Making LOTs of ATCs

Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) are wonderful little pieces of art that are traded between crafters. For a crafting show, ATCs are often traded between other attendees as a memento of the occasion. Sometimes there may be a theme to guide the participants. The challenge of making lots of ATCs for these shows is to keep the design simple and one you can easily replicate many times.

What is an ATC?

Artist Trading Cards are small pieces of art made with the intent to be traded between fellow crafters. There are all manner of groups on the internet that have swaps and challenges based around these cards.

An ATC must be the set size of 2 1/2″ by 3 1/2″ . They are usually in portrait orientation but don’t have to be. Besides the size, there are no other rules to ATCs – you can make them from cardboard or fabric or any other thin material. And you can decorate them with paints or stamping or collage or quilting or any other craft you like.

The back of the ATC is to contain your details, like a business card would. Your name and e-mail address (or postal address, if you wish) is  a minimum. Sometimes the title of the ATC, or theme or occasion, and it’s number or edition is also included.

There is one other rule regarding ATCs – I have been always told that ATCs are only ever for trading and never to be bought or sold. Some crafters will create what are called ACEOs (Art Card, Editions and Originals), which are ATCs to sell. I believe that is against the spirit in which ATCs are created.

Key points to making lots of ATCs

– Start with large sheets of card (12″ x 12″ or A4) which can easily be decorated to make the background and then cut to size
– Stamping allows you to reproduce the same image many times
– Consider embellishments like punches or cutter dies that can create lots of the same in a short amount of time and for little cost
– They don’t all have to be exactly the same; if making cards to a theme, you can still alter the colour or type of some elements
– Instead of written your details on the back of many ATCs, use your computer to type out your main details (name and e-mail address) then cut and stick these to the back of your ATC. You can then sign it.

How I make lots of ATCs
1. Use walnut ink or tea or coffee stain to antique many sheets of card for the background. Use the same method to antique sheets of text from an old book or conference proceedings (if the sheets curl, place them under a heavy book to flatten, after they are dry)


2. Using a large background stamp, cover the background card (lots of small stamps will also create the same effect)

3. Cut background card into 2 1/2″ by 3 1/2″ piece

4. Cut the text pages into 3 1/2″ strips. Then tear them into smaller strips at about 1/3 of ATC width. Use a brown or sepia ink to sponge the torn edge of each piece.

5. Glue text strip to backgrounds using a glue stick

6. Add image or embellishments: I cut these T’s using  a puzzles cutter.

7. To finish the ATC, edge the entire card, using the inked directly onto the edges and stamp “time” using alphabet stamps in a lighter colour.

8. Don’t forget to add your details onto the back. This can be done by hand, using a ATC template stamp or using your computer.

The final part of ATCs is to go and swap them freely. I will always remember one of my first craft shows I ever attended and I didn’t know anything about this swapping thing. Many ladies were very generous and happy to give me an ATC when I had nothing to give in return. And this is the spirit in which I attend craft shows today.

If you are a little shy, place your ATCs in a plastic bag and use a safety pin to attach them to your carry bag or jacket, then anyone else who has ATCs can see you have some and you can start a conversation. Some craft shows will have a time and place that people can meet up to swap.

And remember the spirit of ATCs – if you are going to a show where you are going to meet people you know, you can make some special ATCs for those people, but keep them separate, so they are easy to find and you don’t accidentally hurt someone elses feelings. I have heard of occasions of some people refusing to swap their ATCs when they see the other persons ATCs and it didn’t meet their standard. Thankfully these incidents are few and between but remember that we all had to start somewhere, so be generous with your ATCs.

Happy Creating,
Michelle

.

.

.

Packing Tape Postcard

~ * ~

This article was written by Martice Smith II

Create an image transfer from packing tape to design a custom postcard

Learn a quick and simple way to create image transfers made from packing tape. Layer bold graphics and found imagery, combined with stylized handwriting, to create a dynamic piece of correspondence. In the end, you’ll have a stunning postcard- worthy of being framed!

Gather supplies of your choice

Gather supplies of your choice.

