The second chunky ATC sample

This is the second chunky ATC that I've created.  I love making these!  I used images/embellishments/German scrap from Collage Stuff, images from the following stores at the deviantscrap.com website: Crow About Studio B, Tumblefish Studio, Hidden Vintage Studio and Holliewood Studios and images from the scrapbookgraphics.com website from Studio Tangie.  That's out of the way now!  I began by painting my wood block from Collage Stuff with metallic peridot paint.  After that it was a matter of gluing down the images and embellishments with gel medium.  I sealed the paper with gel medium before gluing down the embellishments. The curio knob at the top is cool, but it makes this chunky ATC a little top heavy.  I painted the Tim Holtz alpha part number "2" with the same green paint.  I like dice for feet, but you could use just about anything - wooden spools, beads, whatever.  There is a chunky ATC swap posted at the Collage Stuff Yahoo Group.  Swap details are in the files section and sign-ups take place in the database section.  Thanks for stopping by!

Black, white and red ATC

The theme for the May ATC swap at Collage Stuff is "black, white and red".  This is my design.  I decided that I hadn't used any of the Collage Stuff Madonna images for a while, so time to use one!  The background is some vintage sheet music that I had scanned in.  I made sure it was black and white and increased the contrast on the image.  The red panel and the bursts are from the Nitty Gritty Kit (Tumble Fish Studio, deviantscrap.com).  They were black and white.  I colored them red with a red sharpie.  I need to buy a couple of red Copic markers.  I highlighted them with a white gel pen.  It was fun to do.  The Madonna image is from the Collage Stuff "Madonna" collage sheet.  I used my The Crafter's Workshop mini zinnia template in the upper right corner.  First I outlined with a black Pitt pen and then I colored in with the red sharpie.  The "full of grace" words were created at the Acme Labelmaker Website.  I used a Collage Stuff black illustration board ATC blank and cut the sheet music image slightly smaller so that I'd have a black frame around the collage. I also used the white gel pen to highlight the woman image in a few places.  When the swap is complete, ATCs from each participant will be posted at the Collage Stuff Swaps page.  Be sure to check them out mid-June.  Thanks for stopping by!

Completed Chunky ATC Sample

This is my completed chunky ATC sample!  I added charms to the sides with gel medium.  The feet were also added with gel medium.  I like to use dominoes for feet.  Thanks for stopping by!

Chunky ATC Sample

I decided that I wanted to offer my Collage Stuff customers high quality chunky ATC blanks.  Sooooo, I ordered in 2.5 x 3.5" wood blocks that are made by people that make rubber stamp wood mounts.  They are perfectly smooth and made from kiln dried maple.  Then I decided that I need to host a chunky ATC swap at the Collage Stuff yahoo group, but not before I made at least one sample.  This is the first sample. All of the images are from the Tumble Fish Studio "East Meets West" kit at deviantscrap.com.  Yes you can use these images digitally or you can print them out and collage by hand.  I sized the images perfectly for my project and printed them out.  First I painted the wood block dark purple with some Making Memories paint I found in my stash.  I used Golden Gel Medium (matte) to glue down the background image first.  I constructed the collage on the wood block gluing everything down with the gel medium.  When I had the images all glued down, I sealed the collage with a coat of gel medium.  I attached all of the dimensional elements with the gel medium.  Before I glued down the images, I went around all of the edges with a suitably colored Copic marker so that no white edges show.  The large dragonfly was in my stash.  The small dragonfly is stocked at Collage Stuff.  The large bird charm, blue metal rose and the green resin blossoms are also available at Collage Stuff.  I haven't decided if I'm using red dice or some flatter bingo tiles for the feet.  The sides and the top have coordinating patterned papers attached.  I may add some charms to the sides, but I haven't really decided about that yet either. I'll post more photos when it's all done.  Anyway, I'm happy with this first chunky ATC and I hope it will inspire some group members to sign up for the Chunky ATC swap when I host it!  Thanks for stopping by!

Eternity Beckons 4 x 4 Page

At the Collage Stuff Yahoo Group, I'm hosting a monthly 4" x 4" page swap.  For May, I needed to create art with a Pre-Raphaelite or Medieval theme.  This is my completed page, "Eternity Beckons."  All of the images are from the "Ladies of the Castle" kit at the Deviant Scrap website.  I altered the background adding some Old English text that I found on the internet.  Everything was sized appropriately, printed, cut out and glued down.  Before I glued down the elements, I edged each with a Copic marker so the edges would not be white. The word eternity was highlighted using a black Spica glitter pen after it was glued down.  I added a little bit of glitter to the yellow rose, made the skull's eye sockets a little darker and made the rose on the rolled parchment a little sparkly with a Spica glitter pen.  The German scrap border at the bottom is from Collage Stuff.  The gold filigree corner at the top right is from Collage Stuff.  I added jewel jewels to the filigree corner.  I used Diamond Glaze to secure the German scrap border, the filigree corner and the jewels.  The page is edged with a brown Copic marker to finish the edges.  Thanks for stopping by!

Springtime ATC

The April ATC swap at the Collage Stuff Yahoo Group has a springtime theme.  This is my entry.  The background was done digitally using images from the Tumble Fish Studio Spring Market Kit (deviantscrap.com). The woman, and "spring" images are from the same kit.  I added a vintage Dennison red border label in the right corner and glued the woman image down.  I added a red German scrap rooster, matte olive lace German scrap border and red jewels - all available at Collage Stuff.  I edged the ATC with a green Copic marker to finish the edges.  Thanks for stopping by!

A Random Postcard

Last night, late, I decided it was time for a new postcard.  It's design is sort of random, but I like it!  I scanned in the image of the woman from a book page.  The book has several issues of an old women's magazine.  The title of the section is "Fair Women."  I don't know who decided these women were "fair", but below each photo is the name of the woman.  I'm guessing that these women were in the high society of the day.  I colorized the woman in PSP X4.  The quality of the original image from the scanned book page is not great, but it works for the postcard. I digitally created the wings and colored them in PSP X4.  I used a vintage photo of New York City for the background.  This photo is on one of the Collage Stuff New York City collage sheets.  Everything else was added in PSP X4 using brushes.  Brushes are fun!  You can size them, make them different colors etc.   Thanks for stopping by!  This new postcard will ship with Collage Stuff orders in the next few weeks.