heartFELT revisited . . .

It's February, and time for hearty things in the latest issue of the Unruly Paper Arts blogozine.  My column this month--it's up TODAY, please stop by for a look!-- features an easy needle felted atc--thus the heartFELT (you know I can't resist the occasional pun).  Here is a look--this atc is on its way across the ocean to a bloggy friend, I hope she likes it:

you can see the full atc at Unruly Paper Arts

Above all else, guard your heart,for it is the wellspring of life.  Proverbs 4:23

I've actually made similar atcs before, and inchies, too--here is one from several years ago:

(here's the blog post)

Oh wow.  Now I want to make inchies again!!!  That is one tiny heart . . .

it seemed like a good idea at the time . . .

So I'm making these atcs for a swap, yes?  

For some reason, it seemed particularly amusing

(at the time, anyway) to juxtapose the cheerful stamped

sentiments with the serious expressions on the photo faces.

You can kind of see the shine on this one.

It reminds me of the old saying, "You can't judge a book by its cover."

Yep, Gelli plate print backgrounds . . .
 

Lots of layers of colors . . .

Like I said, it seemed like a good idea at the time . . .

Anyway, in addition to a little spring-ish post for

Altered Arts Magazine (the spring issue is fixin' to come out!),

these are going away for an atc swap.  (Wait, I already said that!) 
But the point is, I liked the challenge of giving them the appearance of dimension,
without adding bulky, hard-to-mail embellishments. 

Well, yes, painting and coloring are flat out fun, 

that might have played into it, too . . . ;)

Oh, yes, thank you--I do feel like a challenge or two!
Simon Says Stamp Challenge--April showers or Spring flowers
Creative Inspirations Paint--Spring Colors
Scrappy Frogs--Think Spring
Fab 'n' Funky Challenges--Spring Colours
Word Art Wednesday--always anything goes, with an inspirational sentiment or quote

atc size book with "leather" hinges

I can't believe it's already April--the daffodils here are blooming like crazy, and it

finally feels like spring!  For my first Altered Arts Magazine project this month, 

how about a little spring-inspired book?

Okay, seriously, don't those binding tabs look like leather???  But they're not--it's
Grungeboard!

It even feels like leather, all inked up with Pink Grapefruit VersaMagic.

The image is from the Blockheads Grunge Collages set, stamped in VersaFine.

What?  You use Grungeboard all the time?  Well this is my first go--I'm very slow to

try anything new--remember me?  I still use good ol' crayons on EVERYTHING!

REALLY, it looks like leather in real life, too!!!!

P.S. Just in case there is anyone else who is unfamiliar with grungeboard, it's kind
of like chipboard, only very flexible, inkable, and paintable--it doesn't come apart
in layers if you get it all inky, it doesn't break, and, as you can see from those
"leather" hinges, it doesn't crease, either.  Fun stuff!

P.P.S.  Nope, haven't filled the last book with atcs yet, but will share with you
when it happens!

atc sized handbound book

Been working on a new tiny book for the current travel theme at
Blockheads Paper Arts, and it seems like the perfect thing to show
for my latest Altered Arts Magazine share.  This atc sized book is
made from monoprinted papers, with an origami wallet fold.  The
cover is stitched on--okay, not gonna lie, I'm having a LOT of fun
with this one, so get ready for an onslaught of photos . . .

Ready?  Here we go:

front cover, but you can see it's on it's side--using the Stargazer set.

here is the back of the cover, still more Stargazer stamps

inside front cover, with a layer of vellum stitched in

I like how you can see the reverse image when the page is turned

center layout--you can see the stitching and pockets

You can probably tell these are monoprinted papers--some were made

using a Gelli Plate, and some were made using the simple monoprinting

technique from my article in the fall issue of Altered Arts.  There is also
a nice sheen to the papers, resulting from a misting of Fireworks.

Now here is a extra fun thing about this particular book form--it has a
couple of "secret" pockets on the sides, which can either be utilized, or,
if they don't suit your purpose, sealed up.

super secret side pockets

 Well that was fun--for me, anyway--I hope you enjoyed it, too!
I'll be working on those atcs to fill the pockets, and share them
with you next week, okay?

a sentimental atc?

The latest challenge at Rogue Redhead Designs is "Sentimental Focus."

I made this frame atc with acrylic paint monoprint backgrounds, adding

stamps from the Behind the Scenes plate for extra dimension.

sentiment from the Relish Reading plate

But why stop there?  At Unruly Paper Arts, the current issue is:

ATC Extravaganza!

AND one of the atc themed Reader's Art Quests is "Add An ATC."

Meaning, add an atc to something.  I'll bet you can guess where this 

particular atc ended up . . .

Yep, on the front of a an altered blank book!

It's covered in handmade paper, can you tell from the texture?

Anyway, there is plenty of time to join in the RRD Rebel 

Challenge,and the Reader's Art Quest at UPA, as well.  

But why stop there?  Here a few more fun challenges:

Word Art Wednesday--anything goes with an inspirational quote

Fab 'n' Funky--Add A Sentiment

Paper Pretties--make your own background paper

Craft-room challenge--From Me to You (make a gift)

a shiny bookmark and a Valentine atc . . .

First, let me show you the shimmer:

nice and frosty looking, right?  

Now tell me, do you like curling up with a good book on a cold winter day?

