Autumn ATCs

It's been a while since I posted an Artist Trading Card (ATC).  There is a good reason - I haven't made any for a while.  One of my trading groups is getting back into a regular swapping schedule and it's fun to be working on themes for these little creations.

In case you don't know anything about Artist Trading Cards, I'll explain the "rules" which are very simple.  The cards must be 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches, signed and numbered by the artist and they are to be traded but never sold. They can be done in any medium and often have a theme.  For our group this month the theme was "Fall" or Autumn."

Remember this big tangle of ribbon left from our nephew's wedding celebration?  I told you that I had some projects in mind to use it and these cards are the first ribbon project that I am posting.

 I cut frames from heavy Bazzill cardstock - the outer dimension is...(were you reading carefully? - 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches!) and the border is 1/2 inch so the inner dimension is 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches.  I have a file for this frame set up in Design Studio and also one on the Gypsy.  This saves a lot of time and guarantees that the frames will fit together evenly.  I put some adhesive all around the back side of one frame.  Then I added pieces of ribbon stretched across the shorter opening.  For these ribbons, the comfortable number to fit the opening was seven different lengths of ribbon.  I alternated the sheer and the striped edge ribbons and allowed the colors to fall in randomly.

Once I had the short lengths of ribbon secure, I started weaving longer pieces of the striped edge ribbon through the opening.  It is just a simple over under pattern and the ends are secured with the adhesive on the edges of the frame.  I used an ATG adhesive, red liner tape or Scor-tape would also be good choices.

There longer lengths of ribbon fit comfortably - I might have been able to squeeze in a fourth row but I have a "thing" about the numbers three and seven so I kept it to three.  I used the slightly wider striped edge ribbon for all three piece in this direction.

Once the weaving was finished, I applied more adhesive and added a second frame.  The fall colors were perfect for this project.

I had some beautiful leaf patterned paper with metallic accents to keep the Autumn theme going and I cut another set of frames from this paper.  This is an old line from Making Memories called Autumn Splendor and I bought a lot of it on clearance a year or two ago so I don't think you would be able to find it in stores any more.  The finishing accent is a leaf charm from the Creative Charms Fall Medley.

The closer view shows the delicate leaf pattern in the paper.  I didn't try to get the same section of the leaf pattern on each ATC or worry about which ribbons I used - usually I try hard to keep the cards identical but I was a little less fussy for this set of cards.

There were only six of us participating this month so I didn't have too much weaving to do.  It is easy but a little time consuming - especially if you have trouble being "random" with your ribbon choices!

I could have just used the brown frames (this is a view of the backs of the cards) but I think the leaf patterned paper really pulled things together for the theme.

Sometimes I do the backs digitally - in this case I simply hand wrote all of the information around the frame opening on the back.

I have a lot more ribbon to use - so keep a watch out to see where it turns up next!


We had torrential rains on and off on Friday - fingers are crossed for a good day today since it is our twice yearly "Drop-Off/Swap-Off" here in town.  Residents can recycle all sorts of items and there is also an open area where you can leave things that are in good condition that you don't want and maybe pick up something someone else didn't want anymore - the "one man's trash in another man's treasure" principle.  I find this to be a great place to pick up glass vases for etching and all sorts of random objects that can be used for crafty projects.  My husband wishes I didn't have so many "crafty ideas" sometimes - maybe another apple pie will help keep the peace!


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