You’ll also need:

  • a bowl of water
  • bone folder
  • scissors
  • magazine pages and paper ephemera (Grab up some of your favorite, textured papers, too!)
  • 4×6 inch cardstock paper (elements will be layered onto this)

How to Make a Packing Tape Postcard

Prepare the image transfer

Cut strips of packing tape, slightly larger than the size of your image.

1. Cut strips of packing tape to the size of your image.

Carefully, lay the tape across the magazine image, starting at one end and slowly working your way across. Use manageable strips of tape for this step.

TIP: Images (photos or text) with white or light-colored backgrounds will show up transparent in the final tape transfer. This is a great way to add interesting dimension by layering multiple graphics, text, or paper.

Burnish with a bone folder.

2. Burnish with a bone folder.

From the center out, use the bone folder to remove any bubbles or creases. You do not need to apply heavy pressure when burnishing. Simply rub the tool across one way and repeat going another direction.

TIP: Lay the tape down on a clean plastic, wooden, or any non-porous surface to prevent tape from picking up fibers and dust particles.

(If there are bubbles left unburnished, they will appear as a clear spot on the image.) You may or may not want this effect- sometimes it can leave an interesting, distressed effect to your transfer. You might like it after all!

Trim around your image and place into bowl of water.

3. Trim around your image and place into bowl of water.

4. Rub away the paper backing with your thumbs.

The paper will start to roll up. This indicates that you can start rubbing the paper off.

TIP: For a clean, crisp image, make sure you do not scratch the surface of the tape while rubbing off the paper. If you want an old, worn-out look, gently scratch the tape’s surface with your fingernail. If you want wrinkles, take the entire piece and ball it up, in your hand; unfold and smooth out.

If you’re heavy-handed like me, you will appreciate this technique because this it allows you to rub quite vigorously without tearing the tape.

Remove the paper and let dry

5. Remove the paper and let dry on non-porous surface. 

As the tape dries, it will become sticky again. After the tape dries, paper fibers may reappear. If so, re-moisten the paper and gently, rub them off.

These pictures show how a tape transfer looks when held near a window. Take a close look at the expressive textures! Next, I show how the transfer looks when placed on top of a white background. (Did you notice how some details from the magazine image reappears when placed on a white background?)

6. Discard paper fibers from bowl.

Flush paper pulp down the toilet- not the sink!

Of course, you can also save this paper pulp to create your own handmade paper.

Now we are ready to create our Package Tape Postcard!

Create a Package Tape Postcard

Here is the approach I took to create this postcard:

This postcard looks elegant and modern but with a slight, urban twist. I gathered some of my paper scraps from previous projects to combine with my image transfer.

To reinforce the look of the ‘handmade’, I decided to tear the paper with my hands. This creates the deckled edges.

Pushing this idea forward, I also decided to add a twist by incorporating my stylized handwriting. (I simply used the end of a paintbrush to scratch into wet, acrylic paint, on paper that had a layer of paint already on it.) Look closely to see the subtle shift in colors!

Continue adding collage elements but keep in mind that ‘less is more’. You don’t want to create an overwhelming design on your postcard. Layering is key; build up layers to add drama.

TIP: If your packing tape isn’t sticking, use a glue stick, decoupage medium, or add more tape on top to keep it in place.

Think about overall composition. My focal image is the bouquet of flowers. Everything else was secondary, or in other words, complementary to that image.

The image transfer (of the flowers) was placed on top of the stylized, handwriting layer. For exciting pops of color, I used fluorescent orange paint!

Next, a small piece of diamond patterned washi tape was added.

Finally, gold leaf was painted on to create a more elegant look.

For the reverse side, I cut out and glued some scrapbook papers onto the brown kraft paper, leaving a 1/4 inch border on all sides.

As you can see, I repeated the diagonal lines from the front side to create a divider for the text and address areas.

Create a Package Tape Postcard; variation

Here’s another postcard I created with this same image transfer technique.

