ATC World - Roaring Twenties Flappers

I wanted to use a photograph of my mother all decked out in her 1924 outfit - always up to date with fashion as she made her own clothes (a milliner by trade) - but I could not get the photo to print properly.  At first I thought I had run out of inks but, after changing them, the photos came out all streaked............ I gave up...............

The next day Heather Valentin brought out some 'Gatsby' designs ..... wonderful!  I immediately bought the three designs, printed them out ATC size and then sat at my desk just looking and thinking.  Eventually I pulled out my colours and started off.  The base ATC was cut from some old School books belonging to C but she didn't want them so  .............. ATCs were cut!


I prepared all the bases by stamping borders on each side  and adding some tape or peel-offs to match.  I then clear embossed the card and hand wrote a quote across the card.  
I used metallic pencils, gel pens and fibre tips to colour the designs so that a tiny bit of texture was created. 

After I had fussy cut the design and attached it to the card I realised that the quote could not be seen but heigh! ho!
I clear embossed the whole card and then clear embossed the designs again.  
I read somewhere that this also seals the papers ............   


Thinking of 'The Great Gatsby' that is in the Cinemas at the moment I added some bling to match the dresses.  

Finito!!

ATC World - Self Portrait

I really had to think about this one ............ hard!  I have been using Picasa lately to edit my photos, just 'playing' around really, pressing buttons and seeing what happens!!  Interesting .......

I edited my photo in Picasa using the sketch button, I'm thinking of using this for another project, and ended up with a reasonable photo.  I printed this out several times in different edits and (I am low on ink hence not black and white!) decided the photo framed and at an angle would be the best one to use.


I then added elements which are me - sort of.  The wool; I usually knit, crochet, sew in front of the tele and on long journeys.

Garden peel-offs; I am a gardener. 
Butterflies in several formats; flitting away.........
A bow; for when I get dressed up.
and then the words; happy - I am,  wonderful and special ...... that's what I am to someone ..... 

UPDATED - 14.06.2013
I have received the following swaps:

This one uses a photo taken at a fair, the Resi had her face painted so used this decorate the rest of the card - bright and cheerful.

Steampunk with diamantes, feathers and a gold frame.

A lot of work has gone into this one and it really lifts this card in quality.  With lace, flowers and a silver edge, the card has also been corner trimmed and embossed - really pretty.

This card is also from Resi - 

shows how different takes work out.

Thank you girls for being my partners and thank you, Resi, for hosting and sending out this extra one.

Iris Folded

I missed this swap when it came round on the Group,  I didn't know whether I was sad or glad........... it would be a challenge but then again would I be able to make one small enough for an ATC.

Then Lucie missed the swap and offered to swap with me ............ had to go for it didn't I?

So I printed out several what I though would be suitable patterns, small enough to fit on an ATC..........  minor adjustments were made until the size was right.  I went straight to Circle of Crafters because they have some great designers there and I found four designs.  These are the three I completed.

I have always loved this design of cats - there is one of a dog with cat designed the same way - so I chose some orange shades of paper but forgot that I would have to reduce the size of the strips so managed to get far more from the paper!!.  After I completed the folding the picture looked a bit bare so I shaded the other cat and added some fringe wool as grass.  Not bad.....

I knew that I would be able to do Ria's pattern for the dress and I knew that I had to use the envelopes.  I have saved envelopes since I started making cards, recycling is a habit lifestyle.  

This one came from my last position and brought back some happy memories as I cut the strips - narrow! - and folded.  Once again, when the folding was complete the card looked bare but I did not want to detract from the folding and added a bow in matching colour ......... or quite close! 

I used a mixture of purple and blue shades of very fine woven paper for this turban, some had gold / silver hearts on.  It took some time to find the right feather to complete the card.

I posted the cards off before I went to Scotland so I am hoping they have arrived safely.

ATC World - Mermaids

We bought some new fish today -  they have long tails that so remind me of mermaids, they flash their tails as they swim through the water.......... lovely to watch.

These mermaids have taken some time to finish.  Several earlier models ended up in the bin!!!

This is my second attempt at acheiving the design I had in my head with this one.  I embossed the first one with so much powder, the mermaid could not be seen!!!
She is saluting the water as she swims skyward!  I printed out the design and then embossed the mermaid in silver and the seaweed in plain green.  I then covered the whole design with a sparkly clear powder, adding a printed label cut out with 'fancy' scissors.




This is a Michelle Parkett design and quote....... so apt.
I printed the design on patterned paper and then coloured her with gel pens.  I am not happy with her face but after my attempts with the other two, I am leaving well alone!!!



