with bumpy embellishments (in this case, at least). This holder could also be used to give someone a gift card.

I decorated the front with a 7 gypsies patterned paper and one of my Hampton Art flapper girls colored with Prismacolor pencils. I hope Debby likes this!

Thanks for popping in!




Supplies:
Stamp: Hampton Art Stamps; very vanilla and true thyme cardstock from Stampin' Up; Archival jet black ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; 7 gypsies patterned paper; Velcro closure; corner rounder punch.

Vintage Journey ATC

I made this ATC upon request by ShellySunshine on the ATCs for All site. She admired the vintage travel cards I had made for a swap, and asked if it were possible for me to make another one for her. In return she will be sending me one of her cards that I selected from her gallery. I'll be sure to share it with you all when it arrives.

The formula for this card is similar to the others: photo of the Amsterdam harbor, circa 1950 (courtesy of my dad who was there on leave from the army); vintage map and German text; stamped and embossed postcard image at the top and miscellaneous embellishments at the bottom.

Have a happy Wednesday!

Supplies:
Cardstock ATC base; vintage photo; vintage German text; vintage atlas map; rusty hinge distress ink; clear embossing powder; two postage stamp images from my stash (unknown); "journey" sticker by Making Memories; female clipart image from ArtChix Studio; two mini Prima flowers; micromini copper brad; brushed corduroy distress ink on paper edges; Adirondack copper acrylic paint around outer edges.

Scripted Pear - TMTA

Even though it was late, I decided to play in this week's Think Monday - Think ATC challenge because I love the theme which is script.

This pear by Stampin' Up is one of my all-time favorite stamps as it's very versatile. I've had difficulty getting a scan or photograph of this piece that depicts its true colors. This photo came the closest but in real life the original is lighter and the colors are much crisper.

Thanks for popping in!

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampin' Up (pear), script (Tim Holtz); very vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up; Colorbox brown pigment ink; crushed olive and walnut stain distress ink; patterned papers from 7 gypsies; bronze Dresden trim from Alpha Stamps; bronze snaps by Tim Holtz.

Collage Coterie: Small Packages

Once again I jumped in head first and signed up for Mary Green's online workshop Collage Coterie. After seeing just the first lesson, I am so glad I did! It was almost as if Mary could see into the future and knew what I would be thinking on August 15.

I started an ATC yesterday afternoon in which I wanted to use a dried hydrangea blossom from my garden and a photo of my grandmother. I fiddled around with it for a while but hadn't glued anything down yet, when I decided to take a break. I came to the computer to check for mail and saw that Mary had posted a reminder about the Collage Coterie. I hadn't made a final decision yet on whether or not I was going to sign up, but in that split second I decided I wanted to. And with that I had a new direction for the ATC I was working on.

I prepared a background using three different vintage papers and the blended paper technique described in the first lesson. Since no store in my city sells white gesso, I used white acrylic paint. I also dry-brushed a little white paint on the photo to give it some age (it's a copy printed on white cardstock--I've posted the original photo below). Part of me wants to add some additional embellishment because of some spacing issues that I'm not happy with, but I haven't figured out yet what that might be. I may just leave this card as it is and make adjustments when I go back and finish the original ATC.

I hope you're having a great start to your week! Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
7 Gypsies ATC base; vintage sheet music; vintage German text from two different books; white acrylic paint; brushed corduroy distress ink; 7 Gypsies patterned paper; pressed and dried hydrangea blossom; silver acrylic paint dabber; matte gel medium; paint brush for dry brushing; stipple brush.

Here is the original family photo I used. My grandmother is sitting on her dad's lap. Her mother is holding her baby sister (who obviously wasn't sitting still!), which dates this photo at 1920.

Simple Robin

Here's a quick card I threw together this weekend using (you guessed it), scraps from the ol' scrap pile. It's hard for me to make clean and simple cards, but they come in so handy when you want to send a quick note to someone and don't want to worry about bumpy embellishments or extra postage.

My favorite robin from Artistic Outpost was stamped on kraft cardstock and highlighted with a white Prismacolor pencil. (The idea came from a card published in Take 10 magazine.) I added the large copper eyelets for some additional interest but this card is still relatively flat so it can be mailed in a regular envelope and without additional postage.

We are having a glorious day here! The heat and humidity have moved out of the area so we shut off the air conditioning and opened all the windows. It feels wonderful to have a fresh breeze coming in.

Here's a snapshot I took today in our backyard of our "flower bed." We bought the antique painted bed at a garage sale this spring to replace a previous one that bit the dust. The statue is actually a fountain that belonged to my grandma. It has a crack so it won't hold water, but it makes a great planter. Usually by this time of the summer, the impatiens are just loaded with blooms. Unfortunately we've had a lot of rain this year and recently, some really hot days. I'm actually surprised the plants look as nice as they do, considering the weather we've had.


