WARNING! ATC marathon in progress!

Yep, I'm doing a LOT of ATCs the beginning of this week.  Have several commitments and I want to get them in early so I can concentrate on a couple of other intense projects. 

These cards are for a swap called Let's Travel the World 2 (we did part 1 recently). The theme is for 3 countries of the world.  This has been great fun and very interesting because I get to learn some new stuff about countries I'm not all that well-versed on.  Like Greenland.  1) I didn't know it belonged to Denmark (duh) and 2) it is the largest island in the world that is NOT a continent. Plus the scenery you see pictures of when looking for items for the ATC is gorgeous.

So, here they are - Greenland, Germany and Italy:

And the marathon continues so I'll have more tomorrow!

More Old Building ATCs

I'm so excited!  There was another swap for ATC photos of old houses and buildings.  I've been taking photos of old barns, houses, buildings and stuff for years so I already had a good "stash" to work with.  Here are the ones I made for this swap.


Open House - I took this photo on our trip to the International Quilt Show in Houston, Tx in November 2006 (see - told you I'd been doing this for a while!)  We were in some very small town in NW Texas and this building was on a side street.  I love the play of light and color because there is no longer a roof on this abandoned building.

Stuck In The Middle - This poor little shed looks like it is being squeezed to death by the big silo on the left and the big barn on the right.  No wonder it is caving in!

Crooked House - This little house used to be at a nursery/market not far from my home.  It is no longer there so I'm glad I took a picture of it when I did!  Just love the whimsy of it all.

Now I've Seen It All - My husband and I take Photo Safaris along the back roads of Minnesota. We were driving along and saw this just next to the road.  Needless to say, we came to a screeching halt and stopped to take a photo.  Not sure what on earth it is all about but it is one barn I never forgot!

That's all for now!

Abstract ATCs - Completed

The remaining steps didn't take as long as I had thought and I completed them this afternoon.  I didn't post pics of them dried because when the matte medium dried, the cards looked just like the cards before the medium was added....not much new to see. 

Step 3 -After the matte medium dried, I lightly rubbed a chalk pastel in black over them to highlight the raised areas. Supposed to use charcoal but I don't have any. 

Step 4 - I then pulled out the appropriate colors of Lumiere paints and went to town!  The paints are very watered down for this technique.  Still want to see some of the card base showing through....some more than others ended up that way.  In fact, I'm not sure it will show in the pictures but it is there.  Here are the completed cards.  I really had fun with this technique! 

In the pictures below, on the left is the first color wash and on the right is the completed card.


Abstract Pastel - I applied the watered down Lumiere paints in this order: a full color wash of Halo Violet, then strips of Pearl Magenta. Painted the curls with Jaquard yellow textile paint. Then a color wash of very diluted Lumiere Metallic Gold.

Abstract Purple/Green - First a full color wash of Halo Violet. Then painted the inside of the circles with Pearl Emerald Green. Then the final Metallic Gold wash.

Abstract Brown/Blue - First a full color wash of Metallic Rust. Then a full color wash of Pearl Blue. Painted Metallic Olive Green in the center of the circles. Final Metallic Gold wash.

Abstract Blue/Green - Full color wash of Metallic Rust, then Metallic Olive Green on one side of the curved line.  When that was done the curves reminded me of a river so I painted that with Pearl Blue.  Metallic Gold final wash.
 I found this to be a very interesting way to add texture.  And I was actually amazed at how flexible the card was when everything was dry and before I added the backing card.  Gets the brain going, ya know!!

Happy Day

I don't often post anything about my personal family stuff here but because the main topic is ATCs I am adding this one anyway.  Today is my older granddaughter's birthday celebration....even though her actual birthday isn't until Wednesday.  She will be THREE!  AND she is already beginning her own ATC collection!  Sooooooo...I made her a few cards for her big party.

First you should know that Piggy has been her nickname since she was born.  She even calls herself Piggy.  I know she will not be that accepting in a couple of years but for now, she knows it is our love name for her.

She also has the nickname Diva Pig since she IS the center of the universe after all!!! LOL! She and her little sister have discovered the joy of dress-up. They put on their own fashion show and I can assure you Piggy has her own fashion sense.  That plus, she won't wear anything that isn't purple or sometimes pink without a fight. And she loves her sunglasses and her purple flip-flops!  OK, she loves anything purple.

She is just now big enough to ride her Little Mermaid tricycle but she wants a PURPLE motorcycle! I told her she has to learn to ride her tricycle, then a bicycle with training wheels, then a regular bicycle.  After that she can get her motorcycle.  The other day, for the first time she rode her tricycle to the end of the long driveway and back and announced.  "I'm done. Now I want my motorcycle"  So, she is getting THIS motorcycle instead. It's a picture of the bike I rode until two years ago.

 
This is just an amazingly cute sign we found out on one of our treks to take photos and have an amazing lunch and buy amazing bread in Stockholm, WI.  Seemed appropriate!

 And lastly, my birthday wish for my precious little Piggy.

Thanks for bearing with me for this personal little art moment.

Abstract ATCs - Step 2

Wow! That didn't take as long as I had anticipated so I completed the second step before lunch! 

STEP 2 - Creating Texture

First I got all my imprinting tools together -- a twisty plastic straw, plastic core of a roll of cellophane tape, a piece of plastic diamond grid and the end of a small paint brush.  Then I got out a foam brush and was ready to start the texture layer.

I painted on a rather thick layer of matte medium and then made texture marks. 

Here they are all covered and "drawn" on.  Difficult to see the under layer at this point but the matte medium SHOULD dry a bit more clear.....I hope!  Now for the long and patience-demanding DRYING period (certainly not my favorite part!) Fortunately, I have several other projects needing attention so they will provide the necessary distraction....well.....that's the plan at least!

Abstracts with matte medium - wet and waiting.....and waiting....and waiting......

Afraid we won't be seeing them again until tomorrow.  OH well, on to lunch!

Another New Technique!! YEAH!

OK, I'm involved in another ATC swap. This one because it is an abstract technique that I haven't tried yet! Can you think of a better reason to join a swap??  HUH??? Nope, I can't.  (is that a bad sign? when I ask the question and answer it myself....all alone....in my studio....?)  Anyway, I wanted to chronicle it as it goes along.  The members of the swap got the directions but since I'm not sure how public the hostess makes her directions....I'm just going to give the basic steps as I go through them.

STEP  ONE - making the base background.

Just taking various papers and adhering them to the ATC card backing in some manner.  I chose 4 different color combinations as I get bored too easily to do all of them alike!  So, here they are in all their "nude" glory.  Later today I'll be covering them but you'll have to check back for that one!  hehehe

Abstract - Green/Brown

Abstract - Purple/Green

Abstract - Blue/Green

Abstract - Pastels

Now to go get the next layer done because it takes a bit of time to completely dry.

Nuturing Creativity - Week 35

Ok, I'm really behind....again.  But I DID read this card on Monday...just been so busy I haven't taken time to post.  Moving on....

Easy Art Access

Well, not too sure about this one I must say.  It is about having bits of art or art encouragement all around you.  For example, putting colored pencils and paper in your silverware drawer, crayons in your medicine cabinet....and so on.  Only problem for me???
I can't keep track of all my stuff when it is IN  MY  STUDIO!!!!  Heaven help me if I need my colored pencils and I can't remember which drawer in the house I put them in!!  I think my poor sieve brain is way to old for this particular nurturing activity!  Oh well, you can't win them all!