ATC Swaps are In for February

Here is a follow up post to the ATC Swap. I wanted to share the Swaps that were sent in. All are just beautiful - and unique to the Artist. Thank you all for entering.

by Judi Birt

By Janice Rowe

By Pam Wright

By Debbie Buchanan

By Donna Harcourt

By Janice Rowe (Janice's were all different)

By Janice Rowe (sorry about the glare on this one)

 So many have asked what is a ATC and how do you make one? Well it is a little bitty tiny piece of art. About 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" piece of card board or card stock or paint chips or formica sample or wood or what ever kind of base you want to use.  Its you favorite colors of ink, paint, chalk, crayon, or pencil, or dyes. It's a bit of this and that, a little do dad of treasures or junk. Bits of ribbon, fibers, yarn or moss. It is a personal expression of what you love, how you fell, or like to look at or work with. It can be anything and everything all wrapped up on one little bit of flat surface that we call Art. That's the beauty of it. It is all you, your way! No teacher can grade you, because it is about who you are and what you like. So it and you are perfect in every way as God made you to be.

So let me share a little bit about my art, to help you understand a little more. Here is my before with a past stamp from Stampin Up embossed with black embossing powder on water color paper. I love this stamp set. I love watercolor paper. So that is a great place to start.

 And here is my after: Water colored butterfly with inks and blender pens (my personal favorite way to color), then sponged celery and olive ink on edges (cuz I like the way the light and dark inks on the edges give depth to the card), then I rubbed a bit of saffron ink to highlight the white area (cuz life should be colorful), then glittered it all up, ( I really really really love love love glitter in every shade they come in). Then I used some big sparkly bits of stuff I have had sitting in a drawer for a long time, (trash to one is treasure to another) and then a bit of a sparkle flower. (Why yes more glitter). And you have it -one finished ATC card to give, to attach as a tag to a bag, to glue onto a card front, to use as a book marker, to add a magnet on the back and put it on the fridge for all to see.

Most importantly to share with the world, so the world can be stamp happy too. So this post is a bit of off in la-la-land today - For all those who love to really get deep and for those who just want to laugh at it! Hope you enjoyed the mushy gushy of it all. I will be hosting more ATC swaps in the near future - hope you will join in.

 So are you inspired? I sure am. Want to join in on the March Card Swap? Make 4 cards using pastel colors. Baby pinks, blues, greens, yellow, lavender and white only. Be sure to include the envelope with each card. I don't like getting odd sized cards without envelops - do you? The card can be any size, but must be a full card, not a post card type.  Be sure to sign the back of the card, so everyone knows who the artist is. Send to me at 8729 S Co Rd 250 W, Cloverdale IN 46120 by March 30th. Send a SASE so your cards can be returned to you. You don't need to sign up, just send in your cards. You will get 4 different cards back after March 30th. Any questions - leave a comment or email me.