ATCs: Mini-Scrapbook Pages

The scrapbook page

It just occurred to me that ATCs are an excellent way to test themes and layouts for scrapbook pages, and vice versa. Of course the “page” dimensions may be different, but you can pull together different elements related to your chosen theme (say, Autumn) and see how they turn out.

I’ve done this with the “Dream” ATC and “Piper’s Dream” digital scrapbook page. Both use the same photo (though it’s not the main picture on the scrapbook page), dream theme, and color scheme, and the background of falling leaves is common to both, although done in slightly different ways.

The ATC

So the next time you have a theme or color scheme for a scrapbook page (whether traditional or digital), try a mini version of it on an ATC.

Also, if you have scrapbook page that you’re particularly fond of, try making a mini version of it on an ATC. You can even use the ATC as an added attraction to  the scrapbook page by turning in into an embellishment!

Tags: Art Cards, Artist Trading Cards, ATCs, Autumn, Cats, Digital Scrapbooking, Scrapbooking

Here be ATCs (and CATs)!

I just realized that most of my posts are on ATCs. You be the judge whether that’s good or bad, but it’s simply because I’ve made quite a few of them already since they’re quite easy (and fun!) to put together, compared to other pieces (like the parchment fans) that can take some time to finish.

You may have also noticed that many of the ATCs feature CATs (hey, nice anagram, huh!). Yeah, I love those furry feline friends of mine (more than a dozen at any given time!), and I’m wondering if I should spin off an ATC Cats blog, similar to Scrapbook Cats. Hmm. We’ll see.

Tags: Art Cards, Artist Trading Cards, ATCs, Cats, Digital Scrapbooking, Scrapbooking

Mother and Child

Mother and Child, Collage.

Perfect for Mother’s Day! I was lucky to catch Piper and her kitty Strider in this really “Aww, that’s so sweet” moment, and knew this photo had to be in a vintage sort of setting. I converted the photo to sepia, put it in a heart-shaped frame under a vellum sheet embossed around the edges to resemble lace, and added a pink satin bow.

The background paper,  btw, is a vintage paper-backed foil giftwrap that reminded me so much of my mom – she had this ottoman upholstered in yellow leatherette with huge copper rose prints, plus recipe books covered with paper-backed foil giftwrap that was so popular at the time.

Anyway, going back to this ATC – I loved this picture so much that I made a digital scrapbbook page for it! Check it out at my other blog, Scrapbook Cats.

Tags: Art Cards, ATCs, Collage, Digital Scrapbooking, Embossing, Scrapbooking, Vellum, Vintage

Bad Days

Fifi having a bad day.

Another excuse to use my latest find — dome alpha stickers! The background is actually metallic blue card (it doesn’t show up nicely in the pic) with a strip of vellum acting as a mat for the letters.

I only realized a day after taking her photo that Fifi wasn’t feeling quite well, hence the long face, so we made a quick trip to vet. We learned she was dehydrated, and had her confined. She quickly recovered, but ran off after a few months — my sister saw her at the sari-sari store down the block. Fifi looked contented with her new family, so we didn’t bother to get her back. I still see her strolling near the store once in a while, but she probably doesn’t know me anymore.

Tags: Art Cards, Artist Trading Cards, ATCs, Cats, Collage, Scrapbooking

Best Buds

Best Buds, 16 March 2008. Collage.

One of my more recent ATCs. Note the happy, scrapbookish style. I assembled this when I was in one of my scrapbooking moods, and I was excited to try out my new heat gun, embossing powder and clear stamps.

This card commemorates the unique, though sadly short-lived friendship of Coal (in black fur) and Tubby (in white fur). Tubby passed away a few days after this was taken, a few hours into the New Year, due to some strange malady. Coal passed away last week of September this year due to some kidney ailment.  Oh well, we’ll meet each other at the Rainbow Bridge…

Trivia: Yes, that’s a stainless steel mixing bowl they’re snuggled in!

Fun tip: Jewelry price tags are the perfect size for ATCs, and for scrapbooks as well!

Tags: Art Cards, ATCs, Cats, Collage, Embossing, Scrapbooking, Stamps