Heart ATC Throwback #tbt

It has been quite a while since my last Throwback Thursday post. I am happy to share this lovely ATC from 2008 on Bibiana's Throwback Thursday.

Heart ATC Throwback #tbt

I love looking back at my older posts, because they invariably bring back memories. Sometimes when I am playing with my quilling, shapes line up and create fun shapes. In this case, the double scrolls formed many of the hearts on this trading card.  If you want a brief tutorial click here to go to the original post.

It would be fun if you joined in here.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Throwback Thursday - Breast Cancer Courage ATC #tbt

Since it is October, I thought it would be appropriate to share my "Courage" ATC that I created for my friend who is a breast cancer survivor. I made this in 2010 and am happy to report that she is still cancer free today!

Courage ATC - honoring a breast cancer survivor

Artist Trading Card (ATC) freely given, never sold... I haven't made any ATCs recently, and now I think I may want to try my hand at a few, how about you?

Here is a closeup of the quilling on this one, I love the look that the paper glaze gave it.  I think this was one of the first times I used paper glaze and have been a fan ever since!

Orange and Pink Quilled Mandala

Please click here to get the instructions to make the lovely Quilled Mandala and a tutuorial on making ATCs.

I am joining Bibiana's link party, you can find her badge on my link party tab!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy New Year - Good Bye 2011, Hello 2012!!!

WOW!!! Can you believe that today is the last day of 2011? I know it is true, but am aware of all that has happened this year and hoping that 2012 will be a fantastic year!

I thought it would be fitting to take a look at some of my favorite projects from 2011...

A Year in Review if you will... It was difficult to settle on just these ten, but I had to put some parameters around what I would share, or I would still be writing this - lol.  I have linked each picture to the original post that will show the technique, digi, printable, and/or tutorial.

I have included some quilled items... yeah, well, most of them are quilled projects... what can I say? I love to look at the quilling.  It actually makes me realize that I haven't done as much quilling as I would have liked, but something that hopefully I can make up for in 2012 :-)

I've also included some of the printables from the year, I am working on my tabs across the top to make things like the printables easier to find... look for some blog updates in 2012 :-)

And then I had to share the winter snowstorm before Halloween - I am still cold remembering that one!

I hope that each of you has a SAFE and HAPPY New Year!!!

	Ahh, my Blue Quilled Snowman. I absolutely love his scrolls, and the open quilling! Don't you?		Birthday Cake Card. I had lots of fun making this card and trying a new technique too!  I even got to play with a cuttlebug, neat.
	Spirit ATC This is my all time favorite ATC, probably because I love horses.		Christmas Angel Who can resist this sweet little angel ornament?
	A Hug Card This is one of my favorite style of cards... and works so well with those gift cards.		Our Halloween snowfall and a week with no power - Brrrrr...
	Father's Day printable I had lots of fun with making printables this year.		Folk Art Bird I love folk art and this was inspired by that tradition.
	A Cross Ornament I find that I make a lot of spreuer designs, and this is no different!		Flag printable Thought this was a nice way to end my year in review with a patriotic printable!

May 2012 bring you lots of inspiration and joy!

Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Wacky Wednesday Spirit ATC Tutorial

Welcome to Wacky Wednesday and a quilled ATC tutorial!

Ok, I have to admit, as corny as it sounds, I am having fun finding odd and interesting words that start with "W" our word today is:

wadmal  -  meaning thick coarse wool

ok, not very useful, but still fun - lol

Boy, am I grateful that there are 24 hours in a day because I need every minute to get some of my posts in...

Today I wanted to share with you my absolute favorite ATC of all time! Last week I posted instructions for my Quilled Sun ATC on an acrylic background and today it is "SPIRIT" this is an ATC I made as part of a SWAP.  I just love the black and white simplicity and I hope you do too!

I started with a white cardstock and printed the words directly onto the full sheet - I played around with placement a bit until I found a font and layout that I liked.  I selected the words:

Spirit

Inspiration

Dream

Once I printed the words onto the cardstock, I cut the cards to ATC size 2.5 in x 3.5 in (6.4 cm x 8.9 cm)

For the horse silhouette, I did a google search (and guess what, I found a site that has the image:  http://karenswhimsy.com/horse-silhouette.shtm)

• I printed the silhouette on white printer paper using an inkjet printer and cut it out
• I decoupaged the horse onto the ATC
• This is where a happy thing happened - the black ink ran a little and created the neatest background effect
• I added a few glue layers to get a nice shiny look
• You have to let the glue dry completely before you can add the quilling (if it starts to curl, place it under a heavy object)

For the quilled elements:

• 8 - 6 in (15.2 cm) Fringed Strips White 1/8 in (  cm) wide paper
• Create 8 fringed flowers by rolling the paper into a tight roll and then gently pressing on the fringes to make the flowers as shown.
• 10 - 4 in (10.2  cm) White Teardrops for flower petals
• Arrange 5 teardrops, glued at the tip (pointed end) to make flower
• You will make 2 of these
• Add a Crystal in the center for added sparkle

Arrange the flowers as shown

I have so many ideas floating around my head about how I might re-do this ATC... Maybe creating an outline of a horse instead of using a silhouette image - perhaps creating a flowing mane and tale instead of the fringed flowers... so many possibilities :-)

Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Wacky Wednesday Quilled Sun ATC Tutorial

Welcome to another Wacky Wednesday and an ATC Tutorial!

