The Altered Playing Card Challenge, week 2

I've had these altered playing cards made for the 2nd week of the APC Challenge at Claudine's Art Corner finished since Monday, but didn't have a chance to show them until now.  I usually like to get my challenges out of the way as soon as possible, but this has been a very, very busy week.

Now I realize that Claudine said we don't have to use the same products she uses, or even the same dies.  Unfortunately, I don't have anything the same as she used.   But I tried to make a couple of similar cards, though.  For my first card, I used two acrylic craft paints that I slathered onto the card.  I achieved lots of texture, which I was hoping for.  I allowed this card to dry while I worked on the next card.

For the second card, I borrowed Claudine's idea and dug out a mask and stencil sent to me by my friend Voodoo Vixen. You can see I've already put both parts to good use before.  I also took out two of my handmade shimmering mists for the background and the butterfly.

I laid down the stencil part of the butterfly and spritzed the handmade shimmering mist just like you would any stencil.  Since the stencil was made from craft foam, I had no way to stamp the butterfly as Claudine had.

I should probably have waited for the butterfly to dry a bit before I removed the stencil.  Live and learn, and these challenges are definitely all about that.  At least you can see a bit of the shimmer I achieve with these mists.

Once the mist was dry, I adhered the mask 

and spritzed around the butterfly.  It was time to allow Card 2 to dry

and return to the now dry Card 1.  I used my crow stamp that I had created a mask for several years ago.

Whew!  My stamping abilities aren't the best, so I was tickled when I could actually make out the crow image.

I was thrilled I had saved the crow mask, because I needed it for my Nupastel branch I tried to create so the bird would have something to stand on.

Since I was looking for a bit of continuity, and since Card 2 was dry to the touch, I used the same pastel to outline the butterfly.  BTW, this is the first time I've used these pastels, and it's fairly obvious I need a lesson or two in smoothing them out.

Now it was time to add words to these cards, although I thought they looked a bit plain.

For my first two altered playing cards, I give you "Spread your wings"

and "Fly."

Although they still look a bit plain, I'm really happy with the way they turned out, as well as my color choices for this week.  Since I'm not a member of Facebook, this is the only place you will see these cards.  Thanks for looking and I hope they make you as happy as they do me.  And just think: 2 down and only 50 more to go!