BLISSFULL ATC SWAP - JANUARY "WINTER THEME"

I am so thrilled to be part of Wendy's (monthly)  Blissfull ATC SWAP!  Even though it has taken me way too long to get a swap post done!  My first swap partner was Donna of Brynwood Needleworks, her gift to me "Snow Dancer" highlights her special artistic talent!  You really can't see all of the exquisite detail in this picture.   Above is her picture of mine to her against the card I sent it in.  Yes I am shameless - her photo skills are obviously greater than my own!  Just like Wendy, Donna is a generous and talented woman whom I am now fortunate to have made contact with. 

ATCs - MOULIN ROUGE THEME

Images by Itkupilli "Sweet Vintage Cabaret"

If you have never tried ATCs before do check out the "Tags and Things" group at Bella Creations - it is a simple and fun way to learn and share in a group!

ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS - ATC

The ATC Artist is Blanche

Do go and check out her blog!  Click on the title of this post to visit Wendy, hostess of our swap.

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ATC SWAP - BLISS ANGELS

My 12 ATCs arrived today!  In a fun decorated with the swap theme envelope, which held a sweet decorated box, which held a delightful decorated folded book which held all of the 12 ATCs!  Our Swap hostess Wendy Aspinall is such a sweetheart and went to such great lengths to make this swap even more special.  Click on the title of this post to go to her blog "Bliss Angels".

HOLIDAY ATCS - ARTChix Studio Images

Another set of simple holiday ATCs this time using fun vintage images from ARTChix Studio.   I've used white german scrap trim on each of these which I have colored with VersaMagic chalk inks and a gold leaf pen to match each scene.  You can often find inexpensive white paper trim and ink it to match your project.  I've either created a title and added it to these or used a Quickie Glue pen and fine glitter to highlight the title that was there (Joyeux Noel, Bonn Anie).

HOLIDAY ATCs - CRAFTY SECRET IMAGES



I've used images from "Crafty Secrets" which is one of my favority companies to make these relativelysimple holiday themed ATCs.   Since I have scanned these you can't see where I have used pop ups to raise some of the images.  But that and some Stickles, a bit of glitter, German Foil (can you see the bird on PEACE?), a holly brad or leaves and a gem, gilt or silver foil pen and my favorite Sugar Beads - I've  used here and there to make the most of some sweet images. 

FAMILY TIME - HOLIDAY ATC

The image is from ArtChix - I love the bright retro palette.  Covered in Sugar Beads and edged with gold gilt.  Simple - I just couldn't cover the image with more than the title.

TOGETHERNESS - A HOLIDAY ATC

The central image (Crafty Secrets) is covered in Sugar Beads and outlined with Platinum Stickles.  The title is a rub-on.  The holly leaves are cut from May Arts ribbon and the edges are gold gilt.

HOLIDAY ATC - FRANCIS THOMPSON QUOTE

Thought this was such a sweet quote! A simple one - Daisy D rub-on outlined with Stickles, blue glitter faux stitching and a snowflake brad.

CHRISTMAS WISHBOOK - ATCs

I actually cut into my 1943/44 Eaton's Catalogue!  See my next posts for your own image.  The background on these is from the toy (games) section - just a few pages compared to what you find today.  I inked the edges with Stazon Saddle Brown and then a light coat of Rock Candy Distress Paint.  The tags are DaisyDs rubons which I mounted on cardstock and popped up.  The edges have all been trimmed with Platinum Stickles.  The rickrack are new bits, the cotton vintage.  Easy with a practicality to suit the war-time era.

FALL FANTASY ATC SWAP AT PAGES IN TIME

Between my notebook crashing and going back to work, I haven't been able to post much over the last month.   These are the tags I received November 3rd in a "Fall Fantasy Swap" hosted by Helene Huber at Pages In time.

The Artists are: Carla Oliveira, Lisa, Carrie Taylor, Helene Huber, Lacee Broyles, Marilyn McIldoon, Lisa Duke,  and Maggie White.   These are just great.  The process was also great fun as we shared what we were doing as we went along which just kept us all inspired to produce like fiends!  In this swap we didn`t know who would receive what  - so there was still an element of surprise - and that delightful day when they arrived in the mail.  Mine came in an orange and yellow bubble mailer stamped with Halloween Greetings and several witches courtesy of Helene!  I also love the trim you enclosed as a treat...:)

If you have ever considered joining an on-line crafting community (or have never heard of such a thing!)  check out Pages In Time by clicking on the title of this post and going directly there.  

