Pink and Green

Apple Poster Collages

It was either let someone throw out a large, 

very colorful company poster, 

or, make art.  No problem!

Little Yellow Collaged "Leftovers"

These four pieces happened when I cut up the 

nine ATCs from the painted/rubberstamped 

8+1/2" x 11" sheet of cardstock.  

The Hug Fairy image and orange butterfly 

are from Lisa's Altered Art collections.  

I think these little cards are cute, 

and will make nice enclosures 

with informal mail art exchanges.

The Finished Yellow ATCs

And this is how the nine yellow ATCs cut

from one background sheet turned out after

some collage and rubberstamping:

ATC Multiples in YELLOW

This seems to be the best way to get nine Artist's Trading Cards out of a single sheet of 8+1/2" x 11" card stock with minimal waste. You could probably cut it down to 7+1/2" x 10+1/2" first.

I like the "depth" that printed or patterned materials add, peeking out from underneath layers of paint and collage. 

This is how I started a batch of similar-background ATCs:

I coated the card stock with matte gel medium, then applied torn up pieces of foreign language text.  Next were sections of sewing pattern tissue, and then bits of a (used) decorative envelope.  I coated it all with another layer of matte gel medium and let it dry.

I applied dabs of three different yellow acrylic paints with a wide brush.

After the paint dried, I used a vine roller stamp and olive green ink to fill in some of the "blank" spots.

It needed a little something else.  I thought, "leaf."  Scattered Ginko leaf images rubberstamped with gold ink added sparkle.

After that, I cut up the decorated paper into nine equal pieces.  I will finish them with a few collage elements to make each one unique.  I have some cancelled foreign postage stamps out for consideration, and who knows what else I might add!

Midnight Magic

Last night the temperatures dipped down to the 10 to 15 degree (F) range.  Diamond stars twinkled overhead in the dark sky, and snow crystals on the ground sparkled like faceted gems under the garage light.  Because I've seen this before and tried to take a picture, I knew from experience there would be no way to capture the effect with my digital camera.  So I committed it to memory.  Some sweltering summer night I will wish for snow.  Winter does have its delights!

Tidbits - Part 3

27.  Storing the wonderful art you receive may be a concern.  I have most of my mail art in 4"-deep 3-ring binders.  Protective plastic pages can be purchased in different designs, like full-sheet, 2-pockets-per-page, 4-pockets-per-page (photo storage sheets) or 9-pockets-per-page (trading cards) available through eBay and other sites.  The decorative video tape (photo) storage boxes are also useful.  To display some favorites, you could use hanging jewelry holders with clear plastic pockets (like shoe or purse organizers). 

26.  To help collage elements stay securely attached during postal processing, first glue (search out glue options), then press between waxed paper in a thick book, and weight down with a heavy object like 1 gallon jug of water, overnight until dry.

25.  Easy abstract backgrounds for art can be made with acrylic paints dropped on shiny-side-up freezer paper.  Just spritz with a little water, then place your post card or Artist's Trading Card on the diluted paint, move the paper around, and then admire the smooshed design.  This may be repeated with the same color for more intensity, or with different colors after each application dries.

24.  If you want to use a magazine image or other image that's not quite the right color or needs background color, scuff or blot lightly with an inkpad of the preferred color.  The small oval "Cat's Eye" ink pads work well for this.

23.  To alter Rolodex cards that seem thin and flimsy, securely glue two of them together.

Some Pep Talks & Collages from Sketchbook Pages

This turned out to be more of a journal, but with art sprinkled through it...  There is definitely a "get fit" theme :)

Tentatively Sharing Some Scrapbook Pages

And Some Aqua/Teal/Turquoise Post Cards

These collaged postcards were also made yesterday for an active group swap:

I added dabs of acrylic paint to some of these "paint tubes."

Finally, Some Art!

You may be wondering why my personal blogsite has been inactive for a while.  Yes, the end of the year found me too exhausted to make art, but finally after several fun sessions I have a few altered Rolodex cards, ATC's and post cards to swap. 

Someone kindly gifted me with some beautiful Kuretake gansai pan watercolors from Japan last fall.  I am attempting to overcome my fear and distrust of the paintbrush.  This is my (only) post card for an active Build-A-Snowman Group Swap:

Just watercolors

Now, how do you suppose the rabbit got the snowman's nose?

Cold Jet Trails

Patterns and lines catch my attention...

And texture...