Time At Artful Times. . . . . . And What I'm Known For At SSSS

The challenge at Artful Times is to make an ATC using the theme of 'Time'. I thought of the usual clocks, gears etc. but I wanted to convey the idea that time changes us all in many ways. Every time I look in the mirror I wonder who that is staring back at me!! Strange how you feel very little difference on the inside but the ravages of time are visible for all to see on the outside! I've decided that birthdays no longer count and I've chosen the age I want to be and I intend to stay that age for the foreseeable future!

My ATC shows a stamped image of a rather glorious man in his prime who would have been right up my street a few years ago (well, many actually!). I have placed him on an aged, rusty metal background to show two polar effects of age: young, youthful and virile versus worn, aged but perhaps still functioning - hope that makes sense to you. ( I fall into the latter group just in case you wondered!).

I also wanted to enter the challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show but I've had to soul search in order to try to work out 'what I'm known for' to fit their latest theme. I still don't have the answer but I love to stamp, I love using paint to create backgrounds and I'm a stickler for attention to detail. Does this come out in my ATC? I'm not sure but I hope so. I'm really enjoying using the rusty look with my colour and stamping. . . . . . .for the moment at least! Here's what I made:

For the stamped image, I made a background onto painted chip board using dylusion sprays and some cog stamping using plum archival. The rather dishy chap was stamped in jet black archival. The text was printed out on a label maker and a little distress ink toned down the stark white of the tape.

Four eyelets were added to the piece and some rusty wire was curled into spring shapes and attached.

The background was created with a mask, some texture paste, various acrylic colours and a graphite stick. The 'metal' is aging but still looks as if it could work; the young man in comparison, looks in prime condition.

The paste was randomly spread in some areas and more precise in others.

Hope you like this piece. I am back visiting as many of you as I can and thank you so much for all the kind wishes with regards to my health. Summer (even our British version!) can't come soon enough for me!
Take care in the snow, slush and ice.