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Sewn ATCs

Sewn ATCs have an extra dimensional element all their own!

Sewn ATCs sure do look special. I was in another swap recently where the instructions were to make Artist Trading Cards using any theme, as long as there was sewing on each one. I just happened to have watched a friend sewing on her scrapbooking layouts a few weeks before so I knew it could easily be done. I broke out my trusty paints, stamps and also my sewing machine this time, and got to making my swaps.

If you have ever stitched on your layouts or other paper craft projects, I would love to see them. Just scroll down to the bottom of this page to find a place where you can upload a picture and tell me about your project :)

First I'll show you how they turned out. I really liked them!

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How to Make Them

I started with a painted background, similar to what I did for the Paris ATCs only this time I used my Radiant Rain Daubers more. I love the shimmer effect of those daubers.

You could also make your own shimmer spray with Stampin' Up!'s shimmer paints mixed with isopropyl alcohol in a spritzer bottle, of course. Custom Colour your shimmer paint spray by adding drops of reinker to the mix :)

Then I took one of the beautiful foliage stamps and some rich purple Stazon ink, and placed images on each little card.

Next I threaded my sewing machine up and stitched a couple of rows of various coloured thread in random lines around the edges of my cards.

After that I finished the backs of them with more stamped foliage images and a signature stamp in white craft ink, before adhering the fronts and backs together (this way the back of my stitching was hidden in between the layers).

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I used the end of a ruler as a stamping block as the foliage stamp was a smaller one and it just meant I had more control of the stamp with a smaller stamping block surface.

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The finishing touches were some little crystals in opposite corners, but I forgot to take photos of my ATCs after I added the crystals!

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I mailed my completed swaps off to Chrissy and I am now anticipating some different sewn ATCs in return any day!

I hope I have now encouraged you to break out your own sewing machine and try some stitching in your paper crafting :) If you don't have an inexpensive machine for your crafting projects, do check this out for a possible solution.