ATCs Revival

 (drawn and watercolored poppies)

I haven't made many Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) in the last year. It's the same with the scrapbooking. I had lost interest. 2 weeks ago though, I found a long forgotten forums board for ATC creators where they trade and do swaps. I thought I would try again at making ATCs. Here are some I've made over the last 2 weeks:

(Excuse most of the pictures. I took initial pictures with my camera phone, fully planning to come back and take pics with my camera before they mailed. That didn't happen. I forgot.)

(more poppies)

(paper collage of skyline of Kansas City)

(fabric ATCs with Red Lead images)

(more fabric ATCs with Red Lead images)

(drawn and watercolored Laundry ATCs)

(paper collaged/stamped House Map ATCs w/Red Lead images)

(mixed media ATCS w/mica and beeswax added, using Red Lead images)

(handrawn & watercolored Macro fruit ATCs)

I think I'm back in the ATC making game!

ATC Books:
Artist Trading Card Workshop: Create, Collect, Swap
1,000 Artist Trading Cards
Artist Trading Cards
Trading Cards Techniques & ATCs, Artist Trading Cards
Rubber Stamping Artist Trading Cards
Artist Trading Cards (An Anthology of ATCs)
Artist Trading Cards: The Best of Illustrated ATCs.com 2007

Wordless Wednesday

Recent Drive By Shootings (aka: out my car window...)

Put Your Pencils Down...

 

I've been trying to teach myself a few things this year. Last week I showed you my crochet (the blanket is done now. I'll share pics soon.) I'm also learning to draw. I figure I can't afford to go to college AND pay for the teen's college at this time so I'm learning on my own.

I've been reading through several drawing books for tips, techniques and they're listed below. But I find that the best way I'm learning is to just sit and draw. I'm no good drawing from real life. But I can draw some, looking at pictures. I'm trying anyway. I thought I'd share what I've drawn so far...

A clown from a 1969 Ringling Bros circus booklet you would get when you went to the circus. Drawn on thick paper Moleskine.Painted with Caran d'ache crayons and water.

Drawings from a bird identification book. Colored with colored pencils. Drawn on thick paper Moleskine.

Drawn while the girls did homeschool (jar of brushes found on my desk). Drawn on watercolor Moleskine. Might paint it sometime.

Drawing from some pictures I took out back, of a bird and another of a big nest up in the trees. Drawn on cardstock. Painted with fluid acrylics.

I have a few more things that I drew, for some ATC swaps. I'll share those another day since this post seems long long long.

Drawing Books Read:
Complete Drawing Course - John Raynes
Draw and Sketch Buildings - Jim Woods
Expressive Drawing - Steven Aimone

Quoth The Raven, NEVERMORE!

I think I'm a glutten for punishment. Just as I was freeing myself from many obligations, here I go and join another altered book swap through the Altered Gypsies forum board. RAVENS will be the topic of everyone's altered book.

I was hesitant to join because I have zero raven stamps or images. But since then, I've found so many images, Altered Pages owner, Jackie made up a Ravens collage sheet for me. Even Red Lead owner, Chris, chose to send me a new stamp to work with that had ravens on it, not knowing I needed that exact topic! See how it all works out? 

For the cover I experimented with drawing on fabric. I chose a cream woven fabric and drew with permanent black pen. I then gave it a light wash of black paint. The letters were stenciled on and then rubbed with silver leafing. I think I might add more leafing when it returns to me someday.

This time in choosing a book, I chose... not to. I made my own out of large bingo cards for covers and the inside pages were willy-nilly. I had cardstock, patterned paper, fabric, painted scraps, watercolor paper, metal screening, vellum and more. I wanted something unique and to help the artists working in my book to think outside the box. The very first girl who received my book worked on a screen page first so I think it's working!

I never know what to do for a sign in page. This time I chose to put in a few sheets of old labels (they have the holes down the side because you used to run them through the roller in your printer.) The holes made it easy to fit in the book on the rings. The participants are to decorate a label and then stick it to the inside of the front or back cover. Remember this little tease here? 

It was my example of what the artists should do. I thought it was a unique sign in page.

Finally, I tried to work on a couple pages in the book before I sent it on. But the only thing I could get done was a page with part of The Raven poem by Edgar Allan Poe written on it. I drew a bird and nest from pictures I took a few weeks ago when we had some springy weather. I painted it with fluid acrylics.

I also whipped up a little set of raven themed fabric magnets as thank yous for each participant that will do art in my book! 

I'm excited to receive the book back. I'm sure it's going to be a treasured item of mine!

Contessa Sightings & Postcards

Yesterday I kept playing with the background paper scraps and made a few postcards. I used images and german scrap from Red Lead as well as a script stamp. The poetry is cut from a book of poems by Helen Lowrie Marshall.

 

 

I'm sure my sisters in art are shocked at the amount of BRIGHT things I've been making lately. Maybe I'm moving out of my brown vintage phase? Who knows. I go back and forth. Diversity. That's the key!

OH! I just had to share. I'm so excited! I've been featured and/or mentioned on 2 different websites in the last week or so. What fun!

Both times it was for the Vintage Easter Eggs I made awhile back. You can see the articles here:

Coming Home blog

Kansas City Etsy blog

It's a beautiful day today. I hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday, the Lord's Day. It's gorgeous outside. It's supposed to be 77 degrees here and we're off to church and a picnic! Can't wait! Ta-ta!

Poetry Journal & ATCs

I've been trying to keep up and work my way through The Artistic Mother book. Remember my background papers here? That was the first assignment. Okay, I think the first was really to make a decorated list for the babysitter but since I never go out, that wasn't necessary. lol

I used several of the painted/stamped background papers I made as well as other papers, vintage fabric, lace, a feather, an old shipping tag from a Japanese missionary, a saying by Mark Twain and a picture of me when I was about 3. 

Now all I have to do is fill it with favorite poetry!

After making the journal I had all these little cut pieces of handpainted papers leftover. I thought they might make perfect backgrounds for some ATCs. 

I used images from Altered Pages, rubons and various pieces of fabric and lace. I also added little buttons, pearls, etc... to finish them off.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Don't forget to enter my book giveaway!