I hope that wherever you live, you are having pleasant weather and a relaxing weekend. Thank you for letting me share some of mine with you.

Supplies for Robin card:
Stamp: Artistic Outpost; kraft cardstock from Stampin' Up; timber brown Stazon ink; white Prismacolor Premier pencil; patterned papers by DCWV; antique copper eyelets by We R Memory Keepers; black cardstock by Bazzill.

Magg, the Irish Banshee - Inchie

This inchie I made for the Small World of Inchies and Twinchies challenge this week is making me smile! The theme is ladies and I just happened to have handy an old photograph I had copied for another project but hadn't used. Once I trimmed away the rest of the photo, this lady, identified as Magg on the reverse, was the perfect size for an inchie.

I found the words in a book by Sarah Ban Breathnach called Romancing the Ordinary. I bought it at the annual Friends of the Library sale for 25 cents because it contains a lot of great quotes and fun writing just ripe for dissecting for artwork. We will never know if Magg was Irish or a banshee, but I see an abundance of wisdom in those eyes.

I can't believe it's Friday already! Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.

Supplies:
Green patterned paper by DCWV; Elegant Corner rubber stamp by Hampton Art; Colorbox black pigment ink; clear embossing powder; book text; copy of old photo circa mid-1920s; wild honey distress ink.

Memorable Voyage

As I've mentioned in some earlier posts, I'm participating in an ATC swap with the theme of vintage travel. This is the extra ATC I made for the hostess of the swap. My cards will be voyaging all the way to Scotland, but thankfully not by slow boat.

The photo at the top is of the harbor at Amsterdam. My dad was there in the mid-1950s and bought a fantastic souvenir pack of snapshots that are the perfect size for ATCs. The sweet-faced girl is a transparency from ArtChix Studio.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Cardstock ATC base; vintage photo; vintage German text; vintage Holland map; wild honey distress ink; clear embossing powder; two postage stamp images from my stash (unknown); "voyage" sticker by Making Memories; female clipart image from ArtChix Studio; two mini Prima flowers; micromini copper brad; pumice stone distress ink on paper edges; Adirondack copper acrylic paint around outer edges.

Little Ray Travels - Inchie

I was fiddling around trying to make an ATC with a travel theme and it just wasn't coming together for me. So I pulled out a square punch, reduced that ATC to some inchie backgrounds, and threw this one together in a matter of seconds.

The background is a combination of polished stone (blue side), embossing resist on text from a German book (yellow side), and some rubber stamping (both sides).

The little boy is a friend's oldest brother in 1926 when he was about two years old. He looked so cute standing outside in the snow all bundled up in his little hat, mittens, and boots. The original photo is wallet-sized so the copies I made are the perfect size for smaller pieces like an ATC or inchie.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz (blue side), Stampin' Up (yellow side); glossy white cardstock; text from an old German book; Adirondack alcohol inks (various blues); Versamark ink; wild honey and aged mahogany distress ink; Archival jet black ink; clear embossing powder; travel sticker by Making Memories; copy of vintage photo.

Grungy Genius

I'm sending this creation to a buddy of mine for his birthday this month. I know he'll appreciate the vintage theme and grungy feel of this card.

Believe it or not, this was another card that started out using scrap papers that were left on my craft table. (Yes, it's way past time for me to tidy up a little. LOL!) The images from Artistic Outpost were stamped and embossed on some old book pages. I just love the natural discoloration in the margin where the "Genius" quote was stamped; I didn't have to do anything to that edge at all. I did ink up and distress the patterned papers underneath to tie everything together.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great Monday!

Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Outpost (Steampunk), Stampin' Up (Ephemera--a travel-themed background stamped on the green paper at the bottom but not very visible in this photo); text from two old books; Colorbox brown pigment ink; clear embossing powder; tea dye, walnut stain, and black soot distress ink; brown textured cardstock base by Bazzill; tan smooth cardstock mat (unknown); Bon Voyage Postage Stamp paper by Gartner Studios; green decorative paper by Pink Paislee; twill ruler ribbon from Michaels; copper brads and circle clip; pop-dots.

Fond Friend

Here is another clean and simple (CAS) card made entirely from papers in my scrap pile.

The flapper girl stamp is from a set of three by Hampton Art Stamps. The stamps are small but fun to color and they make a cute focal point on a card.

