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Mini-Frame Needlework
Mini-Frame Needlework
Wool chain stitch on wool felt.
The "frames" are blank playing cards.
I'm not really sure that I like these well enough to make more.
I timed everything:
Stitching the yellow flower took seven minutes and forty-six seconds.
Stitching the pink flower took 18 seconds short of a half hour.
Cutting and mounting the backing took six minutes.
Cutting the (quite imperfect) upper frame took about four minutes.
I am not sure the result is worth all that work! (BOTH HAVE BEN TRADED)
Yellow Flower
Yellow Flower
I usually stitch on a full sheet of wool felt, because the wool stretches some as you stitch. So this little flower didn't quite fill the space. Once I mounted the felt to the playing card frame, I thought it still needed more...
Back of Yellow Flower
Back of Yellow Flower
This is the first time I have added a backing made from a playing card. It is just attached with double-stick tape.
Yellow Flower....
Yellow Flower....
...with a "floating" frame....
I'm still not sure about this ....
Final....
Final....
I think it just needed a bigger frame!
I sent both frames with the trade. They are "floating" frames. Just slipped into the sleeve on top of the wool ATC.
TRADED
For Dawn
For Dawn
I posted the first two needlework cards on Facebook and traded them immediately. But my friend Dawn wanted one, and, as a special ATC friend of several years, she gets a custom!
TRADED
Sprite
Sprite
Continuing with the needlework theme, but this time an abstract.
"Couching" is the main technique... plus a little chain stitch.
Rose, Simple, Inktense
Rose, Simple, Inktense
Back to flowers....
I am trying to learn to use Inktense pencils, but I need a LOT more practice!
TRADED
Abstract Scene,
with Inktense pencil
Abstract Scene,
with Inktense pencil
Mounted on the heavy cardboard backing of a Legion Stonehenge Black 2.5" x 3.75" watercolor paper tablet!
Abstract, with one small frog
Abstract, with one small frog
Found in my box of untraded ATCs, this one is actually from October but I'm putting it on this page anyway.
Axolotyl 2
Axolotyl 2
Doodle Axolotyl Hybrid
For more information about "hybrid" cards, please see this explanation: hybrids
The first DAH to ever get traded is on this page, but the TIFF file created in Procreate dates back to
Axolotyl - V2
Axolotyl - V2
The axolotyl doodle card was the first one I ever made that had images that were JUST TOO SMALL to color. So I have made an enlarged version that can be colored more easily.
A Very Brief Doodle Cat History of Art!
A Very Brief Doodle Cat History of Art!
I am so delighted with this ATC that I made a whole page about it.
I posted this booklet-style ATC (yes, it fits in a sleeve... barely....) on my LuAnn Pepperwood Facebook page:
"It is Mother's Day and I am having a great day making art. I just finished my "Doodle Cat History of Art" ATC. I like it so much that I added an entire page on my website, celebrating this achievement. 🙃
The booklet does not have the highest artistic value ever. However; it does celebrate the kind of art I like to make. And it gives homage to many forms of art.... and several famous artists. The AI artist Werner Saxer inspired this particular little book. He recently made a series of ATC-sized booklets and
I copied the IDEA.
Other sources of inspiration, which are not credited because I didn't plan ahead well enough to leave room for a credits page, include cave artists, Egyptian statues, da Vinci, Van Gogh, Picasso, and M. Vänçi Stirnemann.
and also on "Emily's ATC Artist Trading Cards" page:
"I am so delighted with this ATC! First dibs goes to Werner Saxer, who gave me the idea of making an ATC booklet.
This is a (very brief) Doodle Cat History of Art.
Version #1 is spoken for, but for very special trades I would make custom copies."
Hybrid Doodle Axolotl -
Blue - A
Hybrid Doodle Axolotl -
Blue - A
TRADED
Crown - HD
Crown - HD
Hand-drawn copy of a card I drew back in October... for Inktober 2025: Day 3.
TRADED
Flag Book Variation
Flag Book Variation
On May 12, an artist in "Emily's group" posted a video of a marvelous little interactive card. It was inspired by a reel by Daveykit, but she could not find the link. I really wanted to figure out how it was done, so I watched her video a dozen times and eventually came up with a pattern.
The one posted by Artist Trading Cards by ArtWithAttitude was much more complex and coherent, but I was interested in learning HOW to make something similar, so I just used whatever I could cut and fasten together quickly. When I signed back in to Facebook to share my little piece, the link had been found. I was still proud that I had figured it out.
I searched for quite a while, but I never found a video match. However, I DID find something called a "Blizzard Book." That YouTube video, by Northern Skylark, gave credit to the designer, Hedi Kyle. My next step was to look for her book, The Art of the Fold. I found one on Ebay, and spent $27 obtaining it. I will be playing with this concept for a while! There will be a page featuring Folded ATCs.