I chose to go with a bold and, somewhat, abstract look. I found a beautiful image of decorative chinaware in a home decor magazine. The geometric patterns combined with organic shapes are interesting and has great sense of energy.

Create a Package Tape Postcard

This packing tape postcard features:

  • my hand-carved, chevron stamp
  • Modeling paste
  • “Grace” stencil from Artistcellar’s new Pocket Stencils, “Mini Virtues” set

Spray or brush on a varnish to seal and protect the surface. Write your message on the back, apply a postage stamp and pop it in the mail!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mixed-media illustrator and designer Martice Smith II

Martice Smith II is creative director of Martice Smith II – Illustration & Design Studio, based in Kansas City, Missouri and owner of Uneek Art Boutique. She established herself as a freelance Illustrator and graphic designer after receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree. Her stunning illustrations reveals her love for fashion, typography and wildlife- using a combination of analog and digital techniques.

Martice also contributes as an article writer for the Creating Mixed Media Art website.

You can see more of her work via her Facebook page or her blog. She invites you to join her monthly newsletter, Uneek Art Letter, for art biz tips, advice and free digital goodies!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

.

.

Mixed Media Art Backgrounds

This article is written by Linda Giese

For the past year I’ve been putting papers over my plastic covered workspace. It began when I found a roll of thermofax for a dollar at a thrift store.  I put it on my workspace and soon it filled up with random stamps, paint splatters, doodles and notes.  I tore off another sheet and saved the first for collage fodder. I progressed to large sheets of newsprint that came as packing material in boxes.  A friend even gave me old architectural plans she was going to throw away.

Backgrounds

This is an easy way of making original collage papers to make your art unlike anyone else, and it won’t even take extra time!  Now I glory in messing up my surface papers with ideas and oversprays.  Since I teach at my dining room table, there are class notes and ideas for what my students want to learn next.  I test out new stamps and “stamp off” ones I’m using.  There are scribbles trying to get a pen to write or see what color it is.  Sometimes there is even a random fruit label!

Backgrounds

I’m not likely to run out of clean papers to mess up, but thought of an idea if I did.  I’d take sheets of junk mail with clean backs and tape them together.  Or as I’ve done, use sheets of scrapbook paper I don’t like that perhaps came in a stack of paper.  If you take a class, perhaps you can mess up newspapers under your work there too!  Good luck and happy splatters!

Backgrounds

Materials I used for my canvas:
Underpainting is blended background of Americana orchid, butter and baby blue
I applied the torn collage papers with Americana DecouPage as well as the Dover clip art woman image
I used the above paints plus Americana cad red, bright yellow(to make the flesh color) and true blue for shading

Backgrounds

Backgrounds

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Linda Giese encourages comments, questions, and sharing your art journey at linda.giese@yahoo.com

She teaches classes privately and at a local scrapbook store, The Stamp Addict

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

.

.

Instructions on How to Make Handmade Greeting Cards

~ * ~

This article is written by Melanie Statnick 

Handmade Greeting Cards

Greeting cards are so fun and quick to make. My mum and I would send cards to each other all the time. I really want to get in the habit of snail mail again.  I love to send gifts, happy mail, post cards and handmade cards.

Handmade Greeting Cards

I hand folded 140lbs cold press watercolor paper into a card shape. Opened to lay card flat and spray with orange and pink Dylusions ink spray. These are my favorites. Air dry or dry with heat gun.  Cut pink card stock paper to smaller size to center in the front of the card and glue. Stamp all four sides of card stock. Stamp image of 2” art squares. Glue squares to cardstock.

Handmade Greeting Cards

Stamp your greeting on top and bottom of watercolor card. Using Pitt Pen Big Brush Markers color in the stamped images. Add Stickles in your favorite colors and washi tape to the edge.

Handmade Greeting Cards

*stamp can be found at Rubbermoon.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Author bio: Melanie Statnick is a published artist/writer out of North Carolina. Melanie creates art daily from her private studio. Her style is happy and whimsy. Statnick’s artwork can be found in art galleries and shops extensively in NC with international private collections.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

.

.