Summer Blooms ATC

This ATC was part of my entry for a summer challenge in the Trimcraft forum, some years ago, and the theme was 'Hot Pink'. Mine was inspired by a photo I'd taken of a lovely foxglove in my garden.

Stampin' Up for a friend

This card was for a friend who was just starting up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, after being made redundant from her job. I attended her first workshop, and to wish her well in her new venture, I made her a card. As you would.

It uses BG Euphoria DP, Cuttlebugged with the Diamonds embossing folder and sanded, with stripey BG Euphoria paper on the panel, stamped with an Inkadinkado flourish in Dark Brown Chalk Eyes ink. Used a Fiskars Threading Water border punch for the scalloped holey bit, some cream crocheted lace, chipboard letters and computer-generated letters and sentiment, with a metal embellishment 'Go for it!'.. Prima flower, glittered handmade arrow, BG button, cotton twine + rosebuds and gems.

Basic Grey ATC

This ATC was made for the second Basic Grey challenge (now defunct, very sadly).

What is an ATC?

ATC stands for Artist's Trading Card. Originally, these were used by fine artists to produce miniature versions of their paintings to promote their work. This still happens, but their use has been expanded to cardcraft. Cardmakers use them as another avenue for their creativity, and ~ rather than selling them ~ the idea is to swap them with other enthusiasts to build a library of ATCs displaying different techniques.

Most people who produced (still produce?) ATCs swapped them through clubs, at craft events and internet forums. Personally, I found it hard to part with them. My focus has always been on card-making, but I did enjoy the few ATCs I made. They all ended up as card toppers or fridge magnets, though!

The size of an ATC is 2½ x 3½ ins (or a standard playing card size). You can purchase blanks, or make your own. (Make up a template, and use it as the ‘master’ to save you measuring out every time.)

On the back, put your name, address and/or email address, and the title of your miniature piece of art, or a reference code. If you are going to use your ATCs for swapping, it might be helpful to keep notes on how you made each one, so that if anyone contacts you for details, you will have them handy.

Any kind of artwork goes.. have fun and be expressive!

Here is my ATC for that challenge...

I used beautiful blue paper from the Basic Grey Cupcake 6"x6" pad. The main image is a cropped section of a stamped image I received in a swap. To echo the butterfly in the image, I stamped another one separately, and mounted it on the ATC, wings akimbo. The button is also BG. from the Archaic range. The 'Hope' sentiment is actually a metal embellishment for extra dimension, although that's not clear in the photo. The scroll stamp used in the corner is by Rhonna Farrer from her 'Elegant Flourishes' set in the Autumn Leaves collection.

For my Scottish pals....

No matter how I try, I cannot get past my love for feathered mulberry. It just bubbles to the surface every now and then, and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is.

And yes, I know it should be a heilan' coo, but Penny Black don't make them, and as this was for a  Penny Black Saturday Challenge on a farmyard theme, I had to make do. (sigh)

Message on the inside reads: ".. to see what's moo with you?" (I know... grrrooaannn!)

England Blings

This is an ATC made some years ago for a challenge on the Trimcraft forum to 'bling it up', so I did. It is a take-off of Roger Miller's title lyrics in his 1965 hit 'England Swings (Like A Pendulum Do)'. I produced the wavy Union flag and the England flag, the letters were stamped individually and heat embossed, blue glitter glue in the triangles, silver glitter glue around the outside edge of the flag, little puffed fabric stars finish it off (and it needs finishing off.. I think this is awful!)

By the way, there are no political inferences to be drawn here, as this was made well before any of the current turmoil in the UK was even dreamt of.

Roses Roses

This was made for a colleague's 50th birthday, using Nestabilities label dies, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, K & Co Madeline frame and butterfly die-cuts, PSX roses stamp, plus embellishments.

And this is a baby, ATC-size version...

Dandelion Clock ATC

This was my first attempt at an ATC, from when I was on the Funky Hand DT. The design on the paper reminded me of dandelion clocks (an image from childhood that I've always loved), and the addition of the stopwatch stamp seemed a natural fit. (The watch stamp was a freebie with a magazine.. Craft Stamper, I think. Long time ago.)

