More ATC's

Here are some more ATC's I made with images from Pixabay.

Pixabay ATC Fun and a Ransom Note

I've been hella bored this weekend.  This is nothing new.  I stay bored.  During the quarantine, I've been having a problem staying creative.  Before COVID-19, creativity seemed to flow effortlessly.  Now I have to force myself to make anything.  Yesterday, I decided I'd settle down in my chair in my literal cave (my workspace is recessed underneath a loft bed) and create some mixed media ATC's (artist trading cards).  I've known about Pixabay for some time now, but I've never really utilized it.  For those of you who don't know what Pixabay is, its a site with over a million free to use, copyleft photos, illustrations, vector graphics, film footage, and music.  In addition to using some photos, vector graphics, and illustrations from Pixabay, I used some hand painted papers I purchased from my friend Stephanie's Etsy shop, Paper Cut Lane.  Stephanie is my favorite mixed media artist ever!  So when she opened up her Etsy shop recently, I was thrilled that I could buy her handmade supplies to use in my own mixed media pieces.  Here are some of the ATC's I made yesterday.

I also made a ransom note handmade postcard yesterday for an upcoming swap on swap-bot.  I wanted to add a sinister message, but not something too creepy.  Here's what I came up with.  

I don't read magazines, so I purchased a digital file of these cut out letters from LaSoffittaDiSte on Etsy. Much easier than combing through magazines and finding the letters myself.  

I've already been searching Pixabay this morning, looking for more interesting images so I can make more ATC's.  Unfortunately I'm running out of ink already just two weeks after installing new color cartridges.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to invest in a color laser printer soon.  Do any of you have any recommendations for a relatively inexpensive ($400 or less) color laser printer with a scanner?  Or can you recommend a good brand?  Any suggestions would help me out a great deal.  

Smash Books, Mini-Zines, and ATC's, Oh My!

I've been trying to branch out to other crafts besides sewing. I'll have to say I'm a little burnt out on Dotee dolls at this point. Yesterday I decided to make myself a Smash Book. A Smash Book is like a journal that you put random stuff in. K and Company has an awesome line of Smash Books and embellishments. I thought it would be more fun to create my own. I painted a composition notebook and added stickers and other elements to the cover.

So far, I've started one page in my Smash Book. The page includes two mini-zines that I completed yesterday. There is a current swap on swap-bot called "Fill It." For this swap, you download a page with prompts on it, fill in your details, draw some pictures, and then fold it mini-zine style. HERE is the blog that explains the project and where you can find the downloadable prompt sheets.

I've also been working on some ATC's (Artist Trading Cards). I made this Frida Kahlo ATC for a tag on swap-bot.

I actually painted a Studio Ghibli inspired ATC for a swap. I usually hate painting, but this was really fun to do. I only hate painting because it's something that I'm not particularly good at. Here's my winter themed Soot Sprite.

I've not decided what I'll work on today. Don't get me wrong, I haven't given up sewing, I'm just taking intermittent breaks. I actually completed two plushies yesterday as well (I was super busy!). The first one is a felt doll for a swap.

The tutorial and pattern can be found at The Purl Bee.

I also made a Spock plushie for an upcoming commission next month. I am to make 3 more Star Trek characters for this order.

Cool LOST ATC's

Here are some cool LOST ATC's I received from the swap I hosted recently on swap-bot. Mom2Sammy was the artist who created these.

The Archie comic one is my favorite.

This one is dedicated to my friend, Alejandra. (Sorry, Ale, I'm keeping it!).

Lapidus ATC

My fourth and final LOST ATC for the swap-bot swap that I'm hosting.

Every 108 Minutes ATC

The third ATC in the LOST ATC series that I'm hosting on swap-bot.

Did You Just Kill That Bunny? ATC

The second ATC I created for the LOST ATC swap that I'm hosting on swap-bot. I love that damn bunny!

Daniel Faraday is My Constant ATC

This is the first of four LOST ATC's that I'm doing for a LOST ATC swap I'm hosting on swap-bot. I'm a sucker for Daniel Faraday!

The Final Mushroom ATC

I decided to go a little kawaii on this one and give the mushrooms faces!

Mushroom ATC's

These are two ATC's that I did for an upcoming swap-bot swap. I need to do one more, as each participant has three partners and makes one mushroom themed ATC for each. I'll probably do something other than draw the last one (e.g. polymer clay on paper, felt or paper cut outs) as I'm tired of drawing shrooms.