I hope you're having a great weekend. It's typical summer weather here--hot and humid. May as well stay inside and create!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hampton Art Stamps, Rubber Stampede; red and black cardstock by Bazzill; whisper white cardstock from Stampin' Up; Archival jet black ink; Prismacolor Premier pencils; odorless mineral spirits; patterned papers from MAMBI; Martha Stewart border punch; small black buttons from my stash (not sure if you can see them in the photo, they're right below the flapper image); Stampin' Up ticket corner punch; pop-dots.

Memories of Amsterdam - Adventure

Here is another ATC I created for a vintage travel swap at ATCs for All.

The canal photo was in a pack of snapshots my dad purchased in Amsterdam in about 1955. I stamped the post card collage at the top with Victorian velvet distress ink and clear embossed it to add some color and texture. The German text and Holland map at the bottom are both vintage. The ten cent coin from Panama is neither vintage nor valuable, but I like the image of Balboa and nothing depicts travel like a Spanish conquistador.

Thanks for stopping by and TGIF!

Supplies:
Cardstock ATC base; vintage photo; vintage German text; vintage Holland map; "post card" stamp by Stampabilities; Victorian velvet distress ink; clear embossing powder; postage stamp image from my stash (unknown); "adventure" sticker by Making Memories; Panamanian ten cent coin from one of my own trips; pumice stone distress ink on paper edges; Adirondack silver acrylic paint around outer edges.

Memories of Amsterdam - Discover

While cruising the internet one night looking for information on artist trading cards (ATCs), I found the website ATCs for All. In its own words, the site's focus is "friendly ATC and mail art trading and swapping in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere." While perusing the site, I found a swap organized by a member of an online class I took a couple of months ago. Since the theme was right up my alley, Vintage Travel, I signed up and started creating.

I made a series of three ATCs featuring some snapshots of Amsterdam from the 1950s. My dad purchased a package of small photos when he and some army buddies took leave there in 1955 or 1956 (they were stationed in Germany at the time). This particular photo is grounded with some vintage German text from the 1880s, a vintage map of Holland from the 1920s, and a German pfennig. The post card image at the top was stamped and clear embossed for additional texture.

In the coming days I'll show you the other ATCs in this series that will soon be mailed to the swap hostess in Scotland. I can't wait to see the ATCs I receive in return!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.

Supplies:
Cardstock ATC base; vintage photo; vintage German text; vintage Holland map; "post card" stamp by Stampabilities; peeled paint distress ink; clear embossing powder; postage stamp image from my stash (unknown); "discover" sticker by Making Memories; German pfennig from one of my own trips; pumice stone distress ink on paper edges; Adirondack copper acrylic paint around outer edges.

Later 'Gator - TMTA

You probably won't believe that I made this ATC. It's for this week's Think Monday - Think ATC challenge Reptiles, and it is not my usual style or subject matter at all.

Last week my mom gave me the 1960s Consolidated-Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary that we used when we were kids. It includes a "Pictorial Cyclopedia of Nature" with several full-color plates of birds, butterflies, insects, flowers, trees, and...North American Reptiles! Of course I didn't remember these wonderful illustrations, but my mom thought of them when I was describing the types of clipart I am looking for to use in my artwork. (This was also the book that we used to press leaves and flowers, and I'm using it right now to press some hydrangea petals, but I digress.)

I scanned and printed the reptiles page and then cut out the alligator and adhered it to a background that includes text from an old dictionary, stamped foliage, acrylic paint, and a transparency of a map from a presentation I did at a conference about a decade ago. I like the murky background; I think it suits an alligator quite well!

I've included a picture of the entire North American Reptiles plate below. Isn't it a lovely page? All of the plates have similar illustrations and brilliant colors.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day.

Supplies:
(Let's see if I can remember everything.) Two different decorative papers that you can't even see anymore; text from an old dictionary; acrylic paint (an ivory, a green, and a gray; diluted and put on as a wash); fern stamp from Artistic Outpost; black soot, forest moss, and vintage photo distress ink; map transparency; gold paint dabber around the edges. I think that's it!

Here is the full "North American Reptiles" plate from
The Consolidated-Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary, (c)1963.

Thinking of You

I haven't been feeling very creative lately but I did manage to make this quick and simple card using some papers from the ol' scrap pile. The Hampton Art Stamps cutie was colored with Prismacolor pencils.

Can you believe it's August already? This summer has just flown by. I for one look forward to the cooler weather that comes with autumn.

Have a great day!





Supplies:
Stamp: Hampton Art; purple cardstock by Bazzill; decorative papers by MAMBI (me and my Big ideas); Stampin' Up whisper white cardstock; Archival jet black ink; Prismacolor pencils; odorless mineral spirits; polka dot ribbon from Michaels; pop-dots.