I didn't have a Dymo labelling machine, so the letters are computer-generated and glossied up with Glossy Accents. A bit of faux stitching and a smear of gliter glue around the edges completes the picture.

Tea Frogs

This one is another old one being trotted out again for another airing. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with that; I hope you agree. It was originally made for a challenge by 2sketchesfor you, and was inspired by the beautiful teapot image I received from a crafter from downunder (Laura) in an image swap, so I'm afraid I don't have the stamp details. I love it, though, and I wanted to use it for an official invitation for a Facebook Group friend, Cleo Scharf, to come to tea, so I hope you're seeing this, Cleo!

This is the sketch I based the layout on, which was by Ingrid, an artist for the 2sketchesforyou challenge team. I just flipped the orientation.

ATC: Beauty

I love this stamp. Wish I could tell you what it is! One day, when I find it again! This is an ATC, from the days of yore when they were popular. Have you seen the new trend for AT Coins? I haven't got around to trying them yet. Anyway, the stamps I recognise are the ubiquitous Inkadinkado flourish, and a Hero Arts script stamp. I have also used the Fiskars 'Threading Water' border punch, a Martha Stewart butterfly punch, silver thread and embellishments.

Birthday card

Birthday card for a friend. Sorry, it's from a while ago and I don't recall the details, much, but I do recognise an Inkadinkado flourish and Stempelglede Grunge Collection stamps in the background, a fairly common bird stamp, and the 'Woman of Spirit' heart stamp. The script paper is from Papermania, and the harlequin stamp is Fontwerks. I've also used a rose stamp on a journaling label, a fern stamp and some added embellishments. The 'Happy' on the Birthday greeting is handwritten in pencil.

If you click on the pictures, you'll see larger images.

Upcycled Christmas Wishes

The stamp in the centre is by Inkylicious #3170, with a couple of faux red gems. The border is fussy-cut from an old card, mounted on black card and then that was fussy-cut, too, and mounted on small 3D pads for a little dimension. More faux red gems in the corners.

So.. that's it from me until after Christmas. I'm off to spend three days with family, and can't wait! I know that Christmas is not always the most happy of occasions for those of us who are alone, or have lost loved ones, or have other struggles, and my heart goes out to you. As for the rest of you, though, I wish you the merriest Christmas and a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! (I'll probably say that last bit again on New Year's Eve! ;-)

The Fragrance of Roses

This one uses a Penny Black verse, a little heart and flourish stamp and paper rosebud. The 'border' is just a couple of pencil lines drawn across the card with a ruler.

Stempelglede Competition entry (An old one!)

Have you ever heard of Stempelglede, or Gunhild who designed all the stamps? It was a Scandinavian business, with the most awesomely talented DT. They had a competition, and I tried to emulate their style, a bit. I didn't win, but I had so much fun making this card. The blue circle is from Stempelglede's Grunge Collection, and glittered slightly. I think the other components of the card are pretty self-explanatory, but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

If you click on the pictures, you'll see larger images.

Upcycled Santa Girl

How simple is this? The image from an old card already has the sentiment in it, just matted and layered onto black cardstock, wrapped with waxed cord and embellished with a Kaleidopunch snowflake and a red faux gem. Eh, voilà!

60th Birthday

This one was made some years ago for a fellow Funky Hand DT-member. I created the numbers using Word, stamped them with the Inkadinkado flourish stamp, embossed them with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder, edged them with dark brown Chalk Eyes ink, and touched it on the dots near the edges. A glittery heart, roses and lace wrapped around the '0', and then mounted onto an A5 (5" x 7") acetate card blank, that has also been stamped with flourishes.

Climbing Santa

Image and greeting recycled from old cards, embossed with a Cuttlebug folder, mounted on 3D foam pads, and decorated with a Kaleidopunch snowflake and faux cabochon gem.

Click on picture for a larger image.

Sea Spirit

Thought I'd pair this one up with the Seahorse below. This one just uses a nice, crisp white card panel, decorated with a silver metal star brad and star confetti, wrapped in vellum and beaded silver thread. The Sea Spirit words are handwritten and traced with embossing into the vellum.

