I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Tuesday 5 November 2013

A Nice Round Number

Hello all!  It's a strangely contradictory post today.  On the one hand, we're celebrating the 100th challenge over at Fun With ATCs - and the theme for the fortnight is, fittingly, 100!

But there's a touch of sadness hanging over the celebration... as this is the final Fun With ATCs challenge.

As it happens, I'd already reluctantly decided I had to leave the team.  I've had a fantastic year, and have loved playing alongside my wonderful team-mates, but time seems to be in increasingly short supply and keeping up with deadlines keeps getting harder.  So the 100th challenge coinciding with my one year anniversary as a DT member seemed to make a nice round number for calling it a day.  

But I'm so sad that this will now also be the last challenge of all.  We've had so many amazing entries over the months from many loyal followers, and it's been great to see all your tiny masterpieces.

So here's my final inspiration piece for you - and in a grand finale, I'm offering you two versions of it! - and you'll find more fabulous makes here to fire your crafty imaginations.


I started by cutting a piece of thick card with the Tim Holtz ATC and Corners die, and then ran it through the BigShot again with the X-Cut Chronology Cogs embossing folder.  I cut the numbers 1, 0 and 0 with the Movers and Shapers Cargo Numbers dies.




As you can see, my brain first of all went to glowing pinks, golds and oranges - using Finnabair's Sunrise, Sunset papers, inked with Picked Raspberry, Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks...




...with a heavy spritzing of Perfect Pearls in Pearl for a shimmery look.

But then it just didn't feel quite "me"... and for my final piece, I wanted it to feel a bit more "me".

Fortunately, I hadn't yet stuck anything down...







So I started over with some paint, and turned the whole thing blue - much more "me"! 


I did lots of dry-brushing once the blue was done, bringing white down from the top left corner, and black up from the bottom right corner to create a shift of shadow and highlighting across the ATC.





No idea what colours I used precisely, I'm afraid - this was made weeks before the house move, and my brain has turned to mush in the meantime!

But I do know that, again, there's some Perfect Pearls mist in Pearl to add a celebratory shimmer.








I re-did the numbers with some DecoArt One-Step Crackle over the dark blue paint (Fresco Pea Coat, I think) again highlighting it with white paint to give the sense of that light source from above. 

And the same treatment for the ATC corners to frame the whole thing.






I'm pretty pleased with the finished effect - though it is one of those pieces that changes colour according to the light hitting it, so it's much more fun to have it in your hand and shift it around to catch the shimmer!


Do hop over to Fun With ATCs and then hop around to visit my team-mates - they'd love to hear what you think - and we'd all love to see what you come up with for the 100 challenge this fortnight, all on a 2.5 x 3.5 sized creation of course!



Thanks so much for stopping by today.  

If you've nothing better to do I'll be back at 7pm (UK time) with my final sneak peek of the week for PaperArtsy - maybe I'll see you again then?  

In case you missed them, you can catch up with Sunday's post here, and Monday's is here.






Oh, and since it's Tuesday, you'll also find me over at Artistic Outpost today.  It's Sneak Peek mayhem... see what I mean about deadlines?!


But, for now, it's a very fond farewell to Fun With ATCs.  I do hope as many of you as possible will be able to play along and give the challenge a really good send-off.

Farewell is a beautiful and a soft word and yet it is a horrible and a heavy thing too!
Mehmet Murat Ildan

Don't be dismayed at goodbyes.  A farewell is necessary before you can meet again.  And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends.
Richard Bach

35 comments:

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Wow Alison you have been so busy over the past few days. I have been keeping up to date with your PaperArtsy creations and they are gorgeous. Your ATC is a stunner and what a way to end your term, you are going out on a high with these ATC's. Fabulous Fabulous work. Tracy x x

Deborah said...

What a shame it's ending...but I love your commemorative ATC.

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

A stunning ATC for the last challenge Alison

May said...

Gorgeous ATC Alison the colours are amazing... Love the design & crackle... sad you have to leave...I will miss your little masterpieces....Hugs May x x x

Unknown said...

A beautiful ATC Alison, it would look fab either colour option. Sad that you're leaving them, I'm sure they'll miss you. Please keep the ATCs going though as I love to see the clever things you do with them. Chris xxx

Gio said...

Your ATCs are mythic, Alison. Tiny pieces of art. I hope you find a little time to make more of them in the future, even with no challenges!

Paper Profusion said...

A wonderful and ethereal swansong Alison. I can imagine how it shimmers. Even before you went 'more you' I loved the Finnabair hues too. Good luck to all the 'Fun with ATCs' team with whatever new endeavours come their way. Nicola x

cathylynn said...

What a touching farewell. I can see you have lots of deadlines. Your ATC and all of your other pieces of art are just totally awesome.
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

maj. said...

Your ATC is brilliant, Alison!!!

Astrid Maclean said...

Wonderful ATC, love the crackle on the numbers and those corners!

