Countdown to August

It's still May, but August is only a little over two months away.  Around here, August means Stampaway in Cincinnati, Ohio.  I mention it every year, and I have missed going only a couple of years.  One year, I even went with a broken wrist and took the classes I had signed up for.

After an absence from teaching for many years, I am once again teaching a class this year.  The Agenda Book is one of my favorites, and I have so many ideas for themes for it.  So, if you are looking for a fun book class, it will be on Thursday, August 7th.

The only down side is that Gaye and I have always helped out in each other's classes. This year, however, her Metal ATC class is the same time as my book class. Bummer... but we will get by.  Both are great classes if I do say so my own self!

More Stampaway info is here:  StampawayUSA

Metal Books

Yesterday was a good day.  The sun was shining, snow was melting.  And I had a fun visit with friend Gaye up the road,  We finally got around to celebrating her birthday.  The celebration was delayed by weather, illness, and all that annoying stuff in life!

I got to see the samples she is working on for her classes at Artiscape in Ohio just a few weeks away.  Her little metal books are just adorable.  She is constantly tinkering with techniques and discovering new ways to do things.

She is also teaching this fun little leather book.

Wish I was going to this art gathering, as they always have good classes.  Info about Artiscape can be found HERE.

More Metal

I continue to play around with metal ATCs from time to time.  One reason it is so easy is because I have some pre-cut ATC cards.  Some time back, I got in the habit of cutting up cardboard from Kleenex tissue boxes.  That was back when I was making ATCs featuring fortunes from fortune cookies.  (A project that died before it really went anywhere.)  The cardboard is study, but not too thick.  But having them at the ready really prompts me to pick one up and start a new card.

I am still using punches mostly for the shapes.  The card on the right used two arrows punched out of lightweight cardstock, with numbers punched out to put on top of the arrows.  On the left card, a border punch with different sized circles was used and also a round punch.  I use a small bit of glue stick to hold the shapes where I want them before I put the metal tape over the whole thing. I use metal tools to highlight and outline the shapes, then freehand other designs to fill in the card.  I find I am combining metal working and zentangle patterns most of the time to fill in the backgrounds.  It is so much fun to doodle on the metal.

It's hard to tell on the cards below, but the one on the left has a circle and oval that are recessed, and can be filled in with a paper or picture punched with the same punches.  On the right card, a punched out circle is glued on top and it is raised instead of recessed.

All that's left to do is figure out what to put where for the finishing touches!

Metal Madness

Just because you spend a lot of time on something does not mean it is your current go-to project. Sometimes, it's just a little bit of play to remind you that you want this project front and center later down the road.

I have been playing with metal ATCs (artist trading cards) - they are like potato chips, you can't have just one.  Before I knew it, I had half a dozen.

These are all made by covering a piece of cardboard with metal repair tape (from the hardware store).  An extra wide roll is wide enough to cover the card, plus it is adhesive on the back.  Most of these started with shapes cut out with a punch or freehand, with the shape attached to the card before covering the whole thing with tape. Then I used various tools to make marks and designs.  The final touch was to color with alcohol inks.  Some of these will still get some sort of embellishment on them.

This one above is in progress.  You can see the scrap cardstock on the left with the holes in it.  It was left over from making a spiral bound book with my Bind-it-All.  I got a piece out of the trash to put on the ATC.  I also added tissue tape to the right.  It is awaiting its coloring and doodads.

I have also started an altered book to house these eventually.  Because I'm a copycat, that's why.

 It all started when I saw these ATCs that Gaye made a few months ago.  I knew I had to make some too.

She put hers in this metal book she has worked on off and on over the past several years.

It's so hard to get good pictures of metal without the flash blinding you, but you get the idea.

 

So, as I said, this is not my main project right now, but I can't seem to stop working on it. 

 

And by the way, a true friend is someone who lets you steal their ideas and they don't mind one bit.

:-)