This mermaid was printed out twice, the design was left in black and white, the shells on the first copy were coloured with glitter gel pens and I painted some Gesso over the second copy.
 I stroked some glittery fine material with blue and green shades of felt tip pens and set to dry, then taking some liquid clear glue, ran some streaks up the original design and placed the material on top.
I meant to stick the material down but I did not expect either the colours to run or the glue to show!!!  lol.

Thankfully the glue could be taken as being intended to imply seaweed ..... doncha think?  I then applied the second mermaid with 3D pads, carefully lining her up with the previous one.   Rounding the corners of all three, they are now ready to post in a swap.
UPDATED:
I have received the following cards for this swap -

This one is stamped onto a linen card, the elements in different colours.  The Seahorse is embossed in silver and glitter has been added to the bubbles.
Thank you Judy

With a waxed background and sequins for bubbles, this little mermaid is also coloured with wax crayon and the base is a playing card.

Thank you Leslie

This solitary mermaid is pieced onto a fishy background and then some of the fish are added to the whole card - front and back.

Thank you Resi.

ATC World - Black and White

Black and White and / or one other colour.
Now at first you might think that I have coloured the wrong image but no............ I'm a gardener, flowers will always be at the front!





I fussy cut the digi and then chose base paper to match the flower.  I coloured the tulip and then added the peeloff. 

so Chic on my ATC..........here they are in nature ..... .
 I love parrot tulips - wouldn't grow them myself - but think they look pretty................


I then applied this principal to my other cards, fussy cutting the image, colouring the flowers and adding peeloffs.



Escholtzia

This is one of the few yellow flowers I tolerate in my garden, although they are nearer orange.  








Dog Roses

My favourite flower - the rose.  There is a hedge of these flowers planted on an estate nearby ........... when it's in flower it is simply gorgeous!



UPDATED - 14.06.2013

I have received these three swaps:-


Husky Dogs 

Photographs

Amsterdam Waterfront

Thank you girls for being my partners and thank you Resi for hosting this great swap.

ATC World - Something Blue

I had no idea what to do with this swap so I googled 'blue' and there were lots of flowers............ then roses.  I downloaded several of them as I formulated a plan.  I already had my base - Truth Cards, a freebie from WithWildAbandon - just needed a focal point and blue roses were it!



I printed several of the roses to size and cut them out, selected three after trying them against the backgrounds. 



 I now needed to fill the empty spaces so I stamped a border - is that stitching?!!!!! - and then added the ribbon to bring depth. 






 Yep! round the corners, all done.


They may not look much but an awful lot of thought and research has gone into these.  I believe that I am finally getting the hang of these little works of art .............. I do hope so!




UPDATED - 14.06.2013 

 Blue Hope - very neat with peel offs

ATC is enamelled, Moon is glittered with howling wolf placed over.

Backing paper, ribbon, peel offs and a tissue butterfly.

Beautiful swaps - thank you so much girls for being my Partners and thank you Resi for hosting.

Circle of Crafters ATC Swap - New Beginnings

Lynsey is hosting this swap at the Circle of Crafters and I entered with these ATCs.  
I took as my focal point the New Library being built in our City Centre.  The design has caused a lot of discussion on the web and in the streets.  After looking at the ATCs as I worked on them I am getting to quite like the building!!

I added suitable text to each picture and then embossed.

 On this one I clear embossed the whole picture and then added both black embossing and glitter using my glue pen.  It suggests trees..................

I added the ricrac braid to bring all the ATCs together.



The clear embossing is only on the the right hand side and the black embossing all along the bottom.  Once again I added the ricrac and also some  ribbon braid along the bottom.



I clear embossed the left half of this one and added black embossed tree outline with the glitter falling down.............
Ribbon braids added the finishing touch.




Unfortunately the real world took over and they were relegated to the 'to be posted' box.  Today I received the following ATCs from my swap partner Judy - ooops! - after an apology via the Circle my ATCs will be in the post tonight!!



A really peaceful scene followed by 

a 'hanging' one and 

a definite 'new beginning' suggestion.


Well done Judy!  I love them.

ATC World - Fanciful Things that Fly

There's only one for me .............. Tinkerbell!

so here she is........................ printed onto coloured background.  



Watercolour pencils, gelpens, glitter glue and spritz all used to complete pictures.  They looked so good that I just added some 'fairy dust' and words formatted in Word.

The 'Goth' didn't want any 'Fairy Dust' !
UPDATED - 14.06.2013


How sweet is this ....fairy and hummingbird all hand painted and gold added to fairy wings.

Sock monkey flies!  I like the small copy used as a stamp on the reverse.

                                 And pigs will fly.... with goggles and golden wings!

 Thank you girls for being my partners and thank you Resi for hosting.