ATC – My Crafts are Like a Box of Chocolates

Tim Holtz Inspired Metal ATCs

September 11, 2012 beccreates1

I’ve been wanting to enter a project inspired by one of Tim Holtz’s 12 Tags of 2012 and I finally got to it. Funny that this was the month because his tag this month is so not my usual girlie style! But I joined a metal madness ATC swap on Swap-Bot and his tag was perfect!

Aren’t these cool? They look so industrial and it was fun and easy to make. I had some old Karen Foster metal sheets for so long they were dusty and I’m amazed I remembered where they were!

Tim used various techniques to distress and mark the metal. A pen makes rivet-like marks, a piercer makes the holes and I used a bone folder for the lines. Alcohol inks give the rusted look, I actually used red, green and grey together and it turned out amazingly I think. Those are all the colours I had so I was glad it worked out. Check out September 12 Tags of 2012 for more details and to see Tim’s tag.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Paper: Grungeboard arrows, vintage stickers-Stash, vintage music paper, black CS-SU!
Ink: SU! black craft, alcohol inks-Ranger, vintage photo Distress
Accessories: TH filmstrip ribbon, copper eyelets-SU!, metal sheets-Karen Foster, tiny stapler-TH

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Miscellaneous ATCs for Swap-Bot

September 11, 2012 beccreates1

I have a blast making ATCs to trade on Swap-Bot.com. Here are a few I haven’t blogged yet.

Oh my word, I just got tot he bottom of this post and came back up to add this note. I can’t believe how many projects I found I’ve never shown you! And how many ATCs ended up in this post! WOW!

I think this one was for a book page swap. The requirement was to use a real book page as part of the ATC.

I didn’t execute it very well but this one was showcasing kissing technique. The letters were kissed with a dotted background stamp.

I made a card like this then miniaturized it into an ATC. The lighting was bad so the colours are way off but I still love the design.

This one shows grid technique where you stamp after embossing lines in the paper. It looks kinda like tiles and I think it suited this stamp well.

I’m sure this one was for a beach themed swap. I absolutely LOVE this paper. The whole thing is rows upon rows of pretty flip flops. Here I trimmed the paper into a cool border and I added gold glitter to look like sand. The paper flower was cut apart and placed to resemble palm tree branches leaning over the scene.

This one was for an interactive ATC. The wheel inside rotates to show different craft supplies and one image has the sentiment ‘…crafting.’

This one was probably summer fun or sweet treats or similar. I added glossy accents to the chocolate sauce.

Another beach themed one. I love this real fishing net I got when I was in Ocean City, NJ. I have scads of it and so I don’t have to hoard it! I’d decorate my whole house in a beach theme if it wouldn’t seem so silly in the middle of our too long winter!

This one was to use a new technique. i may have tried faux marble a million years ago but if so, I know I didn’t make anything with it. I also tried metallic rub-on paste using the die as a stencil for the first time.

This one was ‘add a number’. The number could be in any form you liked.

This was one of the biggest challenges I’ve done. No adhesive allowed on this one! Can you see the techniques I used?

You can definitely see them from the back! A brad holds on the label. Slits hold the background paper in place and the brad reinforces that. I sewed on the doily and the button which holds on the ribbon and the flower. I had lots of other ideas too but these just ended up being the ones I used.

I know the photo is atrocious, so sorry. This was another tricky challenge to make an ATC without paper! Yikes! I used plastic from packaging as the base and the rest you can see.

Vintage Bathing Beauty ATC.

I have no idea what I made this one for. Hmmm…

Copic coloured kitten ATC. According to the website, which has a story for each character they draw, these two are friends. No munching in imminent.

I guess this one was for flowers. I am always working on making metal look shiny and realistic. Not sure if I got there or not…

I love using this embossing folder on the cone. Doesn’t it look so much like a real sugar cone? Summer treat or drink theme.

Pink Cupcake, part of a cupcake series.

I think this one was for my Nature Series: Plants.

Nature Series: Flowers

Pretty Bird ATC.

No idea, I made this one two years ago!

If you got this far, you deserve a gold star! Especially since I am always running behind with my swapbot swaps and I take most of these with my iPhone and they aren’t great photos. Thanks!

