Anne Bagby Style ATC #2

I am much happier with this attempt at Anne's style. The first ATC's head got a bit out of shape when it was glued. This one shows the "white face" look that Anne utilizes a lot. Not my original drawing though, the same DaVinci image. For this card I used 3 different handpainted papers for the background. I then used a handcarved stamp (heart design) on the background. I used Nick Bantock dye ink in Damson Plum.I attached the image on top of a circle cut from painted paper towel. I then added dots in gold leaf and white paint pen. The image had been tweaked in Adobe Photoshop Elements 4; I used Inktense Watercolor pencils to color in her body, dress and hair, leaving her face alone. I did add cheek, lip, and eye color. I wet a small brush and lightly went over the colors. Lastly, I added some designs to her dress using these old plastic styluses I have had for years and years. It finally dawned on me I could use them with ink pads. Although she is kind of odd-looking, I feel she better represents Anne's style.

Anne Bagby Style Swap

Here is the first ATC I have made with a loose interpretation of Anne's style. I was inspired by a piece in The Artist's Magazine. I began with a brightly colored ATC background (a reject of another technique). I then took a piece of metal in a grille design and stippled Golden's Interference Oxide Green (YS) onto the background. I tore a piece of handpainted paper and adhered it to the left edge (hidden now). I also added a torn piece of a painted paper towel, and then used a curlique stamp to randomly stamp onto the background using Memories Black dye ink. Using a gold leafing pen, I drew wavy lines in a diagonal pattern onto the card. I did an inkjet transfer using Omni-Gel with a DaVinci image gotten from an old Art History book. I cut a handpainted paper circle for a halo effect and stamped it using an architectural stamp from Stamper's Anonymous. I adhered the halo, and the transfer and another scrap of painted paper towel. I drew a gold outline around the halo with a gold Krylon leafing pen. I then took a handcarved stamp and stamped with Brilliance ink in Moonlight White on two edges. That finished this card off.

Busy, Busy

Getting into gear for summer! We had our last ladies' Bible study today. We had such a good group of women and good fellowship.
Dan and I decided to join 24 Hour Fitness as our anniversary gift to each other so as to get into shape. We are both hoping to lose weight. We will meet with a personal trainer and try to get into a routine. Just going for walks isn't cutting it, and I don't want to end up on blood pressure meds, so we took the plunge! Although I was athletic (to a degree) in Jr High and High School ,
along with many years of ballet, the whole gym experience has always freaked me out a bit. But when we saw a lot of people who were much older than us, and a lot of out of shape people working on their fitness, we decided it was time.
I am working on some projects that I am keeping under wraps for a bit, but will post any ATCs I make for arttechniquesatcs. I will also post my ZNE Design Team pieces. I am currently working on the Anne Bagby style ATCs. Fun, but challenging! I also hope to do more of the Faux Dichroic glass.

Wrapped in Wire

I wrapped this piece of Faux Dichroic glass in wire, and added a small bead to dangle. I will be experimenting with a thicker wire and flattening it for some of the larger pieces. Next week hopefully! This piece is small enough it could be used as a charm or a pendant.

Faux Dichroic Glass Stamped

I stamped these three pieces. I re-heated each piece then put a rubber stamp onto them after first coating the stamp with an embossing ink pad (no color). They needed a gloss varnish spray because the stamping kind of interferes witht the shine. The far laft image also has a couple of little pieces of cellophane and some micro beads in it.

Faux Dichroic Glass

This fun technique is on the second Tim Holtz DVD. Susan and I had lots of fun experimenting with this technique today.

We began with sea glass in various colors; You heat up your Melting Pot to UTEE setting; place glass into the hot pot and put a little clear or black UTEE on the glass. When it melts, put the glass face down (melted UTEE side) onto the dull side of a piece of craft foil. Wait about 3 minutes and pull the glass up. It will have the shiny foil attached to it. Lay it foil side up back into the pot, and add metallic EP, colored EP (we colored clear UTEE with alcohol inks- makes BRIGHT colors!). You can add glitter, micro beads, etc. When the colored EP melts, add some clear UTEE to the center of the piece and let it melt. Then carefully take the piece out to dry. This was the toughest part of the project. The colors want to slide off if it tilts at all; on the DVD Tim uses a spatula that must work better than the ones we had. That's it! They really are pretty.

