One Inch Button Alphabet in Sepia

Get out that 1 inch circle shaped paper punch! This Antique Button Alphabet is a Plush Possum Studio (or PPS™) exclusive.

I've been a collector of buttons of all sorts since my mother was first teaching me to sew. This later grew into my collecting antique needlework notions in adulthood, too. In other words (and in case you had never noticed lolz) - I am a lover of fasteners, buttons in particular.

This is a Plush Possum (or PPS™) Exclusive. Please respect my copyrights by following the red letter Guidelines listed at the foot of this post. Thank you!

I began by making 2 color coordinated Antique Button Alphabets for my Rainy Day Spring Book Arts Set, HERE. 

That was last month's biggest project. I'm going to take it easy this week by playing with changing a few colors instead of being ambitious. The first result is this one. I have to say, I think that it might do well for antique style designs using old photos, etc. - or perhaps even for Steampunk themed artistry.

This pretty, clear color way sort of reminds me of a nice, soothing cup of tea, too, or perhaps of a "clearie" antique toy gaming marble (but without any bubbles from being handblown). 

I'd love to see what some of my guests are making using the supplies I've been offering. Please let me know if you'd like to share something here. I'll be more than happy to feature any work in a new post along with any links you may provide to where you blog, etc. and then post about it at G+ for us both.

There are soon to be more color ways and even patterns using this button design, so please do keep watching for the next designs. I am playing and having more fun than a barrel full of monkeys using this button idea!
:)

Happy Creativity!

PPS™Antique button Alphabet: Sepia

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

Use my Button Alphabet

in artwork that may be either

given or traded (as in

ATCs, etc.).

You are not free to:

ever sell anything made using

any of these letters

even if you alter them first.

(You may alter them otherwise, just not for sale)

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

#ATCAD 2017 ATC Freebies Week Day 5

Today's Set has 2 downloads, one for just the ATC backgrounds (set of 6) the other for the matching 2 Envelope Set with Accessories.

My design inspiration this time is Antique textiles (fabrics). The one is red damask (a jacquard woven-in patterned fabric in all one color), while the second is a quiet and neutral toned embroidered net lace.

Please observe all copyrights by following the red letter Guidelines located at the foot of this post, just below Digital Brush Credits. Thank you.

As before, both Envelopes are accompanied by custom made button fasteners and labels. It was fun for me to design this set to be half bold and half quiet in color. The matching ATC Backgrounds are ready to be embellished however you choose.

All buttons for this week's collection are 1 inch in diameter. I recommend that card stock be your paper of choice for both downloads.

Happy Artist Trading Card Creativity!

PPS™ATC Accessories Set

Antique Textiles

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

PPS™ATC  Sixpack: Antique Textiles

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Digital Brush Credits:

www.obsidiandawn.com

expactacularmix

at www.brusheezy.com

You are free to: 

make art that is to be either 

given freely and/or traded.

Please Credit my work along with 

that of both Digital Brush artists.

You are not free to:

Ever sell anything in this post

for any reason,

even if it is altered first.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Springtime ATC Freebie Week Day 3

Today's Set is comprised of 2 separate downloads.

As resident artist here (so to speak), this has really been a fun challenge for me, sort of an assignment I have given to myself. I'd like to recommend using card stock if you choose to print them. I love comments and would enjoy knowing what my visitors think of this set.

Please respect all copyrights here, my own and others' included, by following the red letter Guidelines located at the foot of this post. Thank you.

This time around, I am taking inspiration from old or antique books. I have been an avid collector of such items for years. The hand marbled end papers of some older books fascinate me. Each one is unique and yet reflects the same basic idea. Some of my more fun projects have been based on old marbled end papers. So much fun!

The first of the 2 downloads displayed below is a current favorite. Offered in both vividly colorful swirls and in quiet, subdued neutral tones, the ATC Pocket set comes with matching smaller accessories. I hope you'll have fun using both kinds.

The second of the 2 downloads is the matching ATC Background card set of 3 each of both styles to match the envelopes and accessories. Please notice the Digital Brush Credits located between the second Display image and my red letter Guidelines. Thanks again!

To see the entire PPS ATC collection, guests may follow this link HERE.

Happy Artist Trading Card Creativity!

PPS™ATC Sixpack: Antique Book Ephemera

Accessory Set

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

PPS™ATC Sixpack: Antique Book Ephemera

ATCs

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Digital Brush Credits:

www.obsidiandawn.com

You are free to:

Make and trade freely art using 

the items that are included in this post.

You are not free to:

Ever sell anything being offered by me here

even if you alter my designs.

Thank you for honoring 

Obsidian Dawn's copyrights

as well as my own by never selling

our work unless otherwise specified.

