Cottage Art Time

Just some things to share from my vacation....

... fabric ATC for a friend

...ATC with fabric paper background

I used this gelli plate print with water colours...

...in the first page in a new art journal I started!

Enjoy. Jewels

Weekend Fun

Just a few artsy things I managed time for (another is still sitting on the counter). I am "trying"(as best I can considering how much I have) to make a dent in all my ephemera...

Added a new layout in one of my Glue Books - the one with a children's theme. This little picture....

...is under the card to the left which makes the spread interactive. The girls are from an old Montgomery Ward Spring catalog...so are the fabric choices.

I have been wanting to use this ad for movers for some time - and then I found the stamp! Makes a neat ATC...

Just having some fun in this last piece. An ATC using up an old knitting pattern - that hand on the shoulder and the look on her face makes me laugh (can you say "awkward" LOL). Enjoy. Jewels.

ATCs and Collection?

I realized I had not done any ATCs for quite some time and got inspired to create some this past week (mainly because I have SO MUCH stuff I really need to either use it or chuck it)....

The background for this card was a scrap from some water colour painting that I ironed on a Vogart Textilprints to  (you can see other examples of this here and here). They are not easy to find. She is from one of my old BHG mags...

As are Mrs. Robert G. Walker (who looks way too happy compared to the other two), Mrs. Peter Wuebel and Mrs. T. L. Green Jr. - the 1950 winners of a Pillsbury contest (wonder what their first names are - any guesses?). The background for this was another painting scrap that I added a GELLI PLATE DELI PAPER print (in capitals because I have really been procrastinating on using my plate and I really want you to be impressed)....Some washi tape as well....

Finally - does this constitute a (or should I say another) collection  - never realized how crazy that cow looked until now LOL....Enjoy, Jewels

Valentine Swap

It's been awhile since I did an ATC swap. Kimberly always has great ones so I decided to participate in her latest challenge. I suddenly realized the deadline was only a week away!!! So this weekend was spent getting them done.

I did a lot of hem/haws - vintage photo? cute cupids? or??? till I found this image over at Magic Moonlight. 

The background is an old cutter quilt I found years ago and have made very good use of. Then just rummaged through my bits and pieces.

All three are done - need to pack up and get in the post! Enjoy. Jewels

UPDATE: Swap and Give Away

Thanks everyone for you lovely comments! Congratulations to Danielle over at Blessed Serendipity. The Fabric Frogster as Jo so eloquently named him will be hopping over to you shortly LOL.  

What was I thinking! Kimberly over at ArtJoyStuff is hosting an ATC swap called the Fabric of Nature. Her rules were to pick any kind of nature theme you wanted, try and make it vintage looking AND it had to all be done in fabric (no paper). Any embellishments allowed.

Well with Spring FINALLY here at Maple Hill the peeper frogs have been going strong in the ponds around my woodlot. It is a sound I really enjoy - and a true sign of Spring. So I popped over to Graphic Fairy and found a perfect graphic to print on fabric.

Here is my ATC - the background is an old curtain I thrifted. I embellished with lace, jute ribbon, buttons and beading. Did a little inking on the fabric too....thing is...

It's a 12 for 12 swap! LOL. That's a lot of little frogs. AND I actually made a baker's dozen so having a Give Away if you are interested.

Just leave a comment and I will pull a name on May 1st (OMG that is here already!!!) for Frog 13. Enjoy. Jewels

Viral ATC

I had scraps of fabric paper left from my little bird ornaments and decided to use them up. 

Kimberly over at ArtJoyStuff  has been doing a 52 week swap where she trades an ATC with one new person a week. So I sent her this one for week 22....

And then I just kinda pulled this one together real quick for myself. I posted it on Flickr and, as of last count, over 600 (update - 1,000!) people had viewed it and several had "liked"! I have never had that much activity over one of my pictures - so either I some how tagged/named it in such a way it comes up when people search or???? I've been laughing as I know how simple it was to make LOL. Oh well, I get my short moment of Flickr fame. Enjoy. Jewels. P.S. the fabric in the background is intended for a new kitchen valance - I really should get crackin on that....

