ICAD 2018

I'm coming late to the ICAD party this year.  I didn't do it last year because I thought I'd be too busy.  I think I'll be too busy this year too (ha ha!) but I need the creative boost it inspires methinks.

ICAD 2018 started June 1st but I just jumped on the bandwagon a couple of days ago.  Here is one of my index cards so far.  I'm going to trade it as a postcard for a swap I'm in so it won't be added to my collection.

In 2016, the first time I participated in ICAD, one day I gelli printed a bunch of index cards.  This was one of the remnants.  I just added a few extra bits to it to finish it off.  I love the cheesecloth print in the background.

Are you doing ICAD?  Have you heard of it?

Cheers!

Smeared & Smudged - Steampunk Santa

Yes, Christmas has come and gone, but it's still December so I took on the Freaky Freebie Challenge, rolled up my sleeves, got out some ink and paper and got busy with this free digi (for a couple more days) from Smeared Ink. 

In keeping with his steampunkishness I went for the look of metal and leather.  Santa's sleigh was painted with tarnished bronze paint, the runners and watch parts were painted with silver paint.  I added some "leather" (i.e. brown Copics) goggles, reins and bag of goodies.  A bit of silver Distress Stain around the edges and snowflakes with a silver pen finished it off.

And on an entirely different note here's an ATC for a book page swap.  The background is from a cookbook (the recipient likes to cook). 

Thinking maybe I need to make a canvas like this for my kitchen!  Think my tots will get the hint?  ;)

It's been a while!

I realized this morning that it's been a while since I've posted.  Time for a confession.  AGAIN, the December Daily sits waiting for some love and attention; I have been jotting down notes each day though.  Ahhhh...good intentions.  My camera has died.  I love that camera and it's perfect for taking pics of my little creations.  I've resorted to my phone camera now and am not thrilled with the quality.  That's my excuse for slackin' on the DD.  ;)

Here are some ATCs I've completed in the mean time...

These were for an Abstract Faces swap.  I've never done abstract stuff - this was a stretch but I enjoyed it once I got started.

Little houses swap:

 

Glitter Swap:

 

Mixed Media Swap:

 Add a Snowman:

 

Altered Text - Purple:

 

Alcohol Ink (love the houses die - have to use that more often!):

And finally, Steampunk Christmas:

This afternoon, I solemnly swear, I will get some photos printed and get them into my December Daily album.  There!  I said it!

Cheers.  :)

More ATCs

I can almost smell roasted turkey, pumpkin pie, and dressing - just a few more days until Thanksgiving.  Mmm-mmm...I love me some pumpkin pie!  I've been plugging away at my ATCs for swaps in preparation for the Christmas prep which will most certainly carve into my time in my creative zone.  Here's the latest ATC installment:

This first ATC was for a brown and it's associations (masculinity, importance, stability) swap.

Media: Washi tape, ribbon, brads, random paper, image downloaded from internet, Distress ink, dye ink

The next two were for a 'Paint' swap.  "Ha-ha!  Clever me, I'll use paint chips - something different!" I said to myself.  I'm not sure my vision manifested itself as I had planned but here there are.

Media: Paint chip, bakers twine, die cut cardstock, dye ink

Media: Paint chip, Copics, dye ink, pen, ribbon, punched cardstock

  My final offerings are ATCs I made for a Green swap.

Media: Book page, cardstock, brad, magazine clippings, Distress ink, Distress stain

Media: Distress inks, Distress stains, watercolor pencil, Copics, pen

Media: Die-cut cardstock, metallic tape, alcohol ink, acrylics

Ta da!  More coming soon...

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!

Pick A Theme ATCs

Greetings!

Fall is here.  The last few mornings we've woken up to grey, foggy skies and as I write it's drizzling.  Ugh.  But it is perfect weather for getting a little something done in the studio.  I've been working on some ATCs for a PAT (Pick-a-Theme) swap at SCS.  Each person in the group selected a technique they'd like to receive.  Here's what I did:

Title: Carnival!  Theme: Mixed Media

 Materials Used: playing card, metallic star stickers, stamped image colored with Copics, washi tape, embossed cardstock with distress ink highlights

Title: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun  Theme: Paper Piecing

 Materials Used: cardstock, patterned paper, stamps, black ink, copics and rhinestones.  These stamps crack me up.

Title:  Joyful Noise  Theme: Baby Wipe Technique

 Materials Used: cardstock, baby wipe, Distress re-inkers, black ink, Distress inks, stencils, stamps, washi tape, Sharpie

Title: Mans' Best Friend  Theme: 6 Inchies

Materials Used: cardstock, Distress inks, Copics, brad, seed beads, black ink, stamps.  The tongs underneath the brad are bugging me.  This inchie may have to be reconfigured...

Thanks for stopping by today.  May yours be full of fabulousness.

Nightmare Before Christmas Goodies

Oh, I love this time of year!  Peggy over at SCS is hosting a mega swap which includes categories for Nightmare Before Christmas.  Completely unable to help myself, I signed up for spots in the ATC and Tag categories.  Want to see my gruesome goodies?

