Non-Paper ATC

I kind of think that not even cardstock or paper should be allowed for the base. There should be no paper at all on a no-paper atc. Anyway... that is my opinion and that's how I'll be making mine.

What does everyone else say? I thought that it might be difficult for some to create their vision without some sort of a base. I can edit the swap, though, if the group wants. Or, we can leave it up to individual choice. ??

You know all those stamps on plastic sheets? They're really hard to use up! They'd make good atc s!

what kind of bases could be used if not cardstock?

card board?

I think we'll leave it as is, just don't have any paper or cardstock showing on the front. That way if you want to use band-aids or something like that (lol) it won't be flimsy. How does that sound? :)

I've made a few non-paper ATC using fabric (see here for example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/picturesbyann/2743145181/ .

What I've done that seems to work well is to use the iron-on fusing (it's kind of like glue for fabric that comes in a roll). I iron that onto the back of the fabric that I want to use, and then cut out the shapes and/or backing for the card I'm making.

If you are doing a shape or figure (let's say a chicken, for example, like this one I did: http://www.flickr.com/photos/picturesbyann/2704019352/ ) you iron on the different shapes onto the background. Do your embroidery and embellishment.

Then, for your backing you take a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch piece of fabric with the fusing and iron that onto the reverse side of the front's background (did that make sense?)

Once you do that...you can finish it off either by hand (e.g., blanket-stitch) or by sewing machine.

Email me if you have any questions or need clarification. This is one way that I found works for me, but I'm sure there are many other ways out there that others could share.

Things besides aper to use: Fabric, Polymer clay, Acetate, glass, wood, Wire ribbon, crochet, knitting,embroidery, needlepoint, copper sheet, aluminum sheet, fun foam, canvas board, stretched canvas, gesso board, clayboard, playdoh, ceramics, PMC, plexiglas/lexan, woven natural materials stiffened by coating the finished ATC with Acrylic Gel medium, fabric mache (like paper mache but made of dryer lint!)

Just start looking around you and you'll find all sorts of weird non-paper things.

I can't resist this one!

Cyn

Amazingly enough.....mine are ready to go! I can't believe I am so ahead on this swap. I didn't go too far afield though, fabric on cardstock base, appliques and bead embellishments.

I'm in.

Fair warning.....If anyone has a problem with the use of leather, I'm sorry.

I've made leather ATC's before and liked the way they turned out. Looks like I'll be doing it again.

Thank you!

This scares me! So, of course, I couldn't resist it!! Keep in mind that some keep their ATCs in those little sleeves (I do) so they can look at them without constant wear from hand oils. THIN is best, but, personally if someone is skilled enough to make me one from Steel and Copper I am SO NOT sending it back. LOL

Has anyone besides me ever cut up a milk jug or 2 to reuse? The foam top of an egg carton makes for interesting material too!!!And just the other day I was gazing at a red mesh bag my oranges came in!creative juices flowing! I'm always looking for creative atc material! And now when shopping my kids will come up with something they have found and say "ATC!" ...somebody stop me!

Wow!!!! We made it into the top 10 swaps! Thanks everyone for signing up!!!!

this sounds exciting! and CreatedByWendy the leather ATC sounds pretty cool. i hope you post a photo of it or something.

I am having SO much fun with this... I really hope you'll host it again soon when this one is done because it's a fabulous idea :)

I agree...I have had so many cool ideas...I had sushi today and was thinking the plastic tray would make a great ATC base!

One down, one to go ;)

Mad one with cork sheeting and a plastic transparency, the other one with a piece of a cloth placemat. Fun!

Ha - I meant MADE one, not mad one!

I just got a wooden ATC from the US. It is pretty but had been maltreated at the PO. When I opened the envelope, the ATC was broken in half! It looked so heartrendingly sad. :`(

The postal services are generally pretty brutal at times to artmail--please make sure you put really stiff cardboard or chipboard (I used thick matboard) in your package, and use a padded envelope!

You'll have to pay the extra postage for rigid objects, but at least there's more hope that it'll get there in one piece!

I made mine from polymer clay and worried that they may break in shipping--so I did all I could to pad and protect them.

Cyn

Sent Wendy's out today. Hope you like it :)

Sorry it took so long to get mine out. I was in the hospital for 8 days. Long story short, jaundice, gall bladder removal. I got out on Thursday. YAY I can craft again!

Sorry it took so long to get mine out. I was in the hospital for 8 days. Long story short, jaundice, gall bladder removal. I got out on Thursday. YAY I can craft again!

I posted pics on Flicker but they never seem to show up on the main page.