Anniversary card

We've had a very busy past few days. We've had 6 showings of our house since Saturday, and yesterday, we received a purchase offer. After negotiating, we've settled on a price! The buyers want to close on July 25th, which gives us 3 1/2 weeks to pack up this entire house. Since the work on our *new* (built in 1970) house most likely won't be done by then, we also need to figure out where we'll live for a few weeks.

But it's all good. We've all gotten quite tired of trying to keep the house spotless for those showings.

Among the craziness, I did manage to make this anniversary card for my sister Darla and her husband Colby, using this week's sketch from 2 Sketches 4 you. Awhile ago, I bought an old book written in French from a local used bookstore. I painted over a page from that book using watered-down Liquitex "Iridescent Rich Gold" acrylic paint. The images are from the ArtchixStudio collage sheets "All My Love" and "Tiny Bubbles." Ribbon is from The Paper Studio, and alphabet stamps are Susan Branch.

On another topic, I've been thinking some more about the fiber ATCs I'm going to make for the CQ list swap. Although I like the prints I made with the Penscore pads, I don't think I'll use them on each ATC. Probably only 2 or 3 will have that, and the others will have some other fun stuff. Still not sure what, though.

I love to have a creative outlet to stay sane (or at least, as sane as I can ever be), so hopefully I'll be able to continue blogging somewhat regularly in these next few weeks.

My first fiber ATCs

Joanne from the crazy quilt email group I belong to is hosting a fiber ATC (artist trading card) swap. Although the group is for crazy quilting, the ATCs don't have to be crazy quilted, as long as they're fiber. The only other rule is that they must be "regulation" ATC size, 2.5" X 3.5". Participants can make up to 5 ATCs, and we'll each receive the same number back that we sent in. I've never made fiber ATCs before, but I think it will be fun to play. My plan right now is to make 5, but we'll see how busy I get over the summer. They will be due in Sept.

I think I'm going to do a series using this image from my Penscore pads. I first heard about Penscore pads and how to use them in an online class called "Tempting Techniques," taught by Carol Murphy through Joggles. (I have no affiliation with Joggles.) Anyway, I used the Penscore pad to make an impression of some woodwork on my daughter's antique headboard. Then I used some different colors of Lumiere paints to stamp onto muslin fabric. Each impression is 3" X 4", so I'll have to trim them down when I make the ATCs.

I made several different impressions, so I can pick my fave 5. The second one didn't turn out at all like I planned. I thought I had cleaned all the green paint off the Penscore pad before I put the gold on, but apparently some green was still on there. Actually, though, I like the effect. It looks kind of aged.
These two green ones were the first two I painted, and they may be the best prints.
I don't think Lumiere makes a RED paint, but this pearlescent magenta is pretty in its own right:)

I'm not really sure what I'll be doing for each ATC. This is probably the first time in my life when I've started a project without having a set plan in mind. I wouldn't want to work without any plan on a bigger project, but with such small end-products, I don't mind. I'm looking forward to doing some experimenting.