Image Transfer Swap

I have joined an image transfer swap with an ATC group on flickr (http://www.flickr.com/groups/artisttradingcards/). I have to produce three sets of two and this will be the first set. One is one of the first transfers I ever did (History) and the second is one I finished today. I am very pleased with the way the cherish ATC has turned out. The background is simply some direct to paper inking, the image and the word 'cherish' are transfers and I have done a small amount of stamping over the top with a complementary image. I haven't had a chance to look properly at the people I am swapping with so I hope these will be good enough. Am definitely coming out of my comfort zone again!!

Nice save.....

You may remember a few days ago I posted an ATC that I didn't like - well finally finished altering it to something I'm halfway happy with although this time it is VERY GREEN lol - do let me know if you think its an improvement! Have been playing again with my image transfers, and the angel one was originally a complete disaster. The transfer didn't come out too well, I inked it a bit too heavily trying to give it some colour and in a final effort to make it look like an interesting background I sprayed gold webbing over it - didn't help a bit, went in all the wrong places -think I need a bit more practice with this product. So, I took another copy of the 'angel' image (thank goodness for digital collage)and put a small section on a raised tile(of course, as this wasn't a transferred image she is actually looking the other way but it all fitted together nicely so I don't think you would have noticed if I hadn't told you). I then added a bit of lettering and a gold krylon border. Voila!! Saved from the bin and now both of these are up for trade.

A long awaited mailer...

Have finally finished a slide mailer for my cyber friend Jackie - she has been most patient as the challenge was set ages ago with a theme of nature. The finished mailer ended up quite dark and sludgy which wasn't quite what I was trying to do when I started. I was determined to make the 'footprints' with an image transfer and after several unsuccessful attempts I managed it - but afterwards wished I had printed them out in brown rather than black as I think it would have looked more natural but we live and learn.

Can this ATC be saved?

Nothing for a week and then two posts in one day!!Well one of the reasons for this is that my daughter absconded with my camera (yet again) and I have been unable to take any photos and there doesn't seem much point posting without photos. Still haven't got it back but found her camera (yes, a perfectly serviceable one) and so have been able to add a few things.

Anyhow, this ATC is a bit of a disaster. I'm not quite sure where it went wrong but something about the final colours really jar and I don't like it. The main image (which is a transfer using gesso) actually came out quite well and I am reluctant to discard it completely so I am going to have a little think and will post its reincarnated version in due course. I have to do a couple more image transfer ATCs as I am in a flickr/swapbot swap. I have 3, possibly 4 out of a required six so not too challenging but want to do something nice - in its present state this will not pass muster but we shall see....

Collage or decoupage? That is the question...

I find myself doing quite a bit of collage lately whether that is textural, 3D or flat paper - I call it all collage!! However when I am doing 'paper' collage like the ones above I like to go for a final finish that is 'flat' almost like decoupage. Aha, I can hear you say, how can it be flat if its decoupage? Well, long before I'd ever heard of 3D foam, I made a few things from papier mache and used a technique called decoupage to decorate it. In this technique the layered images are repeatedly coated with layers of varnish - or in my case diluted PVA - and even slightly sanded and then coated again. The final effect is that the image has 'sunk in' to the varnish - it is also pretty well protected!! I like to do this with my collage, although whether this then makes them decoupage is a mystery to me and likely to remain so, I guess its just terminology after all.

Resist embossing

Have really got hooked on this technique. All these ATCs have a resist emboss background and I think it is most effective. Made most of the backgrounds yesterday and spent this evening putting the ATCs together. They are all a bit sludgy but I like it - can't always be bright adn breezy!

Mad May

Mad May is upon us, the busiest month of the year in the gardening calendar and boy am I busy!! This is the month where having two jobs a home AND a life seems slightly insane. So I might not be around that much the next couple of weeks.

However, that won't stop me crafting!! Just might be too bug eyed to use the pc. Yesterday tried out another technique from my Bernie Berlin book - resist embossing. Really fast, and made some cool backgrounds. Not sure what I am going to use them all for - the backgrund for this ATC was made using that technique. Think I am going to send this in to a collage swap - I'm going to try and do one 3d, one textural and one well, just flat collage. Not sure this one is quite finished though. I wanted to add some 'bits' of pink ground glass that I bought about two weeks ago - but can I find it now? Have obviously put it somewhere safe.

Have also finished a stick doll - picture over on the right where I thought there would be more by now but have missed at least one of the doll swaps and others have got delayed. Right, off to start the day.