10th Wedding Anniversary

Love is in the Air ATC

 Today my husband and I celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary.  I was totally shocked as the last two years we really haven't celebrated due to a massive amount of stress in our lives.  Well, my husband comes home with a card, an unbelievably gorgeous dozen roses and the first two full seasons on DVD of The Big Bang Theory.  The later may not be very appealing to some, but that was like the best present he has ever gotten me.  He really does listen!

Our first date was on December 18, 2001 where we went to see the movie "Lord of the Rings" and then went to the Outback Steak House, where I ordered a full steak meal.  He said he was impressed by the fact that I didn't order just a salad like most women do on a first date. I told him that if he was taking me out to dinner then I wasn't holding back and I was hungry.

We were married the next year on March 7, 2002 and "the rest is history".

In The Style of Tim Burton Swap

Wow, I am so sorry.  I can't believe it has been over a month since I posted last.  I'll catch up with other swaps later, but I really wanted to post this about the "In the Style of Tim Burton Swap".  I love Tim Burton's work and I figured that what better way to honor him then to try and draw something he has in his website gallery.  Three of the ATCs I did were from his gallery and the fourth one was based on the his character from his art display at MoMA.

For those that are not aware; MoMA stands for Museum of Modern Art.

I figured out that Tim Burton does alot of art with stitches, black and white checkers, and spirals.  I am really partial to the flowers he does with cactus bases!

Color Palette I Purple/Blue/Green

 I never really join the "color palette" swaps, because you can use very little black or white and the main portion of the artist trading card (ATC) has to be the colors listed.  However, I really like the colors purple, blue, and green.  This was going to be a challenge for me and I had to think outside the box.  What could I do that would allow me to use all three colors while incorporating little to no black and white. 

I decided to break out the watercolors and start there.  I took three ATC sized watercolor cards and started to paint the three colors on the cards without really thinking about form.  When I was done I walked away, so when I came back it would be with new perspective.

When I returned to the cards; I was excited to see some type of form or shape and immediately broke out the glitter and metallic markers to start adding the needed flare for each card.

Needless to say, I was both pleased and impressed that I could actually handle doing a color palette ATC without alot of strain on the brain.

More Metal Embossing

I had some scrap metal left over from the embossed metal ATCs that I did the other day and doodled on them.  I've only walked past them for the last five days wondering what to do with them.  Last night I decided to take these small pieces and put them onto ATCs.  I had some scrap paper from some very nice people that have recently sent me extras with the couple of personal trades that I've done, as well as, some Citra Solve background scraps.

I then proceeded to add some old language torn up book pages and other picture scraps and then I sprayed them all with alcohol ink.  Once the alcohol ink was dry I started tracing different patterns on the paper with various colored permanent markers.

After all the collaging and coloring were done; I glued on the metal pieces and ended up very pleased with the final results.

What I am not pleased with is the scanner I have.  My printer is going down hill and so is its scanning quality.  I scanned the four cards together and they all have the same metal, but one of them scanned really dark.  I still enjoy looking at them and I hope I get to trade them soon.

Captured Destruction

Great Work

The Dream of the Illusion

Truth in the Streams

LADYBUG Swap

I recently joined a swap over at ATCs for All! that I thought would be a lot of fun and get me over my fear of LADYBUGS!  The swap is called LADYBUGS!! and is Due Date January 10 2012. 

I finished two of them and still need to draw and color two more. 

So, without further ado here are the two that I finished;

Ballerina Ladybug

Mr. Bo Bug

Back into the Swing of Things!

Last week I was able to whip out some artwork and I feel really good about it.  I was able to get in some trades with people over at ATCs for All!  I plan on focusing on doing some serious artwork and laundry.

Feather Mask

Mr. Sun Mask

Coffee Lover's Dessert Recipe Card

Lemon and Blueberry Bread Recipe Card

Fire and Ice Face

So, I've been working and lost my muse for a while.  Seems that is happening alot lately.  I am seriously always trying to get something done, but never in the art department.  I made this ATC a while ago and am now just getting around to posting it.  The really funny thing is that I can't bare to give it up for trading.

I love the porcelain masks with the different pictures painted on them and that is what inspired this particular piece of art.  I think I might just keep creating ATCs with more like this and then I won't feel so guilty about trading one.