The one with the ATC....

Happy Day, Everyone!

Even though I spent almost all day in my craft room making Christmas gifts, I have more Autumn projects to show before I get to sharing Christmas.  I made a batch of ATCs a bit ago for the RAK list on my favorite forum, the That's Scrap Forum.  I spend a lot of my on-line time with the terrific folks on this forum, and I really wanted to do a little something for them. 

 

It's a pretty simple design, with little flags hand cut from my box of scrap strips.    I did a print and cut for the Autumn flag, and added a little transparent dot.  The background is simply stamped with a 7 Gypsies text stamp. 

 

I kept one for myself, and have it arranged with other ATCs and artwork from friends in this display in my craft room:

 

 

I picked up the cute wooden box at an antique store while on a trip with friends last weekend.  It is a prefect container for the gourds and ATCs. 

 

Thanks for taking a peek at my projects. 

 

Elizabeth



The one with the ATC storage box....

Hello, People!

Hope you all are having a terrific weekend!  Recently, I discovered that the Tea Bag Carton, from the SVG Cuts Tea for You and Me collection is the perfect size for ATCs!  I am so happy about this discovery.  I had all of my lovely ATC's from the last two plus years stuffed in a storage box, so I rarely looked at them.  Now, I can display them on top of my shelving units, in pretty boxes, where I will be able to easily thumb through them, and ooh and aah over the incredible talents of my "online friends". 

The box is super easy to put together, and as always, there is a terrific video tutorial on the SVG Cuts site.  Embellishing it, however, turned out to be quite an involved process for me.  I started with basic black, and added some cream and black print paper with a rhinestone buckle for the band: 

 

 

I like it, but as usual, when I started editing the photo, I decided that my box needed more work.  Am I the only one this happens to?  Why can't I see it before I take the photo?

 

 

I decided to let it rest for the night, and took a fresh look at it in the morning.  I decided that what I really didn't like is that the buckle "bar" shows at the top and bottom.  So, I added some ribbon:

 

 

 

Problem solved!  Except now I think the center looks too plain.  Having just sorted out my "stuff bowl" of leftover bits and pieces, I knew that I had a few coffee filter rose sections cut out, so I painted them with Distress Paint, assembled them into a rose, and hot glued it on:

 

 

Now I'm getting somewhere.  I really like it, but that rose looks kind of lonely.  Hmmm.  I do have a box with about 30 completed roses that I haven't used yet.  Maybe one will match?  Nope. No match.  But I did find three more unassembled layers.  So I repeated the last few steps and added a second rose: 

 

 

Voila! Now I think I am done, (unless I listen to that little voice complaining that there should be 3 roses! Shut up little voice!)

 

Now that I have this one done, I can't wait to make some more. 

 

Have very happy rest of the weekend!

 

Elizabeth







The one with the swap items....

Hi Everyone!

Happy Tuesday!  One day closer to the weekend is how I like to look at it!  Today I would like to share a couple of projects I made last month for a swap with a new group that I joined recently.  It is always a bit intimidating to swap with new people, but this group is incredibly warm and welcoming, so I jumped right in and  joined the first swaps available!

The first thing I made was a group of Spring themed ATCs.  It has been a while since I have done an ATC Swap, and it felt really good to get back to it.  I used my Black Cat Cougar from That's Scrap, Inc.  a lot for this one:

I used the print and cut method for the lilac graphic, and added some holographic white glitter to the base layer, using a Martha Stewart ball point glue pen as the adhesive.  I was impressed with how well it still worked after two years on my craft table. I gave the layers some dimension by using glue dots.  I make my own glue dots in various sizes with Alene's Tack it Over and Over.  Just squeeze it out onto the non stick backing that comes with other supplies (don't throw that stuff out!) and let it dry over night. 

I used my Foil Master, also from That's Scrap, Inc. to foil the text.  (Which means Spring in French: Fancy, no?)  I dyed pearls for the charms with alcohol inks.  The cute little pin brads are from Scrapadabado.  The color in this photo is a bit washed out, so you can't see the charm all that well. 

Speaking of charms, the other swap I joined was a charm swap.  I had so much fun with the last charm swap I participated in, I couldn't wait to do it again.  This is the latest charm I made:

I was really excited to use some hardware in this charm, probably because I spent so much time at Lowe's with DH, picking up deck supplies over the last couple of months.  (I got to put the finishing touches on the deck this weekend - Yay! It's done, and the weather has been perfect for enjoying it!)

 

Anyway, back to the charm.  I printed a graphic with my laser printer, and used gel medium to transfer the image to the washer.  I think it looks really cool!  I dyed the bottom pearl using alcohol ink, and then wired it and the center pearl to the washer, making a loop for the lobster clasp and a secondary charm at the top.  I had so much fun that I bought more washers, and a boat load of colored pearls when they were on sale at Michael's.  I had to create a new storage box, just for charm supplies!  Guess I had better get going and make some more!

 

If you're still with me, thanks for reading all the way through this long post, and as always,  have a happy day!

 

Elizabeth