Things with Wings - an ATC swap

Well I was planning on my next share being an update on the crazy quilt round robin's I'm taking part in but currently one of my blocks got lost en-route to the US and I've now sent a replacement (hopefully will be received next few days) and I'm a little behind with my stitching on the second due to my hands not wanting to play (I have both Reynaud's & Pompholyx - and seem to be having a double flare up at the moment).

So instead I am sharing some ATCs I've made - my first ever (!) - for a UK based swap group.  ATC stands for Artist Trading Cards, they are 2.5 x 3.5 inches in size. Many artists and crafters make them to test out different techniques and to swap with fellow crafters.  I first came across them when looking for altered art inspiration on Pinterest and have been hooked ever since.  The thing was though until I found the swap group, who was I going to swap with?

The good bit about being in a group is that usually the theme is set - I thought this would help get me focussed.  This month, my first though was titled 'Pick your Favourite' from all their previous swaps.  Being a newbie this made it virtually Anything Goes, so I had to rack my brains a little.

I chose Things with Wings as I love butterflies and dragonflies and figured I had plenty of stamps and embellishments that would tie in.  So I got stuck in.

My first step was to create some backgrounds.  I used a combination of misting sprays on pieces of artist water colour paper cut to size.  The colours I used were Mulberry, Tango Crush, Teal and Fireburst Blue.

Once dried I then stamped over with a script stamp in a deep purple colour.

Looking through the various images and stamps I have I chose a lady with wings and a butterfly for one card, images of angels for another two and used these to collage with.  On the final two I stamped some postal themed stamps adding a butterfly to one and a dragonfly to the other.  I also added an old postage stamp to each.

I left them to one side overnight to look at the next day and see what I thought was missing.  I decided to add some more stamping to the cards with the angel images, and some ribbon to two of the others.  I edged all the ATCs using the matching ink-pads - Tim Holtz distress in Faded Jeans, and Adirondack Cranberry by the way -and then sealed them with a couple of coats of Artsy Collage Sealer allowing each to dry in between.  On the reverse I created a label (using Serif Craft Artist) showing the title of the cards, the number I'd created, the date and my name with blog address.

I've enjoyed making these and it has meant that I could still be creative even though I've not been too well. They've been posted off today & I'm hoping the eventual recipients like them.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what I receive in return!  I promise to share photos!!

I'm going to enter these into the monthly challenge over at Inspiration Journal ( http://blog.inspirationemporium.com/ ) this month the theme is A Splash of Colour.

Thanks for reading
Stefanie x