We are all short on time. Our lives are busy, busy, busy. I don't know about you, but creating is good for my soul. It makes me feel better to create . . . even if it's just a little something.
Artist Trading Cards (ATC) are a great way to get those creative juices flowing, without a big commitment. The canvas is smaller: 2.5 x 3.5". This small size forces you to really stretch your artistic muscles. And if you "mess up"? No big deal, just grab another blank and try again.
I decided to get crafty and try making some ATCs with my
Picnic kit. And you know what? It was fun! I trimmed down just two papers (I can always order replacements, wink-wink) and got out my
Picnic unmounted stamps and just played.
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| Ink green base with dark green ink for a watermelon rind look. |
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| Love that little lady bug! |
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| A little masking magic. |
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| Stamp glass 2x, trim, layer with dimensional adhesive. Add glitter pen to ice cube and top of glass. |
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| Sentiment added from an "old" Mosaic Twist UM. |
These are just a start. Now that I'm warmed up, I hope to make a few more. Heck, I've got a bunch of blanks left, so why not?
You can get a lot of ATC "blanks" from one sheet of paper. Here are the diagrams you can use for either 8.5 x 11 or 12 x 12" papers.
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To create ten ATC bases, cut 8.5x11" vertically at 6 and 3.5" Rotate 3.5 x 11" horizontally
and trim at 10, 7.5, 5 and 2.5". Rotate both 2.5 x 11" horizontally and cut at 10.5, 7 and 3.5". |
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| A 12x12 will yield 16 ATC bases, but it will require you to whip out your craft knife. |
Lynn (Hasmom99) hosts an ATC swap every month on the Club Scrap Forum. Lynn says of the swap, "The creativity and variety are really wonderful. For someone like me, who works full time and rarely has time to make more involved projects, the ATC is a fun way to get a little creative with my stash. It is always great to see how everyone has different ideas with how to use the kits."
Here are some past swap samples for your enjoyment:
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| March Trees ATC swap. |
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| February's Big Deal ATC swap. |
For even more inspiration, check out Club Scrap's ATC Board on Pinterest.
Want to join in the fun? There's still time to get in on the Dungarees Swap if you create and mail the ATCs by June 25. Or, if you prefer, grab your Picnic kit and create your own ATCs. If you join the July swap, one of the Picnic ATCs above could be YOURS, because I'm in!
Creatively yours,
Karen
Karen, the ATCs are so cute!! Love the Orange you glad I didn't say Banana quote on the first one, so fun and citrusy. I think I might have to grab my Tahiti Banana stamp and pair it with the lemon/lime/orange slice for this one. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. I have all the fruit stamps from Tahiti and the Mosaic Twist stamps. I need to get them out when my Picnic Lite kit arrives.
DeleteI haven't made ATC's in ages. I should join that swap!
ReplyDeleteTricia,
DeleteWe'd love to have you and anyone else at CSHQ to join the ATC swap!
What fun! I love making ATC's. I never knew there was a kit ATC swap....I'll be checking that out straight away. Love your ATC's ~ they are very clever!
ReplyDeleteTFS!
Roni,
DeletePlease check it out! Sign ups are month to month so there is no long term commitment (although it is a bit addicting).
Karen,
ReplyDeleteYour Picnic ATCs are awesome! Thank you for highlighting the ATC swap.
Woo Hoo Karen, your ATCs are awesome! Can't wait to play with this kit. And EVERYONE come join us in Lynn's ATC swap! I love the creativity and individuality and getting a few pieces of awesomeness each month :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post - love the ATC Swap!! Great little cards Karen!!
ReplyDeleteKaren, I always have problems coming up with ideas for ATCs. You make these look so easy! Thanks
ReplyDeleteAnd a cool idea is to scour your HPOP's for 5x7's too. Those cut into the perfect 3.5x2.5" bases for your ATC's!
DeleteKaren, your ATCs are very cute, ATCs are so much fun to make. I have a few people ask me what do I do with mine. I display some in printers trays and sometimes I will use some on cards and page layouts. Once I change out the ones on display, I put them in baseball card sleeves.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to display them, Ruby! I do collect my swap ATCs and keep them in a binder in trading/baseball card sleeves, too. They're fun to leaf through when I'm feeling uninspired.
DeleteI should be in on this creative swap that Lynn posts too! So cool and thanks Karen.
ReplyDeleteThese ATC's would be great for entering in the Tiny Stamps NBUS challenge.... just sayin'....
ReplyDeletehow cute
ReplyDeleteHas anyone with an electronic cutting machine tried to cut the 12" sq. into 4 blocks? [then just use the paper trimmer] Bee
ReplyDeleteI have not, but love that idea!!
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