Textured with Metal Element - Precious Metals

I started off making ATCs to enter into two swaps.  My ideas were floating around in my head, so I sorted out all the elements I thought would be needed, papers that were metallic, or shiny! any metallic embellishments, plumber's silver tape ....

I stuck, polished, embossed, glued, stamped, heat embossed and had a thoroughly good day!!!

I ended up with these beauties ....

Now although they are in groups of three, do not believe for a moment that's how I entered them into the swaps!!
I shall explain how the cards were made in other posts labelled according to the swaps in which they where entered.
Maybe I'll even have better photographs as I lost all mine when my external drive broke ... I have retrieved most of my data but photos are a questionable commodity .....

ATCs For All - H/P Faces

Hand Drawn / Hand Painted Faces .... this is a real challenge but that is why I have joined this Group ... isn't it?!!

So I sat with a page of Watercolour paper and drew some pencil lines so that the page was 'squared' off in ATC sizes.  Then I cut them all out and sat with one card in front of me.

I painted her hair, then lightly drew her features and coloured them in using my Promarkers.

I drew a side view for my second one and after much 'rubbing out' I managed to get a face I could live with!!!

I found some basic face drawing exercises on the web showing expressions .... I tried the 'surprise' one.  I don't know whether it is a boy or a girl but .... that's the surprise!!

My last one is 'happy' so she has a few laughter lines around her eyes .... not sure if I am happy with these but for my first real attempt at faces .... yes!  I am pleased.

ATCs For All - Decades 1930s

I love entering the Decades swaps - but this one was very interesting ..... I needed to look at these years.
I settled on creating film titles but which ones?
Blue Angel

I have no idea what this film is about which is perhaps a good thing!!!
So I found this little drawing of an angel - unknown artist at present - and decided to 'customise' her to fit the title.  I removed her wings and coloured her with Promarkers, colouring over her pink body with a very pale blue.  I brightened up her dress with a very bright blue, leaving the edges white.  I touched up her halo with a gold pen - she's a good girl and needs a golden halo!  I coloured a feather with a blue inkpad and left to one side to dry, I then cut it up to match up with some 'wings' I found on the web.  I attached my beautiful angel to a background of stars and hearts.


Charlie Chan and the Jade Mask

I know it 's not jade green but it's the nearest I had!

It's a piece from my embossed master board and attached to the left side of the card.
I used the screens and fan that I won in Robyn's giveaway some time ago.
I then highlighted the screens' area with green and peuce to match the embossed piece.



Little Women

I love this story and didn't know that was first made into a film in this era, Katherine Hepburn playing Jo.
I found a background I could use from one of my Parisian Estate Agents mag so coloured the card base to match the main colour theme.  I found a McCalls paper pattern which showed just the dresses I needed so I printed this out three times, just in case I cut it out wrong as I knew what I wanted to do but  .....
I cut out the main dress leaving the trim etc.  exactly the same as 'Mama Africa' ATCs.  I then attached her to the background, sliding the smaller ladies behind her.


Top Hat
After looking at several posters for this film, I decided to go with the title theme.
I found a picture of top hats which were just perfect,so I printed it out twice and fussy cut out all those hats ....  Among many posters for this film I found one that showed Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing on the Top Hat, this would be my focal point.
I started by painting the base card with Twinkling H2Os pink and put to one side to dry.
I then layered everything onto the card and covered the whole with a layer of clear glue and left it to dry.  The glue gives a shiney finish to the card although it doesn't really show up here.......

ATCs For All - Mama Africa III

With my association with Africa I have no choice but to join in, couldn't really miss the opportunity! lol
I have sorted several themes during the past week or two and then today 'it hit me!'

This is my Notice Board - as you can see not many notices but lots of trivia - warm memories are locked on this board!  I won't go into them now - maybe on my other Blog, Recollections and Trivia.
Suffice to say middle left there is a card that I bought from the hotel shop on my very first visit to Nigeria.  
I have wanted to copy it, but so far not managed it  ...... maybe today .....

