Terrific Tin Cans!

We just can't believe the response we've had to the can challenge! You have excelled yourselves with your imaginative and inspiring creations. Click on each picture to visit the blog and see more details........

...........and thank you for joining in with the fun!

SPONSORSHIP!

Well, not only have we had 3,000 visitors in our first month (!! yes really, and thank you) but our lovely friend Karen from Scrapz has sent us all these goodies by way of sponsorship. Isn't she fab? The shop keeps loads of great altered art stuff so get on over there and have a browse around.

I immediately bagged the metal so Linda got the wooden box, and we've shared the yummy grungeboard, so watch this space to see what we do with it!

Amazing ATC Art Dolls

We were amazed by all the different ideas you came up with this week - every doll is different and special. Thank you for joining in and contributing to our art adventure, we are so grateful for your support. If you want to find out more, please look in the comments box for blog addresses. As always - if I have missed anyone out, please email me.
Linda x

TIN CAN ALLEY

Welcome to our Week 4 Challenge! As you can see - for this one we've raided the trash (well we wanted to use something everybody would have!) and recycled some empty cans (also very ecologically sound).

Now we never wanted to set ourselves up as "arty experts" in this blog, we are making the same journey of discovery that you are. The truth is that often we've never tried the challenges we come up with either, so bear in mind that sometimes our examples may be a bit "off the wall"? Obviously we do this deliberately to encourage you all to realise how much better you can do ......

Rosie's husband calls the black effort her "Harley Davidson" can - and you can see what he means! It had a coat of black gloss and then got liberally decorated with silver bits. In case you were wondering, she punched the holes for the dangles using her trusty Cropadile.

She's gone a bit metal crazy at the moment, so her other effort features this heavily too! The celtic pen holder was done using a sheet of art metal which she embossed and then antiqued. The finished panel was wrapped around and fastened to the can (with difficulty).

Linda took a very different approach (not being as metal struck as Rosie) and gave her can a coat of gesso, followed by a lot of layers of paint and paper till she was (fairly) happy with it! The Ralph Waldo Emerson quote reads "adopt the pace of nature her secret is patience".

Now show us what YOU can do .....

YOU'LL BE NEEDING ONE OF THESE!

Just to give you advance warning that Friday's challenge will require one of these - a standard issue tin can, beans for the use of. I thought it was something everyone would have or could get ...

Of course if you've got access to catering size cans so much the better (depending on what you want to use it for). You can of course use the shorter kind too ... the entire can world is open before you!!

Magnificent Matchboxes

Thank you very much to everyone who joined in with the matchbox challenge - all your artwork is so fabulous and inspiring, its hard to believe that it's matchbox-sized!

Please follow the links to see the original photos and more detail.

Sandy - http://stempelchaotin.wordpress.com/

Viola - http://www.saray-viola.blogspot.com/


Sharon - http://magpiesarttreasurechest.blogspot.com/

Sue - http://suesartstuff.blogspot.com/

Denise - http://denise-blessthismess.blogspot.com/

Michele - http://eyembellishments.com/

Nancy - http://neatcs.wordpress.com/

Jaqi - http://jaqi-scrapbookinginmysleep.blogspot.com/

Ros - http://stampandscrape.blogspot.com/

Rosemary - http://freeadvicewortheverypenny.blogspot.com/

If I've missed anyone out, please let me know.

Inspiration

I have asked Sharon's permission to show her art doll on our blog. If you follow this link you'll see more pictures and details.....

http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com/2008/01/paper-doll-party-continued.html

Now you can see where I got some of my inspiration from.

Sharon's blog is very beautiful and inspiring - I recommend you take a look.

Linda

ATC Art Dolls

This week we challenge you to make an ATC Doll!

I first saw one of these on Sarah Whitmire's blog but since then have spotted a few more on other sites. You can make it as simple or as complicated as you like...I've tried to do a variety of styles to show you.

If you want a template, you could try here: http://www.theenchantedgallery.com/paperdolls.html

This is Ula (Ula Lah). The flower is from a paper napkin which I pasted down with gel medium. She can hide completely behind the ATC.

This one you've seen before on my blog and our header.

This litttle cutie is an image from Lisa's Altered Art - he was quite easy to construct (and is my favourite).Here's one I collaged with fabric and lace. The head and legs just fold back behind the ATC.

And last but not least .......TA-DA it's Rosie's gorgeous dancing girl!!

So there you are.........I hope you'll have a go!

Well done to everyone who made a matchbox book. They are amazing - and so inspiring!

I will put them on the blog tomorrow for you all to see.