Sad to see this challenge go, but I know very well where you personally are coming from.... too much to do, too little time, we are in the same boat in more ways than one as I just found out lol....

Sandy said...

The sad news is that this challenge is going away - the good news is that this is not your 100th birthday. Plenty of time for that kid!
As always your makes are really wonderful Alison. I think you should do on-line work shops on video. I know I would pay a pretty penny (or should I say a pretty pound) to take one of your workshops.
Sandy

Helen said...

I love your atc's - especially the blue one - and whilst it's sad that the challenge is ending, what a way to go out!

Anonymous said...

How sad that this was to be your final ATC sample but it is true, time appears to be more a precious commodity than ever before.
You know soft, aged pinks are a favourite of mine yet I have to say I simply love the metallic version. Wonderful texture on both examples.
Alison, I am sorry if I have fallen behind with any of your posts when you share your incredible creations. At times I am limited to on-line time or otherwise I would be stalking all your posts, all of the time! Hopefully I will get back on track soon.
Wishes
Lynne

Kelly said...

You are so sweet to catch up on all my posts! We are both busy so I understand if you cannot get them all!! I adore your work, love the blue tag, the colors are so soft and pretty. It is hard to leave a team! They will miss you too!!!
I have been viewing your projects at Artistic Outpost! I love what you do, this is so your style and your tutorials are so nice, some day I will try one out and get the Fresco paint, I love it on your projects.
Good luck with your new home and I will pop in again!!
Have a great day!!
Hugs Kelly

brenda said...

Super work as always.

B x

Michelle said...

Your ATC is fabulous. It reminds me of chilly winter mornings when the frost is fresh and glistening. Gorgeous!

Netty said...

Terrific textured ATC Alison, Annette x

Dorthe said...

Alison,-
as much as I love pink, I have to say that the metal one, is for me, a fabolous winner, here. So amazing what shadows and light can do, and that wonderful crackle, too. I wish I could see alll the shimmer changing the colours.
I think it is wice to hold back a bit with deadlines....they makes everyone stressed if they are too many!
XO, Dorthe

Nan G said...

Saddened to hear FWATCs will be no more. And was shocked to see a pink make from you...whew, back to normalcy with the blue almost metallic one. Loved both! You do seem to have a lot of commitments. Take care not to overwork yourself.

Rita said...

Wow Alison. This looks wonderful. I love how you have crackles the numbers Hugs Rita xxx

sam21ski said...

Awww what a shame, I love my atc's, great last tribute xxx

Cocofolies said...

Two fabulous ATCs, I love the two !!! That's a pity reading you that this famous ATC challenging blog will be no more... I was just starting playing with ATCs crikey !
Hugs, Coco xx

sara j said...

You just blow me away Alison! Love the second effect you've achieved on the ATC, the house is amazing, and the fact that you just kept creating during all the moves is just incredible. Your attention to detail i so fun to see.....just love your work! Sorry to see the ATC challenge go - I really enjoyed it, but to everything there is a season.....

Von said...

Such a shame it's ending but you;ve gone out with a wow! as I love both colour ways ! :)
Glad the move has gone well
Von ♥

Anonymous said...

Absolutely gorgeous!!! I love the crackle on the number & corners...a fab touch!
I've seen your PA house too, it's amazing!
Alison xxx

Marjie Kemper said...

You are one busy gal! What a beautiful 100 ATC you've created.... love the crackle effect and can't wait to head over to PA and see what you've created for them. The sneak peek pics are intriguing!

Brenda Brown said...

Oh my such a fabulous centenary ATC and a brilliant last make as a DT member, you will be greatly missed I am sure. Going to pop over and see your other bits too.
hugs {brenda} x0x

toni said...

Yes much more 'you' love the sunset colours but I think the bluey silvery tones are my favourite for such an auspicious occasion x

Dianne said...

GORGEOUSSSSS, I loooove the way it finished, the crackling is superb, I'll be sorry not to see these any more, but you are so busy, I don't know how you do it, well you were born to do this, thanks for sharing..

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

You are a busy busy girl!!! Great run for the team! Love the bright ATC, and all you sneak peeks today!

Kasia said...

You have done wonderful ATC for the last challenge at Fun With ATC. Love the texture :)
I need to say that I am so sad becouse of closing this blog :( It's really nice blog and I did ATCs with pleasure for challenges at Fun with ATCs :)

Silvia(Barnie) said...

A gorgeous ATC, great texture.

craftimamma said...

Love the ATC Alison, both the first design and the make over! I don't know how you've managed to co-ordinate all your DT commitments especially alongside the house move too. I shall nickname you Wonderwoman!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wwo what a beautifuil ATC very special with the cracle numbers on it!!!

Greetings
Maria

Kezzy said...

Wow such a gorgeous ATC and so sad it's ending. But it also does look like you have a lot of deadlines lol. Your sneak peeks look amazing as well. Hugs :-) Kezzy xxxxxx