I've been wanting to try doing some Artist Trading Cards with more materials than paper, pen and pencil so I thought, "Aha, I'll cut it up and go to town!" The border is mottled tan and brown and gold which doesn't show up very well. The little holes in the lace are quite a shiny gold, which also doesn't show up very well. Too bad.
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| The original, partially done artwork. |
There were two with no lace. I used one of them immediately because I wanted to send an ATC on the theme of 'wings'. Here's that one. The hummingbird is from a magazine. I coated it, rubbed the paper off the back, and stuck it on the card.
Here are the four corners. They all have small round brads stuck through the cards. In the lower left card the brads are not the large brown 'pearls', those are ink; there are two smaller dull gold brads.
Next, some of the side pieces. Two have small brads. The colored one happened because I glued on a colored strip at the top and then tore off most of the tissue paper, leaving very clear brown tangling which I didn't really like.
These are really nice. I like how you were able to recycle "old" with new. I'd love to try this idea and see what happens when the lace is dyed, either naturally or or with man made.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the curves of the corners and the embellishments. These remind me of my grandmothers time.
Thanks for sharing.
Outstanding works.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! What an amazing process and beautiful results! Your creativity and your perseverance in this project are eveident in the beauty of the final pieces! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely incredible. Each piece finished is a work of art. Would you please explain how and what products you used to peel the paper back and have that beautiful hummingbird? Thank you for sharing your work.
ReplyDeleteJenny
Hi there. This is my method and it works well for me.
Delete1. Cut out the picture you want leaving a good border.
2. Using acrylic matte medium, paint 5 or 6 layers on the front of the image. Let it dry very well each time. Brush in different directions each time so you don't see brush strokes in the final version.
3. Once it's well-dried, trim the border close to your image.
4. Turn it over and moisten the back of the image. Sometimes I need to very gently score the paper to allow the water to soak in. When the paper is wet, use a finger to gently rub the paper off the back. The ink of the image will remain on the acrylic medium. Get all the paper off.
5. What you have now will be very filmy and flimsy. Take care with it. Use more matte medium as glue and stick it to whatever project you want.
Hope this helps. Have fun!
very beautiful. I love doing something larger and then cutting it up for ATCs. The bits all end up being similar but not the same.
ReplyDeleteI like to cut apart the cards before I've finished the artwork. I finish each card individually so it looks complete unto itself rather than like part of something else.
DeleteDear Margaret,
ReplyDeleteevery time I see your work I just sit there with my mouth wide open, unable to believe how beautiful it is! You truly are an inspiration to me!
Wishing you a great year from Germany. :-)
Thanks Anya! All the best to you in 2014.
DeleteMargaret - these are so lovely!
ReplyDeleteI have now learned I can never "copy" your style, but I am constantly inspired by your creativity - what I make is often thanks to the inspiration you give me. Sandy SB led me to "Steal Like an Artist" which has helped me see how valuable copying is on the path to my own creativity...
Thank you!
Jakki
Thanks Jakki. I read Sandy's posts about that book; must get me a copy! Apparently Oscar Wilde (on Facebook who know for sure!) said, "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." :)
DeleteBrava! Love when we find old projects that sat around and then become brilliant when we repurpose them. Your ATC cards are just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jessica. I'm reluctant to throw out anything, thinking "there must be SOMETHING I can do with this. :)
DeleteVery inventive, very old-meets-new. Wish my imagination worked that way.
ReplyDeleteBarb
One thing I know is that Margaret is SO SO generous in sharing her ideas that we can "creatively plagiarize". I almost always try the things that Margaret teaches and have shelves full of Margaret-inspired art work from coffee pots to funky tree composites that I adore doing. I love playing with the house motifs she has introduced too. I have "come away" from ATCs lately as the group I used to share with has disbanded and I don't have anything to do with them. I hope Margaret you will bring some of these lacy ATCs in April so I can see the up close and personal. I find them fascinating. but I am going to keep my eyes open for lace/crochet things at garage sales. They do show up now and then. And thanks for the tutorial above on how to do a "transfer image".
ReplyDeleteOhhh thank you Ginny! I'm keeping one or two of the lacy cards for myself, but the rest may be going towards a swap. I'll try to remember to bring some to show in April.
DeleteMargaret, you've done it again! What fantastic ideas. Will try the hummingbird and lace ideas for sure. Thank you for being you!
ReplyDelete