Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Parchment ATCs

I was given my first ever ATC by my sister Jean, back in the Autumn of 2005 and I have been swapping them ever since. I did several organised monthly swaps when I lived in UK, but it became harder after I came out here, and some went missing in transit. Plus  I had to rely on people sending me British stamps for the return postage, so I did fewer. I also found it difficult when I wasn't inspired by the given theme for that month, or I was restricted to using a certain company's stamps etc and I didn't have anything by them to go with the theme, so I stopped doing them at all for a while. Then I found a few people who were happy to do personal swaps occasionally, and this suited me much better, so that's what I do right now. I am at a point where I owe a few to people so I set to and made a set. I missed out on the swap over at Julia's Stamping ground, for the birthday of What's on your workdesk Wednesday, due to my trip to UK and family events, but a couple of the friends I visit there, offered to swap with me  the next week, so I wanted some for them as well, and here is what I made.

When I posted the ATCs I had made to take to my Grand-daughter last month, I had so many kind comments about the parchment craft one, that I decided to have another go at them. It is also good practice for me, before my next parchment craft lesson tomorrow. I used the same piercing pattern to make the lacé effect but this time I mounted each piece onto alcohol ink backgrounds that I made years ago when I bought my first inks. At the time I thought they were a bit bright but that's what I needed for these cards. 

Then it was just a case of choosing toning embellishments for each one. These range from buttons, to paper and resin flowers, gems and sticky ribbons, and for one I stamped my favourite dragon. I saw this image on the side of a very muddy delivery van in Murcia, as I sat at a roadside café, so I took a quick photo, and when I got home I edited it on my computer until I had a good black and white image and then I made a stamp using imagepac. I also made a cutting file so I can cut him out any size, and I have made a 30cm one in red paper to go in my scrapbook about our holiday across S.E.Asia. For the ATC I stamped him onto lightweight card in Versafine black onyx, cut him out, and then embossed him with standard, clear powder. I thought he went well with that particular backing card and ribbon which had a slightly Oriental look about them.

I actually made more than one of some of these designs, and I have just a couple left over, so if anyone would like to swap, and you don't mind posting to Spain, use the e-mail above to send me your address and I will get one to you.

11 comments:

  1. Hi Kate,
    I'd love to swap ATCs with you. I've just emailed you my details so please send me yours.
    Hugs,
    Annie x

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  2. Beautiful ATCs, such lovely colours and I love the lace effect with the parchment.Jean x

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  3. Kate these are stunning - I am interested in swapping - I made my first two ATC's just the other day ;-).
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  4. Beautiful parchment atc's I will have to zoom in and have a closer look to this very pretty technique. Wonderful pics of so many interesting things in your craft room. But kitty takes the prize .. what a beautiful cat. Thank you for stopping by and saying hello.
    Sandra

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  5. Kate, I have you on my "to do" list to email you and thank you for my absolutely stunning ATC - thank you for posting about them because I was really curious to know how you did the little dragon! I am also very interested in how you did the background which peeps through the parchment work. It's an absolutely exquisite tiny work of art and I shall treasure it always. I so appreciate that you sent it!!

    As you know, I am very behind at the moment, having been poorly, but you have not been forgotten, and an ATC will be winging its way to you soon. I haven't got your address, though, so if you could email that to me, that would be great.

    Very, very many thanks for such a perfect little treasure! There is so much in it, and I keep looking at it.

    Hugs,
    Shoshi x

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  6. your parchment ATCs are amazing! i was also late for the WOYWW swap and have only just started! let me know if you want to swap. happy WOYWW!
    hugs, #23 peggy aplSEEDS

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  7. Wow, these are stunning! I am so totally impressed by all the techniques you seem to master.

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  8. Hi Kate love the ATCs
    Beautiful parchment detailing
    Just love your embellishing too

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  9. Thanks for your lovely comment, Kate - I'm definitely feeling better now but really trying hard not to overdo things again!! If my hubby hadn't had a flat tyre this a.m. he'd have gone to the P.O. with my ATCs... He may go to another one this p.m. (our local one shuts at lunch time) if he's in the area, but anyway, your ATC is on its way!!

    Hope you're having a good week.

    Shoshi

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  10. They are even more beautiful IRL than the picture shows.

    I love my one, thanks Kate.

    Hugs
    Sarn xxx

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  11. What a cool technique! Now I'm wondering if I have a die that will get me a similar but not exact effect...thanks for the inspiration! :)
    -Deeyll

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