Episode 1 - Valentine's Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)

I joined ATCs FOR ALL about 2 years ago, but I started swapping ATCs until only a few months ago and never stopped ever since. I call it a challenge but it's also a hobby and an excuse to practice art.  I enjoy knowing that the cards I receive are made by someone from a random place in the world, and it is always a surprise, which I also love.  I take pride in everything I make and I like to show it in the end product. Therefore, I always strive to make the best ATCs to make someone else out there happy. I like to know that my ATCs found their way to a new home where they will be (hopefully) admired.

Today, I will be making 3 ATCs for a swap called Pocket with a Valentine. The guidelines for this particular swap require that all ATCs are different, measure 3.5 x 2.5 in., have a pocket of any sort to place a valentine with a quote/poetry, and the cards can be collaged and made with any medium. 😃💛♡💗
Let's get started!

<<-----3 cards, each measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches, cut out from a box. Then covered (3 layers) with Liquitex Gesso with a rubber brayer.

<<<----tissue paper, scrap paper torn into small pieces and glued on with ModPodge using a brush.

<<<----and left to dry.

<<----I used a Sissix heart shaped die on more pieces of scrap colored paper and glued on with ModPodge.

Using Liquitex modeling paste and a stencil, I created some texture for my backgrounds.

I then used one of my favorite coloring media: Gelatos!, to color

the corners and edges of all 3 cards. I do this with my fingers rubbing the color all around   

the cards.  

To make the pockets, I needed something translucent to be able to show the backgrounds on my cards through the pockets. I used tracing paper, but you can also use parchment paper or even tissue paper.

Now, for the valentine insert 💗...
I found some old index cards that I had previously painted with a mini heart textured brayer and then painted it with Artist Loft watercolors. I stamped the card with a Hero Arts cling stamp using Versafine Onyx black pigment ink.

      

and I decorated the back of the card with washi tape  from Recollections. Then I folded it 3x (trifold) and wrapped it around with a piece of black and white string and attached a Sissix die heart shaped cut out.

I also glued a piece of left over painted index card to decorate the border of the top pocket.

For the second card I stamped "Love You" with a Craftsmart wooden stamp and wrapped it with a long strip of tracing paper as if wrapping a present. I then glued a piece of string and another Sissix heart shaped die cut out.

 For the 3rd and last insert, I stamped a heart directly onto the card and then I stamped a long-legged bird (a rubber stamp I made) on an index card, colored it with distress markers and then cut it out and glued it onto the card over the heart (a stamp from Craftsmart).

All ATC's should be sealed (placed in a plastic clear sleeve) before placing them in an envelope. The swap's host usually requires that we also include a self stamped addressed envelope so that we can receive the return swapped ATC's from other players in the swap :)
Usually, when I mail out 3 ATC's I use a business sized envelope or else:  the post office will charge more postage for a smaller envelope, will have to be hand processed (vs machine processed) and will take longer to deliver (as per my previous experience).
Today, January 17th, I mailed out these 3 ATC's to the swap's host in the Northeast U.S. so that she can distribute to 3 other swap players around the world!. The deadline is next Friday the 27th, so I always make sure to mail them out with enough time.

Thanks for following my blog! I will see you soon with more of my creations.