SPIDERS, A CAT AND A HOT TUB! - HALLOWEEN ATCs

More? Can't help myself!  You can't really tell from the scan but;  Happy Halloween is a Memory Box stamp, I've stamped on top of a haunted house background which was covered in warm highlights glitter using DST (double sided tape), on the big spider I used a green gem which I sponged with black Stazon and the two smaller spiders are black gems, Blue Moon - is a background which I have crackled and then covered behind the moon with DewDrops, Halloween Hot Tub (Crafty Secrets) I have crackled, cutout and mounted on black cardstock, used DST to ruffle the black gingham ribbon and then fussy cut and glittered the title.  The first two backgrounds are from Moonlight Journey.

A SPOOKY TRIO - HALLOWEEN THEMED ATCs

The backgrounds are from Moonlight Journey.  The embellishments a mix of what I had in my stash.  I scanned these and they didn't come out very true, I might try taking a photo and seeing what that result is.

I brushed all of the bacgrounds with crackle finish, inked the 2nd one like a stampscape and the third one I used Pine Needle crackle paint and glitter.  The Witch and the cat have been popped up/out and the ghostie is a felt stuffie.

ATCs - More Halloween!

"We Want Candy"

"Haunting"

"A TRIO OF CATS" - HALLOWEEN THEMED ATCs

OMG Halloween is just around the corner!  I'm working on ATCS for both my regular monthly ATC Social group and a Fall Fantasy Swap at Pages In Time.  (Check out this papercrafting community site - they have a number of activities and groups happening and a dynamite design team)   I've just joined the PIT group "Tags and Things" which  is moderated by  Helene, check her blog out if you love retro and vintage!  

My scanner didn't pick up the glitter on these - the stars and spider web are a deep poppy orange glitter - which are Design Adhesives by CleanSnap -  yummy.  The images are all gift tags I've recycled.  The background are from the Blackbird line by Memory Box.  Those are Gold DewDrops on the pumpkin with the same glitter sprinkled on to cover the spaces in between.  I used a green glitter pen on the cat eyes.

REFLECTION - ATCs

My intention here was to practice doing stamp scapes through a series of ATCs.  Here are the first and last of five I did.  I like seeing the progression, it was a couple of months between doing these. The stamp set is Beautiful Things from Close to my Heart (thanks Stephanie!) and I used all Distress Inks to color the scenes.  To give some dimension I used Flower Soft Ultra in Sage on the grounds.  Cream cardstock which I prefer over white, edged with my silver Krylong pen and matted onto dark purple cardstock.   Once I figure out how to - I will post these in the ATC group at Pages In Time..lol   It's a mystery that I ever took on a blog (with lots of help even!) when I'm continually challenged by what must be simple steps for most!!

ARE WE THERE YET? - AN ATC

My entry to the the Week #25 Old Meets New challenge at The Shabby Tea Room.  (click ont the title of this post to go directly there or see Challenge Sites under my links)   I've had the Creative Scraps  "Travel" sheet for some time, what I had to go out and buy was a vintage map.   Not to confuse things but in this case new is old and old is new - to me.  It had to be a vintage map of course.  And perfectly this one is of the lake district in Ontario.

I photocopied the map and then covered it with Crackle glaze.  When that was dry I distressed it further with both Broken China and Faded Jeans Distress Inks.  I edged this with a paint pen.  After fussy cutting the car and trailer I embossed them in clear and used foam tape to pop this piece out.  The words I adhered and then faux stitched.  E-mail me if you want to trade!

GIRLS DAY OUT - AN ATC

Recently I spent a day out with a couple of girlfriends I met through our ATC group, Marilyn and Marlene.  Having been housebound for most of the summer this was an especially fun day!  No plans just drive "up island" (that's what we call north) and stop at whatever catches our attention.   That was mostly thrift stores, a scrapbook store, a discount store and good food.   Later Marilyn presented Marlene and I with an ATC she had made commemorating our day out - now how clever and thoughtful is that?  A calendar with the date highlighted,  logos from where we ate and one of the shops we scoured and of course a flower, ribbon and bling because well just because - you know!

A TRIO OF HALLOWEEN ATCs

Look what arrived in the mail today from Georgia!  Wendy of Bliss Angels blog (click on the title of this post to go there) offered to do a trade - my first long distance trade.  The subject was Halloween - see my post "The Eyes Have It" to see what I sent.

THE EYES HAVE IT - HALLOWEEN THEMED ATCs

My response to the "Halloween" challenge at Theme Thursdays (click on the title of this post to go directly there).   I used Tim Holtz distress inks and stamps to create these.   Had the idea some time ago but really when else other than for a Halloween theme could you do these? 

I hope my "black eye, red eye, pink eye" trio makes you laugh!  While being perhaps mildly repelled!

SPREAD THE MAGIC!  SEE MY CONTEST POST OF JULY 31st FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A CUSTOMIZED BUTTON OR BLINKIE FOR YOUR OWN BLOG!  GOOD LUCK!