Monthly ATC ...Times Three

Well I really have fallen behind creating my monthly ATC’s. So I had a chance this weekend to catch up.

 First up is September. Though it is really not a garden theme, I like the idea of going back to school. The background for this ATC is an advert for wallpaper. The children are from an old school textbook and I thought adding the stamp in the corner was a good embellishment.

 For October, I found an old garden catalog with an advertisement that matched the text for the month. The background is actually from an old phone book.

 Finally, I am now caught up with November. The background to the right is one of those transfers that I have done before from old Vogart patterns. While I’m not fully functional yet, it is nice to be able to do some artsy things. Including scanning LOL. Enjoy. Jewels

Back Online!

My computer finally came back! Unfortunately I've had to redo all the settings (argh). Only a few things lost but taking forever to do with one hand. I did these 2 ATCs before my surgery (will be awhile before I can do this kind of fussy cutting again!).

I came into a HUGE  stash of old stamps recently from all over the world - some really cool ones like this. I call it Stamp Gothic - from somewhere in Europe. The background is from a roll of old Wallpaper that I thrifted (that rarely happens and for 60 cents for the whole roll I could not pass it up!)

I love the "mysterious" story that goes with this one - Lie to her Supposed Poverty. The couple are from an old advertisement. The door is a small gift card. Seriously I just happened to drop them both on top of the book page and thought, wow! Do you think he ever will, lol? Enjoy. Jewels

The finger...

... or at least the polite 1950's version of it. I'm pretty sure she is giving it to him LOL.

ATC made from advertisement for shelf border wallpaper, old ledger sheet, a moving company sticker and an old advertisement. Enjoy.  Jewels

Another, another and, well, another...

Another Tag Tuesday - this week's theme is the Fair - so I am celebrating the largest Fair in Canada known as the Canadian National Exhibition (or The Ex). Check out my posting to find out more...

Another monthly ATC for Penny's challenge. Ahhhh - Saturday at the Farmer's Market in my hat, dress, gloves (white!) and heels - with my token male to carry the cukes home for pickling LOL...The image is from the 1950 August issue of Better Homes and Gardens (hence the date stamp)...

Another Prayer Flag (spoken for). These can be awfully addictive. I made this one from an old pillow case that had seen better days - 

but just the right background for my young maid don't you think? Enjoy. Jewels

Monthly ATC Invite- July Garden Calendar

Here we are again - ANOTHER month just flown right by....I just got my ATC for Penny's monthly challenge done in time...

I found this great ad in a 1948 women's magazine - love her hat. Unfortunately both the wallpaper in the background and the ad itself were on pretty brittle paper so had a couple of accidents. Still I like how it turned out. Enjoy. Jewels. 

Tag and ATC and Journal

Where to begin...well today is Tag Tuesday and the theme is Swimming. As soon as I saw this one I knew exactly what I wanted to do...I grew up on the Great Lakes - Lake Huron to be exact - in Canada. On the shore line is a park called Canatara (which means Blue Water) which we went to many times when I was young.

I have this great picture of my pretty Mum (probably late 50's early 60's) sitting on the beach (with her purse LOL). I tinted with chalk, used stickles for bling and some text I found in one of my scrap boxes. Sweet eh!

Over my vacation I also did some artsy things - including this "flawless design" ATC using some scrap from experimenting I was doing (yes they are right - keep it all because you never know). I believe she is from an old McCalls Magazine (I think the flowers tucked in her waist was a photographer's after thought, ha) . So what is that background you ask (LOL)....

Well I prepped my "first" art journal - using what I had (essentially water colour paint from the dime store in town, too funny - I would not vouch for its "archival" properties). I managed to bring brushes and gesso and stamps and ink  - but no paint! 

But I actually like how the colours turned out - what do you think? Unfortunately my pics don't show them well...

Hold on - that ATC has potential on this spread...

