October 2024 ATC Class

The theme this month was Halloween. The technique was to make our own “patterned paper” by using smaller stamps in different colored inks on the full sheet of cardstock paper, before then cutting it down to ATC size. Then we did ink blending around the edges. That was the base, and we could use whatever we wanted to finish them off. Almost all of the supplies I used were from the September Hero Arts kit. I did two different bases, and then the stamps/dies on both were all from that same set. (On the graveyard pattern, the moon stamp was stamped after the ATC cards were cut.) They were a lot of fun! On a sadder note, it was at this class that I found out the place where I take the classes, Soul Sentiments, will be closing at the end of the year. We are going to look into doing our ATC classes virtually or on the FB group.

September ATC Class

I was in Arizona when the September ATC class was happening, so my teacher sent me some instructions that I hope I interpreted correctly! The theme is “Fall”. We were to use our gel plates and acrylic paint in fall colors, but one requirement was to add some metallic gold. Then we cut the gel plate pulls into 1/2 and 1 inch strips, like making our own “washi tape”. Then we adhered the strips to the full-sized cardstock, and finally, cut it down into the ATC size cards. Then once they were cut, we could do whatever we wanted to add to the “Fall” theme. I used a Lawn Fawn stencil and some purple stencil butter to add some swirling leaves to each card. I have a photo of the uncut cardstock after I glued on the strips (in two different patterns), and then the final cards. I had enough strips left to make 2 A2 card fronts in the diagonal pattern!

August 2024 ATC

The theme for this month was ransom note poetry. The background technique was using alcohol inks on our gel plate, with stencils. You apply the alcohol ink over a stencil onto the gel plate with a brayer, not being concerned if it seeps under the stencil. Remove the stencil and let it dry a couple of minutes. This can be done a second time with a different stencil and different ink color. Then use the brayer to apply white acrylic paint and lay the paper on top when done. Let it sit for a minute or so, then pull it off. My gel plate is small, so I could only get two ATC’s per pull. Then for a few of the cards, I used the “leftovers” from a couple of different pulls and put them onto one ATC which I thought gave it a neat look. Then we made the “poetry” look like a ransom note by using different fonts. Note: Alcohol ink will stain a stencil.

July ATC Class

To create this look, we first applied collage medium over a stencil onto the card stock and let it dry. Then we used distress inks to blend on color, and wiped the color off the medium when done. It can also be done by applying ink to the card stock first, then the collage medium, then more ink. The theme is Summer Vibes.

June ATC Class

This month, we used metal duct tape, embossing folders and alcohol ink to make the backgrounds. We started by putting the duct tape on our full sheet of cardstock, then adding the alcohol ink. I applied mine (3 shades of blue) using dauber/felt pads designed for use with alcohol ink. Then I cut the paper down into ATC’s, followed by running them through a pressure machine in an embossing folder. The metal tape holds the embossing so well!

While I thought the backgrounds turned out great, I struggled with figuring out what to put on them. I found some fish ephemera, but they were a little too big for the ATC size background. I found a tropical fish die and cut the fish cut out in bright colored cardstock and then figured out a layout I liked with them that involved stamping oxide ink onto the background. I made 3-4 of them and then realized that the stamped ink never dried! Even after letting it sit for 48 hours they were still wet. I had to wipe the stamped ink off and come up with a new plan. I used a small tag to put the message on, and then cut out more fish in different colors, silver and coral. The coral color fish were cut out from a pull I made a while ago on the gel plate with acrylic paints.

May 2024 ATC class

This month we all received a set of layering stamps as part of the class. The class was centered on using a set of the layering stamps for our ATC’s, and then build on the layering theme by adding even more layers. The stamp sets were a bird, a cactus and a llama. I went with llama because I have another stamp set that has some llama based sentiments with it. I did the stamping with oxide inks. Then added some layers with papers for the background, a tag (made of 2 layers), and some embellishments. I also did ink blending around the edges of the tag and the card itself.

March ATC class

This is one of my favorite techniques so far! The theme is Tattered Floral. We used Distress Inks (no oxides). The first thing we did was smoosh our full sheets of white card stock with Old Paper ink. Once it dried, we cut to ATC size. Then we used Rusty Hinge to stamp on with a script style stamp. Then we stamped on the floral image with black archival ink. Next, we used diluted distress inks with water brushes to paint the images (these are Prize Ribbon, Picked Raspberry, Broken China and Mowed Lawn). Once completely dry, we blended around the edges with Scattered Straw. I love how they look like they are old and worn! To balance the bottom of the card with the floral image above, I used a paper punch then mounted them on gold card stock. I definitely want to try this technique for a card front.

February 2024 ATC Class

The technique was layering some ink, then embossing on another ink color with an embossing folder, and then using a stencil butter or wax to highlight the impressions even more. And of course, adding on a layer of sparkle/shimmer just for the fun of it. 😀 There really wasn’t a theme other than spring colors.

January ATC Class

The technique was “spotlight”, by using a 1 inch square on a background. It could be contrasting patterned paper, stamped images (stamped on neutral paper, with contrast of same stamp on colored paper or gel plate pull), etc. and matching up the image on the background.  I used an open stamp on patterned paper, then stamped duplicates on white paper and colored them in. The white paper, even with the objects colored in, didn’t “pop” as much as I wanted it to against the background, so then I used some oxide ink to add a blue tint to the squares before adhering them.  

December ATC Class

We got to choose our technique, and the theme was “sparkle” and winter. My background was alcohol ink with glitter additive. The trees are stamped in distress oxide inks and fussy cut. The snow is texture paste then covered in gesso after it dried to make it whiter. Snow flakes are stamped and heat embossed with a sparkle embossing powder.