And

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

ATC Background Freebies: Marvelous Marble No. 1

I take my inspiration from antique hand marbled paper for my new ATC sets. 

Below is the first set, done all in bronze, ochre, taupe and coffee brown. Others will soon appear here, but in different color ways and slightly different in design.

ATCs or Artist Trading Cards have a unique history worldwide. They arose as a form of exchange at the instigation of Swiss artist, 
M. Vänçi Stirnemann. This was in 1997. The artist called it a "Collaborative Cultural Performance."

For more on the unique and fascinating history of Artist Trading Cards, you may follow the link HERE.

For many, it is an enjoyable hobby, as nobody sells anything and all is freely traded, tiny artwork for tiny artwork. I've traded ATCs myself on and off over the years, and found it a fascinating way to see the work of my fellow artisans. Fun!
:)

Below is a unique set of 6 slightly varying ATC backgrounds. they aren't intended to be traded as they are, but rather built upon using various media. Have fun, but please remember the ATC heritage of trading without selling. These are free. Let's keep them that way. Thank you.

Happy Creative trading!

PPSATC™ Six Pack: marvelous Marble No. 1

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Digital Brush Credits:

Mask by hillaMS at www.brusheezy.com

Victoria's Autumn Sunday Best

Her style has become more grownup as she has gained a little more maturity, hasn't it?
:)

Today's outfit is to be worn mainly for church services but also for special occasions. Victoria's grandmother has had this pretty fall dress tailor made for her granddaughter. To complete this new ensemble, Grandmother Lacey has ordered a very fashionable and grownup style of hat. This gift of new clothes has been presented to Victoria on a Saturday, so that she might wear it the very next day.

Please respect my copyrights by following the red letter Guidelines at the foot of this post. Thank you.

Now back at home following a few weeks at her very first tutoring position, Victoria's mind is turning towards her home life once again. She won't have to attend classes until after the turn of the new year. Despite this, she will practice her conversational French daily with her Grandmother as her teacher and also continue her reading schedule.

Soon, she will be able once again to enjoy the company of her cousin, Mercy, who (unbeknownst to Victoria) has a few surprises waiting for her. The two are due to have what we might call a "sleepover" or a "slumber party," just the two of them, as best friends often like to. But there has also been proposed a small tea party of a quieter sort. To this Mercy plans to invite only a few guests, mainly family members and a few very close friends. But we'll save that for another day.

Happy Autumn Playtime!

PPSPlaytime™: Victoria's Autumn 

Sunday Best

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

play with or share or trade

this paper  doll outfit.

You are not free to:

ever sell it in any form 

and for any reason.

Thank you 

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Antique Bicycling Graphic

Ouch!

Hasn't everyone who's ever gone riding had at least one bad spill?
I can recall one fairly bad one for me, years ago, involving a patch of gravel and a sore arm afterward.

I might have found "Elliman's Universal Embrocation" of use as a product, although I sincerely doubt it.
:)

Offered in both black and white and sepia looks, this one is in the Public Domain. I really had to do very little to it, just a little clean-up work. I am keeping it simple for a while around the Studio.

Guests who enjoy paper dolls can also find a paper doll cycling outfit of the same era by following this link HERE.

Thanks for stopping by with your ~
Happy Coloring Creativity!

PPSColorMe™Bicycling Injury

Download Black and White version HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Sepia Toned version HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Public Domain.

Please credit me with a link

to this page.

Thank you

for helping me to 

keep free things free!

Antique Coffee Botanical Graphic

Coffee, anyone...?

Still really overloaded with things to take care of in my private life. Sorry I haven't been around here much lately.

Public Domain:
This one has had to be updated by me a fair amount, so please credit me for it if you use it in art that is to be published online whether for sale or for leisure. Thanks!

Happy coffee time creativity!

PPS™ Antique Coffee Botanical Graphic

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Victorian Man's Thinking Cap

An appliqué pattern to make for a gentleman.

This item is a bit of a curiosity. We see illustrations and photos of gents wearing their smoking jackets and caps, almost as if such garb had a kind of uniform appeal. Oddly enough, such caps were sometimes also called, "Thinking caps." I think most Americans can relate to being asked to put on our imaginary "thinking caps" as children, can't we? I doubt that any one of us thought of a tassel or rich embroidery at the time, however!
:)

Often, these items of apparel were decorated in great detail, using embroidery on velvet or wool, with appliqué or couched cording or braid. Sometimes, even bead embroidery was used, although this technique was generally reserved for ladies' apparel. The addition of a tassel was according to taste, of course, yet was often considered a must in fashion for gentlemen.

A man's smoking jacket was not the same robe as his dressing gown. These two totally separate species of apparel we tend to smile over nowadays. Nobody really tends to take them very seriously anymore. 

