I Gotcher Number ATCs

I found these wonderful old-fashion number stamps recently, made by Cavellini, and I just fell in love. So the first thing I did was try every single one of them– all on one piece of paper. Out of that came these lovely Artist Trading Cards that I hope you’ll enjoy too. Don’t miss out on the last ATC Night of the year. Join me Thursday, Nov. 17, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Stampin’ From the Heart, 11720 Washington Place (at McLaughlin St.), L.A. 310-391-0466 for directions. Cost: $10, all materials supplied. Bring some ATC’s of your own design if you want to trade, but that’s strictly optional. What’s an ATC? See page on this site for the explanation.

Note: This will be my final ATC night after three years. Thanks to everyone who came out for ATC Night, it’s been great fun sharing ideas and seeing your wonderful cards. But I think it’s time for me to go in a new direction artistically. As many of you know, I have been getting into art journaling and I will be offering Journal Night on the third Thursday of the month, starting in January. I hope you’ll give it a try. Details will be coming soon.

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Diamond ATCs

For some reason I am attracted to anything in the shape of a diamond, including rubber stamps. These stamps inspired me to do a diamond Artist Trading Card. But before stamping, I dragged out the Gesso to lighten up the decorative background paper. I like the effect, because whatever is printed on the paper is there, but it’s not really There, if you know what I mean. Gesso is what artists use to prepare a surface for paint, and I mainly use it on paper that is porous and wants to absorb whatever color medium I am using. Anyway, it makes a nice surface for the diamond collage, which will be enhanced with birds. What a surprise!! I hope you can join me for ATC Night, from 6:30-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011, at Stampin’ From the Heart, 11720 Washington Place, L.A., 310-391-0466 for directions. Cost is $10 to make two cards. Materials supplied. Trading is optional, but if you wish to exchange cards please bring about 8-10 of your own design. What’s an ATC? See page on this blog for the details. Hope to see you there.

Paris Side-by-Side ATCs

I make a lot of art from the many treasures I stash in the (overflowing) scrap basket  that permanently resides on my craft table. And the idea for this month’s Artist Trading Card is no exception. I believe the original was an unfinished postcard that I cut down to ATC size. And then I thought–diptych! That’s a piece of art that consists of two parts but works together as one. In this case, I took a few liberties and the left and right sides were created separately but still somehow go together, I think. Anyway, you can do it whichever way you like at ATC Night, 6:30-8 p.m., Thurs. Sept. 15, at Stampin’ From the Heart, 11720 Washington Place, L.A., 310-391-0466 for directions. Cost is $10 and you get to make two cards. Materials supplied by instructor, Jessica Hollowell. What’s an ATC? Click on the Page by that name on this blog to find out. If you want to go home with cards made by others, please bring around 8-10 cards of your own design to trade, including one for me and one for Karen’s book at the store. Trading is optional.

Grab Bag Wonders

ATC from Linda's grab bag

Well, I went to Linda and Ellie’s garage sale last week because I don’t have enough stamps, paper and other supplies and needed someone else’s stuff, too. I found some nice treasures there (isn’t there a saying about that?) and the other night decided to open up a Grab Bag that Linda had made up. Lots of goodies covered my table. I instantly, not exaggerating, made 2 ATCs and thought you’d like to see them.

Another Grab Bag ATC

Taking an ATC Journey

When I was a kid we always took our family vacations in August. So, I thought Journeys might be a good topic for this month’s Artist Trading Cards. There’s a lot going on in these 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 little masterpieces, layers of this and that and something else. And to me that’s the essence of travel. Join me for ATC Night on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, at Stampin’ From the Heart, 11720 Washington Place, L.A., (310-391-0466 for directions). We start right at 6:30 p.m. till 8 or so. Cost is $10, all materials are supplied. I hope to see you there. And as for the T in ATC, if you want to Trade with others in the group, please bring at least 10 cards (this includes one for me and one for Karen’s collection at the store). Any design of your choosing is OK. What’s an ATC? you may ask. See the Page at right for the answer to that question.