Rabbit Among the Vines

Here is a photo of a jack rabbit as seen on our walk. There are usually always rabbits stting between the grape vines when we take our evening walk.

This is only the second time in all the years we have been taking the same walk that we have seen a deer. This was a handsome young buck.

Tyvek, Moon Shadow Mist and Color Mist Sprays

I received some ATCs in a white envelope today so decided to paint the inside of it. i am pretty sure the envy is Tyvek, although the Tyvek I ordered from a kite company looks a bit different. Anyway, i sprayed 3 different colors of Moon Shadow Mists again and again; using the hair dryer just a bit, and then waiting for the puddles to dry (I did let some run off the paper). I then added some Tahoe Turquoise Color Mist spray and this really made the colors pop. I wish you could see the lovely shimmer this has on it from the Moon Shadow Mists. It has an old map sort of look to it.

Oil Pastels and Webbing Spray

This is another decorated paper. I am getting papers ready for an Anne Bagby Artist Swap and for a Stitched Monoprint Squares swap. This was made using black Artagain paper by Strathmore. I used oil pastels and rubbing templates. I put the plate under the paper and rubbed the pastels on top of the paper. I then sprayed with white Webbing Spray. This looks pretty cool in real life.

Tim Holtz Style

This is the last of my series of 6 ATCs using Tim Holtz' style. This swap is for arttechniquesatcs. I used a decorative paper background which I distressed and sprayed Moon Shadow Mists. I then added a torn piece of Tim Holtz' key paper and a torn piece from an old dictionary. I distressed these with Distress Inks. I lastly added a metal key and some metal and sticker letters.

Moon Mists and Color Mists

Here is a piece of 4 x 6 glossy photo paper with Moon Shadow Mists (Lindy's Stamp Gang) and Color Mist Spray (Outside the Margins). I used Buccaneer Blue and Emerald Moon Mists, and Tahoe Turquoise Color Mists on top for some pop! It has a real lovely shimmer in real life, and the green shows up as opposed to just looking brown in the scanned picture.

Webbing Spray Added

This time the scan brought out different tints of color. I added some gold Webbing Spray. Again, I tweaked the color a bit on adobe Photoshop Elements.

Moon Mists on Black Paper

I played with some Moon Mists today. Here are Violaeceous Violet with Ethereal Emerald and Landlubber Green. There is also just a bit of Burnt Umber in the center. The scan doesn't really show up the nice shimmer the paper has, and how the colors change when the paper is moved around.

Another in the Tim Holtz style. I do love the distressed aged look to these. I used old dictionary text, Moon Mists in Burnt Umber, Vintage Photo and Antique Linen Distress Ink, a TwistedPaper image, Tim Holtz paper (the block the boy is sitting on), and some sticker letters which I distressed a bit. I added a punched metal crown that I embossed with a stylus.

Web Site

I have finally made the plunge and have started to create a website where I can sell art and notecards and ?? The link is www.sherresartzone.com, and is still undergoing transformations and I haven't posted any items for sale yet. I debated going with an Etsy account, but decided on my own site. I am hoping to re-design the home page and then start to add sale items.

This is number 4 in the Tim Holtz-style AOM swap for arttechniquesatcs. I made a notecard using this image by importing this image into Print Shop, adding a small pen to the girl's hand and then at an angle I added the words, "of Thanks". My thank you notes for Mother's Day gifts. ATCS can be used in so many ways! I love that.

Changed Name

I changed my blog's name to SherresArtZone to reflect consistency with my new website. I just registered for www.sherresartzone.com, where as soon as I get it set up, I will post items for sale. I have wanted to take this next step, so I will see how it develops. I am glad my son is around to help me get the website made; computer lingo is not my thing!

Third one in my AOM Tim Holtz-style series. Again, used Distress Inks, Moon Mist on the background; distressed the tag; tape measure sticker, letters and image of girl. Trying to avoid wings and hats for a while!

