Halloween Pocket Page, part two

As promised, I have the flip side of my altered pocket page for Halloween.  For this side, I used all black and white collage images from Altered Pages.

In my first post for this project, I told you how I try to blend in the white edges of the paper with ink on color collages.  The rule is not as hard and fast with black and white images. Sometimes you need a fine line of paper around the image to make it stand out.  If you layer all black and grey images without the little "halo" you might not see everything.  

As with the color collages, paper matters.  I used white paper for everything on this project.  I like black and white images for Halloween because they somehow just feel spookier! 

Halloween Pocket Page, part one

If you haven't yet searched for Halloween goodies at Altered Pages then please let me recommend them to you!  There are collage images of every type so whatever type of project you're making, you won't be disappointed.  Which Halloween collage did I use for this project?  All of them.  Well, it seems that way.  Let me explain.

When you're making an altered pocket page project you need a lot of collages to work with.  So I printed off each of the Halloween collages that I've collected over the years and cut them apart while my husband and I watched baseball.  That way, I could work on a project, still have our time together, and because I wasn't coloring or assembling, I could put it down and pick it up with ease.

When you are printing your images at home, you control the size and color.  I printed a couple different sizes for each page and I also used a couple of different color papers.  It's important to keep in mind that the ink will appear different on each paper as well as having the background darker or lighter.

Another tip that I'd like to share is that it's important to ink the edges of each image to help them blend together to be more cohesive.  You can use an ink page, dauber, cotton swab...any method you choose.  The goal is just to mask the color of the paper.

It's also important to judge how to use your "white space".  This golden card stock was very plain so I just added very light dots to give it a little hint of color.  You can go with a fancy pattern or just use what's close at hand.  I chose this little foam disk.  It's one of those self stick things you put on the bottom of lamps and things to keep them from scratching your furniture.  I had to buy a big pack and had a few left over.

Some images may not fit perfectly on such a small project.  Pocket projects are a series of nine ATCs on each side and they measure only 2.5 x 3.5 each.  I kept the mitered edges of the frame on the image below, trimmed the picture down and reattached them so I get the same feel and it fits on my card. 

So, how do I decide which images to use?  I go for the main image that I like and then pick out smaller things to fill in like cats and bats from other pictures.  

And here is side one, complete in their little pockets.  I hope you'll come back to see the flip side next time!!

Beautiful Ladies ATCs

Hi, two weeks ago I promised to share the complete altered pocket page with you that I was creating with unusual card bases.  Today, I have a lot of photos for you.  There is a long list of supplies so I'll list them at the end of the post.  If you want to see a close-up of each of these cards, please see my post over at Altered Pages Artsociates, the Altered Pages blog.  And be sure to submit your original ATC are photos and scans to be featured on the blog!

There are nine ATC cards involved in the project, which means 18 different designs.  Here we go...

And here are the cards inside the plastic pocket page.  The page is folded into three and fits inside a standard #10 envelope!

Supplies found at Altered Pages:

Collage images

Book pocket & library charge card

Glassine envelope

Coin envelope

Shipping tag

Playing card

6x6 Glitz Yours Truly paper pad

Glitz stickers & embellishments

Graphic 45 paper & embellishments

Dew Drops

Paper flowers

9-pocket plastic page

Double-sided adhesive & Tacky glue

ATCs - A beginning

Happy Friday!  What does an ATC mean to you?  I can tell you they are little works of art, with dimensions of 2.5" x 3.5", but what are they to you?  Do you swap them?  Put them in lunchboxes to brighten the family's day?  Use them as business cards? 

Today, I'm using them as the building blocks of an altered pocket page.  These are just the base cards and I will share the finished project with you later in the month.  Of course, you can buy cards already cut to the perfect size or make your own from card stock. 

My goal was to use a different type of base for each one.  So in the photos below, you will find a book pocket and check-out card, a glassine envelope, cardboard packaging and, of course, card stock.  Each one was cut to standard ATC size and has the first layer of design.  Most of the scrapbook paper here is from the Glitz Yours Truly paper pad.

Fronts

Backs

My next post on the Altered Pages Artsociates blog in two weeks will show them decorated and ready to send off to a pen pal!  I hope you'll come back to see the finished project.

Join us at Altered Pages this month for ATC Awesomeness! 
You can submit up to three photos each week.
It's not mandatory but we would really like for you to incorporate AlteredPages products with your ATCs.

•Prizes will be given weekly by random drawing to one lucky person.
•You simply send a photo of your ATC creation*, we will add it to the blog. You can submit any day of the week.
•Each Sunday a prize will be displayed on the Blog.
•The following Sunday a prize will be awarded.

*Send your ATC photos one of two ways:
Email to: Artsociates@gmail.com
Facebook to: https://www.facebook.com/AlteredPagesArtsociates/

ADD hashtag #SeptemberATC so we know you want to be entered in the prize drawing.

Prizes include papers, stamps, art pencils and more!