Sunday, June 9, 2013

100 Posts and a First

It will be two years next month that I started this blog.  I just noticed in my stats that this post will be number 100.  Blogging has been so rewarding.  My posts are not noteworthy, but what I treasure is the friends I've made through this media.  I cannot tell you how much enjoyment I've found in visiting each of your blogs and the many things I have been learning along the way.  So thank you for all you bring with your blogs and thank you for continuing to visit mine.

Now, on to a first for me--ATCs.  As you know, I've mentioned before how much I love tags.  A close second are ATCs, so I thought I would finally give this a whirl.  Reading through many blogs and books, I figured I knew what to do.  Well, we learn by our mistakes!  It started with a manila ATC.  I was the lucky winner of a giveaway from Kasha Gray (Mandy Zimmerman).  She sent me a sheet of vintage slides which I decoupaged one onto the card.  (I never decoupaged before).  The card and slide were inked in several shades of Distress Inks from forest moss to tea dye.  I wanted to try a crackle finish (again, a first for me), so I coated the card with picket fence crackle.  Little did I realize that it gave a whitewashed coat to the paper hence making it difficult to see the slide.  I tried to bring it back a bit by stamping it with some music paper and text stamps from 7 Gypsies.  Really did not make much difference.  Then began the layering of embellishments to try to save this ATC.  Here it is.

 

A piece of trim from Mandy was inked and placed down the middle of the card.  The large fabric flower is also from Mandy and the burlap leaves are from Recollections.  I really love this flower.  A metal corner bracket from my stash was placed in the upper left side.  A flocked Prima butterfly rub-on was placed on the lower left and accented with a Recollections pearl.  The clockpiece is also Recollections.  Not enough, I said.  The two wooden butterflies from Recollections were given many shades of Distress Ink along with a coat of  crackle paint in Shabby Shutters from Mandy.  I tried to paint a design on them but was not happy with how it looked, so I placed two vintage buttons on their centers and gave them a coat of Glossy Accents.  In my jar of buttons, I found the zipper pull.  What a mess I made there with various shades of alcohol inks.  It took me two solid days to get the purple/green/blue color off two of my fingers and nailbeds!  The little word pieces are from Tim Holtz.  I just cut a notch on the side of each to make them into a banner.  Finally, I finished it with a touch of purple Liquid Pearls on the trim.


A bit warped but it is flattening out some.  I think it may have looked better if I hadn't added the leaves and not used the picket fence crackle paint.  I need to get some clear crackle paint.  Live and learn!  I see the benefit of taking classes.  What will I do with this?  I have no idea.  I don't know that anyone would want it.  lol  But, I will continue to try to improve.  I so love the small size of tags and ATCs.

There it is, post 100.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!

10 comments:

  1. Well... well done on reaching 100 posts!! and yes I totally agree that the world of blogging opens up a huge new place for learning and sharing and making friends... so enjoy and I look forward to reading your next 100 posts!! This looks amazing, that flower is stunning, and these little ATC'S and tags can sometimes take as much time as the bigger projects when you are waiting for ink to dry etc!! Have a great day!!

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  2. happy 100th post Patty :) :) delighted to have met you through blogland and love your ATC xx

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  3. What a beautiful ATC Patty!!
    Love the vintage look! :)
    Happy 100th post!
    Have a lovely and creative week :)

    ♥ Hugs, Inger

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  4. Congrats on your 2 years of blogging, and 100 posts! Love your ATC - one thing I have yet to try:)

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  5. Patty: I just LOVE all the great textures on this lovely project! It also has a vintage feel that is just wonderful. You know I just LOVE having you play along with us at Word Art Wednesday, and really hope that you will stop by and play along. Have an awesome week, and I really hope to see you!
    Hugs,
    Karen

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  6. Congrats on your 100th blog post! :) Your ATC looks really beautiful. I just love the pretty butterflys on it.

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  7. oh, this is so pretty, Pat. Love it!

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  8. First of all, huge congrats to you on 100 blog posts! I still remember the Patty who was hesitant to even begin a blog, and here you are two years and 100 posts later. :) I am so happy that you decided to take the plunge, and I am looking forward to the next 100 posts! Keep up the good work, my friend!
    And secondly, good for you for trying so many new techniques on this first ATC card. I think it is adorable, and I just love all the different mediums and textures. I have never played with that crackle paint before either. Definitely calls for some experimentation, and that is half the fun of the journey. Love that flower. Wow, what a beauty. And love the burlap leaves and metal corner. You really made me smile with the buttons covering up the paint comment. Sounds like a brilliant save to me!

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  9. It's been two years! Wow! I feel like it was just yesterday that we were sitting on your couch and setting it up. Congrats on 100 posts. I just adore this ATC. I need to try my hand at some. (And your posts ARE very noteworthy!)

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