That is, except for a number of historic reenactment hobbyists and professionals. It is for these people I have posted this straightened and somewhat refreshed pattern. After all, I once was one of them!

The sizing for such things can be a bit tricky. As a former costumer and hat designer, I highly recommend making at least one good brown paper mockup or model. I used to use clear tape, pins and pencils with a measuring tape in order to tailor most hats to fit. Nowadays, of course, we have the additional luxury of advanced copy machine technology, image enhancement software such as Photoshop or Gimp, etc., as well as incredibly complex sewing and embroidery machines that can synch up with our computers. In other words, the rest is up to the tools and the imaginations of the ones willing to take on such a project.

Thank you for stopping by with your
Costuming Creativity!

PPS™ Victorian Gentleman's Embroidered Cap

Download HERE

Display version

(lower resolution than the download)

In the Public Domain.

Thank you

for helping me to 

keep free things free!

An 18th Century Coloring Page

A lady stays at home with her little bird.

In this quiet scene, a fairly affluent home is depicted, one refined in taste enough  for some fine furnishings. A lady sits alone with her bird. There is sun in the window, and we can almost make out the landscape painting that hangs on her wall.

She sits in her parlor, dressed rather informally for a quiet time alone. She is wearing a wrap of some sort over what appears to be a set of stays and a long skirt of some sort. It is hard to tell exactly how she is dressed here, but it hardly matters.

She is holding a very special and costly item on her lap, a music box of some sort. This lovely object is being used like a prompt in order to teach her little caged bird a tune to sing.

Despite a few quality issues, I've decided to offer this image for free and to keep it in the Public Domain. It seems to me that such an image might be hand tinted using watercolors. That is, once it's been adhered securely enough to watercolor paper first. Alternatively, colored pencils might be just the thing--or maybe pan pastels. Crayons of any sort might work nicely as well.

Happy Coloring Creativity!

PPSColorMe™: A French Lady 

Teaches Her Bird a Tune

Download Black and White version HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Sepia version HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

These 2 versions

of the same illustration

are free and in the Public Domain.

Enjoy!

:)

Teatime for Two

Two friends share their news over two cups of tea.

Beyond these two ladies in their fashionable hats, many others are enjoying teatime in that lovely outdoor space. Within this 1890's style old illustration is a story of some sort. It may have originated with a magazine, or been within the pages of a book written for women readers. I have included my customary 2 color choices of sepia toned and black and white.

There is a uniformed man wearing a monocle seated at the table just behind our two ladies. I find him a little bit comical, don't you?
:)

The two close friends obviously are discussing something received by the one in writing. They are both very engaged in what they are doing, aren't they? The sun shines down through the branches of the trees surrounding the tables. What a lovely place for taking tea with a good friend! Perhaps these two are creating a little memory together in that pleasant place to recall again someday.

This coloring page does have 1/4 inch margins, so please make certain the settings on your printer will allow for a complete picture.

Happy coloring time creativity!

PPSColorMe™ Two Close Friends Having Tea

Download Black andWhite version HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Black andWhite version HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

This particular item

is both free and in the Public Domain.

Enjoy!

Her First Ice Skates

Skating in the fresh air for the very first time!

Isn't this a fun and pretty old picture?  Everybody seems to be having such a very good time. The cold weather seems to be a joy, and not a problem, for them.

When I was a little girl, I used to enjoy skating, too. In our town, there was a lake where it was safe to skate during cold enough weather, as well as a man made rink. My first skates were white. I had to save up for them, and was so very excited when I finally could wear them on the ice!

This picture is shown in two ways, original tone or sepia. Both have separate downloads below. Please read all red letter Guidelines here at this blog. Thank you. That having been said, this particular image happens to be in the Public Domain, meaning that anyone may use it for any reason. It's been reformatted and resized for a better print, and also cleaned up a little bit, by me.

This illustration from an antique magazine could likely also be colored in. My suggestion would be for clear color of some sort, or for soft treatment. Perhaps colored pencils or pan pastels might look really nice. However, ink will run if exposed to moisture, so unless your home printer or copy center offers ink which is not water soluble, I think that dry media would work better.

Happy Wintertime Creativity!

PPS™ Her First Ice Skates

Download Original Look HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Sepia Toned Look HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

use these ice skating images

however you may choose.

These particular images

are in

the Public Domain.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Hot Cocoa Cups for Coloring & Crafting

Hot Chocolate, Anyone?

Aren't these lovely old cups pretty? I like this graphic set of cups very much. It has been changed significantly to make it print ready. It really needed a fair amount of cleaning up. Please see the red letter Guidelines at the bottom of this post. Thank you.

I've added a second color choice for those who like brown tones. This might make a fun coloring project with clear colors or pencils.

