Today's blog post will introduce a new theme --- Vintage. For the next few weeks, the projects will all focus on vintage elements or a vintage look; distressed, shabby, tattered, torn and aged.
First up is a pair of ATC cards. ATC stands for Artist Trading Card; a small card - a mini work of art - meant to be traded and collected. ATC's can be simple or elaborate. The art form can be a little intimidating as some ATC's are VERY artisitic. But, you don't have to be an artist to participate in the wonderful world of ATC's.
These two ATC's, inspired by pictures of botanicals found in a vintage book, are easy to make...
The cards were first stamped with a background stamp using Ancient Page Ink - which is a light, sheer ink that works beautifully for that purpose.
Next, the designs were stamped one at a time so that they could be embossed using different colors of embossing powders...
Then, the embossed designs were "labeled" much in the same way as they are in reference books with "fig. {#}" using a fine tip black pen.
You can find friends and "artists" to swap cards with by checking with your local stamp stores or searching online forums. ATC cards are a great way to experiment with new techniques and because of their small size, they can be completed quickly too. So give them a try, and begin acquiring your own collection of miniature works of art! Or if you are already a veteran ATC'r, then try making these cards for your next swap.
Here are the directions and supplies you'll need to make them...
“botanicals” ATC cards
Skill Level: easy
SUPPLIES:
Clearsnap: Watermark Ink, Top Boss Embossing Powder: Verdigris, Deep Green, Asparagus, Ballet Pink, Red, Lullabye Blue and Mac n' Cheese, Ancient Page Ink: Sandalwood and Sunburst {full or mini size}, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Chestnut Roan {full or mini size} and Stylus and White Foam Blender Tips
Hero Arts: Old Letter Clings Stamp, Real Flowers and Watercolor Petals PolyClear Stamps
Tools: Paper trimmer, fine tipped black pen and heat gun.
DIRECTIONS:
1) Cut 2 - 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 pieces of kraft cardstock to make ATC card.
2) Ink Old Letter stamp using Sandalwood ink, use a foam tip dipped into Sunburst ink to apply ink to the postmarks on the stamp, then stamp ATC card. Repeat with other card.
Leaves Botanical ATC:
1) Ink fern stamp with Watermark Ink and stamp diagonally on one of the stamped ATC card. Sprinkle and emboss with Verdigris Embossing Powder.
2) Stamp the "roundish" leaf in the upper right corner and emboss with Deep Green.
3) Stamp the small leaf in the lower left corner and emboss with Asparagus
Floral Botanical ATC:
1) Ink large flower stamp with Watermark Ink and stamp diagonally on the other stamped ATC card. Sprinkle and emboss with stem ONLY with Verdigris Embossing Powder.
2) Sprinkle and emboss the flower portion with Mac n' Cheese Embossing Powder.
3) Stamp the small 5 petal flower in the upper right corner, sprinkle Ballet Pink Embossing Powder at the center of the flower ONLY and and emboss.
4) Sprinkle remaining portion of flower with Red Embossing Powder and emboss.
5) Stamp the small profile flower in the lower left corner, sprinkle Deep Green Embossing Powder on stem ONLY and emboss.
6) Sprinkle flower with Lullabye Blue Embossing Powder and emboss.
Finishing:
1) Use ink applied using foam blender tip to distress edges of card, use touches of Sunburst Ancient Page Ink first, then go over entire edge using Sandalwood. Finally, go over card again just at the edges using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink. Repeat with other card.
2) Use black pen to add "fig.{#}" to each stamped and embossed image.
I hope you'll try making this pair of ATC cards, or experimenting with these techniques on ATC cards of your own.
Please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products.
beautiful!
Posted by: ellen s | August 25, 2010 at 06:00 AM