Ocean Artist Trading Cards
by Helga Strauss
In the Summer 2011 Collection, I featured Seahorses and Coral because when I think of Summer, I have visions of the beautiful ocean.
Before I worked on this collection of Ocean Inspired Artist Trading Cards (2.5" x 3.5" collages), I researched the symbolism of seahorses and coral. And I looked them both up on Google Images so that I could get ideas of how they occur in nature. This sure helped when I approached my art desk.
Coral is meant for protection and comes in a variety of colors. You'll find this in My Inspiration Board.
Once I was ready to start, I pulled out my materials. I made some quick backgrounds on my ATCs: vintage text papers glued to ATCs and then gesso painted across them. Super easy. Then I started laying out Red Seahorses, Red Coral, Chunky Coral, Chunky Seahorses, and Eco Embellishments.
Inca was amused but wanted me to stop and give her a treat.
In this ATC, I painted white Ranger Crackle Paint onto the Chunky Coral. Then I added some touches of red Rub Ons to bring out the crackle finish. I used a Glue Dot to secure the coral to the ATC, and then I sewed on some thread in a variety of colors. All of this to mimic the look of soft coral.
Here I added little touches of white Crackle Paint to the Red Coral and it turned pink. What a cool effect! Very coral-y! I added 2 Seahorses, that I colored with a black Sharpie, to dance amongst the coral branches. Did you know that seahorses mate for life?
More Crackle Paint! lol. This time on the Chunky Seahorse. Oh, how I love this look! I also used the Eco Embellishment as a stencil. I simply traced it with a black Sharpie, painted it with turquoise paint, and then added dots with a black Sharpie.
I used the inside piece of coral from the Eco Embellishment above, colored it with a black Sharpie marker, and sewed on some pretty, glass, red beads.
Instead of a poodle skirt, how about a seahorse skirt? I added a party drink umbrella skirt to this Bathing Beauty and added a Mini Red Seahorse. So cute!
This ATC features a Red Seahorse with sequins...that presented themselves to me after Inca dumped my sequins all over the floor. lol. I couldn't resist making a matching clothespin. The Red Seahorse on the clothespin has black Crackle Paint on it. Cool, eh?
Once all of my Ocean Inspired ATCs were complete, I wanted to add words to give them meaning. So, I consulted our new Tell Me a Fish Tale collage sheet. Jackie poured through old books, searching for great words and phrases for this sheet. When she filled a cigar box with inspiring ocean words and phrases, she pieced them together on a page like a puzzle. It's so nice that she's done all of the hard work for us! This sheet is so handy to have around!
Ta da! Here are my Ocean Artist Trading Cards. Now what to do with them?
Display them in our Classic Accordion Book! Don't miss our little class on unique ways to Display Your ATCs!