ATC’s are quite the rage again in the world of paper arts. Artist Trading Cards or Art Cards, for those who may not know, are small works of art that have a base size of 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches. You can trade these, turn them into banners, books or use them to create a trendy pocket letter. Pocket Letters are plastic pages that features 9 ATC sized card spaces and are a fun way to store, share and collect ATC’s. You can make them all coordinate, let them help tell a story, express a thought a day or just for fun.
Pocket Letters are a perfect way to showcase your favorite ATC’s or momentos. You can frame them, turn into a large book or just showcase them on your inspiration board in the studio. CCB Crew Member Irit Shalom shares with us a great pocket letter using 9 ATC cards, some papers and trims. Its totally fabulous…So lets get started and see how Irit made this….
This is a trendy pocket letter that actually holds 9 ATC size cards made in the same theme and I chose Arts and Crafts using the new 7gypsies collection that is not all about art, but is a perfect backdrop for art details, crafty sayings and inspiration. I added stamped images over most of the cards and used more than dozen of Tattered Angels paints and mists in a range of colors.
Materials used:
- 7gypies Ordre du Jour 8″x8” paper pad
- Canvas Corp Burlap Blue
- 7gypsies – Lace trimmings assorted pack
- Canvas Corp Twisted hemp rope natural
- Tattered Angels High Impact Paint: red, hot pink, aqua,olive, light blue,white, black
- Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists:Curious, Marigold, Cross my Heart
- Canvas Corp Small clothespins
- Canvas Corp Artist Trading Cards – Ivory
- Tattered Angels Chalkboard Mist- Chalk
- 7gypsies Paper Tape
- Stamps- Rubber Dance
- Inks- Clearsnap
- Washi tape
- 1.4 Pocket letter refill- Kaisercrafts
- Die- Vintasia
- Stencil- Stencilgirl
Step 1 – Cover 9 ivory ATC cards with different pieces of Ordre du Jour 8″x8” papers. The papers features a wide range of art that are scaled just right for ATC’s.
Step 2 – Stamp onto the cards with a variety of arts and crafts stamps from Rubber Dance. I used brown ink, but some stamped images are in other colors.
Step 3 – Add different High Impact Paint colors to stamped and hand cut artist’s pallet and let it dry. Ink the edges of some cards and paper pieces with the same High Impact paints. Color the artists’ brushes images with the same paint. Add paint splashes over some cards as shown. This is your time to have fun with the paints and add color anywhere you want.
Step 4 – Use stencil to add some upper texture with gel medium over the painted cards.
Step 5 – Mist the cards with a mix of Glimmer mists and add Chalkboard Mist in white (chalk) splashes all over the cards.
Step 6 – Add some extras over the cards, such as a piece of blue burlap, a piece of lace, a piece of rope etc for more interest and as a piece for possible use for the letter receiver. Add a couple of cloth pins over the central title card.
Step 7 – Add a piece of washi tape over the border, as we don’t want to see all binder holes. Add a piece of red CC tape over to cover the manufacturer name (not very interested in seeing this either.) Die cut a few small vintage cuts from the same patterned paper pad and glue them on two cards for more texture and interest.
How easy was that? This kind of project allows that carefree self to come out. Mixed media is such a great way to allow your creativity to come to life. For more projects like these and other forms of inspiration from our CCB Crew 2016 visit our blog!!!!
Google Pocket Letters to find out more creative ideas, swaps and groups you might want to join. To see more of Irit’s work visit her blog – Irit Shalom
Happy Creating!!!!
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'Art and Craft Pocket Cards' has 1 comment
May 23, 2016 @ 6:42 pm Mary
Love your Pocket Letter and technique. Beautiful work.