Thursday, February 22, 2024

Floral Ladies ATCs

 I loved pulling out the watercolour paints to create these beautiful ladies, with their floral locks. A simple face, a splash of paint, some doodled flowers - and a whole lotta time - was all it took. I'm delighted with the finished ATCs πŸ™‚

Orange - Traded

Red - Traded

Purple

Golden - my favorite 😍

Pink - 
or maybe this one is my favorite? 😍

Someone missed out on the Vintage Rose Ladies I painted last year, and while we were arranging a current trade she asked would I make her one. I was surprised when she asked to take both ladies, so made a few extras to trade in the Facebook group.

My watercolour technique is a bit haphazard but works for me. Practice makes perfect, so there are many, many watercolour ATCs to be butchered in the process yet!

Thanks for looking, commenting & trading xx



Sunday, February 18, 2024

Hydrangea ATCs

Repeating a previous painting class I've found my results are very different just a month apart. Not better technique necessarily, but definitely more confidence in my brush strokes and taking initiative with composition.

February 2024

January 2024

Traded

Traded

Sadly one of my ATC trades did not arrive safely at its destination in the USA. The ATCs and extras were all removed, leaving only the note. 

So as not to disappoint my trade partner, and since it was through no fault of her own, I repeated the ATCs - same but different - and have resent them with a bundle of extras to ensure it is happy mail πŸ’Œ

RAK gifted

I'm thoroughly enjoying my little sketchbook classes and developing a reference journal of my progress.

Same but different is a concept I really could get used to.

Thanks for looking, commenting, trading and sharing xx



Encore Splatter ATCs

 Due to overwhelming interest in my splatter cards I've made more and they're just about all traded.

Be a fruit loop in a world of cheerios!

Life is a great big canvas,
Throw all the paint you can on it!
-Danny Keene

I love making these bright little pops of colour! And am delighted that collectors love them as much as I do.

Thanks for the encouragement 😁
Comments and trades always welcome xx


Friday, February 16, 2024

Splatter ATCs

The solo splatter ATC I made in January was so well received I decided to make a series of a few more to trade. 

Fruit Loops - traded

I gave first preference of the ATCs to those who contacted me directly when I posted my original splatter, and found Fruit Loops was a very popular choice. Traded immediately and 3 additional requests to be made to order.

Splash of colour - traded

Great big canvas - traded

Pop of colour - traded

Loved making these little snippets and will continue to make them using paint left on my palette - they're like a sneaky little bonus πŸ˜‰

Thanks for looking, comments and trades always welcome x




Peacock Acrylic ATCs

 After taking another art lesson here, I practiced the techniques and turned them into ATCs.


Traded

Available 

Traded

Acrylic paint, a white gel pen and my trusty marketplace typewriter turned this simple design into some cute (and sassy) ATCs.

I flipped a couple of my offcuts into RAKs to send to a trade partner and a lovely lady who requested some happy mail while going through a hard time. 

RAK for a swap, they specifically requested no "extras" so I included a bonus ATC - some matting to frame the print and pearl accents changed the look

Day one or one day
YOU DECIDE...
A little motivational nudge for an anonymous new friend going through a hard time

I'm having so much fun in my painting class and love building on the skills and ideas as I learn them.

Thanks for looking, comments and ATC trades (worldwide) are always welcome xx

Friday, January 19, 2024

Acrylic florals ATCs

 Inspired by an online art class I'm taking, I painted some free and easy florals






Not content with seeing the pretty scraps discarded I tried a paper weaving technique that has been lurking in the back of my head (and at the forefront of my Pinterest board) for a little while. 


Painted scraps were combined with strips cut from a vintage book purchased from an op shop with every intention of being journal fodder. I found plant themed words to feature, and wove around them;
trees, cool grass, orchard, wisteria, rose

The result? Definitely not a technique I have mastered, but it's interesting and I'll definitely try it again.

