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BIG Serendipity Background ATCs

Launch gallery slideshow

Swap Coordinator:LauraAust (contact)
Swap categories: Artist Trading Card (ATC) 
Number of people in swap:19
Location:International
Type:Type 3: Package or craft
Last day to signup/drop:October 15, 2012
Date items must be sent by:November 15, 2012
Number of swap partners:12
Description:

If 13 or more people sign up for this swap you will have TWELVE (12) partners - keep this in mind before signing up! This is a big swap - but not a particularly hard one. If fewer than 13 people sign up we will still move forward but will have fewer partners.

For this swap you will be sending each partner ONE (1) ATC - you will be creating a total of TWELVE (12) ATCs.

You will start with a piece of cardstock, cardboard, watercolor paper, etc. that measures 12"x12". Then you will begin to build a master background piece (a serendipity board) - maybe you will paint it, then layer napkins, then do some collage, then some rubber stamping, then some Stickles, etc. The more layers the better! And the more RANDOM the better! Any and all techniques and mediums are welcome!

Once you are satisfied with your master board, cut it into 12 ATCs - remember, the one rule about ATCs is that they MUST measure 2 1/2" by 3 1/2" !

Once you have your 12 ATCs cut you must add a MINIMUM of one more embellisment to each one (feel free to add more) - this could be a cut out stamped image, an image from a collage sheet, a nice sticker, ribbon, a brad(s), a diecut, etc. Make your ATC look like a finished piece of art - don't add something just for the sake of adding it.

You might also want to ink the edges of your ATCs but this is NOT required. Just another idea to get your creative juices flowing.

There is no set "theme" for this swap - sender's choice. Please do your best work and send ATCs that you are proud of and would like to receive yourself!

I will go through the sign up list before assigning partners and will ban anyone who I feel might be a risk in this swap. Please don't sign up if if this is your first ATC swap - please be sure you have completed at least 5 paper crafting swaps (and been rated for them) prior to this one. The required 5 swaps can be ATCs, inchies, twinchies, journals, chunky pages, rolos, mailart, etc.

Please list any questions you have below so everyone can see the answers - thanks!

Discussion

sammie91 09/19/2012 #

This was the way I originally learned to make atcs in a class. I got such messy hands and had a blast. The finished atcs all looked so different, yet so similar. Once you cut the paper, they all look so cool. One doesnt even have to use a pretty background paper, cause they all look pretty once done.

LauraAust 09/19/2012 #

EXACTLY! :)

AZmom875 09/19/2012 #

Oh I saw a tutorial by LInda Israel about collage back grounds. I loved making them. Here is link, it might inspire you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKMRjj4DKPI&feature=related

twixthemaddog 09/21/2012 #

I'm not an embellishment person, but I'd happily collage/paint/print/draw to enhance the final cards. Is that OK?

LauraAust 09/21/2012 #

@twixthemaddog - that is perfectly fine!

JBromeling 09/24/2012 #

I wanta join - Thanks for posting the video link @AZmom875 That was very inspirational and made me feel like even I could do that! Do have a question tho - Where can you get the GEL MEDIUM? I have seen the Golden Brand used on several tutorials but I am not sure where to purchase this.

LauraAust 09/24/2012 #

I use the MATTE form of Modge Podge for techniques like this (layering napkins and collage, etc.) - it's not sticky like REGUALR Modge Podge - and you can buy it most anywhere! :)

Lady 09/24/2012 #

I'd rather send & receive 3 ATC from 4 people, one third the postage and we get to see how others made each one unique. I'll watch for now.

LauraAust 09/24/2012 #

All 12 ATCs do not have to be unique - you can add the exact same embellishment to all 12 of them since they are each going to a different partner.

@Lady - feel free to host another version of this swap where you make 12 ATCs and only send to 4 partners. Thanks!

allofmyheart 09/28/2012 #

Have you any tips about how best to cut the board up?

LauraAust 09/29/2012 #

I have an office style paper chopper. But a ruler and an x-acto knife might work well. If it's not too thick you might be able to just use really good scissors....

allofmyheart 09/29/2012 #

I have a rotary paper cutter, is that the kind of thing you mean? Am I right in thinking there will be some spare, not all of the 12 x 12 need be used?

LauraAust 09/29/2012 #

Yes, I would think that a rotary paper cutter would work. Yes, there will be some excess background left once you have cut your 12 ATCs.

twixthemaddog 09/30/2012 #

Re medium, I use the Windsor and Newton acrylic matt medium sold alongisde the acrylic paints in my local art shop. I suspect that any kind of gloopy acrylic paint medium would do the job. (I'm in the UK and I don't think you can get Modge Podge here anyway).

LauraAust 09/30/2012 #

Here's my background ready to be cut into ATCs - haven't decided how to decorate each one yet...

LauraAust 09/30/2012 #

I started out with pages from Gray's Anatomy, used Cat Eye ink pads in 6 or 7 colors to color them, stamped the skulls in black Staz On ink, then added Ranger Perfect Pearls mists in three colors, covered the whole thing with matte Mod Podge, then finished the whole thing off with spray-on glitter.

AZmom875 10/ 1/2012 #

JBromeling I should have mentioned when I made some collage boards like the ones in the linda Israel link above, I used a bottle of tacky glue, and it worked fine, so I think just about any glue works.

sammie91 10/ 9/2012 #

Laura, I love your background. Is there any certain theme for this swap?. I cant wait to start my background. I love this idea.

LauraAust 10/ 9/2012 #

Thank you! No, no theme - sender's choice!

Lady 10/15/2012 #

thank you for your graciousness @LauraAust ! I think i will host a fewer partner version. re-read my comment & wish there was an edit function here. I think I may have just come from a forum where there was a discussion of a different swap & trying to decide how many partners. oops!

sammie91 10/22/2012 #

I have my background finished now. Had to do that before I picked a theme. Now I have several themes to choose from, lol. So hope someone does heat embossing on theirs. Have somehow misplaced my heat tool, grrrr. Hope everyone is having fun with this swap!!!!!!

hlwolfe72 11/16/2012 #

I put these in the mail yesterday, unfortunately, I did not have Internet access to be able to mark them sent!

CarlaDMG 11/30/2012 #

Hooray! 24 for 24 -- received all 12 and have been rated on all 12. Super swap.

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