First, our interesting "W" word of the day:
     wakerife - means wakeful, indisposed to sleep
This is me lately... which is why I am up at 3 am writing this post instead of sleeping in until 4 am when I have to get up to start my day - lol

I am very happy today, our baseball team won their first playoff game!!! It was a nail biter down to the end.  I think the thing that made me so proud was the fact that after the game my son felt bad for the other boys because they were so sad that they lost.  I love the fact that he has a kind heart.  So in honor of all the hard work and the fact that he will be walking 10 feet tall today, I chose a SUNNY ATC for today's project.

For those of you wondering, ATCs are Artist Trading Cards.  They are basically miniature pieces of art that you share / trade.  If you want to learn a little more, click this link.

I started with your basic 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inch (ATC size) paper.  For this project I cut acrylic paint paper from a pad down to size since I knew I was going to paint it.

I then took different shades of yellow and orange and painted the background.  I started with the lightest shade of yellow across the entire background.  It is hard to see, but that is a very pale yellow not white in the background.  Then I took my brightest yellow and liberally applied it to most of the canvas using a dry brush so you can see the brush marks.  Finally I took a more orange color and applied it in a circular pattern in the center.

• For the quilled sun, I took a strip of Yellow and Orange quilling paper
• I started with the yellow and turned it about 8 times and then I looped in the orange
• I did not glue them together, I simply rolled both colors so that you could see both
• When I added the orange, I added it to the inside so that when I ended the Yellow was on the outside
• When I got to the end I cut the orange to the length of the yellow
• I created a loose coil shape so I let it open up and then glued both ends down
• I then took various lengths of Yellow and quilled spiral shapes
• I then arranged the spirals around the sun for the rays of sunshine

And that is it! A very simple and fun card to share with your friends and family.  This pattern is simple enough that you can make them with your kids.

Have a Great Day!! I'd love to see any ATCs you have made!

Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Aquamarine Blog Givaway

I was visiting Tee at the Altered Paper and saw that her friend Tara at Aquamarine is having a giveaway... you have to check out her beautiful work and you can enter to win a chance for these 4 incredible Mixed Media Art Cards (with envelopes) and a teeny tiny painting too.  She will be picking the winner on Monday, February 28th (I think).

Good Luck!
Antonella :-)

Courage a Breast Cancer ATC

I wanted to share with everyone an ATC that I made for a friend when she found out that she had breast cancer.  I gave her this card before she went in for her surgery.  I know that in the US there have been some new studies out about breast cancer and the such, I wanted to say that I personally think that it is a good idea to go to your doctor for your exams and that I have seen mamograms save lives - don't put your health second, your life matters.

In honor of all those courageous people who battle breast cancer, I share with you my free pattern:

ATC pattern:

• Cut Purple cardstock: 2.5 in x 3.5 in (6.4 cm x 8.9 cm)
• For this ATC I created my own paper. I used MicroSoft PowerPoint to create this look.
• I wanted to simulate the look of quilling paper strips so I created colored lines in various widths and shades to create the background.
• I then trimmed 1/4 inches off top and side so that it is 1/8 inch smaller, on all sides, than the purple ATC size cardstock. Finally, I tore the right edge (I love that look)
• I printed the word "Courage" on a scrap piece of paper and added some pink chalk through the word (sorry, don't remember what font I used)
• I then added Alene's Paper Glaze over "Courage" (don't you love that look?).

 Mandala

• 5 - 4 inch ( cm) Orange Teardrops.  Arrange and glue with the tip (pointed ends) touching.
• 5 - 4 inch ( cm) Pink Tight Rolls.  Arrange and glue between the orange teardrops at the rounded end.
• 10 - 4 inch ( cm) Orange Teardrops.  Arrange and glue 2 at a time, with the rounded ends touching and attach to the top of the first Orange layer of teardrops.
• 5 - 6 inch ( cm) Pink Teardrops.  Arrange and glue between the points of the Orange teardrops you just glued down.
• 5 - 6 inch ( cm) Orange Teardrops.  Arrange and glue to the top of the Pink Tight Rolls.
• Paint entire Mandala with Alene's Paper Glaze (or similar product) to get that beautiful glossy look.
• Allow to dry completely
• Add a Crystal in the center for added sparkle and bling!

Glue to the ATC to complete the project.

I loved how the pink and orange look together.  The best part about this mandala design is that you can attach a pin back and wear it as a pin or attach a connector and have a beautiful necklace and the lovely glass look that the paper glaze gives it makes it a treasure for you or a friend.

