ATC swap

I joined an ATC swap where you have to use techniques from the new Bernie Berlin book "Artist Trading Card Workshop".

We have to create 6 cards for swapping.

I chose the "gesso and magazine images" technique. You select an image of a person from a magazine, lightly dry brush a layer of gesso over it to soften but not completely obliterate the image. Then you alter it.

The hostess suggested we create 7 cards so that we have 6 to swap and one to keep. But, since each of mine are different I only did 6. Mainly because I fell in love with each one and if I did 7 it would take me days to figure out which one I wanted to keep. This way I have to send them all and if I want one of my own I will create it after the others are mailed.

I used Photoshop to make each picture into a "before and after" image so you can see the magazine picture that I altered.

I am still on my ATC kick. I used some more of the yarn/ribbon I picked up at Michael's. This time I used the blue skein and created a completely woven background.

Then I had to figure out what to put on it.

I stamped several images but nothing seemed right so I dug out some of my clip art cds. This woman just seemed to call out to me.

The clock is a stamp from NonSequitor.

I colored the woman's "dress" with pencils but used Twinkling H2Os to hightlight her hairpiece. I also used them for the blue on the clock. The silver, which also highlights the woman's arm, is JoSonja's non tarnishing Silver paint.

I received some new stamps from Oxford Impressions yesterday! I just love their stamps. :-)

This girl, words and numbers all came from the School Days plate. The bicycle is from Art Impressions.

I stamped the words and numbers with chalk inks. The girl is stamped with Memories permanent black, heat set and then colored with water color pencils.

Photo stamps are so cool! If you stamp them on glossy or semi-glossy card stock they look just like a photograph!

ATCs

I have been in the mood to make some ATCs but just haven't been able to find the time.

So, the last 2 days I managed to find a couple minutes to create a couple ATCs.

On Wednesday I made this one I call "circus". I have no idea who makes the little girl stamp. I received it in a goodie box swap (someone starts a box full of goodies....stamps, papers, embellishments... and each person then takes out what they want and adds more goodies to the box and passes it to the next person)

My little animals are from a set I bought about 15-20 years ago. It is called "Animal Stamps" by Hero Arts. There are 12 in the set and I just love them. They are so cute! :-)

I colored the girl with Twinkling H2Os and colored pencils. I "antiqued" the edges with inks and chalks.

On Thursday, my friend Mary came back from lunch with a bag of goodies she bought at Michael's. They had this ribbon/yarn stuff on clearance. Such vibrant colors! After work I had to go get some!!! On the drive home I came up with the idea of "weaving" some strips and adding some stamping.

I love how striking the colors are! The rubber stamp is from StoneHouse Stamps. I colored her with pencils.

The paper scrap in the corner is also from StoneHouse Stamps. They have a fabulous collection of asian papers!