These cards were for an ATC swap I did over the summer... we had to use a real stamp on them; ones that had to do with the ocean or sea.
Click to biggify ~
I was first introduced to the art of ATC's {Artist Trading Cards} way back in 2006. I loved the concept of these mini works of art (always 2.5 x 3.5 inches) and quickly became enamored of them.
I soon introduced them to an online group of fellow scrapbookers, and the die was cast!
I hostessed MANY swaps and had a blast doing it. It was so wonderful to receive cards from all over the world, and to introduce the art form to others.
I continued to host ATC swaps through the fall of 2011, but due to unfortunate circumstances, I became burned out on the swaps, and let them go.
I did, however, stay in touch with some of my swappers; one in particular.
{Hiya, Tex!!!}
She had been doing swaps ever since, and it has been she who, very gently, has led me back to these tiny joys.
Below are the cards I made for my return to the world of ATCs. Tex's theme was "Artist's Choice", which meant we could do whatever the heck we wanted to with our cards!
I chose to use G45's "Artisan Style" papers to get me going... they are SO delectable!
The card below is based on one of favorite techniques ~ using the alternating strips as a background, with simple embellies on it...
As always, click to biggify.
...was a great success! We had six people, which is a nice, manageable number... And they all did great!!!
From L to R and top to bottom...
The jewelry designer
The scrapper
Our 20-something gentleman
#s 4 & 5 ~ these ladies really got into it!
The jewelry designer's daughter ~
Click to enlarge ~
About our young man ~ he was trying so hard to be so very exact and precise, but was WAY over-thinking things!!! So I did the only thing I could ~ I took his scissors away from him; told him to get OUT of his head, and to go with his heart/creative soul ~
And bless his heart ~ he GOT it!!! He really got it!!
All said they had a great time, and wanted to explore further ~ so I consider the evening a great success!!
Steampunk Theme ~ double click to enlarge...
FreeStyle Theme ~ double click to enlarge...
TFL!
"Sweets to the Sweet" ~ (double click to see larger)
"Food" ~
Thanks for looking ~ leave me some love!!!
As part of my latest swap, one of my swappers sent me a little card kit as a hostess gift...
this is the card I made from it ~
The "love" is silver IRL, as is the heart in the lower R corner ~ dbl. click to enlarge ~
In ATC~land! My last SARK swap is (mostly) over & done with ~ here are my cards...
One of the themes was "Technology" ~ I wasn't too sure how I would do on this one, but thanks to my good buddy Leo da Vinci, I think I did pretty well ~ (he was my jumping off point) Double click images to enlarge ~
A friend sent me a bunch of the little circuit board bits (thanks, Pondie!) I don't know if you can tell, but the Enterprise image is popped up w/ PopDots ~ and there are lots of Stickles ~
The husband helped by finding me a great link with tons of cool techie drawings ~
For the "How do you Do-odle?" theme ~ I had MUCH FUN with this!! Shaving cream backgrounds; foil/alcohol ink backgrounds ~ and tons of doodles! #3 (the little girl) is something I used to draw all the time in school (tho never in such detail!) ~ a friend said there is enough detail in it to provide a lifetime of therapy!!! 'Shup, you!!!
And my SARK Swap gang came thru with flying colors this round ~ their creations are ALL so wonderful, and show such a GREAT variety of imaginations!!! I'm so happy I've gotten all of you so 'addicted' to this art form!!
{YEATCQ} ;-)
These are the ATC's I made for the swap I'm hosting... They are personalized for each recipient. Click to see close-up...
We were wandering through our local Lowe's today, and went by their window coverings area... They have sample cards for different types of woven blinds (mostly 2 samples to a card); $.50 per card. The sample are just the right size for ATCs!! (I will probably cut each sample in half)
They are held on to the card with some hella glue, but with some UnDo and patience, you can get all that off.
I'll post some pix here tomorrow ~
