Autumn ATCs --- My first ones ever!!

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CAT LOVERS HOP

Oct. 26-30, 2015

Right here at Her Peaceful Garden

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Hi, Friends.....

I am here today with my first-ever artist trading cards!!  I made them for the Mark's Finest Papers - Everything Fall Blog Hop Project Challenge, where they asked us to follow one of their tutorials:  Making ATCs or Making Fall Designer Paper.  I thought the ATCs sounded fun and I also happened to have the MFP - ATC Cards stamp set (redundant, I know...but that is what it is called!), so it was perfect!!

For me one of the most unexpected parts of making ATCs was how easy it was to use bits and pieces and odds and ends of little things that I find on my craft table!  You know what I mean, right?  Those little embellishments that don't quite make it back into their rightful home....a sequin, a flower, a couple of hearts, a short strand of fiber?  Perfect for ATCs!!!  I know this is old hat to most of you, but for me it was quite an exciting concept!!  lol....

So....here's my little set of 4 autumn ATCs.  All the paper I used came from my scrap bags.  Yay!!!



I started with one large strip of orange patterned cardstock and layered on some brightly colored K&Co. scraps I had cut into narrow oblong leaf shapes a long time ago.  (I think I intended them to be colorful feathers at the time, but that project never worked out....so now they are leaves!!  Ha.)  After gluing them on, I cut this masterboard background piece into 4 ATC sized cards (2-1/2" X 3-1/2").   I dry embossed two of them with my Darice - Interlocking Circles folder and two with my Darice - Fall Leaf Background folder.  I gently rubbed Distress Ink - Vintage Photo on one of each design with a sponge dauber to accentuate the pattern.

Eeek.....I even masked on the pumpkin and owl one.....  What was I thinking?????  lol....
I painted my owl and pumpkin scene with watercolor pencils and a waterbrush.  Fun!!! 

I double embossed the other one of each design by sponging ink gently over the design and heat embossing with gold powder.  Oh, yum......Love that shimmer!!!

The little foam pumpkin was from a dollar store bag.  I inked and watercolored it a bit and scored some lines for the ridges.  Then I rubbed on some gold glitter glue so it collected in the scored lines.  Love that effect!!!  The punchinella is a crumpled up piece that I have chased around for several weeks....it is always ending up on the floor.  Not anymore!!!  :)  

The Mark's Finest Papers - Halloween Selections was great for these ATCs because of all the various sizes of little Halloween icons.  That's where the owl and all those little acorns came from!  Those are some tiny acorns, let me tell you!  I also used the Mark's Finest Papers - Calendar stamp set for the pumpkin and the "Celebrate" tag.  The "I <3 Fall" is from my Lawn Fawn - Into the Woods stamp set.

I cut a piece of kraft for the backs and personalized each card with the aforementioned Mark's Finest Papers - ATC Cards stamp set, stamped with VersaFine ink in Vintage Sepia and heat embossed with clear powder.  Then I glued them each together and inked around the raw edges.  

Here are a couple of angled shots so you can see the glimmer a bit easier:

So what do you think of my first attempt?  I am pretty pleased with them.  There are a few things I would have done differently, but that's how I learn.  :)  

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you are having a great week!!!  Thank you for your awesome comments.  They are very much appreciated.

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this set of ATCs in the following challenges:
1.   Mark's Finest Papers - Everything Fall Blog Hop Project Challenge
2.   Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Autumn is in the Air
3.   Pixie's Snippets Playground Week #197 - Use Snippets
4.   Craft Stamper October Take It Make It Challenge - Use one or more listed techniques
5.   One Crazy Stamper October Challenge - Christmas, Halloween, or Fall
6.   Simply Create Too Challenge #95 - Autumn Splendor
7.   Try it on Tuesday - Autumn
8.   Mod Squad Challenge - Get Your "Fall" On 

9.   Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #26 - It's the Great Pumpkin
10.  Crop Stop Linky Party #8 - Anything Goes with product that CS sells
(I used a Lawn Fawn stamp and Darice Embossing Folders) 

11. Rubber Dance October Challenge

12. Penny Black and All Sorts October Challenge - Warm Autumn Colours

13. Stamping Sensations October Challenge - Colours of Autumn

14. Wow! Embossing Powder October Challenge - Anything but a Card  (I hope ATCs count!)

15. The Kraft Journal Challenge #244 - Halloween or Harvest Festival
16. Winnie & Walter WCMD Masterboard Background Challenge
17. Winnie & Walter WCMD Use Metallic/Gold Challenge

18. Winnie & Walter WCMD Watercolor Challenge