Helllloooooo! Wow, this was a whirlwind week! Lots of activity on the bloggy blog with all the Taylored Expressions projects! Wasn't that fun? I sure enjoyed my first month on the Design Team. Thank you for all the kind comments and emails! It means so much to me...I read every comment and appreciate them all. Today I have some stuff to share...this n that. A card for a contest, some pictures...ya know.
Before I go on I have to share a milestone with you, my bloggy friends. On Wednesday I got my 100,000th blog hit! OMG. Really? How fantastic! Thank you for stopping by and visiting me! I feel the love! I would never have dreamed this. Thank you!
I won a Hero Arts contest a couple of months ago and I got to choose $50 worth of free stamps! WOOT! So, I decided to use my new stamps to enter the May Hero Arts contest. The themes for May are to make an ATC, use flowers or use colored pencils techniques. I decided to use ALL THREE! I made an ATC with flowers and used my colored pencils! Sometimes I get so stuck with my Copics that I forget to get out the pencils. It was nice to do something different. Sit back and spend a bit of time with me!
Here is my finished ATC. An ATC is an Artist Trading Card and is a little piece of art that is 2.5 by 3.5 inches. The trick is to see how much yumminess you can fit on that tiny size! People make them and then trade them with their friends like baseball cards. Here is my ATC!
Here is a close up of the card. I used a big text background stamp in a very light brown first, on cream paper. You can barely see the text. Then I stamped the pretty bird collage stamp off to the side. Lastly I stamped the word "friends" on the right. All stamped in dark brown ink - not black.
I stamped the collage again and cut out the main flower and some of the leaves to add later. The flower is popped up with foam tape. The extra leaves are on the left side with the clip. I added a sweet butterfly to finish it off!
Here is the collage stamp. One of my fav things to do is to just stamp part of these cool stamps. You don't necessarily have to use the entire image. Isn't this stamp cool??
After I made my ATC...I was like...What do I do with it?? I know! I'll make a card for it to fit on! I stamped the same text image onto the mustard paper. You can barely see it. Then I added another sentiment and some twine...kept it simple.
My finished card!
Here are the stamps I used...all from Hero Arts!
Tuesday night the DH and I met up downtown to have a frappuccino and take some pics! The light finally got nice at about 7:00. Until then it was too bright. There were some gorgeous flowers in a big circle in front of the state Capitol building. I wanted to share the pictures with you before it got to be too long...
And finally...Mr. Buddy! What do you suppose he sees out of the craft room window? I think I'm pretty sure it was a squirrel! He's on the hunt!
Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all you fabulous Moms out there! Thanks for visiting today. Hugs!
Love your ATC, Wanda! And your photos are gorgeous!
Posted by: Roberta Wax | 05/10/2011 at 09:03 AM
What a post! WOW! Love the photography, too!
Posted by: Jill Foster | 05/09/2011 at 05:14 PM
I still admire your photography...everyday...I love you! Can't wait for the book!
Posted by: Mark | 05/09/2011 at 06:47 AM
My gosh, Wanda! You are amazing, my friend! I am just speechless about your ATC and final card. Way to rock those stamps. And the coloring? Fantastic! Copics, pencils, it doesn't matter, you are a genius. I could not love this more!
And the photos?? Sigh........
When are you coming out with a book? When you do, autograph one and set it aside for me!
Posted by: Audrey Pettit | 05/09/2011 at 04:45 AM
You did such a beautiful job on all of your TE designs, Wanda! You're a perfect fit for their team! LOVE this ATC! All of those images and words layered look so pretty! I always like to design a card to go with my ATC's too! I always seem to have a few extras and I never know what to do with them...lol! Good luck on the contest! :D
Posted by: Kimberly Gajewski | 05/08/2011 at 07:21 PM
Wanda, you are waaay too clever with tha litte card and then to make it into a BIG one. WOW! I loved it!
The flower pics are beautiful. Thanks for sharing them.
And everybody loves "Buddy"!
Posted by: Fonda Jo | 05/08/2011 at 08:40 AM
Wow! This is fabulous! I just love all the layers of stamping. Love that image too! I'll have to keep an eye out for that one.
Posted by: Amy Johnson | 05/08/2011 at 07:06 AM
Wow, your photography is georgeous!!!! Do you use those as card fronts? If not, you should, they would make very special cards. I have really enjoyed this past weeks posts (I am new to your blog)and look forward to seeing more of your talent. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Janice | 05/08/2011 at 05:16 AM
(my space to write a comment was full)
Wanda its such a great use off the stamps,for me its a winner this ATC..do hope you win again!
Posted by: Holly Saveur | 05/08/2011 at 02:32 AM
Congrats Wanda 100,000 blog hits!!
Loved the past week!
Your photo's are so stunning..my first thought whenn I saw them was...you should sell them and let them be made into cards
...they are such an ART work!(even the pencils one)Then I read the comments and saw I was not the only one thinking this..they are so great Wanda!
Talking about Art works the ATC card is an art work too!So beautiful,I LOVE this one so VERY MUCH!(the colors,coloring,details)
Posted by: Holly Saveur | 05/08/2011 at 02:29 AM
Your photographs would make beautiful cards. Love the ATC. Is there anything you can't do? lol Have a great Sunday! LC
Posted by: LindaC | 05/07/2011 at 09:09 PM
OMG!!! That pink rose is TO DIE FOR!!!!! I LOOVE IT!!! You really should "market" your photography . . .somewhere!!! . . .my friend!! These are the kinds of pix you see in "fine art" shows!!
Posted by: Janice Rosenthal Rock | 05/07/2011 at 08:20 PM
Holy cow, those flower photos are beautiful! And your card is adorable. Makes me want to get into my craft room and make something. TFS! =)
Posted by: Mary M. | 05/07/2011 at 10:25 AM