Cute Christmas ATC

It's a bit hard to tell, but this one is made to have the window in the center be just that. A window with dimension. It has tiny marbles and a few square sequins that shake around giving the illusion of snow. I started with 2 cards. After adding the paper to the fronts of both, and the back side of the card that would be the bottom, I cut out the center of one of the cards making it squiggly not straight. I put the cut card over the uncut card to make the placement of the snowy house with the snowman sticker easier. After that I cut a square of clear acetate and added it to the back of the cut card to form the window. I cut strips of double sided sticky foam mounting tape and added them around the edge of the uncut card that has the house sticker. I added the marbles and sequins at this point being careful not to tip the card. I then added the window card front. It now has it's dimension. Last I added the stickers on the front, and used copper foil tape around the edge.
I had fun with this one. I really like the moving parts for added interest. Next I think I'll do one with a Halloween theme.

Creative mistakes

Today I thought I would share with you a creative mistake I gambled would happen with the old polymer clay I had stored. As your clay sits it tends to get dry and crumbly. The canes I used here were almost unusable. They took me some time to make so I really didn't want to just throw them out. I thought what the heck, I'll see if I can make them work one way or another on an ATC.
First I rolled out my base with newer clay so my pieces would adhere. I sliced my rainbow cane into thin strips and outlined the piece. I added a few cut shapes from another left over piece of cane. Then I thought I would run it through the pasta roller knowing it would probably not make it. Of course it cracked in spots, and became a bit misshapen after the roll through. It still looked to cool to just give up so I poked a hole on each side of the splits, and added some mica powders and then baked. After baking I threaded some wire through the holes by the split parts and twisted so it looks repaired. The last thing I did was add the create stamp with solvent ink in the center. I named this piece... 'Broken Art' It may have been a mistake to many but to me it was an opportunity to stretch boundaries and break from the norm. It was worth the effort, and I enjoyed the journey to it's broken end. Peace!

OCD

Todays blog post is being brought to you by my OCD. (obsessive crafting disorder) It never fails me. I start out with one project (flower themed ATC for trade) and I end up with 8 unique cards and some new uses for old crap. I call that ROC (reusing old crap). lol I love to ROC all my projects in one way or another. The card I decided to share today, from this wacky group of 7, is one I'm going to call 'Short Story' The thing that makes this one a bit different from other ATC's is that it's in the form of a book. The recycled part of this card is the card itself. I always start with playing cards from garage sales or the thrift store. To make this card you will need 2 playing cards, decorative or recycled paper, rubber stamps, solvent based ink pad, a few stickers or cutouts, and the usual scissors, emery board to rough up the card surface,a sharpie, and your favorite adhesive. Mine is Aleenes tack it over. Oh and a piece of duct tape to bind the two cards together. First get all your supplies ready.Then use the emery board to rough up both sides of both cards so your adhesive has something to hold on to. Next lay the two card side by side with about a half a toothpick space between the two. Take a piece of duct tape long enough to go from top to bottom of cards and run the tape down the center of the two cards you have spaced in front of you. Rub the tape well to insure good stick. Then trim the edges of the tape so none hangs over edge of cards. Now fold the two together and it should now look like a book without pages. The next step is to cover the cards with your background paper. I cover the cards with 4 separate pieces of the paper. I find it closes and opens better then with just two. Trim all the edges so they meet the card edge. Now take your stamps, and stickers and create the cover. Open it up and decide what quote you want to use and either, write it or print it to be glued in, on the left side. Then design the right side page to go with your quote. Last and most important is the back cover. This is where you add your information so the artist you trade with knows who it's from and can add you in their contact list. Like I said you can make this to fit your style or subject matter very easily. Just go wild and ROC it if you can. Peace!

Retro recycle.

I had planned on writing this the other day but.........life's fun, and time flies. I started my projects and my Dad got sick. I had to put everything on hold and help out for a couple of days. He is much better now so back to work.

I started off with an idea, and a bunch of empty mint tins. Retro 70's was my motto, refrigerator magnets was the game. I used ranger alcohol inks on 2, and watercolors on the 3rd. I added a dragonfly charm to the watercolor, along with copper leaves. The other 2 are made with the inks and a mushroom stamp. I added crystals and small flower punches for a bit of bling. (I can never resist a sparkle or two) Having OCD (obsessive crafting disease) during the creative process I ended up with rainbow colored everything. Hands, work table, tons of punched out shapes from the left overs, I think it's even in my eyebrow.(scratched an itch) I always wanted rainbow colored eyebrows. lol. One of the things I like to do is use as much recyclable scraps as possible. In this project it was the empty tins, and a pressed paper coaster from Pizza Hut. I used the coaster cut, stacked, and glued in to raise the height of the picture. I love to save money so recycling is right up my alley. I really hope everyone enjoys this project and it inspires some to recycle and create. Today I'm looking for a way to recycle rope, twine, fabric etc. into macrame plant hangers. Another fun craft from the 70's and green to boot. Bright Blessings everyone, and happy crafting.

I did it!

I figured since I always have a lot to say, and even trash can look crafty to me, it was about time to start keeping track of all my random thoughts and projects. Being crafty is a full time lifestyle choice. It is something you just have inside you that bubbles until you set it free. Crafty people even dream in hyper-color. "I think it was a moose, but it had feathers, and big glasses painted pink with glitter and crystals". Then I woke up. lol

I started craft dreaming when I was about 7 years old and it continues to this day. 41 years and the colors only get brighter. For instance this week I will be revisiting some of my favorite crafts from the 60's and 70's. Only this time around supplies will be much easier to find with a much larger selection. Owls, mushrooms, and daisies are dancing around my mind this morning. My first stop is to let my muse wonder around swagbucks searching for inspiration. Then her and I will head outside to the garden to play a bit.(After we get all of our morning chores done of course.) Maybe a few new crafty things will show up in the herb garden. Or perhaps a rock will need a crafty touch. Another great inspiration for today will be my family. Everyone is coming this afternoon for our corned-beef and cabbage St. Pattys day feast. That means I will be cooking 3 large pots full. With 25 mouths to feed we need a lot of cabbage. lol Fun, family, food, and lots of sun is the best way to spend an afternoon. For now though it's back to my craft table. I still have a few things to clean up from last week so I can get started on this weeks fun. As soon as I figure out just where to begin this week I'll keep you posted.