Thanks for looking, comments always welcome
xx



Thursday, January 18, 2024

First ATC trade for 2024

 


ATC 1/2024  
repurposed packaging, acrylic paint, vintage typewriter text

Arranged a 2 card blind swap with a member of Artist Trading Card Swaps FB group, and wanted to make something new.

I found some post Christmas packaging for repurposing and randomly tore the top layer of paper off the cardboard. Splattered acrylic paint (leftover on my palette), flicked some paint with an old toothbrush and performed some expert finger painting.

Once all 4 fingers and thumb on both hands were well and truly "Picasso-ed" 
I was satisfied 😜 

ATC 1/2024 has been mailed and is on its way to Florida πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ with these two companions ⬇️ and lots of extras


Seed Packet Series - Feverfew
HD/HP watercolour, ink, seed packet


Silly Glittery Christmas
glitter shaker card with scraps, metal tag, machine stitching
 
2 card swap/3 card swap? Sharing is caring πŸ˜‰

As always, thanks for looking, comments always welcome and trades invited and encouraged! xx


Thursday, December 21, 2023

Last Christmas ATCs for 2023



Honestly, I was feeling a little "burnt out" for this swap, but fortunately found a great little book at the op shop with beautiful Christmas illustrations to inspire me. 

I also wanted to try this technique (far right) I spotted on Pinterest.

These ATCs will be mailed out tomorrow and I'll be grateful for a little break from crafting until the new year. 

And in just like that, Christmas is just days away! Gingerbread biscuits are on the menu tomorrow, my kids are driving around looking at Christmas lights tonight and I've been a good Elf sending letters from Santa to my nieces and nephews.

As always, thanks for looking, comments always welcome and a very Merry Christmas from me to you xx

ATCs - Be Flamazing!

Be Flamazing! Flamingolicious theme

LH card traded, RH available

I really struggled with this theme! 

Originally, I thought it was a great idea to break out of my comfort zone, but after coming up with NO ideas that I could translate into an ATC I realized my goose (flamingo!) was cooked πŸ¦©πŸ˜‰

I had this lovely acrylic smeared paper that was the right colour for the theme, drew a simple flamingo silhouette and pieced the cards together.

Sadly, the original ATC I sent to my swap partner was lost in the mail, so I made two replacements - just in case 🀣

As always, comments always welcome and thanks for looking xx

Monday, December 4, 2023

Dreamcatcher ATCs

This idea has been bobbing around in my head since I first started making ATCs. Given the theme of "washi tape" by Australian ATC Themed Swap group the stars aligned and it was perfect opportunity to combine theme, idea and technique.


Fiddly as it was, I twisted wire into a circular shape, cut washi feathers using this technique and stitched the dreamcatcher web. I typed some phrases with my "new retro electric typewriter" straight out of 1992 and Facebook marketplace πŸ˜†


"let your dreams be your wings" is for open trade


"nothing is impossible" is for my swap partner


And "dream without fear love without limits" is for my personal collection, 
and a reminder to self.

Comments always welcome, and thanks for looking x




Wednesday, November 29, 2023

ACTs - Harvest of love

 Another ATC swap, this time with Artist Trading Card Swaps, with the theme Harvest and/or Thanksgiving. 

Harvest of love

I loved the phrase, "small seeds of gratitude will produce a harvest of love", and found it fit the theme seamlessly.

Wanting (and needing 😜) to get in some much needed watercolour practice I drew the pumpkins, washed them with colour & finished with some ink for definition.

I hope my swap partner likes my efforts 🀞

Comments always welcome, thanks for looking x






Wednesday, November 22, 2023

ATCs -The Nativity

 It's beginning to look a little bit like Christmas, but only a teeny, tiny bit.

After my Bush Christmas ATCs I thought about creating a series of cards that celebrate the "real" reason for the season - the birth of Jesus.


I've been going blind fussy cutting for my paper piecing, but am very happy with the outcome. The backgrounds are watercoloured.







The ATCs are proving popular in the swap groups. I've made sure that I made a card to keep for myself in my collection, something that I often overlook.

Comments always welcome, thanks for looking x