Happy Colder Weather Creativity!

PPSColorMe™Hot Cocoa Cups

Download Black andWhite version HERE

Display

(lower quality than the download)

Download Cocoa Brown version HERE

Display

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

use either or both of

the above cocoa cup graphics

in art for either fun or for profit.

You are not free to:

ever sell these as they are here

either singly or in sets.

Thank you for helping me to 

keep free things free!

Art Journal Cover for Book Artists

A remade cover done in 6 color choices.

This was found quite a while ago. I loved this old book cover, yet it clearly was not quite yet ready to be fully versatile for most creatives. The upshot of my adding several changes to it is as you see here. They are simply crying out to be embellished and altered, wouldn't you agree?

Please respect the time and effort which had to go into this project by playing fair with all artists, myself included. Please see the red letter Guidelines at the bottom of this post. Thank you.

Along with the Original look there are 5 more colors to be chosen from: Red, Purple, Blue, Teal, and Olive Drab (or brown). There are half inch margins for all 6.

Happy Journal and Book Art Creativity!

PPS™Book arts Art Journal Cover

Download Original HERE

Display version 

(lower quality than the download)

Download Red HERE

Display version 

(lower quality than the download)

Download Purple HERE

Display version 

(lower quality than the download)

Download Blue HERE

Display version 

(lower quality than the download)

Download Teal HERE

Display version 

(lower quality than the download)

Download Olive Drab (brown) HERE

Display version 

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

use any one of the above book cover images

in art

for fun or for profit.

Yu are not free to:

ever sell them as they are here.

Thank you 

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Free Victorian Sleigh Ride Graphics

"Dashing through the snow in a one two horse open sleigh!"

What a fun graphic this turned out to be for me! It is all about the month of January's deep freeze, and of driving through snowy conditions without the use of wheels.

I've chosen to offer this renewed image in two colors and in two styles. The one style includes words in the old fashioned Victorian frame, lower right. For the second one, I removed the words. I like both, so both are included.

This could be tinted using transparent color of some sort. It might make a fun embellishment for an art journal or a scrapbook, mightn't it?

Happy Wintertime Creativity!

PPS™Sleigh Ride Graphic

Download Black & White Style 1 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Sepia Style 1 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Black & White Style 2 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Sepia Style 2 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

use any or all 

of the 4 images in this post

in art or craft projects

for either fun or for profit.

They are in the Public Domain.

Thank you

for helping me to 

keep free things free!

Full Steam Ahead for the New Year!!!

Steampunk Greetings to color or to give

This newest addition to the Steampunk Category is a fun one, I think. This picture makes me yearn to be able to ride the rails behind a steam engine once again. I do love all different sorts of trains, but steam powered ones are my reigning favorites.

Displayed below are 4 different versions of this fun steam powered graphic. Two have the greeting (black and white or sepia), while the other two are plain (both colors again).

For all of the Studio's fun Steampunk Party gear, please follow the link HERE. Just skip down a few posts once you arrive there to begin to find the Steam items in the collection (masks, a game board, invitations, etc. Please follow all red letter Guidelines for each. Thanks!).

Happy Steampunk New Year, everybody!

PPSColorMe™Full Steam Ahead!

Download Plain Black & White version HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Plain Sepia version HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Black & White Greetings version HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Sepia Greetings version HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

Play with the above images

to your heart's content.

This one is free and

in the Public Domain.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Happy New Year!

Coloring Page: a Lady on Horseback!

Color Me an Autumn Ride!

I loved to color when I was a child. It's still an enjoyable pastime for me and many others of all ages. Please see the red letter Guidelines below. Thank you.

I've had to re-make the horse's belly for this one, along with the girth strap there, as the original had been drawn to be either incomplete, or else was simply badly rendered. This required me to remember the anatomy of horses in general. While I am not entirely satisfied with it, I think that it's now somewhat better than it was before I began to fix its looks.

In fact, it would be more fit to actually be riding! You see, the girth strap is the main force which keeps the saddle in place. The way that it had been first done, however, there was a wickedly big gap between the horse's "barrel" (or rib area), and the strap! This meant that the lady perched atop the horse's back, in all her finery, would probably have very quickly landed in that brook she's jumping her horse over!

Now that both look much safer performing their exciting leap over the water, I feel at last a bit better about the safety of both horse and rider.

I am prepared to offer two color ways for this one: Black & White and Sepia. I will post the Sepia one here first.

Happy Horseback Ride!

PPSColorMe™ Page:

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the Download)

Download Black and White version HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the Download)

You are free to:

Either color or make works of art

using this image.

It has been altered by me for those purposes.

You are not free to:

Sell this image, as is.

Thank you for helping me to

keep free things free!