ARTIST TRADING BLOCKS (ATB)
For a long time I have admired the popular craze of making ATB's (ie. Artist's Trading Blocks) especially the lovely creations of Shelly Hickox (StampTramp) & Anna-Karin (Layers of Ink)
& Red Lead. I recommend searching for examples of these on Pinterest.
The Blocks can be die cut from thick cardstock using the 3D Block Die from Eileen Hull & Sizzix.
I don't have that die, so I have recycled some boxes from my work
as they are just the right cube shape & size.
I do love transforming items normally discarded into beautiful artwork to treasure.
This piece will be used to store some precious handwritten letters from my Mother to me.
I am entering my creation in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. The Challenge theme is
'Try to Contain Yourself' which suits this piece perfectly.
Read on for more information on my Creative Process:
The Boxes were closed & reinforced with masking tape & then given 2 coats of White Gesso each.
Prima Chalkboard Paint (Charcoal) was sponged on all sides & let dry.
Turquoise Iridescent Creative Medium was applied through the Tim Holtz Flourish Stencil
to each side of the blocks.
The two blocks were stacked & offset before being attached to each other with hot glue.
Embellishments such as Flowers, butterflies, buttons, beads & pearls
were applied with 3D matte gel from Prima Art Basics.
Most of the flowers are from Prima.
Some flowers & leaves were die cut & formed using the Tim Holtz Pinecone & Garden Greens die.
The Sentiments are from a Chipboard set (I think from Prima)
The embellishments were clustered to flow from one box to the other.
When you look at the piece you are compelled to keep turning it to look at every angle.
Highlighting & blending of the embellishments was achieved by dry brushing & splattering
with Prima Art Alchemy Paints in Metallique Rich Turquoise, Steampunk Copper
& finally with White Gesso.
I love the way the flowers wrap around the piece. I am not sure which angle is my favourite.
Happy Creating Deb Adams