Finished "Inky Layers"

I cut these pieces to A4 size and then added Fluid Chalk inks. The first picture shows what they looked like with warm red and dark peony added.

The final step calls for rubbing on a layer of iridescent ink. I used what I had: Daler-Rowney pearlescent medium in copper, but I thought it evened everything out too much, so I swiped on some additional inks, including some azurite. Here is a piece that I've finished. I rather like how layered these look.

Have to finish these up and then I'll mail them out for the background swap. Next I'll see what I can do with these backgrounds in terms of making ATCs.

Glaze

For step two of this background technique, I washed the backgrounds with an orange-yellow glaze--paint and gel medium mixed together.

This technique is called Inky Layers and it comes from Bernie Berlin's book, "Artist Trading Card Workshop," published by Somerset Studios. This book is full of inspiring techniques and we plan to start exploring them at the Yolo-area ATC group. I'll be teaching a workshop on Sept. 15 and this is one of the techniques I want to try out. Several more steps to come....

I'm also using these for a background swap on CC Swaps.

Inky layers collage

I'm working on a background swap. This is stage 1, layered torn papers. It'll get a glaze and some inks added to it next.

Stampsmith Exchanges

For the past six months, I've been taking part in an ongoing swap on the Stampsmith Yahoo group. Someone from that list asked to see the cards I've made for this swap, so here they are--most of them, anyway. I think I didn't scan a couple of them.

Estelle Lander Smith, aka the Stampsmith, offers truly wonderful images. Check out her stuff at www.stampsmith.net. Thanks to Michelle Anders in South Africa for hosting these swaps.

More journal pages

These were pages from Cheryl's book in the round robin journal swap. Her theme was "Where We Go to Rest." For me, that's nature and art--both refresh me!

My Art Space...

...all 9 feet of it.

Someone recently asked me what my "studio" looks like. At this point in life, I can only dream of a studio. This is where I make stuff, a corner of the family room, spilling over to the kitchen table as needed. My art supplies also fill up a former coat closet in the hall, several iris carts stashed elsewhere in the house, and some storage under the bed. Underneath this table there are a total of four iris carts, and there are baskets of paper hanging out as well.

Magazine scrunchie ATC

A couple of posts back, I was working on a background involving a magazine page, gesso and acrylic. Here's a finished ATC, which is on its way to Jessie in Australia. The stamped images are embossed, though that doesn't really show up in this scan.

Added some paints

I ended up using Lumiere Pearl Turquoise and Sunset Gold. I will probably stamp something on this tomorrow.

Next step, gesso

After gluing a crumpled magazine page to a sheet of cardstock with diluted PVA glue (see earlier post), step 2 was slapping on some gesso with a somewhat dry brush. Very haphazard, no plan but to leave some random areas exposed. Next step: acrylic paint & maybe some Moon Glow powders. I never know exactly what I'll use until I'm in the middle of it. Thanks to the ever-creative Trish Bayley for this idea. I'm looking forward to getting out the paints!

Magazine "scrunchie" background

Leave it to Trish B. to come up with something called "scrunchie." :) This was both a challenge on the Art Venture group and now an ATC swap on CC Swaps. Here's my start. Next come some gesso & acrylics--will post additional steps later.

Altered Bottle

I made this for an altered bottle swap on CC Swaps. Our challenge was to take a bottle -- any kind of bottle -- and alter it! I really had fun making this and hope Doris likes it.

Started with an Orangina bottle because I just love the shape and the pebbly texture on the glass. Here's what it looked like originally and the finished product. I used alcohol inks and Pearlex inside to give it some depth, alcohol inks on the outside, a stamped tag, mermaid charm and fibers.

I've been tagged

I've been tagged by my pal Fiona at www.fionascreations.blogspot.com, which means I have to tell you 7 things about myself:

1. I am not a natural redhead, though I believe I was born to be one. :)

2. I love to garden and am rather good at it, though I kill houseplants. Seriously have a black thumb when it comes to the indoor variety.

3. I drink way too much coffee.

4. I am in touch with my inner rock star.

5. Would stay up all night talking given the right topic, the right company and a wee bit o' whiskey.

6. I read the entire "Lord of the Rings" trilogy every summer. Yes, I'm a geek, but I sometimes just need to believe in a world where the good guys win out. Plus then I get in the mood to re-watch the films and well, Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn--need I say more?

7. I harbor the Great American Dream of writing a novel...someday.

And now I need to tag two other folks, so here we go:

Lori at http://www.picturetrail.com/homepage/stampin_granny
Tamisha Lee http://tamishasartspace.blogspot.com/

Teesha Moore-style swap

Well. I've been participating in a Teesha Moore-style swap on CC Swaps, wherein we are supposed to create pages similar to her style. Although I've had a lot of fun doing these, I don't think I ever got close to her style. Hopefully they will be OK for the swap because I've spent loads of time on them., vbg! This was one of those life lessons: in trying to find my own style, it is not helpful for me to try my hand at someone else's. But painting and doodling sure is a good way to unwind. To see her actual work, go here:
http://www.teeshamoore.com/teeshasjournalpgs.html

Anyway, here are my efforts.

Altered Beer Mats

These were for a swap. They started life as plain, chipboard style beer mats, or cardboard coasters. Couldn't decide which one to send to my swap partner, so she gets them both.