And what about my tag here? I can do some journaling  beside it about going to the park...How serendipitous (big word for the day)! Argh, now I have to do the rest of the pages... Enjoy. Jewels

Monthly ATC Invite - June Garden Calendar

Its that time of year when the roses are in bloom! Continuing to use my old Gardening book for monthly titles. This is part of Penny's challenge you can find here...

I'm getting good use from all my old Better Homes and Gardens books and magazines. My picture came from a book on roses - apparently these particular ones are "winners". By the way, I never look like that when I'm mucking about in my plot of earth, LOL. Enjoy. Jewels

Before the Computer...

...we used typewriters. All through university I used an electronic typewriter to type papers for other students to make some money. Sometimes I would get essentially the "skeleton" of a paper with the expectation I would actually write it (NOT!). I could not resist however correcting really hideous grammar - it was the English Major in me. I can't say I am awfully careful these days with my grammar when blogging though (but I try LOL).

This ATC was created using a typewriter advert from an old Montgomery Ward catalog, a young lady from a dress pattern and another advert for wallpaper just to add a little colour.....Enjoy! Jewels

Beauty Sleep and Body Measurements

I have not done a Tag Tuesday in a few weeks. This weeks theme is Camping. I actually don't mind camping and did a lot when I was younger.

I just find the older I get the better it feels to sleep in my own bed with my own pillows. Get up and have a decent shower in the morning. Not eat burnt food off the fire. And did I mention avoiding the bugs....

Mind you I'm not into lingerie and makeup for my regular sleeps (LOL)... Check out the details on this and the rest of the tags for June 12th - hope my tag friends don't mind me not being exactly "on theme". 

I also did a quick ATC (been awhile) - an old Butterick pattern and some vintage wrapping paper. It was good to do something artsy - though my new printer/scanner is driving me crazy... Enjoy. Jewels

May Mail Art and ATC Monthly Invite

Whew - talk about just making it - can you believe it is the end of the merry month of May? First up - my contribution to my Mail Art swap with Leslie and Beth. This month's theme was Architecture.

Trying to stay true to our "do something different" challenge - I wanted to create a marbleized effect for my background and was not sure where to start. So goggled and came up with this easy tutorial. Shaving Cream and acrylic paint - who knew! LOL Leslie shared with me she had used a similar technique on fabric instead of paper...hmmm the mind boggles with possibilities...

I also used some punchinella I bought recently from Gauge Alchemy - go check them out they have some great stuff.

The graphics are from an old dictionary. The Mod Podge I used actually had glitter in it so gave my card a little bling to go with the metallic acrylic paints I used (sorry the pics don't show all the sparklies well). I'll share what L and B sent shortly - next month's theme is "Deep in the Forest" - all kinds of things come to mind for that one!

I also just finished my contribution for this month's Monthly ATC Invite over at Bad Penny's blog. Still managing to stick with my Garden Calendar theme though I played a bit with the text this month. 

Monthly ATC Invite - April Garden Calendar

My monthly ATC for Penny's invite. Continuing with my images from an old Gardening Encyclopedia.

The Daffodils background is from an old Better Homes and Gardens book. Added some decorative paper on the edge. Enjoy. Jewels

Tag Tuesday and Other Stuff

Hello everyone - I have so much posting to catch up with. I actually made a list of all the "stories" I have to share with you! But first things first - its time for Tag Tuesday again and this week's theme is Spring Cleaning.

I decided to do a little "tongue in cheek" with this ad that I found.

The "snooty friends" are making comments...

And you can fill in the blank as to her response ("Eat my knickers Mary Gibson" or maybe "None of your Bees Wax - now Scram!" - you get the idea LOL)

And while I'm posting thought I'd share 2 more acrylic paint transfers I did while on vacation.

Both were black and white photos from a Toni hair product ad. I have to say I have had mixed luck with this technique. Your paint can't be too dry when you put both pieces together. The ink from your image needs to be "right" for the transfer. AND you absolutely have to be patient with the drying process. I left these for 3 hours - in direct sunlight on a windowsill - so they had a good opportunity to "stick".

Finally, this was a quicky I threw together quite accidently - all the pieces were left overs from other projects that just seemed to match! Enjoy. Jewels (its good to be back )