Sunday Scrapbook #9

Regency-inspired ATCs made July 2011

(via Your Profile/My Profile ATC Swap at Swap-Bot)

 

 

 

Sunday Scrapbook #8

"Let them Grumble"

"The most handomest prince in Christendom"

Tudor ATCs made July 2011

(via Favourite Time in History ATC Swap at Swap-Bot)

~ I'm somewhat annoyed that these didn't scan all that well, considering these are my favourites to date, and the first ATCs I've made in over a year. It is all the bling that is at fault, and I don't know how to fix it, alas!

ATCs: Wicked/Elphaba Inspired.

"Which old witch? The Wicked Witch!"

Elphaba wanted to see things change for the better in Oz...


So she studied and worked hard and created awe-inspiring things. Her achievements were known far and wide..

So that even after she was gone she still inspired others to continue her work.

These are now on their way to KF in USA, after we agreed to do a private ATC swap inspired by Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life & Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and its main character, Elphaba (ie the Wicked Witch of the West). We discovered that we both loved this book after taking part in a completely unrelated swap over at Swap-Bot.

Since the weather was awful yesterday (go here and here to see what I mean), I spent the afternoon in-doors crafting. I'd not done so in a few months, and the opportunity to be creative was most enjoyed!

Cleopatra VII ATCs.

"The Last Queen"

Cleopatra ATC via Swap-Bot

"Cleopatra VII Philopator"
Cleopatra ATC via Swap-Bot

In Brief:

Cleopatra VII was a Hellenistic (Macedonian) ruler of Egypt.

She came to power first as co-ruler with her father Ptolemy XII, and then later with her brother-husbands Ptolemy XIII and Ptolemy XIV.

Following their deaths she ruled in her own right, forging an alliance with the Roman Empire by bearing a son (Ptolemy Caeser) to the Roman Emporer Gaius Julius Caeser.

After Caeser's assassination, she aligned with Mark Antony, with whom she had three children (twin daughters and a son).

Cleopatra and Antony were defeated by Caeser's legal heir Octavian at Actium. Following the defeat, Antony took his own life, shortly followed by Cleopatra, who in legend used the bite of an asp, on 12 August 30 B.C.

"For she was a woman of surpassing beauty, and at that time, when she was in the prime of her youth, she was most striking; she also possessed a most charming voice and a knowledge of how to make herself agreeable to every one. Being brilliant to look upon and to listen to, with the power to subjugate every one, even a love-sated man already past his prime, she thought that it would be in keeping with her rôle to meet Caesar, and she reposed in her beauty all her claims to the throne".

- Cassius Dio (Roman Historian)

ATCs...

"Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit"

Orange Scraps ATC via Swap-Bot

"Agent Orange No. 2"

Orange Scraps ATC via Swap-Bot

"But Grandmother, what an awfully big mouth you have!"
Fairy Tale ATC via Swap-Bot

"Mirror, Mirror..."
Fairy Tale ATC via Swap-Bot

"De Goole Bug"

Edgar Allen Poe-inspired ATC

Made for Mari in Spain

Finding Practical Hobbies.

As I was sitting around last night, unable to decide if I wanted to watch television, a DVD, read a book or write, I decided it was time I got a new hobby. Something creative that I can fit into a busy schedule - something I can multi-task, or do when I have only an hour or two to spare.

I considered improving my knitting "skills". I already know the basics. I could probably knit a scarfe or a blanket if I really wanted to, but I often find knitting a little too repetitive and I get bored with it quickly. Other times (i.e. often) I make mistakes and I dont realise until countless rows later, and it's just too hard to go back and fix (or I'm too lazy. You decide). I would love to be able to knit wonderful things like jumpers, cardigans, beanies and socks, but I cant read knitting pattern instructions - it's a whole other language and I cannot make heads or tails of it!

So, I decided last night that I am going to learn how to sew. It's a practical hobby that could prove to be incredibly useful. Probably moreso than knitting ever could. My mum doesnt know it yet, but she's going to teach me (Thanks, Ma)!

I did learn (if you'd like to call it that) a bit of sewing from Home Economics class when I was in highschool. But I wasnt very good at it. We made an apron and a pencil case. I actually finished the apron: It was made from calico and I made it for my mum. I even put her initials on it. It was so proud! I think she may even still have it...?

The pencil case, however, was a bit of a disaster. I sewed it all wrong and couldnt get the zipper attached. I got frustrated and gave up. I was so disappointed that I didnt even bring the poor thing home; it was abandoned in the Home Ec room.

I'd like to think that being older, and with a steadier hand, I'll have more patience for it. I was thinking of starting simple: perhaps a tablecloth. I figure if I can sew a straight hemline then I am off to a good start!

Once I have finished some (wonderful?) creations I can share them!
[All tips welcome!]

In the meantime, I'll share two of my latest ATC creations. Both are themed "Cancelled Postage", and are via Swap-Bot.

No internet makes Sorcha something-something.

Having no internet on at home means that there are few blog updates but plenty of time for ATC-making! And I have been keeping myself busy with ATC swaps via ATC_Connection, Swap-Bot, private swaps and gifts. I've also received some beautiful cards in return, which I plan to take pictures of to share at some point in the very near future.

In the meantime I'm sharing the cards I've made over the past two months or so. Please try and ignore the poor photography: they would have been scanned if I'd been able to find the computer connection (no doubt still packed away in a box somewhere).

4x Dark Inspired via ATC_Connection

3x Pick-a-Country (Ireland) via ATC_Connection

2x Parents' Names via Swap-Bot

3x Custom "Chaapaai Kitty" for JP in Germany (gift)

1x Vintage for RG in USA (private swap)

Glittery Goddess ATCs

Another swap ready to be sent off via ATC_Connection!

This time the theme is "Glittery Goddess".
I had a bit of difficulting finding enough glittery supplies, as it would turn out that the stores in town dont stock as much craft suppies as I thought they would. But with a little help from my mum and her daycare supplies, I was able to scrounge together enough that could be considered glittery to make my ATCs.

Sepia ATCs

Today I completed my first bunch of ATCs for a swap I'm doing over at ATC_Connection.
ATC stands for "Artist(ic) Trading Card". It's a 2.5"x3.5" handmade trading card that can be created using any artistic format you like.
I do mine in Scrapbooking style, since I cannot paint or draw.

The theme for this particular swap is "Sepia", and I had to make 4 cards. I then send those cards to the swap host, who distributes 3 cards each to everyone that has participated, and keeps 1 card from each person for herself.

On the cards I used print outs of old sepia photographs (one of my great-grandparents on their wedding day, and the other a Victorian photo I found online), a sepia coloured picture of the Houses of Parliament in London, and the last one (which kind of came out more orange than sepia) was a forest photo I also found online.

The embellishments I used included brads, old buttons, chinese coins, raised stickers and felt stickers, and die-cuts.