Paris ATCs

Ahh, Paris ATCs! What a good idea!

"Paris is always a good idea
~The movie Sabrina"

Well, I had to try to make these little cards romantic, in the absence of any real first hand knowledge of France, let alone its capital. But my friend loves all things Parisian, and that was enough for me to go on!

For awhile I thought of combining an Australian koala climbing on the Eiffel Tower, but that just didn't seem romantic enough somehow. I could see it in my mind but the romance just wasn't coming with it! Lol!

Then I got an idea - why not make some postage stamps images of Paris? I found some images of famous places, reduced them in size and printed them on cardstock. I used some deckle edged scissors to cut them out and then edged them in gold and a chocolate chip coloured ink.

The base of my Paris ATCs is an ordinary playing card. I sponge-painted them directly in various blue-green shades with Radiant Rain daubers, then used a paint brush to apply diagonal sweeps of gold paint. This also added texture to the cards. I decorated them further by using a gauzy ribbon, a rubber ribbon, some rub ons, some printed and gold stamped words, some off cuts from the painting process, and I also write and doodled on some with a fine tipped black felt pen. There are some Kaiser rhinestones on one of them, a vinyl butterfly, and a transparent dome as well.

I finished the backs of the cards by partially stamping an image of a decorative teddy (as in a piece of clothing teddy, not a soft cuddly toy teddy) randomly on it, then applying the signature stamp I found in a local craft shop. I edged the cardstock with the same ink as I used on the teddy stamp, then adhered the finished pieces to the backs of the playing cards, remembering to number them all as well.

When I send them overseas, I will place each one in its own small, sealable plastic bag (I found some little zip lock ones at a jewelry stand at a local market) so they cannot become damp or wet in their travels. I expect they will also be opened by customs on their way over so the little bags will help them all stay safe during that handling.

I would love to see any Parisian themed cards YOU have made as well :)

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