Every little thing wants to be loved.

Hi everyone! leslierahye here with a recent Altered Trading Card Swap. ATCs are meant to be traded among artists and that's why they are so fun to make. This little 2½×3½" work of art will be shared with other artists making ATCs along the same theme--this theme was Bees. They also will make a run of cards on this theme and our hostess will sort out the lot and send them to each of us. It's always fun to get back the cards and see everyone's artwork!
I chose to use this quote from The Secret Life of Bees for my ATC. This is part of the Bee Yard Etiquette and while assembling them I became inspired to do a series of Bee ATCs--I will share those with you at a later date!

“I hadn't been out to the hives before, so to start off she gave me a lesson in what she called 'bee yard etiquette'. She reminded me that the world was really one bee yard, and the same rules work fine in both places. Don't be afraid, as no life-loving bee wants to sting you. Still, don't be an idiot; wear long sleeves and pants. Don't swat. Don't even think about swatting. If you feel angry, whistle. Anger agitates while whistling melts a bee's temper. Act like you know what you're doing, even if you don't. Above all, send the bees love. Every little thing wants to be loved.” 

― Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees

Thank you for stopping by!

Love

Happy Friday everyone! leslierahye here sharing an anniversary altered trading card. Today my husband and I celebrate 22 years. Over the past couple of years I have  made him Altered Trading Cards to commemorate the occasion and this year was no different. I printed off a recent photo of us and some dictionary paper to cover the ATC base. I distressed the edges and heat embossed on the edges and on the lower third of the ATC. I adhered love words from the definition to the textured surface of the emboss powder and then enhanced the edges and surface with doodles and hearts (there are 22). Bling on a roll and embroidery floss finished off the ATC. This will now become a part of his love collection!

 I hope you enjoyed my ATC! Thank you for stopping by!

Happy May Day!

Vintage alphabet stamps

A little May Day card---atc size, 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches

Gelli plate print backgrounds

collage images from Altered Pages

It's a tiny pop-up card, can you tell?

The violets are blooming all over our backyard!

Happy May Day!
:)trisha

ATCs TO SWAP

You know that I join the WOYWW party every week.  In a few weeks, it will be the 5 year anniversary of this wonderful weekly event! We  will be having a global ATC swap for the occasion!  I will send my 1 *which is all I have  to do* and some more to other friends.

I went to the Altered Arts Magazine sponsor box of goodies and got busy!

 

I started with my 7gypsies Collage tissue and some Mod Podge.  I applied the Mod Podge to the ATC blank and laid the tissue on top carefully.  Then I layered some 7gypsies paper, that I ripped to make it more interesting.  I used 7gypsies stamps "Numero" and Pink Paislee stamps too.  Of course, gauze and rope finished them off.
 

I can't wait to send them out!

xxDaniella

My Favorite Things ATCs

My Favorite Things Series 1

 Happy Sunday everyone! leslierahye here sharing with you two series of Altered Trading Cards that I recently made to swap. Altered Trading Cards are little artworks on a 2½×3½" canvas. The theme of this swap was "My Favorite Things."

These cards began as a watercolor paper print of mono prints that I had created on gelli plates. When I'm mono printing, I find that there are some prints that I just LOVE and I will scan them so that I can use them in art in the future. The backgrounds I've used here I have used as paper, as digital buttons for events, and as ATC backgrounds. 

Next I heat embossed the cards with some of my favorite Globecraft & Piccolo Craft Emboss Powders. I used adhesive to emboss the edges. Next I sprinkled some emboss powder on the surface of the watercolor ATC and then heat set from below so that the emboss powder looked more random...creating interesting patterning.

My Favorite Things Series 2

Finally I tangled on my ATC. Zentangling and doodling is my happy place and one of my all-time favorite things. I can relax and breathe when I tangle. It seemed appropriate that my two series of Favorite Things ATCs contain tangles!

Each series contained a total of 4 cards and were swapped with friends across the country. It's always fun receiving art from others and ATCs are easy to make and share! I hope you try some of your own!

machine stitched atc

Did you enjoy Altered Book Month (March) with Altered Arts Magazine?  I'm breaking in the new month with a two similar machine stitched atcs--no April Fool's here:

A collaged and painted background, painted & stitched heart.
(Can you see the sheet music peeking through the paint?)

So, with or without the text?

A heart at peace gives life to the body . . . Proverbs 14:30

Happy April, everyone!
:)trisha

ATCs

Hello!  I'm so happy to be making my first post to the Altered Arts Magazine Blog!!

I made 2 ATCs today, using a paper napkin technique that I wrote an article about for Altered Arts Magazine.

I coated the ATCs with Matte Medium, and placed the napkin face down onto the medium.  The other 2 layers of napkin come off easy that way. Then go over the napkin with another layer of medium and you get a beautiful background!!  I sanded the edges of the ATC, and any loose napkin will come off here.  Then, I went around the outside of them with Prima "Wood" color ink.  I glued on a piece of corrugated cardboard, a distresses a piece of book paper and an inked bit of gauze.  Last was a single mini rose.  I wrapped it up in a nice piece of rope, and I tied it with a bow!

I really hope you enjoy our new blog, and visit us often!!  Tell your friends!  There are exciting things coming soon!  We love your comments!!

Have an awesome day!!

xxDaniella