Work In Progress: Beaded Aligators ACEO

Summer Buddies by alwaysartistic

I started out by taping the edges of my Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper down on all 4 sides to my plastic utility table. I then used scraps of paper and watercolor paints to stamp the back ground in various places. And I let it sit until it was completely dry, and then removed the tape and cut to ACEO size - 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches.

Next I cut 2 slits in the background to start my 1st alligator. I tied a few knots at the back to make sure it doesn't come undone, and started beading.

I added the legs, I fastened down 1 top leg and 1 bottom leg leaving the other 2 alone.

Then I started the next one.

Added the eyes and continued...

Here they are finished.

A close up!

More images that will be included when I list it.

Here I tried it in one of my plastic ACEO frames without the glass.

Work In Progress: Jet ACEO

It has been quite a while since I did an iris folding ACEO. So today I decided to print off some patterns. So far I have only done 1, I started with a Jet. Some patterns you have to shrink a bit if you are making a ACEO, as they are more the size for cards.

First I chose my papers, then with my exacto knife I cut the pattern out. And taped the patten down to the table, my table is a hard plastic utility table so the tape is really easy to get off. Do not tape to a good kitchen table.



Next I cut out triangle corners from hard card stock and taped them and the pattern down where I wanted them.



Then I started following the pattern using my 4 colors, light brown, darker green brown, dark green and orange.



I kept going until every piece of the pattern was done.



Here is the finished back. I use scotch double sided tape, it is sometimes hard to find but I find it works nicely.



Here is the finished front before I cut it down to ACEO size.



After cutting it down I added more tape around the sides and areas that were not taped to make it a bit more even. Then I added glue, I used API's Crafter's Pick Memory Mount. I then wiped off the excess glue and stuck it under a pile of pop can boxes.



This is the finished ACEO. I noticed that some glue leaked out right in the center and tried to gently take it off, but you can still see it unfortunately. But oh well it was fun to make!



Here it is having some pressure on 3 parts that were thicker, making sure it doesn't come apart!

You can visit my blog here and my Etsy shop here.

Work In Progress: Flowers ACEO

Well this is one of my first attempts at a work in progress! lol I hope to do a few more work in progress posts in the future that will be better than this. My pictures are horrible because the lighting in my room is horrible. I will have to keep that in mind for next time, maybe bring it somewhere else for the pictures.

I started with a 140 lb Strathmore cold press watercolor paper. Cut a bit bigger than needed.

I then added some peach and black watercolor mixed with water and dabbed it off with a kleenex.

Then some red and dabbed off and some black and dabbed off.

Added some green, used a small cotton like pad to dab it off.

And some more red, used a small cotton like pad to dab it off.

Then I added some simple flower parts, I didn't add water to this paint so that it would show up a bit darker.

Then I cut it to ACEO size. 3.5 x 2.5 inches. And I had a watercolor ACEO set aside that I had splattered paint on all over, I used my flower face punch to make the flowers. And used brads with silver to attach the flowers. I used my exacto knife to cut a small slit in the flowers and then also on the ACEO.

This is the back, notice the mess, I was having fun and didn't notice the back. See how the brads get attached.

Here is the final ACEO, the colors are not exact. I have entered this one in the June 2010 "7 Card Draw" prize pool on Etsy. If you haven't heard of the "7 Card Draw" yet, you can visit this months thread here. The listing for the ACEO is here.

You can visit my blog here and my Etsy shop here.