I'm not playing with a full deck :)

Gals and Dolls -

One of my online groups (linda got me to join)...... Christian Deck, Linda is organizing a group to make ATC's equivilant to the number of cards in a deck.... 52 (i think?) anyhow..... we pick a card and a bible verse that has to do with LOVE and make an atc.... She scans them in- sends them to a printer.... everyone orders a few decks and the printer prints them out.... she mails them back.... we all get customized decks of cards with everyone's art. It's really cool!
This is my first time participating in a swap, as such, but I think this group has put out several decks of card. It seems like a lot of work for the organizer, no? (it is....) anyhow.... I was able to design two cards..... 6 of hearts and 4 of spades.
For my 6 of hearts card I used this image....

It's from 1920's (i believe) It's my grandmother and her godmother on her baptism day. Unfortunately since the card is 2 1/2 by 3/12 I really did not have a lot of room to work with.... so her godmother, Ramona (her aunt) did not make the actual ATC. I used my Grandmother and Jesus (with a gold crown... and the verse "1 Corinthians 13:7" {Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.} This verse really embodies how I truly feel about my grandmother. She amazes me everyday. She is a pillar of strength and has more love to give than I could ever dream up. I am fortunate to still have her in my life and I am soooooooo blessed that my two boys have grown to know and love her very dearly. She is a very special person in my life and I just feel so honored that I was able to make this ATC about her. She loves playing cards and so that will be an added bonus when she gets a deck to use with her friends down at the senior center :) Of course.... I forgot to scan the image/ photograph the image.... so right now it in en-route to Linda and well I'll upload it later.
My second card (4 of spades) is of this picture..... and yes I did photograph the ATC... but it too is en-route to houston and I want it to be a surprise.... for linda.


This last picture is the image of the ATC I made as an entry for the back design of the whole deck of cards......

I twisted the wire into a heart shape and glued silver metallic wings with a red rhinestone heart to the center and named the card as "Love conquers all" It was a fun ATC. I'm really getting into the whole ATC size for making paper art..... it's way fun :)

All because of the love of paper...

Ever since my fabric obsession recently turned to paper (still mostly love the patterns) I have met some cool people (in person and on the net). My dearest prayer MOM and friend, Linda , showed me a whole other world existed out on the internet. She the reason I am blogging and rekindled my creative spirit, and I thank her as much I can for that! :) Anyhow, she's in a christian paper artist group - (ok she practically runs it...) and she kept posting these really cool treasures that she made for swaps and RAKs and others that she received from friends all over the US. Well, to make a short story long, I joined the group and have met some really great and talented women. Like Chris and Nathalie and Katie. I have joined two swaps (joyfully yet reluctantly) as I am trying to expand my paper crafting horizons. I made some inchies and a few ATC houses - I'll post them soon.....

Like I said ...... my short story made long..... A few weeks back - I was challenging my blog visitors to leave a comment and in return I'd make them a card. BTW - I made 7 cards - Faye was the only one who I never got an address for. WELL.... KATIE sent me a treasure back. It's a wall hanging with the letter A, a cute little girl with a crown and rhinestone (oh la la!) OHHHH and WINGS (one of my obsessions) and lastly a great bible verse I would have never thought to have such valuable meaning! "You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not by ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone but on the tablets of human hearts. " 2 Corinthians 5:3 . Y'all - I love it sooo much - it's just precious. I can't believe someone I just met took the time to create this little treasure. Well - It's hanging on my INSPIRATION board (right next to my post-it note.... "I am creative , I am an Artist"... A plug for ALI.... ) and it's going to stay on my board for a very LONG time - Thank You Katie for making my week and thank you Linda for opening my creative spirit to all these wonderful women. You are a rock star!
xoxo
anna