Red, White & Blue ATCs

Two recent swaps that I joined had red, white and blue themes ... and I created a series of themed ATCS of 3 originals. The most recent ATC Themed Editions I sent out were titled "Ms. Independence" & "Le Fleur of Independence". I always hesitate when sending out some of my ATCs, because I am a born scrubbler and doodler - and compared to other ATCs that I see - mine always seem so sparse in comparison ... but I love to play with inks, pens and H20 Twinkling Luminaries.

Inchies in June

After a slow start, I find my momentum with these inchies. This was done for a swap.

Playing With Watercolors and Paper

I've been having such a good time playing with paper, but feel as if I am neglecting the other love of my creative life - painting. Creating with paper has actually re-inspired me with my painting, and more and more I see how I can combine the two mediums.

On the the Decorative Artists in Canada (DAIC)painting list, they have a wonderful thing called DTCs which is basically a 4x6 trading card for the DAIC members. I have grown to love this exchange, as it allows me to combine paper and painting. The 4x6 cards give me more room than the ATCs and less surface space of the traditional cardstock. My most recent DTC for spring, I decided to use a daffodil line drawing of Richard Bonds and paint using watercolors on canvas.I cut a piece of canvas and glued it onto the 4x6 DTC tempate and applied the line drawing. Then, I took Grumbacher watercolors and applied color.

I let it dry, then applied color to the background and then added some doodles around the boarder, using a black Micron fine point marker....and added a bit details to the flower.

I am very happy with the results, and I have decided that instead of loading up on stamps, I will begin using what I already have over on my paint table ... an abundance of line drawings and patterns from wonderful decorative artists.

I truly believe that the two, paper crafting and decorative art, can co-exist in a truly dynamic creative way.

Celebrate Spring ATCs

I still don't know sometimes if I have the hang of ATCs. I have seen beautiful ATCs made with stamps and bits and pieces of paper and ribbon ... beautiful images that make me oooh and ahhhh.

Then it's my turn.

Maybe I need a theme? ... I don't know, but when left to my own devices with blank ATCs - the doodler in me is strong. I like to put swirls and dots and hearts and simple flowers on paper ... all over the place. My mother tells a story about sitting in her kitchen, thinking about me after I had just left for college ... and she looked at the wall by the phone ... and on a small piece of paper hung one of my doodles that she'd found. "Back then", when I was in my teens, there were no cell phones and cordless phones were too much money! The kitchen phone with the 100 foot twisted cord was all there was!...and I can't htink of how many days I'd sat in the kitchen on that phone, yakking and doodling.

So in the spirit of a doodler, my latest ATCs which are to be Celebrate Spring!, were born. Materials used were 2 pieces of blank watercolor paper, a pencil, pearlescent chalks for the background, a black sharpie, H20 Twinkling pots to add the bursts of color, and a bottle of Sticklies for that textured glitter in the hearts.