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My Favourite Things ATC

January 14, 2012 beccreates1

This is one of my favourite ATCs I’ve ever made. Interestingly enough it was for a swap called My Favourite Things-make an ATC inspired by the song from Sound of Music. It really isn’t a traditional ATC though. This is what it looks like before you open it.

So as you can see, it looks like a ‘brown paper package tied up with string’ and inside…

…is a collection of things from the song. The rose has glossy accents on it in specific spots to look like rain drops, as in ‘raindrops on roses’. Then we have a ‘cream coloured pony’, a ‘white dress with blue satin sash’ and a bee from ‘when the bee stings’. They’re a bit hard to see but in front of the pony is ‘snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes’ which I made silver in reference to ‘silver white winters’. The little tag lists the things from the song in case it wasn’t clear. Once I was done, I really wanted to keep this one!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: girl-MFT, pony-TAC, flower-SU!, bee-Unity
Paper: white, ivory CS-TE, brown paper-lunch bag
Ink: Memento black, cocoa
Accessories: baker’s twine-Masterstroke Ribbon, Curvy rectangles-Spellbinders, glossy accents-Ranger, tag die-Cuttlebug, Copics, snowflake punch-MS

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Butterfly Dreams ATC

January 13, 2012 beccreates1

I don’t remember when I made this or for what but I am finally getting around to posting it. It was probably for a butterfly or
shabby chic themed swap on Swap-Bot.

Pretty simple so not too much to say. I hope you like it!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: SU!
Ink: Memento cocoa
Paper: vanilla, chocolate CS-SU!, vintage music paper
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, Making Memories fabric tape, Copic Markers, Pearls-Dollarama

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Paris ‘Challenge Me’ ATC

November 30, 2011 beccreates1

As any of my regular readers knows, I trade quite a few craft items on Swap-Bot. This one was for a swap I designed called ‘Challenge Me’ ATC which was quite new and different. In order to make the ATC, the sender had to list their favourite 10 crafting supplies or tools in the comments section.

The recipient would choose 5 of those that the sender HAD to use to make the ATC. The recipient would also look over the sender’s profile and choose a theme from things that the sender listed as likes. Then the sender created the ATC with the 5 items chosen (basic supplies like scissors, cardstock etc were givens for everyone) plus one additional item from the list of 10 and 2 other items of choice.

I made this a couple weeks ago so I’m not sure I’m 100% but I think the 5 were DP, ephemera, punches, dies and ribbon. The scalloped border is a punch, the doily a die. The ephemera is the music paper, background is DP. I used a stamp as an additional item from my list of 10. And I added pearls. The theme my partner chose was Paris but could I find my Eiffel Tower stamp? UGH! Took me ages! And I know I have 2 but I never did find the 2nd one.

I dyed the silk ribbon with Copic ink and distressed it with Vintage Photo ink. I used a Bow Easy to make a nice tidy bow. TIP: Did you know that if you wrap the ribbon in a figure 8 around the ‘legs’ rather than wrapping around the outside of the ‘legs’ of the Bow Easy and you put a twist in the ribbon in the center, the bow loops will fluff much more easily? Especially with lots of loops. I forgot to do so here and you can see that my loops will stay out to the sides and not fan all the way into a nice circular shape. I don’t have enough loops to make a full circular shape anyway but if I did, they would always try to stick out to the sides unless you figure 8 wrap the ribbon.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: unknown
Ink: Vintage Photo, Antique Linen Distress, Memento black
Paper: Graphic 45 Romantique, white typing paper (doily), vanilla, black CS-SU!, vintage music paper
Accessories: doily die-PTI, punch-EK Success, May Arts Ribbon, Bow Easy, Copic, Kaisercraft Pearls

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Berry French Horn ATC for Doodle Pantry

April 18, 2011 beccreates1

I’ve been making lots of ATCs lately because I’m in a swap where I send my partner 20! WOW, I know! So I’ve been searching through all kinds of images I’ve printed, coloured, stamped whatever, anything that shaves a bit of time off of making them! I love this pretty image from Doodle Pantry called French Horn.

I’ve been trying to make my Copic colouring more realistic so I heavily relied on Google images of French horns. Most are brass coloured but a few are silver and some are even funky colours! So, in the spirit of realism, I coloured this as though there are lots of reflections on the horn. It looks pretty flat on here but IRL, I coloured it with a clear Spica pen so it looks nice and sparkly! I hope it doesn’t look to weird to those of you who haven’t Googled French Horns lately!