Luscious Lumiere ATCs

A few weeks ago I was opening jars of Lumiere paint for a project and, ugh, it had been sooooo long since I have used this wonderful color medium that everything needed a good stirring up. So I grabbed a stick and started in. But rather than waste the paint that clung to the stick with each jar, I decided to wipe it off, so to speak, on a piece of textured cardstock I found in the scrap basket. All tha is a very long way around the mulberry bush just to say, this month’s Artist Trading Cards will feature painting with sticks. Actually, we’ll be using the handles of paint brushes, which work very well, too. And then we’ll collage with Tattered Angels spray on stamped papers. Topped off with, what else? Birds!! All in all, these cards are great fun. I hope you will join me at ATC Night, July 21, 2011, 6:30-8 p.m., at Stampin’ From the Heart, 11720 Washington Place, L.A. (310-391-0466 for directions). All materials supplied to make 2 cards. Cost $10. We start on time at 6:30 p.m. with an optional trade (the T in ATC is for Trading). Please bring 10-12 cards (as we never know how many will be trading) of your own design. Hope to see you there. What’s an ATC? you may ask. See the page by that name on this site for details. Very few rules–well, only one really.

Matchbooks With a Message ATCs

I get ideas from the most unlikely places, this time from a tag that came with a pair of jeans. What a great ATC that would make, I thought. And here it is. Making use of some double-sided cardstock, I created Matchbooks With a Message. These little beauties feature collage images from Artchix Studio, what I call the Salome collection — exotic and alluring. When you open the matchbook, there’s a little saying inside. Great idea for an extra-special gift card. And the best part about using double-sided cardstock is that both sides are equally interesting, so I did one matchbook using each side. Six different papers = 12 ATCs. Cool, huh? Join me for ATC Night, at Stampin’ From the Heart (11720 Washington Place, L.A., 310-391-0466 for directions), on Thursday, June 16, 2011 from 6:30-8 p.m. We start right on time.  Cost is $10 for two ATCs. All materials are supplied by instructor, Jessica Hollowell. Hope to see you there.

What’s an ATC? Check the page on this site for the answer and get busy making your own to trade. Trading is optional. Please make at 10-12 cards to trade, which includes one for me and one for the store’s collection.

ATCs All Buttoned Up and Lacy

I’m taking the vintage lace and buttons theme to extremes with color-rich fluid acrylic paints–my absolute fave–playing a major role.  Everything’s bright and beachy in preparation for summer. Join me for ATC Night, Thursday, May  19, starting on time at 6:30 p.m. and going till 8. Stamping From the Heart, 11720 Washington Place, L.A. (near McLaughlin Ave.) Call 310-391-0466 for directions. Cost is $10 to make two cards of my design. Trading is optional, but if you wish to go home with little works of art by others in the group, bring around 10 cards of your own design to trade–plus one for me and one for Karen’s store collection. What’s an ATC.? you ask. Check out the page on this site for the answer. Hint: Anything goes! The only rule has to do with the size.

Picture Perfect ATCs

Spring is finally here and it’s time to celebrate with color. You’ll make a tiny picture and wrap it in a frame (choice of three) for the April ATC Night. We’ll be using watercolor crayons for the mini-image and layering it with colorful embossed foil and collage paper. You decide the color scheme, right down to the background card. ATC Night, Thursday, April 21, 2011, starting right at 6:30 p.m till 8-or-so at Stampin’ From the Heart, 11720 Washington Place (at McLaughlin), Los Angeles. (Call 310-391-0466 for directions.) Instructor: Jessica Hollowell. All materials supplied. Cost $10. You will get one of my cards and make two of your own. Trading is optional. If you wish to trade, please bring around a dozen cards of your own design, including one for me and one for Karen’s collection at the store. What’s an ATC? See the link on this site for details.

Dramatic Corrugated Cardboard

Yes, drama and corrugated cardboard don’t seem to belong in the same sentence, but I found some wonderful colors of this textured material and they just seemed to pop on this beautiful black cardstock (inside is white to stamp a greeting). We’ll coordinate with embossed images, which you get to color with Distress Inks for a perfect storm of color and texture. Great for birthdays or any occasion. Join paper and book arts instructor Jessica Hollowell for Make-It/Take-Take Night, Friday, March 11, 2011, at Stampin’ From the Heart in Los Angeles, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Cost is $5 per card, and all materials are supplied. You can make one or more as long as supplies last. Hope to see you there!