My First ATC'S

My first Artist Trading Cards!

I have submitted these for a ATC Swap this weekend. Sometimes I find these little works of my art hard to part with ( as much as my larger pieces.) But I also like the thought that I will exchange for something different.

I have started another Blog! This one is for the backgrounds I have been creating with paint; some have been digitally altered. Please feel free to have a look and download any of them. Have fun - use in collages, altered art, ATC's, decoupage, greeting cards, digital scrapbooking, tags, use in your favorite digital imaging software. Enjoy!

Here is the link: http://rusticpixelbackgrounds.blogspot.com/

Glass vase with shells

I love shells - some of these I purchased at seaside shops in our continental travels years ago. Natures art - can't add anything to that can I!
The lace collar is very old. Taken off a garment sleeve.

Note About E-Mail

Just about every reader/viewer or blogger has an email address or more. That's good. But what isn't good is many people don't check their Spam Folder. Many a good email goes in there too! At least daily when I check for emails I also check the Spam Folder and if there is any in there that are wanted I make sure they get marked "this is not spam". My reason for posting this is over the last month or so I have sent lots of emails from a Blogs Profile page and did not get a reply. I'm certain it's got something to do with Anti-Spam. Some email providers will delete all spam after 30 days. In order for this social network to really work we must look after our emails. You could be missing something nice! I have lots of times emailed someone and put a compliment in the email. Not always do I want to use the Comment option for certain questions etc. The criteria set for Spam is often faulty - putting legitimate emails in the Spam Folder. When I first started I probably missed a few "wanted" emails too because I was not aware of how it works. Hope this can help!

Altered Rose Greeting Card

I'm smiling as I post this one. "Careful what you give someone - you may get it back." This past summer a close friend turned 65 so I made a Card Keeper * for her and filled it with my own designed cards. This rose card was one of the cards. Then on my birthday a couple of weeks ago I received this card in the mail from my friend. I was delighted and am enjoying it again!
I took the picture of the rose then altered it in Photoshop.
* Watch in the near future for pictures of some of the Card Keepers that I have made. These make awesome gifts if you like working with paper like I do.

Stencilled and applied 2 golds to get this look on a mirror.
Isn't wonderful (thanks to Blogger.com) and the internet that we can connect to areas/interests in our life with that of our fellow Artisans etc. Over the last year I have been seeing the creativity of others that has stirred my creative juices to overflowing. Sometimes the ideas just flow and when that happens I am known to capture the idea in a notebook wherever I happen to be resting. Notice I said "resting" - this is when I can imagine ideas to try when I'm stretched out reading one of my favorite craft magazines. Due to some health issues I must take a rest break after lunch and supper and the time is sweet because it's here and now that I gather creative energy for these projects. Often I will see an idea in a craft or decorating magazine and it will give me a idea for a totally different project. One other of my favorite sayings "you give me the spark (idea) and I will make the fire (next design project)."