Sunday 31 August 2014

ATC Swap - 4 Seasons

So another ATC Swap has arri bed, this time over at the wonderful and so inspiring That Craft Place Natter & Chatter group on Facebook!

The theme this time was 4 Seasons, with instructions to make 4 ATCs, one for each of the seasons of the year!

I love this group as a lit of mixed media stuff goes on, something I am increasing my knowledge of challenge by challenge!

So I set myself 2 additional rules for this swap; Rule 1 was to use a mixed media / handmade background instead of preprinted papers etc. Rule 2 came in after my ideas started forming and that was to include skeleton leaves into to the design of each ATC and I managed it!!
 
 
Spring:
 
This ATC I struggled with the most out of all these four, and I actually binned 2 attempts and completely rethought my design!!

The background is acrylic paint and gold glitter. Then the paper layered over the top is inked with distress ink.

The bird is made from cream skeleton leaves. I triple embossed some leaves with clear embossing powder after spraying heavily with Crafters Companion Iridescent Spray and Sparkle. I then smeared a layer of PVA and sprinkled more glitter and small beads. I left this to dry before doing a final layer of clear embossing to seal.

Then I cut out of the leaves the gales for the body tail and wings and stickled around the edges. Left to dry then glued together and added a large gem for the eye!

Summer:
 
I just love the butterfly on this! This is made from silver skeleton leaves which I sprayed with Crafters Companion Pearl Diamonds Spray and Sparkle and then edged with stickles.

The background was plain white cardstock, embossed and the inked with distress inks.

Autumn:
 
I struggled to decide whether the Autumn or Winter ATC is my favourite, but I think that Winter just wins as I simply love the teal colour scheme!

The background for this was made using Sheena Douglas' faux leather technique (kraft card, embossing folder, glycerine, distress inks etc).  I glued the skeleton leaves to the background. The red card strip is edged with a tonic punch. The tags are cut using a tag punch that I don't know the make of!

Winter:
 
My absolute favourite for sure, a probably my favourite season too!! The crisp air is so refreshing to breath in.  It is also the time of year where we focus more than ever on bringing the family all together in one place.

I just love the colours of this and I love working with acrylic paint. I painted a couple of thin layers of home mixed teal blue acrylic paint onto thick cardstock. Whilst still wet I stuck the snowflakes on overlapping the edge with some.

I would like to enter these projects into the following challenges please:

9 comments:

  1. These are fantastic Sam. I actually have a box of those darn skeleton leaves and shame on me have never used them! That is a lovely idea for the summer tag to depict a butterfly with them. You could enter that Tag in My butterfly challenge. Would love to see you there. Hugs Mrs A. (butterfly challenge).

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  2. Hi Sam,
    What a wonderful selection of ATC's...Love them all... Hugs May x x

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  3. All are absolutely amazing. Such detail in such a small space x

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  4. These are fabulous Sam, love the theme and gorgeous embellishments.
    Hugs
    Linda xxx

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  5. These are ab fab hun really gorgeous hugs Judith x

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  6. Fabulous set of ATC's love all the texture and embellishments -thank you for joining us at Crafting at the Weekend
    Carol DT x

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  7. Gorgeous set of ATC's for the seasons, very well done. Thanks for joining us at the Brown Sugar Challenge. Barb

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  8. Love your winter ATC, simply gorgeous. Thanks for sharing on AYLI. Carolxx

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  9. Oh wow, what a beautiful ATC's. Thank you for playing along with us at As You Like It. See you next time. Luv, Wilma

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