 Here we have an ATC disguised as a present. The swirly top reminds me of the swirly bits in the movie. In one scene of the movie a little boy opens his gift to find a shrunken head. 

  My tag sports Jack Skellington himself.  The background is splattered with distress stains and I stamped some bats that reminded me of Jack's collar.  Hand-drawn barbed wire holds the freaky ornaments.

It's hard to tell in the picture but the ornaments have been covered with Diamond Glaze that give some dimension as well as a nice shine.  Love these ornaments from Stampotique and thought they were perfect for the theme.

Thanks for stopping by.  Happy Labor Day,  Americans!

Calendar Tags and yet more ATCs

Yes, indeed.  Jumped right into those SCS swaps with both feet a couple of months ago.  Now all of the due dates are on my doorstep and I've realized that with fall right around the corner the Steed household will be a beehive of activity which equals less craftalicious time for me so I've avoided signing up for (many) more.

This weekend found me and my inky fingers finishing up a Calendar Tag swap and Alphabet ATC swap (my letter is H). 

That's a lotta tags!

The tags need to be in "Tim Holtz style" and my months are August and May.  I previously shared my August tag HERE  but here is my tag for May:

I especially like how the peacock background turned out.  I was thinking Mothers' Day for May but it could also simply represent spring, weddings or graduations I suppose.

My alphabet ATCs are an ode to recycling and my penchant for saving EVERYthing.

 

 I had no clue really what I wanted to do when I started so I took out my blanks and began gluing torn bits of paper towels that I'd used for mopping up excess ink (mostly Dylusions).  Happy with that I added some stenciling over the top (the stencil is from sequin waste).  Following the stenciling I dumped out scraps of paper that had bits of ink, paint, stamping, etc. and cut them into heart shapes.  A little washi tape and a phrase finished them off. 

Off to package these up and send them on their merry way.  Have a great day!

ATCs - Part II

Finished up the ATC's last night!

Title: Flutter By
Color Theme: Peach, Teal, Red

Title: Take the Time
Color Theme:  Pastel Pink, Lavendar, Green
(trust me here...it really looks more like these colors in person)

Title: Walk Like an Egyptian
Theme: Vintage Dance
(She is a Russian dancer and the picture was taken in 1915)

Title: Her Majesty
Color Theme: Aqua, Lime, Purple

Hmmm...apparently I like things to be tilted to the left.  It hasn't been so obvious to me before.  Thanks for stopping by today!

ATC Newbie

I mentioned a while back that I've rediscovered swaps.  The thing I like about them is that not only do I get to try new techniques on a small scale but I also get to see what other creative types are doing.  I'm giving ATC's a whirl now.  If you're not familiar with them, ATC is short for Artist Trading Cards.  They have to be 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" but other than that the sky is the limit.  They can be made from any material and can be embellished as much or as little as the artist chooses.  Typically on the back the artist gives the card a title then signs and dates it.  The ones I've created were made for an SCS swap where the receiver picked the theme.

Title: Saddle Up
Theme: Colors - light blue, navy and silver

Title:  Big Fish, Little Fish
Theme: Vintage Sea Creatures

Title:  Naughty Spot
Theme: Vintage Dick & Jane

Title: Les Petites Chaussures
Theme: Vintage Shoes

I still have four more to make so back to work for moi.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Tag Swap - August

I mentioned in an earlier post that somebody recently pointed me in the direction of swaps on SplitcoastStampers website.  I went a little overboard and signed up for a bunch of them.  My art journal is buried someplace in my studio right now so my participation in the swaps in getting my creative mojo back in gear.

I took a couple of spots in a "Tim Holtz-like" calendar tag swap.  I had in mind using some laser cut wooden shapes on my tag, but it morphed as I worked on it to turn into this:

 

I started with a #8 manila tag.  Rubbed on some Faded Jeans and Dusty Concord DI, then Barn Door, Wild Honey and Squeezed Lemonade DS. 

When dry I stamped the flourish with Versamark ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.
Next I went back over the colors with the same inks - all DI - except for the Squeezed Lemonade. Flung a bit of water about and randomly stamped a script image with Walnut Stain DI.
The quote is by Wallace Stevens (printed on copy paper and colored with Wild Honey DS).

On the bottom of the tag is some tissue tape that I colored with Barn Door stain and crumpled up ruffle-style. I added some staples to help it stick and because it needed a little something extra.
The flowers are a Memory Box die.
One of the requirements was to add the month somewhere on the tag.  I used a Sizzix bookplate die that I've forever and cut it out of grungeboard which I then covered with Tarnished Brass and Antiqued Bronze DP.
The brads were really shiny gold so I toned them down with a mix of Wild Plum and Watermelon alcohol inks.
Last is the ribbon at top which is seam binding that I dyed with Dusty Concord and Faded Denim DI.

And there you have it.  More than you could possibly ever need to know about my August tag.  ;)