All about ATCs

Since I returned from the retreat I have been creating a number of ATCs for various swaps, all due at the end of the month ... and this is a mega post show off some of my creations and others I've received during the past couple of weeks.

ATC WORKSHOP SWAP VIII - ATC WORLD
Fabric was the theme of this month's Bernie Berlin Artist Trading Card Workshop swap through ATC World and to say that I was challenged is an understatement. I have a passion and love of everything paper, but venturing into fabric is definitely a big step. The techniques for the swap were No Sew Fabric, Fused Fibers and Hand Stitching.

No Sew Fabric, stamped image in brown stazon, coloured in with oil pastels, all held together with heat 'n' bond iron-on adhesive ... not one stitch on it!

As mish-mash of fibers placed all over a piece of cardstock with strips of heat 'n' bond under the image & on top of the fibers, some brown & gold embossing powder, then ironed flat. I felt it wasn't really finished until I stitched around the edges. The image was printed on an iron-on transfer and then ironed onto calico.

This hand stitched ATC took me over 2 hours to complete ... sewing is definitely not my strong point. The image is another iron-on-transfer of my gorgeous Kelpie Beau. The fabric is wrapped around the front and back of the ATC and on the inside is an iron-on wadding so it's like a little pillow. The edges were rolled in a couple of times before I stitched and I used 6 strands of embroidery thread for the outside and 3 strands on the dog picture.

LIVE SWAP MEET - THE SCRAPBOOK CUPBOARD
Quite a few avid ATCers attended this month's Live Swap Meet at The Scrapbook Cupboard and it's always so nice to catch up with everyone and check out each others new art. One of the girls Belynda, brought along her mum who saw some of our ATCs a couple of weeks ago and is now totally addicted and a new convert to this miniature form of art.

Below is my creation for the meet and I made it using 4 different stamps that I'd recently bought from a craft show. I started with a plain white cardstock base, stamped in brilliance black 2 different styles of fences, the trees and then the grass. I heat set the ink and used my favourite - glimmer mists - in spring mint and lemon meringue colours (or are they flavours ... mmmmmm ... they sound yummy) for the grass and olive vine for the trees. I cut out a picture of a cow and stamped the words "moo". Not my usual style, but I did buy the stamps and really wanted to use them at least once!!

WTA - ADVANCED ATCS UK
I received my final ATCs from winning the February Winner Takes All lottery through Advanced ATCs UK and weren't they worth the wait. The uber-talented Laura Carson sent me not 1 but 2 WTA ATCs - she's just the most generous person and I absolutely love them.

ATC WORKSHOP PART VII - ATC WORLD
I received my returns from the March Bernie Berlin Artist Trading Card Workshop swap using resin and just had to post a picture of what I received because they're just stunning. The barn-yard dimensional resin ATC was made by Debbie Warwick and was the return from the swap as it was 1 for 1. The other one is made by Tammy in an Altoid tin and is stunning a gift for becoming a moderator on ATC World. I am so lucky to have received 2 dimensional resin ATCs and they are both just divine ... I'm sure Bernie Berlin herself would be proud.

MORE BIRTHDAY GIFTS
Some belated birthday ATCs were received at a lunch celebrating the birthdays of 3 of us girls (Belynda, Sarah and me).

Made by the lovely Belynda.

Both the cake and candle ATCs made by the delightful Tanya and she assures me there are 40 candles on the card!

ATC WORLD HOME PAGE HONOURS
And last but not least, my hand stitched card has made it to the ATC World Home Page ... it's lovely to see my beautiful Beau's face staring at me everytime I visit the site.

I hope you're not too exhausted from this post, I know it was a long one, but had so many things to share.

Until next time, keep smiling and creating.

"Give to the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you."
~Ella Wheeler Wilcox, 1855-1919, Poet and Journalist~