The card is made from cutout figures with traditional patterned material behind.   I have been given lots of material pieces from the various Churches we visited on our trips out there.  

I photocopied the card several times and then fussy cut out all the figures.  I chose five separate pieces of material and ironed them onto some fusable backing to make them more stable and easier to cut. 

I placed the figures over the top and cut the material to shape.

I cut into the figures so that the material would show through as in the lower right figure, I have the outline still to attach.

Searching out my watercolour paper I cut several ATC cards and then, with Inktense pencils, drew backgrounds which I hope will hint at village life.  I washed the cards with my waterbrush and added a bit more colour here and there to suggest shadows.

Silly me I forgot to take pictures of them!! 

I then proceeded to cut, stick and colour until I had finished all five dancing and drumming figures.  I even managed to cut out 'hats'.
I am very pleased that at last I have managed to complete my take on this card.  
I have often seen this dancing, was joining in not three months ago - this time in England at a Nigerian Church.  
Such vibrancy and joy!!!

We have two 'talking drums' at home, and lots of traditional costumes - these cards bring back such wonderful memories.
I have searched the web to try to find the artist of this card and/or the company that sold it but no luck so far.

Summer of Colour - week 6

The last week already!
I have enjoyed this challenge even though I didn't manage to keep up every week!!!

Raspberry, Orange and a pop of Lemon ..... mmmmm

This is the Summer of Colour, we have all the heat required for ...... ice lollies!

yeah!

I found the right colours for the background in my stash so that is a good start.   Sort out my magazine and search, cut and glue.  The colour for the sticks is not quite brown enough so I added a bit of promarker to make it more 'woody' looking.  I placed the 'lemon lolly' off the card so that it is just 'a pop of colour'.

Sorting through my 'Words' box I found a page of printed sentences so this part is perfect - with icy fingers - summer and colour.
Sometimes I amaze myself ..... I thought I had set myself a really difficult challenge but  .... I enjoyed it .... a lot.
Thank you Kristin, see you next year ...

Summer of Colour - Week 5

Now we're talking ... my colours!!

So I did the usual and went online to look for inspiration ... 

http://www.nicsearth.com/2014/07/
summer-of-colour-week-5-royal-blue-red.html

I found this picture which really caught my eye.  I love this and immediately printed it out, sorted pages from my magazine and off I went.  Now one thing I do know is that you should always check your sources when surfing the net..... did I?  No!  and now?  There could be repercussions ....
I am making my last few ATCs in retrospect as the challenge is now closed although the 'Mr Linky' is still available.  I am publishing only on here although I may send out my work in club swaps.  
Now why am I telling you all this?  
Well you may ask!!
I never checked my source.  
I just loved this picture and went to town (as it were).  As I was browsing the 'Summer of Colour' site, I found this picture entered on 'Mr Linky'!
I went immediately to the owner's blog and found out I have inadvertently copied someone's own artwork without her permission.  I shall immediately go tell her and explain and, hopefully, she will allow me to show you my card and swap it on.  Whether I have permission or not, I still love her picture!

UPDATE:
I have emailed for permission to show you my card and there is no response as yet, so I will label this a CAS card!

I used a printed sheet from my stash for the background and then added the sail and boat, cut from my magazine as per usual.  I drew the mast and outlines with black pen and then added the sentiment - coloured with a wax crayon.  I rounded the corners on this card using my wave scissors, not quite sure ......
..... but the picture is still good!!!

Summer of Colour - Week 4

Week 4 really has a pop of colour, toning down the brightness!!

I found this picture (sorry, no details) on Google and I just knew what I was going to create ... 

Back to that Paris magazine .....


Balloons cut out freehand and then attached to a picture of a patio and garden .... dark balloons in the distance so there was the pop of dark.


A few larger light green balloons in front of the trees, then the pink ones in front  ....  a lustre thread glued to the back of the balloons and then folded over to the back of the card.

I typed out the sentiment and randomly cut it out and coloured it with a dark green crayon, then attached it in the lower righthand corner.

I love this card, maybe it's because it has the garden in the background!!