An Altered ART challenge piece

Over at Bella Creations I entered a challenge in the group called  l'art a transformé to alter anything, but you had to use these 3 elements to your piece, metal, paint and a 3D object.

I just got myself squeaked in because I forgot I had entered my name.

So here is a little paper mache box I painted with Delta 10K gold acrylic paint, then I applied a rather thick coat of glue, let that get a little tacky and then brushed on Antique white and let it sit to crackle. Well this method often works for me but yesterday it was not quite co operating. This was my 2nd box I attempted this with so I had to be happy with it as I was getting close to my deadline.

I got a wood knob from my stash and painted it gold. I glued it on after the paint had dried.

I used Tim Holtz's Tattered Florals die to cut the layers of flowers out of handmade paper Kathy gave me.

I used small gold brads which are metal to the centers. I added a gold Starfoam border to the center of the edge of the top of the box for some contrast. I painted music paper with gold  then cut out some leaves. I also used Tim's flourish die to cut them out of some gold embossed paper I had in my stash and layered that on the top before applying the flowers. I found an inchie image from one of my Artchix collage sheets and mounted it onto an inchie pendant and attached it to the gold knob on the top with some gold string.

I rather like it. I usually use quite bold colours but this Antique white and gold is really rather stunning. It may end up being a gift box for someone but for now I entered it into the challenge and better late than never I say.

Thanks for looking.

Clownin Around ATC's and a Birthday

First of all I want to wish my Hubby a very Happy Birthday.

He isn't much of a puter guy and doesn't like too much info put on the weeb about himself so I am just going to say I wish you a Happy Birthday and many more. He is over the 50 mark now, where does the time go? how do we suddenly arrive at these numbers? As long as he stays young at heart and keeps me laughing and smiling, we are all good to go. He takes wonderful care of me and love him dearly.

Next I want to show and share with you some info about these ATC's. Inka over at Altered Artifacts has an offer you can't refuse. If you go to the link I have provided here you will see all the info. Nothing to buy, nothing to do except make some art. That being said I got onto Inka's list of free collage sheets, when she got to my name she sent me an email and asked if I would be interested in doing some artwork pertaining to the collage sheet.

So....here are 2 Circus related ATC's that I did for her and they were a lot of fun.

I actually had to tone down the backgrounds with a thinned out white acrylic paint so you could see the main image as the focal point. The little dog is jumping through that hoop and I cut away the paper around him  and inked it and folded it back so make it look more realistic.

I did one background in pastels," Big Top".  I made big circles in different colours on white card stock. I scrunched up the paper, flattened it, then ran it under water then just touched the Peeled Paint distress ink over it to make it look a bit cracked. The oil pastels resist the ink...then I put the ATC size paper between some old sheets, you can use newsprint but I didn't want to get black ink from the print on it then ironed it for a few seconds so it would dry the paper. Cool huh? I placed my image on top, I found the background a bit too bold and lost the image so I then just lightly touched some white acrylic paint to it. Now that was happening.

The second image with the dog, was just some scrapbook paper with lots different coloured circles on it, I did the same thing toned it down and then did the rest. These were so much fun and thanks Inka for allowing me to participate.

Thank you for looking. Happy creativeness to you.

Gingersnap Heart coaster Art Exchange

I haven't posted in a while because I was having trouble with my muse. I have all kinds of supplies and some ideas but I was struggling putting things together. My attention span was lacking and just couldn't seem to get it together.

In our Gingersnap Creations Yahoo Group I signed up for the Heart Coaster Art Exchange and thought no problem. I was looking at everyone's lovely creations then when I went to do mine I really struggled.

After a few emails with some of the Gingers it helped me a bit to settle myself down and not try to be so focused on the heart to be the main image but rather an element to the design.

So here I came up with 4 totally different versions of the Heart coasters.

We had to feature a heart somewhere on the coaster and the coasters are not to be used as a functional piece but rather an altered art item.

After much staring onto blank pieces of chipboard that I had to cut to the regulation size, because no stores carry summer items yet ,I had to come up with something acceptable in size. That was my first dilema.

In the following images I have used many techniques for either backgrounds or elements and hope that you enjoy them.

I must say I am happy with the outcome of each one but man it was a long 2 weeks of staring and wondering what to do next.

Thank goodness for good Gingers over on the Yahoo Group for your help.

Now I need to get them ready to send to the swap Hostess who will then gather all the coasters and send them to those who signed up for the exchange. I send 4 and receive 4 in return.

Can't wait. This is going to be fun and the first art exchange I have entered since joining the group.

Thank you for dropping by.

I always love to read your comments and I do appreciate all of you.

Have a wonderful weekend.

A birdy matchbox theme

After a day like today Spring is definitely on it's way.

It was sunny, there was heat to the sun, the birds were chirping, the snow is melting and it was a true gift from God.

This little matchbox is for a swap themed birds over at our Monthly Matchbox swap on FlickR.

I painted the matchbox Trail Tan inside and out. I added some burlap from my stash to the top.