I tried, unsuccessfully, to make a "Doodle Cat" variation of a flag book. Twice. Moving on.
May 13:
May 13:
I was just in the mood to sit in my chair and play with art. First I used the Inktense pencils and blocks to do a bit of experimenting.
My goal for this summer is to MASTER Inktense. I love the potential., but I've been too cheap to waste good watercolor paper on learning.
It is time to stop worrying about wasting paper. It's a 2.5" x 3.5" bit of watercolor paper, LuAnn. Get over it!
Next, I did some sketching with Pigma Micron pens. I love them! Usually, I refrain from using pencil first. But the two LEGO cards needed a bit of a base. Rigid forms are not as forgiving as the organic forms I usually choose.
So I ended up doing NINE cards in one sitting. Are they all great? Are they even trade-able? It doesn't really matter to me any more. I am enjoying this journey: making art (almost) daily, writing about art, and sharing art via this web site.
Inktense Face
Inktense Face
The eyes are too close together. They don't look "finished." This is not at all a good face. But it is a starting point. I need to practice faces. I will get better.
Inktense Eye
Inktense Eye
It was just a quick attempt using one color from an Inktense block... but there are parts that I like....
Ingrid
Ingrid
Another quick Inktense ATC. Can you tell I was into blue?
LEGO dinos
LEGO dinos
I really enjoy doing quick sketches of real objects. I started with a fairly representtional sketch... then improvised.
LEGO Ninjago?
LEGO Ninjago?
My grandson Simon can identify every LEGO piece ever made, but me? I am not sure what kind of figure this one is. It was fun to sketch.
Izzy
Izzy
Robots will always be a favorite when I am just doodling for fun. This one is mounted a little crooked. Precision is just not my thing. I may fix him later. I may not.
Robot Dancer
Robot Dancer
I love to "design" robots. (Come to think of it, I really should have a robot page.)
Today I thought about robots designed to do something the really should be reserved for people. How would a robot dance? So this one has little tubes that blow air, causing the flexible "limbs" to dance.
Robot
Robot
When it comes to hands, I really SHOULD sketch the basic outline in pencil first. But I didn't. So I just kept trying to fix this one ... and then I changed it into something that looks a little wicked....
Glasses
Glasses
Not a great example of my sketching ability, but I wanted one more sketch to balance this portion of the May web page. I was too lazy to get up and find something more interesting.
May 14-15
May 14-15
I joined a swap on ATCsForAll.com.
"Exploration of Acrylic Inks" is the theme of the swap.
I found six bottles of acrylic ink at a local thrift store, about three years ago. I drew two cards, and have not tried them since. So it was fun to resurrect these old bottles and play a bit. I have already posted in the swap "thread" three times. THAT is the fun of ATC swaps on ATCsForAll.com. Once you join a swap, you have a chance to chat about the topic for weeks before the cards are due.
Acrylic Ink Cats
Acrylic Ink Cats
NFT
This is my first attempt at drawing with a dip pen, using acrylic ink, on Yupo.
I used the large glass pen first. Note the heavier lines, with variations in thickness. Depending on how you hold the pen, you may end up with a large blob of ink when you first touch the paper!
I used a traditional brass-tipped dip pen for the little footprints.
Acrylic Ink Character
Acrylic Ink Character
The second card was easier to manage.
This time I just doodled a little character on cold press watercolor paper. The light green lines were made with the glass dip pen. The next day, I added the darker green lines, using the brass-tipped traditional pen.
I was surprised that the ink went on so smoothly, consideringk the texture of this cold-press paper.
Acrylic Ink Stylized Bat
Acrylic Ink Stylized Bat
For my fourth attempt, I tried experimenting with the fact that the first touch to paper is often a large blot. Twisting the pen as you move it can result in thick-thin variations, seen in several of the marks on this ATC.
Since the ink does not absorb into the paper immediately, there is time to "refine" lines.
THIS is a style of drawing I will be exploring further. It is very fun... as long as you are not too invested in a specific outcome!
May 16-17
May 16-17
I am continuing to experiment with acrylic ink.
Crazy Frame Cat
Crazy Frame Cat
I posted my first experiment to the ATCsForAll.com thread, and one of the participants suggested blowing the ink drops with a straw. It was fun... but totally uncontrollable on Yupo!
Acrylic Ink Daffodils
Acrylic Ink Daffodils
I watched several tutorials about using acrylic ink, but, unfortunately, most were what I would call "crafty." I did use several crafty techniques on this one.
Acrylic Ink Lily
Acrylic Ink Lily
More experimenting with "crafty techniques." Old acryic ink can start to dry out in an iteresting way. My white ink has the texture of little bits of "sugar" suspended in milk.