 

Enjoy!

Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

What are Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)?

So you want to know what Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) are?

My personal definition of ATCs is that they are a fun way to share a piece of yourself with friends, family, and future acquaintances. The ATCs that I have done have involved some amount of quilling, so for me an ATC is a way to share what I am passionate about. You too can share your passion, an art form, medium, quote, dream, or craft that you love.

Now for the official definition as taken from Wikipedia:

Artist Trading Cards are individual art miniatures which pass hand to hand. Some sources have credited M. Vänçi Stirnemann, who began trading sessions in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1997, as popularizing ATCs in the modern era, although modern ATC's can be traced back to portrait miniatures and to a kind of business card popular with Impressionistic era artists.^[1]

The official size of an Artist Trading Card is 2.5 in x 3.5 in (6.4 cm x 8.9 cm). Think of baseball trading cards and the idea is the same. The orientation can be either vertical or horizontal and I have created them both ways.

Some form of cardstock usually is the base of the ATC but any material can be used. Think of polymer clay, thin balsa wood or metal to give you some alternative ideas.

From what I have seen and read, the only thing they have to be is 2.5 in x 3.5 in (6.4 cm x 8.9 cm). Everything else is up to you!

Some ideas for your ATCs:

• If you draw, sketch a design on your card blank
• Paint with acrylic or oils or watercolors
• Scrap a shabby chic design
• Take the "altered" approach and alter your trading card
• Decoupage your trading card

Controversy
Yes, even with Artist Trading Cards there is controversy. The generally accepted approach is that they are to be "traded, not sold"

So the controversy arises when some artists sell theirs. I personally have only given mine away. That is because I love to share what I do with others, and this is a small way for me to connect with people and share quilling.

So this is all about what ATCs are. Click Here and for instructions to make my One World, One Heart ATC that I made for Lisa Oceandreamer (refer to the picture).



There are plenty of places to go to trade your ATCs online, just look for swaps online and you can find one of your own.

If you are interested in a swap, let me know... I'd love to do one.

Enjoy!
Antonella :-)

Technorati Tags: quilling, paper filigree, filigrana, Artist Trading Card, ATC, OWOH, childrens crafts

Free Pattern Quilling Artist Trading Card

I promised that I would share the pattern for the One World, One Heart Artist Trading Card (ATC) that I made for Lisa Oceandreamer.

For this ATC I used a variety of techniques and I also played with fonts. I think that my passions run from Paper (being top of the list) to fonts running a close second. Of course, these are outside of the real-life people in my life - lol.

This was a one of a kind ATC as I was making it as a gift for Lisa as hostess of the One World, One Heart blogging event. She really went above and beyond and I can only imagine all the work she put in to keep up with all the requests to join the event.

Many of my projects involve the use of a product called PowerPoint. This is a Microsoft product that allows me to play with objects and place them where I want. I created the text One World One Heart in a font called Scriptina, http://desktoppub.about.com/library/fonts/hs/uc_scriptina.htm, there are a variety of places you can download it, this is just one of them.

I like this font because it has a very thin line and flows well (it even works on vellum). This is what I did:

• I placed the text as though I had stamped it all over my 2.5 in x 3.5 in (6.5 cm x 8.9 cm) trading card area.
• I let the text run over the side of the trading card area because I knew that I was going to crop it later.
• I printed it on a white cardstock, so I added a translucent pink to the area that would be cropped.
• The other thing that I did was to use different shades of pink and red so that the center text would really stand out. You can see this if you look at the picture.

Then I printed it out and cropped it so that it was 2 in by 3 in (5 cm x 7.6 cm). I did this because I mounted it on a glistening pink color cardstock.

I inked all of the sides with a rose colored stamp pad to give it that shabby chic appearance. What can I say, I like inking the edges of my papers.

Now I was ready for the quilling, and I have been really into scrolls lately and so I used double scrolls and heart scrolls.

• 6 - 3 in (7.6 cm) White Double Scrolls
• 3 - 3 in (7.6 cm) Red Heart Scrolls
• 1 - 3 in (7.6 cm) Green V-scroll
• 1 - 1.5 in (3.8 cm) Green shaped Teardrop
• 1 - 1.5 in (3.8 cm) Green strip for the stem

• My favorite thing about the double scrolls is that if you arrange them in a certain way, they join together to make a heart. Like ornamental ironwork. So I used this to my advantage, playing on the "heart" theme of the event.
  
  
• I arranged 2 pairs of double scrolls this way creating 2 "Hearts with a flourish"
  
  
• I arranged 2 Heart-scrolls with the pointed ends touching and then took the remaining 2 double scrolls and glued them to either side. I then added a rhinestone in the center.
  
  
• The final element I added was a heart flower. For this I added a Heart-Scroll wrapped with a V-Scroll and then placed a strip of green quilling paper and added a shaped teardrop for the leaf.

I hope that this inspires you to try making one of your own Artist Trading Cards.

Enjoy!

Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

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