I guess I should have printed it a wee bit smaller but when I printed it, I didn’t have an ATC in mind necessarily. I meant to do the ‘Outside the Box’ technique on the bow but would you believe, I forgot? Seriously? In case you don’t know it, it is the technique where you pre-cut areas of the image that stick out beyond the die’s edges and keep them out of the way while die cutting. It is a great look, bummer huh?

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: French Horn-Doodle Pantry
Paper: DP-Kaisercraft, white CS-Taylored Expressions
Accessories: Copics YG63,67, C00,1,3,5,7, R11,20,22,32,35, E37, rhinestones-Dollarama, Spica pen, Labels 8 Nesties

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Pear ATC-A Doodle Pantry Sketch Challenge

March 22, 2011 beccreates1

Did you know that Doodle Pantry has a challenge twice a month? On the 5th and 20th of each month (delayed this time due to illness) Laurie gives her designers and loyal followers a challenge at the DP blog. This one was a sketch Doodle Pantry Sketch Challenge 10.

You really have to find time to play as you could win 1 of 4 PRIZES! Visit the challenge post for all the details.

I usually combine the release image and the challenge but I goofed and forgot. So I also made an ATC that used the sketch, kind of a blend between the two.

I tried something new when colouring this pear. I’ve seen some of the gals who’ve ~~finished~~ had the privilege of attending the advanced Copic course doing some cool things with their shadows. Maybe my version wasn’t quite right as I can’t decide if I like it or not. That grey blob on the pear is (you already know right?… please!) is a shadow from the leaf. Of course…

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Image: Doodle Pantry Pears and Raspberries
Stamps: Carte Postal-All Night Media
Ink: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw Distress, Staz on brown, chocolate-SU!
Paper: vintage sheet music, all CS-SU!
Accessories: Oval Nesties, flower snaps-Scrapbook Interiors, seam binding ribbon-Masterstroke
Technique: Wrinkle Free Distress

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Fabric ATCs-Tea Time!

January 11, 2011 beccreates1

I made these for a fabric ATC challenge. I’d never made ATCs using this much fabric before so I wanted to try it out. I used some scraps from an apron my mom made. It was supposed to be mine but the pattern had a shaped chest area and it made up quite small so no room for my ample bosom! She’ll make me another but for now, I get to play with the scraps!

The embroidery on the right one was already done, for the left, the trim was already sewn to the lower fabric. They were so fun and easy to make. So if you know someone who sews, hit them up for some great scraps!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Fabric: Amy Butler
Accessories: buttons: PTI and stash, ribbon-stash

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Cutesy Cupcake ATC

January 10, 2011 beccreates1

Another Swap-Bot creation! I just love cupcakes though I’m not so fond of the ones with faces (sorry Taylor) and I’m kinda picky about the shape of the icing too. This set of stamps from Basic Grey is perfect.

The adorable borders are from Doodlebug Designs I think, they were already glittered. The sprinkles are stamped and then I added Quickie Glue Pen and glitter! Since then I’ve gotten the 24 set of fine MS glitter and I can’t wait to use it. Even better, I got it with a 50% off coupon, it is normally $39.99 here in Canada!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Basic Grey
Ink: pretty in pink, chocolate-SU!, chestnut ColorBox chalk ink
Paper: Pink pirouette, cocoa, white-SU!, hibiscus burst-PTI
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, borders-Doodlebug Designs, Art Institute Glitter

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Beautiful Bride ATC

August 24, 2010 beccreates1

Another creation for a Swap-Bot swap. It was a wedding ATC swap. I decided to go with very soft colours but mostly white; I’ve seen a lot of white on white lately and wanted to try it!

The background is a soft muted green floral from Basic Grey’s Porcelain paper pack. The tulle in the back is cut quite wide and about as high as the ATC. Then I tied it with sheer white ribbon and glued it to the ATC; the bride covers the knot. I stamped her on shimmer white cardstock; I wish you could see the shimmer!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: MFT
Ink: memento black
Paper: white CS-Taylored Expressions, DP-Basic Grey, Gold CS-SU!
Accessories: tulle, white sheer ribbon-stash, Rhinestones-Taylors tiny twinkles, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Copics R22, 32, G21, Y21