"Catittude" ATCs

After receiving some beautiful collage & mixed media art in my mailbox and art group feeds I thought it time to give it a try. 

Admittedly, these are nothing like the amazing surrealism or junk journal collage I admire, but more of a mixed media style that feels familiar to me. It seems I'm not quite ready to step too far out of my comfort zone yet.

I made a series of 5 ATCs using various papers for my backgrounds, including playing cards #9 😉, book pages and patterned paper. Acrylic paint was applied with a scraper, bubble wrap & a punched paper scrap as a stencil. Duct tape transfer method was used to re-imagine cute cat stickers into a collage element and machine stitching added some texture. Finally some sassy phrases and an embellishment or two completed these ATCs with catittude.

 😾 Meow

One of these will be posted to the US in an exchange with a cat lover, the rest will be kept for when I need a trade for something particularly special.

I have gotten a bit picky with my exchanges lately, and loathe trading something that has taken me hours to create for a sticker on patterned paper or a simple doodle. I wish woman once said "your art is your currency, spend it how you choose", and I've taken those words to heart.

As always, thanks for looking and comments always welcome xx

ATC happy mail

 Have been so caught up in the exchange of happy mail that I've forgotten to post my latest artistic pursuits - I'm using that term VERY loosely 😆

If you're ever looking to trade just leave me a comment - I'm located in Australia 🦘 but trade internationally.

More floral ladies

ATCs made exclusively from RAKs and extras received with trades

Hive activity

(Bees are honestly my absolute favorite subject to turn into art)

Noojee

Watercolours painted from photos I took on our weekend away back in September, for a National Park themed swap - I received a lovely prickly pear from Arizona in exchange 

Acrylic flowers

Another incarnation of a module from the online class I've been undertaking

Mounted on black cardstock they turned out better than anticipated 

Watercolour doodle

Just because....

Acrylic mandala style

To use up paint left on my pallette

Yet more floral ladies

Somehow I've managed to lose this lady, she's nowhere to be found and I haven't traded her - go figure 🤷

And that is all for tonight. 

It's not all of the ATCs I have to share - I have been particularly busy crafting and particularly neglectful of house cleaning - but as a result my letter box has been full to the brim with beautiful, creative 'nerd mail' from around the globe 🌎

Thanks for looking 

Trades always invited & comments always welcome xx

Floral Ladies ATCs

 I loved pulling out the watercolour paints to create these beautiful ladies, with their floral locks. A simple face, a splash of paint, some doodled flowers - and a whole lotta time - was all it took. I'm delighted with the finished ATCs 🙂

Orange - Traded

Red - Traded

Purple

Golden - my favorite 😍

Pink - 

or maybe this one is my favorite? 😍

Someone missed out on the Vintage Rose Ladies I painted last year, and while we were arranging a current trade she asked would I make her one. I was surprised when she asked to take both ladies, so made a few extras to trade in the Facebook group.

My watercolour technique is a bit haphazard but works for me. Practice makes perfect, so there are many, many watercolour ATCs to be butchered in the process yet!

Thanks for looking, commenting & trading xx

Hydrangea ATCs

Repeating a previous painting class I've found my results are very different just a month apart. Not better technique necessarily, but definitely more confidence in my brush strokes and taking initiative with composition.

February 2024

January 2024

Traded

Traded

Sadly one of my ATC trades did not arrive safely at its destination in the USA. The ATCs and extras were all removed, leaving only the note. 

So as not to disappoint my trade partner, and since it was through no fault of her own, I repeated the ATCs - same but different - and have resent them with a bundle of extras to ensure it is happy mail 💌

RAK gifted

I'm thoroughly enjoying my little sketchbook classes and developing a reference journal of my progress.

Same but different is a concept I really could get used to.

Thanks for looking, commenting, trading and sharing xx

Encore Splatter ATCs

 Due to overwhelming interest in my splatter cards I've made more and they're just about all traded.

Be a fruit loop in a world of cheerios!

Life is a great big canvas,

Throw all the paint you can on it!

-Danny Keene

I love making these bright little pops of colour! And am delighted that collectors love them as much as I do.

Thanks for the encouragement 😁

Comments and trades always welcome xx

Splatter ATCs

The solo splatter ATC I made in January was so well received I decided to make a series of a few more to trade. 

Fruit Loops - traded

I gave first preference of the ATCs to those who contacted me directly when I posted my original splatter, and found Fruit Loops was a very popular choice. Traded immediately and 3 additional requests to be made to order.

Splash of colour - traded

Great big canvas - traded

Pop of colour - traded

Loved making these little snippets and will continue to make them using paint left on my palette - they're like a sneaky little bonus 😉

Thanks for looking, comments and trades always welcome x

Peacock Acrylic ATCs

 After taking another art lesson here, I practiced the techniques and turned them into ATCs.

Traded

Available 

Traded

Acrylic paint, a white gel pen and my trusty marketplace typewriter turned this simple design into some cute (and sassy) ATCs.

I flipped a couple of my offcuts into RAKs to send to a trade partner and a lovely lady who requested some happy mail while going through a hard time. 

RAK for a swap, they specifically requested no "extras" so I included a bonus ATC - some matting to frame the print and pearl accents changed the look

Day one or one day

YOU DECIDE...

A little motivational nudge for an anonymous new friend going through a hard time

I'm having so much fun in my painting class and love building on the skills and ideas as I learn them.

Thanks for looking, comments and ATC trades (worldwide) are always welcome xx

Acrylic florals ATCs

 Inspired by an online art class I'm taking, I painted some free and easy florals

Not content with seeing the pretty scraps discarded I tried a paper weaving technique that has been lurking in the back of my head (and at the forefront of my Pinterest board) for a little while. 

Painted scraps were combined with strips cut from a vintage book purchased from an op shop with every intention of being journal fodder. I found plant themed words to feature, and wove around them;

trees, cool grass, orchard, wisteria, rose

The result? Definitely not a technique I have mastered, but it's interesting and I'll definitely try it again.

Thanks for looking, comments always welcome

xx