ArtCoins.....

Yep, ArtCoins are something else that I love to make & collect. Created in the same way as ATCs, but circular obviously! They are 2 1\2 inches in circumference & traded, but never sold.

Here are just a few that I have made in the last 6 months

The coffee pots were created on MDF bases, water colour paper that a coloured using Distress Oxides spray in Pickled Raspberry, Seedless Preserve & Walnut Stain, splashed with water to help it fade, before stamping on the pots using Walnut Stain ink. Sorry, but I don't know the name of the stamp I used, I was a thank you gift kindly popped into one of my many craft purchased 🙂 I think the words are from a Tim Holtz set, but not sure?!
(Traded)

The travel ArtCoins below are on MDF bases, which I gesso'd in white. When completely dry, I heat embossed each one using a few pots of WOW Embossing Powders, that had arrived just that morning to try them out, as you do! The colours are Sunburst, Lavaburst & Greengage. I experimented with them, because I was in a playful mood 🙂 on the train, I used some sequin waste as a stencil & patted the WOW Embossing it through it, giving it that honeycomb effect. I did the same with the truck one, but the effect was a little different, it actually resembles a snake skin effect. The balloon one I decided to sprinkle the powder directly on to the coin. Sunburnt & Lavaburst are mixed & the Greengage is metalline! The stamps are from Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous range, sorry I don't know the name of the set that these are part of. 

(Traded)

The next set of ArtCoins, were again on an MDF base & covered with had coloured backing paper. This time using Brusho paint pigment, when dry I stamped them using the free stamp from Craft Stamper magazine. I then dabbed all over each coin with WOW embossing ink & sprinkled with Ultra Thick Embossing Crystals by Cosmic Shimmer, then melted it with my heat gun. This not only gave them a clear glassy finish, but it also enhanced the beautiful Autumnal colours.

(Traded)

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Salty hugs

Jane 🌴

Halloween .......

Personally, I'm not a fan of this particular celebration myself. However, I do enjoy using the traditional colours that are normally associated with Halloween & I love seeing fellow crafters interpretations & project makes to celebrate! This aside, I am taking part in one of my regular ATC swaps again this month & of course the theme is Halloween........ Now I don't own any craft items that are specifically Halloween so I had to improvise & it was great fun because I do love a challenge! This is what I came up with & I really do like it, I just hope the recipient does?

This ATC was easy to make, fun too
My favourite base to create my ATCs on is Framers Mount Board, which is what I have used here. It is sturdy enough to withstand liquid sprays & inks as well hear embossing etc.
I painted my card with PentArt black gesso, when dry I randomly dabbed acrylic paint in green, orange & purple paint.
Next I decided that I wanted more texture, so after a rummage through my scraps bag, I found some green netting fabric (think tutu net) this is where I got stuck, no matter what I that fabric just would not stay stuck down! Me being me & not one to give up, I decided to heat embossing powder through the netting. This not only worked, but it actually melted the netting too. Once realised what was happening, I was able to control which areas I wanted to melt & to what degree. I love the effect it created & great texture too.
I then took a plaster cabochon which had a skeletal ribcage & painted with more black gesso & allowed it to dry thoroughly. Then, using my finger for more control, I rubbed some Cosmic Shimmer gilding wax, I used enchanted gold just on the rib cage to highlight it. Nice huh?!
The ATC still needed something to make it work, so off for another look through my craft drawers for something suitable & found some fusable fibre, also known as angle hair, in just the right shade of purple. I heated it to make it more manageable, which allowed me to then tease it around the edges of the cabochon after I fixed to to the ATC.
Then I used a couple of cardboard words from one of Tim Holtz collections, filed & coloured the edges & I was finished.

I would like to enter my ATC into the following challenges please.....
Bleeding Art Challenge Blog
Funky Junky Boutique Challenge Blog
Try It On Tuesday Challenge Blog
Altered Eclectics Challenge Blog
More Mixed Media Challenge Blog

ATCs....

Gosh I am not good at this blogging lark, I forget to update it lol

Today I will share my recent ATCs & ArtCoins with you, they have all been traded now, because they were made for various swap groups on Facebook. 

Do you enjoy making & trading ATCs?

The first ATC I made for myself while playing around with my embossing powders & gun. I enjoyed making it & how it turned out, so I have decided to make a series of them. I will the series "A Bird's Eye View" the collection will be scenes of various places around the coastlines of the UK.

Anyone that knows the UK, might be able to guess where the inspiration came from to create the ATC below?!

It is a bird's eye view of the Needles on the Isle of Wight in Hampshire

Thank you for visiting me Jane 🌴