I made a gold wire nest, made some polymer tan coloured eggs then used a toothpic to add a few dots in brown ink to make them look more natural. I didn't have any feathers so I made my own. I drew a feather shape onto white cardstock, coloured with 2 different browns and a tiny bit of black pencil crayon then I used a craft utility knife on my cutting mat and sliced thin slits. Some chunks of paper sort of came off but  then I didn't mind it as they acutally looked like real feathers so I added them and stamped a little tag with a birdie and attached it with some fine gold thread to the nest.

I can't show you the inside as it is packed with birdie goodness for my swap partner.

Sure hope she likes it. This was fun and got me in the spring mood.

You should click on the link provided to visit our group to see all the creative matchboxes.

Everyone is doing their version of nests, it has really caught on to everyone and each one is so different and very beautiful.

If you want while you are there, sign up, everyone is welcome.

Good night all.

A lovely matchbox and......

more arty goodness.

I must first show you this beautiful matchbox I received from my lovely partner over at the Yahoo Monthly Matchbox swap, JoAnne of Vintage Dragon Fly.

The theme for Feb was Romance or anything to do with Love and fill it with all kinds of artsy love.

Look at the incredible items I received. The card is gorgeous not to mention the box and the goodies inside and out. I got spoiled.

It only took over 3 weeks to get across the boarder, now JoAnne and I could have met up in Niagara Falls and passed it across the boarder to me. LOL Thanks again JoAnne, it truly was well worth the wait.

Next are my slide mailers that I recently received from ArtChix. They no longer sell them but I found out they had a little stash of them and I know someone there that helped me out. You know who you are and thanks so much. I inked the green slide mount with Peeled Paint inside and out, added some old book page and inked that a bit. Added a ticket from Artchix collage sheet, girl fairy from FlickR.

The Paris themed slide mount turned out very cool. I added inchies from Artchix Paris collage sheet and painted the whole slide mount with a light blue acrylic paint with a touch of brown streaks while paints were still wet. I stamped a Cleary Impressed background stamp that looks like honeycomb or sequin waste on the front and back of slide mount, added a printed ticket at the bottom and found this cool paper clip to the front

with Glossy Accents.



All images are from ArtChix Studio on these as well. The green one needs a verse or something and maybe the Paris one but I like the stamping on the Paris so I just might leave it alone. I know a friend of mine who loves the Eiffel Tower and Paris themes so this just might be going to her.

And last but not least....over at Bella Creations we were given a tutorial and challenge to make an ATC folder. So I made this folder and it fits a total of 8 ATC's. 4 in the front and you flip it around and 4 in the back. What a great way to display or give a little gifty to an ATC collector or swap partner.

Thanks to Sheila who gave us really easy directions. You can make this to fit 4 or 6 or more if you like. It folds up and ties around to close it. How cute is this

Well thanks again for looking. This was not all created in one day. I have some ATC's I did for a challenge as well but maybe another day.OOps I forgot the ATC's for Bella Creations are right here in the folder. Dahhh, must be that roast beast dinner and Yorkshire pudding for supper getting to my brain.

This is all she wrote.

Good night dear friends.

I was chosen as a Ginger Gem

Remember my Asian ATC with the charm for the Gingersnap Spicy supply challenge? I was so excited to find my ATC was chosen as one of the Ginger Gems. Woohooo

Thank you so much all you lovely Gingers, this was a lof of fun and the entries are all fabulous. I think everyone should be a Ginger.

Stay tuned for some more arty goodness coming to this

blog you are following soon.

hehe

Arch Shaped ATC's

I belong to a FlickR group called Let's Swap ATC's. There is always a theme you can sign up for but there is never pressure to sign up for any swaps. As you all know during the fall and winter I am busy with my craft shows and painting up a storm so paper gets put aside reluctantly and so trades are put on hold.

Since the Christmas holidays I have taken paper back up and got into trading again and here are a couple Arch shapes for the technique challenge.

As you all are becoming aware if you don't know already I lurve anything with an oriental theme so I am always using an excuse to try my hand at something a little different or just putting something together that represents my love for Chinese or Japanese themes.

Here is one arch I made with some K and Company scrap paper, I added some stitching and beads, the image was sent to me by one of my trade partners or arty friends, I can never remember they are all so generous, and a strip from a Chinese prayer book behind the image.

And this arch below is my gilded birdcage that fit just nicely onto another arch shape. I just had to cut the corners at the top a bit.

I used some music paper on the background and used colours from the ARTCHIX bird image around the outside edges, orange and yellow.I mounted the image on a piece of chipboard for some stability and added it to the front of the cage then added some chocolate brown German Scrap, again ArtChix and sanded it a bit to reveal the silver underneath. I punched a flower out of metal repair tape then used the embossing plate that the flower punch comes with to emboss it then added a gem.

And that is it. I hope whoever I get for a partner likes it.

I am working on an altered matchbox with the theme of birds, it is really starting to take shape.

Have a creative day and you know me, always love to read your comments.

Thanks for dropping by.