Encore Splatter ATCs

 Due to overwhelming interest in my splatter cards I've made more and they're just about all traded.

Be a fruit loop in a world of cheerios!

Life is a great big canvas,

Throw all the paint you can on it!

-Danny Keene

I love making these bright little pops of colour! And am delighted that collectors love them as much as I do.

Thanks for the encouragement 😁

Comments and trades always welcome xx

Splatter ATCs

The solo splatter ATC I made in January was so well received I decided to make a series of a few more to trade. 

Fruit Loops - traded

I gave first preference of the ATCs to those who contacted me directly when I posted my original splatter, and found Fruit Loops was a very popular choice. Traded immediately and 3 additional requests to be made to order.

Splash of colour - traded

Great big canvas - traded

Pop of colour - traded

Loved making these little snippets and will continue to make them using paint left on my palette - they're like a sneaky little bonus 😉

Thanks for looking, comments and trades always welcome x

Peacock Acrylic ATCs

 After taking another art lesson here, I practiced the techniques and turned them into ATCs.

Traded

Available 

Traded

Acrylic paint, a white gel pen and my trusty marketplace typewriter turned this simple design into some cute (and sassy) ATCs.

I flipped a couple of my offcuts into RAKs to send to a trade partner and a lovely lady who requested some happy mail while going through a hard time. 

RAK for a swap, they specifically requested no "extras" so I included a bonus ATC - some matting to frame the print and pearl accents changed the look

Day one or one day

YOU DECIDE...

A little motivational nudge for an anonymous new friend going through a hard time

I'm having so much fun in my painting class and love building on the skills and ideas as I learn them.

Thanks for looking, comments and ATC trades (worldwide) are always welcome xx

Acrylic florals ATCs

 Inspired by an online art class I'm taking, I painted some free and easy florals

Not content with seeing the pretty scraps discarded I tried a paper weaving technique that has been lurking in the back of my head (and at the forefront of my Pinterest board) for a little while. 

Painted scraps were combined with strips cut from a vintage book purchased from an op shop with every intention of being journal fodder. I found plant themed words to feature, and wove around them;

trees, cool grass, orchard, wisteria, rose

The result? Definitely not a technique I have mastered, but it's interesting and I'll definitely try it again.

Thanks for looking, comments always welcome

xx

First ATC trade for 2024

 

ATC 1/2024  

repurposed packaging, acrylic paint, vintage typewriter text

Arranged a 2 card blind swap with a member of Artist Trading Card Swaps FB group, and wanted to make something new.

I found some post Christmas packaging for repurposing and randomly tore the top layer of paper off the cardboard. Splattered acrylic paint (leftover on my palette), flicked some paint with an old toothbrush and performed some expert finger painting.

Once all 4 fingers and thumb on both hands were well and truly "Picasso-ed" 

I was satisfied 😜 

ATC 1/2024 has been mailed and is on its way to Florida 🇺🇸 with these two companions ⬇️ and lots of extras

Seed Packet Series - Feverfew

HD/HP watercolour, ink, seed packet

Silly Glittery Christmas

glitter shaker card with scraps, metal tag, machine stitching
 

2 card swap/3 card swap? Sharing is caring 😉

As always, thanks for looking, comments always welcome and trades invited and encouraged! xx

Last Christmas ATCs for 2023

Honestly, I was feeling a little "burnt out" for this swap, but fortunately found a great little book at the op shop with beautiful Christmas illustrations to inspire me. 

I also wanted to try this technique (far right) I spotted on Pinterest.

These ATCs will be mailed out tomorrow and I'll be grateful for a little break from crafting until the new year. 

And in just like that, Christmas is just days away! Gingerbread biscuits are on the menu tomorrow, my kids are driving around looking at Christmas lights tonight and I've been a good Elf sending letters from Santa to my nieces and nephews.

As always, thanks for looking, comments always welcome and a very Merry Christmas from me to you xx

ATCs - Be Flamazing!

Be Flamazing! Flamingolicious theme

LH card traded, RH available

I really struggled with this theme! 

Originally, I thought it was a great idea to break out of my comfort zone, but after coming up with NO ideas that I could translate into an ATC I realized my goose (flamingo!) was cooked 🦩😉

I had this lovely acrylic smeared paper that was the right colour for the theme, drew a simple flamingo silhouette and pieced the cards together.

Sadly, the original ATC I sent to my swap partner was lost in the mail, so I made two replacements - just in case 🤣

As always, comments always welcome and thanks for looking xx

Dreamcatcher ATCs

This idea has been bobbing around in my head since I first started making ATCs. Given the theme of "washi tape" by Australian ATC Themed Swap group the stars aligned and it was perfect opportunity to combine theme, idea and technique.

Fiddly as it was, I twisted wire into a circular shape, cut washi feathers using this technique and stitched the dreamcatcher web. I typed some phrases with my "new retro electric typewriter" straight out of 1992 and Facebook marketplace 😆

"let your dreams be your wings" is for open trade

"nothing is impossible" is for my swap partner

And "dream without fear love without limits" is for my personal collection, 

and a reminder to self.

Comments always welcome, and thanks for looking x

ACTs - Harvest of love

 Another ATC swap, this time with Artist Trading Card Swaps, with the theme Harvest and/or Thanksgiving. 

Harvest of love

I loved the phrase, "small seeds of gratitude will produce a harvest of love", and found it fit the theme seamlessly.

Wanting (and needing 😜) to get in some much needed watercolour practice I drew the pumpkins, washed them with colour & finished with some ink for definition.

I hope my swap partner likes my efforts 🤞

Comments always welcome, thanks for looking x

ATCs -The Nativity

 It's beginning to look a little bit like Christmas, but only a teeny, tiny bit.

After my Bush Christmas ATCs I thought about creating a series of cards that celebrate the "real" reason for the season - the birth of Jesus.

I've been going blind fussy cutting for my paper piecing, but am very happy with the outcome. The backgrounds are watercoloured.

The ATCs are proving popular in the swap groups. I've made sure that I made a card to keep for myself in my collection, something that I often overlook.

Comments always welcome, thanks for looking x

ACTs - An Aussie Christmas

Following from the fun I had making my Christmas inchies, I thought I'd make some ATCs for trade.

ROOdolph was traded before being listed for swap, and I decided to keep Hoppy Christmas for myself.

I think there will be another edition of this series, it was so much fun to make & there aren't too many "Summer" Christmas ATCs around. I'm hoping they will be popular among the trades 🤞

Comments always welcome, thanks for looking x

Inchies - An Aussie Christmas

 Another trade with Inchies Twinchies Swap Group - this time a set of 10 inchies in a Christmas theme.

My little art squares have been covered in patterned paper, I've hand drawn a gum tree and landscape, then collaged Australian animals into the scene. 

I thought it would be nice to include my inspiration for this piece, one of the few Australian Christmas carols - Christmas where the gum trees grow.

I hope my swap partner in The Netherlands enjoys a little taste of an Aussie Christmas! I wish I could send some fresh prawns, juicy watermelon and a strawberry topped pavlova for a genuine taste of our Christmas.

Comments always welcome, thanks for looking x