AOM Tim Holtz Style

Second in my series for the Tim Holtz Style AOM Swap. I used old text for the background sprayed with Burnt Umber Moon Mists. Used Tim Holtz Measuring Tape Paper; menswear-looking scrapbook paper; old dictionary text; 2 vintage images; metal brads and sticker letters. Sanded to give an aged appearance and added Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Vintage Photo and Antique Linen.

AOM for May- Tim Holtz Style

Here is an ATC for the AOM Tim Holtz-style swap. I used Moon Mists on glossy photo paper for the background. I added part of an old dictionary page; another old paper; a vintage image; a Tim Holtz block letter; measuring tape and key stickers. I sanded the card as I went and added Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Vintage Photo and Antique Linen. The card is backed with cardstock that is covered with antique pattern paper that was sprayed with Moon Mists in Burnt Umber.

Poured Ink Technique

This is a sample of the poured ink technique. I will be cutting this up into ATC-sized pieces for the Technique Swap on Arttechniques. The first step is to prepare your watercolor paper. I took a 12 x 16 piece of 140# paper and soaked it in the bathtub for ten minutes. I then laid it onto a piece of masonite board (I had this cut at a home improvement store). After moistening in the tub 4 strips of Gummed Paper Tape, I adhered the tape to the edges of the paper on the board. While the paper was still wet, I poured Dr. Ph. Martin's Bombay India Inks in Yellow, Bright Red, and Red onto the paper and tilted the board various directions to get the colors to mix. I then laid the board flat and applied plastic wrap to the surface, scrunching the wrap up to create interesting marks on the paper. I let it dry overnight and then removed the wrap. A fun technique!

Inspired by Tim Holtz DVD

I was watching Tim Holtz's first DVD today for inspiration for the arttechniquesatcs May AOM (Artist of the Month) Swap. I started by doing a watercolor stamping on an old page of a Trigonometry textbook that had been Xyroned onto beige cardstock; added some paper bits; then added a found image and a slide mount I had covered and put Perfect Pearls and Crystal Lacquer on. I added Gold Leaf Rub n Buf to the textured paper. I then found these cool flowers someone sent to me as a hostess goodie and added them. Lastly I put a dab of Crystal Lacquer and some of those teeny little beads in the center of each flower. Probably not "Holtzy" enough for the swap, but it is "Sherre" enough to please me. Art is making what you like, right?

I Was Tagged!

I was tagged by a fellow ZNE Design Team Member so my assignment is to write 7 random facts about myself. So here goes:
1. I love Lime Coke but they no longer have it on the shelves! I am bummed.
2. I met my hubby on a blind date.
3. My sister and I got lost after seeing "Son of Flubber" when I was young. Eventually found!
4. Would love to be a portrait painter.
5. Used to be a cheerleader coach.
6. I collect pitchers. ( ceramic, etc, not BASEBALL- yuck.)
7. I am married to a sports fanatic and I can't abide watching games on TV. Thus, I escape to the art room!

Painting & Stamping with Leaves

I did this piece after Susan Chong showed her leaf pieces on arttechniques. This one is done on watercolor paper. I used color mists and ink pads. Hydrangea, foxglove, violet, and ivy leaves from my garden were my stencils and my stamps for this project. You can't really see the background's shimmer from the metallic sprays, but it really adds to the piece. Very fun! The one change I would make is to overlap the leaves a bit more.

ZNE May Challenge

The challenge for the ZNE design Team for May is to use the backdrops Chel provided and to make two ATCS using two different letters of the alphabet. I chose "S" and "W." Here is a "W is for Whimsy" ATC. I printed the backgrounds onto transparency paper and put the image of the lady (TwistedPapers.com), along with some glimmery fibers from the Stewart line underneath the transparency. I attached the transparency with 4 floral brads and then used Tacky Tape to adhere the letter and word.

Garden of Prayer

This is an ATC made for the Monthly Challenge on Arttechniquesatcs. Our theme this month is "Flowers." I used some rose pictures from a Jackson & Perkins Rose catalog; gesso; sandpapered the edges of the card; a TwistedPapers image; and some pink rhinestones. Simple, but effective. Gardens are a wonderful place to feel close to God.