SwapBot ATCs

 I've been trading ATCs still and here are a few that I've done recently...

Title: Naughty Boy

This guy was made for a 3-Layer swap.  Background: bubble wrap print Focal image: person wearing a dunce cap  Third layer: pun  I have lots of  bubble wrap prints in my stash and this was one I had rediscovered earlier in the day; it seemed perfect for pupils.  I was looking for a different image when I found this guy - perfect for this card!  The washi tape has been in my stash forever.  This may be the first time the apple one has been used.

Title: Yellow

This ATC was for a "Yellow Plus A Little Bit More" swap.  (The 'little bit more' is yellow ephemera included in the envelope.)  Dug out the modeling paste and old washi tape for this one.

Title: Little Bird

This ATC is for a tic-tac-toe swap; my row had 'complementary colors', 'ticket', 'bird'.  Dug into the stash to find the gel printed background and sheet music.  The ribbon on the bottom has been around for ages.

Title: Rainy Day

My partner for this swap is a pluviophile so I hope she likes this.  The swap theme is 'Black & White".  I struggled with this one!  The background started as strips of B&W washi tape but it was too busy.  I painted with black paint around the edge hoping that would help...no.  I stenciled raindrops with modeling paste and iridescent medium all over the background....no.  I painted the whole thing with black...better.  Lastly I added umbrella man with more raindrops stenciled on to him.  Done.

So that's what else I've been up to...😁

Cheers!

Trading on SwapBot

 It's kind of strange how I go through phases with ATC-making.  I go for long periods of time with no interest in making and trading them and then I realize I miss getting pretty stuff in my mailbox.  I'm only trading on SwapBot these days and the following of some of my recent ATC makes.

This one is "Purple" (not very creative title, eh?" for a monchromatic, you guessed it, purple swap.

This was for a 3-layer swap: pink background, vintage holiday, the word 'dream'.

I was immediately intrigued when I saw the name of this swap - Exquisite Corpse.  What's not to love about that!  This is a 3-round swap.  For the first round we traded the head, next will be the body and last will be the legs.  Can't wait to see all 3 together!  Honestly, I kinda wanted to keep 'Ernest' for myself...

"Beware the Stinger" was for a bee swap.

I called this "Halitosis" - ha ha!  I had to use metal, steampunk and thread on an ATC.

I don't remember what swap this one was for, but she's called "Mother Had Me Tested".

That's it for now.  Toodles!

ATC Supplies Challenge

There are lots of idea-sparking swaps over on SwapBot.  One of the groups I'm in, Halloween Everyday in the USA, posted one where the host sent us supplies and we had to use them to make two ATCs; no extra supplies allowed (with the exception of basic coloring media).  I love that it pushed me by not allowing me to reach for some of tried-and-true supplies.

Spooky Spooks ATC

Starry Halloween Night ATC

I didn't think of getting a picture of the supplies before I made these but I did get a pic with the leftovers.

I didn't get them all on each card but between the two cards I used everything.  Schwoo!

Thanks for stopping by and...Happy Halloween??  

Mona ATC

 Hello, friends!

The other day I started to get to work on an ATC for red-themed swap.  As the 'February Color of the Month' my brain kept returning to hearts but I really wanted to do something less obvious.  I have a box of scraps that I keep in my art space and I started rifling through them.  An old piece of alcohol-inked Yupo paper caught me eye; it had a variety of reds and a bit of metallic gold wandering across the paper.  As I looked more closely, I saw a face.  Ta-dah!  It was easy to get to work right away.

I ripped her head and neck from the main piece, glued her down and got to work.  It was a pain in the a$$ to get those eyeballs white - I can't tell you how many layers of gesso and acrylic paint are on there.  The red ink kept bleeding through (learn something new every day!).  Her hair is a torn bit of a security envelope.  Scribbles in the background are Kwik Stix and Pitt pen; her necklace is gold Liquid Pearls.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you get to art something up!

In Absentia, but not really...

It seems that I tend to post mostly about challenges that I'm entering.  Since I've been creating, but mostly for swaps not challenges, I haven't been posting much.  Here's a peak at what I've been up to...

For a 'labels' swap.  I went for a milk crate look and used these vintage embellishments that have been in my stash forEVER.

Mail art for a 'decorate your envelope' swap.  It was required to cover the WHOLE envelope.  Love Salvador spray painting...  :) 

Phyllis!  ATC using fiber.  She's got embroidery floss for hair.

Steampunk ATC.  Love this waspy critter.

ATC using the white glue crackle paint technique.

Mystery item ATC.  I had to use items sent to me (book page, bird image, bubbles washi tape) on my ATC.

ATC Halloween Movie Series: Nightmare on Elm Street.  This is a series I'm hosting over on Swapbot.  Sadly, there aren't a lot of  Halloween movie fan ATC creators.  There's not much participation.