(She's from the Relish Reading set at Rogue Redhead Designs)

This young lady does, but she tried to carry too many books, and now 

 they're all blowing out of her hands!

And here is a little atc Valentine--

collage image from Altered Pages

I have to tell you, it feels good to be making stuff again . . .

So maybe a few challenges:
with the shimmery blue bookmark:
Rogue Redhead Designs--Winter Blues
Stampotique--challenge 83, New Year's Resolution (read more!)
Drunken Stampers Challenge--all that glitters
Crafty Catz--anything but a card
Dillybeans--bookmark!
It's All About the Vintage--winter feelings

with the atc sized Valentine card:
Frilly and Funkie--follow your muse.  (First time for an atc with a pin full
of charmish stuff attached, and the first atc I made that opens from bottom
to top, if that makes sense!)
Allsorts--flower power
ATCS and cards with attitude--add a tag or sentiment/anything goes
Sparkle and Glitter--anything but a square
Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge--embellish it

 

a set of three atcs

Here is a set 
of three atcs,
all using 
backgrounds 
made
from Gelli Plate 
prints.

(Gelli Plate printing is,
in fact, addictive--they
should come with a
warning label!)

The images are stamped 
on papers colored with watercolor washes, using
images from the Grunge Collages  set.

Isn't that a sweet stamp?
These are going out for
a blissfulART atc swap. 

Got that autumn theme going on,
but with non traditional colors . . . 
what do you think?  Too bright? 

I have to add

crayon around the
edges, don't you
know!  And tulle,
almost always 
some of that, too.

The German scrap
and bling, those
are bonuses . . .

Have a great 
Sunday, everyone!







Some challenges? Well sure:
Challenges 4 Everybody:   Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations Paint:  Anything Goes
Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog  Autumn Breeze (the center ATC with the leaf)
Scrappy Frogs:  Fall or Halloween (the center ATC with the fall leaf)
The Hybrid Chick:  Fall/Autumn  (you guessed it!)

pink and black love atcs

Made with the pink and black challenge at
Theme Thursday in mind, these are also for
a Love themed atc swap at Altered Pages and
The Scrapbook Get-Away.

textured black cardstock, patterned paper, charm,
organdy ribbon, Altered Pages collage images,
ostrich feathers, Jet Black StazOn, vellum tags

Theme Thursday season challenge

For the Theme Thursday season challenge, combined
with a swap, this represents spring. The background
is a watercolor wash, overlaid with stamped words,
and the main image/text is stamped in StazOn.

The jewel in the corner is sparkly and appealing in
person, but not so much via the intraweb . . .

angel ATC for Faye

Polished stone background technique, Altered Pages
image, vintage crocheted trim, metal finding, organdy
ribbon, tiny gold bead, distress inked edges.

serendipity

Here is a story for you.

Once upon a time, my friend the Contessa told me
she had been published in a magazine or two.

"Well, doesn't that sound like fun?" I thought.

So, I submitted some things here:


and they were published like this:


(a little bit closer now . . .)


I feel like a very happy dork.

A dork, because all the other pieces in this issue
are so much more interesting than mine.

But a very happy dork none-the-less, because there
are my little French girls, and fairy, for all to see.

See?

(Don't you love happy endings?)

:)

I see the moon and the moon sees me . . .

. . . God bless the moon, and God bless me.
-------nursery rhyme







Here's my offering for this week's challenge at Altered Pages.
For some reason, the look on that little girl's face makes me
giggle!

I have enough background left for a couple ATCs and a twinchie,
a couple of inchies, too, so will post those later in hopes of
a little trade. (Jan?? anyone?)

Wish I had some pics Rhonda's surprise party to post, but alas,
no. We got her, though! :)

Redemption and a little bit of art stuff

So, #1 and #4(sons) are into
this game called Redemption. It's a Christian card game, but it's
a little weird in that you're "battling" another person in order
to save "lost souls." Anyway, #1 hosted the state tournament
at our church, and I got to be the responsible adult to hang out
with them all day. And by "hang out," I mean, put out clothing
for the clothes give away we have there, and sit in the kitchen
with dd and #1's girlfriend.

Hadn't made any ATC's for a LONG time, but the girls got me going,
and the dd made SEVEN collages! That girl was having a party!
The Star Trek one cracks me up.


Well, okay, so I didn't say they were particularly good ATCs,
but they're not totally stink.
(Okay, had to take this one out for a submission! :)
Look at
little Mary Pickford--doesn't she make a sweet fairy? (dd's)

This one is a riot. Good old "The Old Star Trek!" Gotta love it. :)

stuff

Well. I don't post often anymore. Hmm.
Busy with real life, yes? The eldest is
graduating, and that is taking some of my
brain, as is homeschooling the rest.

Algebra bites, still, even after all these
years, and there are two more coming up in
the ranks. Ugh. Fourteen is a hard enough
age as it is, but to add Algebra to the mix!
AAAIIIEEEEE!

Got to meet Julie's beautiful granddaughter,
and see Julie Oolie herself all the way from
Alaska. That was such a surreal thing, to be
standing there looking at her while she was
talking. I really wish we had gotten to know
each other better and spend more time together
while she was HERE! And she has some of the
most interesting friends. (I don't mean myself.)

Shakespeare ATC for swap-bot swap. I really like
how these turned out; printed on vellum, over
watercolor background, and torn paper script from
Prospero's speech at the end of The Tempest.
Which is one of my favorites.