Simple House ATC

So, I joined a swap on ATCards.com with the theme of houses. I've seen some gorgeous cards on there (some of which are listed in my Wists) and while I want to be able to make cards like that, I decided to do something different. I wanted a card that looked like a house, but opened to reveal what was inside. I started with a 3 and a half by 5 inch piece of card stock weight scrapbook paper (like this crossword puzzle print).



I folded it in half lengthwise and marked a triangle at the top to cut out for the roof. I also cut the front triangle off so the front is a square and the back is the house shape.



I then unfolded the card and glued a coordinating paper to the other side, being careful to use a bone folder to re-fold the card so it closes.



That's it for the basic card. I went further with these and covered half of a paper slide mount with another coordinating paper for the window and edged the whole card with red stamp ink for contrast.



Now all that's left is to add the images I want in the window and any other embellishements and they will be ready to go.

Charm

Charm
Originally uploaded by queenoffools1974.

I had orginally decided not to post this because I considered it a failure. Then I realized that maybe my failures could be as helpful as any other sort of tutorial I could post.

I had a bunch of flat-backed glass marbles laying around and wanted to try to make something new out of them. I've made magnets and even hair pins with them, but I saw this technique to make jewelry charms out of them in Josie Cirincione's book Collage Lost and Found.

It involved gluing an image to the back of the marble (which I had already been doing for the magnets) and then soldering the back with a small hook. As you can see from the photo, I put the foil tape and the hook on just like the pictures in the book.

My trouble involved the soldering. I had to use two different soldering irons because the first one kept blowing fuses in my house. The second one I used was made for automotive work, so the results were less than pretty. I tried my best to smooth it out, but the whole thing has a generally lumpy appearance.

It's passable as a charm and I guess it would be considered "rustic". I haven't given up yet, though. My next attempt at soldering involves only straight lines. Maybe that will help.

TwoOwls

TwoOwls
Originally uploaded by queenoffools1974.

I made these two cards as I was just going through my stuff and finding things that matched. I posted them on ATCards.com and they were spoken for within a couple of hours. There are so many beautiful hand drawn and painted cards on that site it makes me feel honored that my little collages are wanted.

I've also figured out that I can trade my ATCS or my extra stuff for things that I want. I put a list of haves (like endless paper) and wants (like microscope slides) on there and, Voila! People are offering me things I want in exchange for things they want. Barter at it's best. I wonder if there are more forums where I can trade my stuff....