That's what I've been up to.  What have YOU been working on??

She is a Dreamer of Dreams ATC

Good morning!  So far 2019 has been a decently creative year.  I've been getting back into trading ATCs and making cards.  On my desk is a stack of papers ready to be turned into a Valentines Day mini album.  Now, it's been a REALLY long time since I've made a mini album; hopefully The Muse cooperates. 

But that's for another day.  Today my share is an ATC for a paper doll themed swap.  I love these Tim Holtz paper dolls. There's great variety in the pack.  Here she is...my little dreamer.

I started with gesso'd Bristol paper and then added some embossing paste through a stencil.  After that came some painting with glimmer mist, some splatters, digging into the stash of ancient patterned papers and a smidge of Distress ink...

I tried to capture some of the glimmery bits in the picture below.  I used both Winter Copper and Olive Vine - nice vintage-y colors.

Now it's sitting on my desk waiting to be shipped off.  What's on your desk today?

Time ATC

I've been a bit quiet on here, but have still been working behind the scenes.  I made this ATC for a "paste" challenge. 

The background was created using light modeling paste and the Tim Holtz clockworks stencil.  I painted over that with gold metallic Distress paints.  The clock is rubbed with Inka Gold and some rub-ons were used for the spots of text.

Thanks for stopping by!

House-Shaped ATCs

Well, long time, no see!  I've been here but busy - trying to sneak in a little artsy time here and there.  I just finished these ATCs for a swap over on SwapBot: House-Shaped ATCs.

I went through my scrap stash when making these.  I ran across some old favorites that I used here.

Enjoy!

Garden ATC

Yesterday, I was invited to do a personal swap on SwapBot with a garden theme.  I woke up early this morning with a frenzy of ideas floating around my brain.  Had to get right to work before I lost it.

The Garden Artist ATC

I love the quote by Oscar de la Renta.  It seemed perfect for my swapping partner who is not only a gardener but a creator of some great looking art as well.

I knew I wanted multiple layers in greens.  The base is patterend paper that has a repeated pattern of lettuce in olive green.  Next came stencils: green dots (Distress paint), numbers (Distress ink), diamonds (Distress ink).  I'm going through a bit of a shiny phase and couldn't resist rubbing some green Stickles over the whole thing.

The flower was created using colored strips of a dictionary page which I glued onto cardstock.  Originally they were a blue, pink, purple mix but the color was too light so I added purple over the whole thing.  I held back and only applied a dab of purple Stickles on a the smaller flower dots.

On a slightly different note, total rookie maneuver yesterday.  I made a bunch of ATCs for a big swap and forgot to take pictures.  Totally bummed as I know I'll forget what I did later and they were all totally different.  C'est la vie...live and learn...yada yada yada.  But here are some that I haven't shared yet here.

Alone in The City ATC

Anonymous ATC

City Lights ATC

The Concrete Jungle ATC

Learn to Surf ATC

Call it Art ATC

Mushroom Mishap ATC

Boil & Bubble ATC (for Glittery Halloween swap)

Okay.  Time to step away from 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" pieces of paper.  My house is a mess.  My children barely recognize this crazed person with bits of glitter in her hair and ink-stained fingers. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Swap Bot

Have you heard of this website?  I discovered it a couple of days ago while searching for additional places to trade ATCs.  I've become smitten with creating ATCs - addicted really.  Wanna see my latest?

The first one is a Steampunk Halloween ATC.  I used Tim Holtz's riveted metal technique on the helmet.  The metal tape I picked up at Home Depot.  The skull is lifted off the card base with mounting tape.  Love how the eyeball turned out.  After printing an image from the internet I put some Diamond Glaze over the top. The last thing I did was cut off the bottom of the skull to get my dimensions to 2.5" x 3.5" as required.  It looked really cool before I cut it, but I've decided I still kinda like the way it's peeking out at me.

 

The next one is one I created because I didn't read the directions(!) and thought it was a simply a Steampunk ATC swap.  (Collective sigh..."Ohhhh...Julie...").  I used the metal tape for the butterfly and some alcohol inks over the top.

 (I have since trimmed off the excess backing there on the left; was driving me nuts.)  I found these canvas ATC bases at an art supply store here in Edmonds.  Fun base to work with.

Finally I have a pumpkin ATC.  The instructions specifically said NO jack-o-lanterns/Halloweenish pumpkins but I still wanted it to be kinda different.  I stamped a background stamp, ran some Wild Honey DS over it and cut out a pumpkin shape.  Cut that into segments and distressed the edges of each piece.  To accentuate the pumpkin-ishness I drew vertical lines from top to bottom too.  

I can't decide if it still needs something.  I added a smidge of orange Stickles at the top but I still feel like it's missing something.

UPDATE:  It did need something.  What do you think of my additions?

Thanks for taking a gander at my creations.  Cheers!