SWAPPED
Flower Mixed Media
Flower Mixed Media
Still more experimenting: I used a very fine brush. I had a really interesting flower going.... then I ruined it. So I tried again. Parts were good. Parts were not. So I joined the two pieces into a single ATC that I find.... tolerable...
Coloring Card: Butterfly
Coloring Card: Butterfly
I drew this digital coloring card for a special event at the Art Lab.
This is the "base card."
Colláge 501 Butterfly
Colláge 501 Butterfly
I make a quickie colláge from the digital coloring card, using a big of Yupo, alcohol markers, a hole punch, and some acrylic medium.
May 20
May 20
I returned to the Topeka Art Guild, after more than two years. I used to be very active. I redesigned the web page, wrote the newsletter, made brochures for First Friday events, and taught various classes. But I was frequently irritated about the way the group was managed. So I quit.
I missed making art with ADULT S! So I joined up again, and we shall see how it goes. Some "TAG" members meet on Thursday afternoons, so I joined in and drew three ATCs while chatting away with old and new friends.
Meditation Circle 260520
Meditation Circle 260520
Prismacolor Pencil on Legion Stonehenge Black watercolor paper.
Meditation Circles are one of my "signature" cards, so this could be considered part of an ongoing series.
Meditation Circle 260520b
Meditation Circle 260520b
This is the first meditation circle I have made with a color scheme that includes blues, purples, pinks, and white.
Prismacolor Sunflower
Prismacolor Sunflower
Simple.
Prismacolor o n Legion Stonehenge Black.
Have You Heard of Artist Trading Cards?
Have You Heard of Artist Trading Cards?
By LuAnn Pepperwood
This canvas is not for sale. It is a “conceptual art project.”
The first set of Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) was created by M. Vänci Stirnemann. He called it a “Collaborative Cultural Performance.”
That first event happened in 1997. Stirnemann made and traded 1200 cards. People all over the world have been making and trading cards ever since.
It’s a lot of FUN!
It’s also a great way to learn to use new art media.
AND….
Making ATCs with other artists is another benefit of being a member of the Topeka Art Guild. Thursday is “Open Studio” day, from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Experienced ATC Artist LuAnn Pepperwood is often present, and she is happy to share materials. So if you would like to make a few ATCs, please join us some time!
The canvas shown above, I hope, will be on display at the Topeka Art Guild through the month of June. I hope to add another image of this piece, on the "TAG" walls. But I do not know if it will be accepted. "TAG" and I have very different opinions about what ART means. I was a member from 2019 to 2023. I was the webmaster for about a year. I went to board meetings. I hosted workshops. I was... active.
But the focus has always been on SELLING art. I wanted to make use SOME of the space as a place for people to come in and MAKE art. Eventually, I got fed up and quit.
Last week I popped into the new location, made some art with friends, and decided to join again. The three cards drawn on May 20 were drawn during the Thursday Open Studio event. I have friends that meet each week during this event, and I missed seeing them. It was fun. We talked about art. We made art. It will cost me about a dollar a week if I go every week. I have vowed to not get involved any further. I will be a Thursday participant.
"LEGO FOUR"
"LEGO FOUR"
May 28: My second time at the new Open Studio event. I did quick sketches of some LEGO figures. Lighting wasn't good. I am sure I did not get those tiny eyes drawn correctly.
LEGO Turtle 1
LEGO Turtle 1
I was in a hurry, and could not find the bag of Pigma Micron pens I had planned on bringing to the Open Studio. So I grabbed my bag of Prismacolor pencils... again....
LEGO Turtle 2
LEGO Turtle 2
After the first semi-successful attempt at drawing the LEGO turtle, I discovered a single Pigma Micron pen in the bag. So I tried the turtle again.
LEGO Monkey
LEGO Monkey
The monkey ended up much closer to true ATC size.
LEGO Chameleon
LEGO Chameleon
The chameleon really NEEDS color....
LEGO Squirrel
LEGO Squirrel
And the squirrel was really quick and not scaled correctly.
A Few Words About Drawing with Pens
A Few Words About Drawing with Pens
I love drawing with pens. My favorites are Pigma Microns and Copic Multiliners. I have seen beautiful works of art made with these materials.
But I am an ATC artist. I work small. I often do not have a pencil handy, so, unlike many artists who work with pen, I do not usually sketch the proportions with pencil and then add ink. So the proportions and "pose" of the squirrel in the ATC above are totally wrong. It's still a cute little piece. But it could be much, much better. I had planned on doing a little series, comparing the results of drawing different ways... but I ran out of time. It is now June....
FORWARD TO JUNE >>>
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