I am proud of this one. It got me into the top 100 in the Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine's 'Card Designer of the Year'. I was thrilled to see it published among so many beautiful cards! I wish I could remember the year.. 2006 or 2007, I think.

Seahorse

Funky Hand paper, Sizzix medium Seahorse die (the yellow one.. what they call Bigz now), Cuttlebug Divine Swirls embossing folder, blinged up with a stroke of Stickles, vellum wraps and glittery silver thread.

Kitty in Santa's Hat

A very simple card using an image upcycled from an old card, matted and layered and blinged with some faux gems.

Hopes and Dreams

This one is quite poignant for me. I made it to celebrate one year into the last serious relationship I had. It didn't last, though, and now I'm glad! We were not suited at all. But... at the time... lots of hopes and dreams.

This would work with almost any collage stamp, but this one was particularly appropriate with the word 'promise' shown so clearly.

Upcycled Skaters

Upcycled image from an old card, mounted on black cardstock, then on card blank, and embellished with glittery gold cord, red button, recycled greeting and punched and inked music paper holly leaves.

Tropical Beach

Made for a friend a few years ago using a recycled brochure photo, mounted on some holographic silver card, just showing, then layered onto crisp, white card, raised on 3D foam pads. Gina's name was computer-generated and printed on the card before adding any embellishments. Seashells were stamped using the shades of blue from a Kaleidocolour ink pad.

Christmas Cookies

I didn't want to leave things on a sad note for today, so here are some bright and cheerful Christmas Cookies, upcycled and smartened up from a discarded card. All I've done is inked the edge of the image and stuck it to a card blank, mat & layered a greeting from another card onto some gold mirri card and mounted it on raised 3D foam pads.

Sad Christmas

Doesn't look much like Christmas, I know, but this is just me marking my own losses, and thinking of all those who are grieving the loss of loved ones which always comes into much sharper focus and hurts more at this time of year, and we miss the people we've loved who are now physically absent from our lives, even more than we might at other times.

The tide recedes, but leaves behind

bright seashells on the sand.

The sun goes down, but gentle warmth

still lingers on the land.

The music stops, and yet it echoes on

in sweet refrains.

For every joy that passes,

something beautiful remains.

~ Author unknown ~

I love this poem, and it lends itself so beautifully to this purpose. The first two lines are printed on the front, and the rest of the poem on the inside front of the insert. It's a very quick and simple design, with the shells stamped on a piece of crisp, white card using graduated blues from a Kaleidocolor inkpad and then painted with iridescent Craft Planet glitter glue. The panel is then simply mounted on foam pads.

Sending all of you big hugs, as you remember people you've lost. xxx

Distressed Friendship

Just an A6 card with a panel of roses in greyscale, distressed by scratching the surface and tearing and curling the edges, then blinged with some subtle touches of glitter on the edges, and the word 'Friends' stamped and embossed in silver. A rosebud, silver bow and the stamped verse complete the picture.

Love is a 

fruit in season

at all times,

and within reach

of every heart.

~ Mother Theresa

Christmas Tree, Darkly

The tree is cut from an old card I received, the card blank distressed with brown ink and embellished with holly leaves punched out of music paper, and inked, some glittery gold cord and a snowflake charm. I just love upcycling images from old cards!

Salt n' Pepper Funky Hand Thistles

This uses digi paper from the Funky Hand 'Salt n' Pepper' selection of black and white designs, grunged up and distressed. The thistle is a gorgeous stamp, and I've been racking my brains trying to remember who made it... Fred somebody, I think, but I know they ceased trading many years ago. It's possible you might be able to source one on the second hand market, but I think most people would hang on to this, once they have it in their possession. The top one is sparkled with a touch of glitter glue, and the script is handwritten.

Upcycled Robin

Fairly self-explanatory, this one.. I always make my own card blanks from A4 cardstock, so I can make them to the size and orientation that I want... and it's cheaper to buy cardstock that way!

This uses a gorgeous, subtly glittered image from an old Christmas card, cut out and edged with red ink, and embellished with a Kaleidopunch snowflake and a red cord bow. Simples.