December ATC Swap - Happy Holiday

[Yorkshire Lass]

Our November's ATC swap was a big success, so I propose to continue with the digital theme through December. However, during December I think we should discuss whether we want to continue making digital cards through the new year, or if mailed cards are preferred, or, if we should alternate on a monthly basis between digital and mailed ATCs. I will liaise with Donna on how this should be presented.

DECEMBER SWAP

Since not everyone celebrates Christmas, and many of us never see snow during the festive season either, for DECEMBER I have chosen HAPPY HOLIDAY as our theme, so whether you expect to be knee deep in snow, or celebrating on the beach it would be nice to see how you intend to celebrate this 25 December.

To participate :

Make your card in the usual way - both front and reverse and send a high res copy (300 dpi) to me at Itztaluula@gmail.com with DECEMBER ATC SWAP in the subject line, and post a low res copy (72 dpi) to the ATC gallery.

At the end of the month I will email out a copy of each of the ATCs received to each participant who has signed up for the swap.

*There may be artists who would prefer to make and send out their ATCs in the conventional way, and if that's the case, no problem, just let me know.

If you want to play, sign up here and send me a PM (private message) : DECEMBER ATC SWAP and please include your name, address and email address.

You have until 7 December to sign up. On the 8th everyone who has registered will be included in the swap, and anyone wishing to send out conventional cards will receive a copy of postal addresses. You then have until the end of December to send me your digital cards.

Anyone wishing to send out conventional cards, please remember as always to keep postal rates in mind before signing up, as you are responsible for mailing the cards yourself.

If anyone has any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

I look forward to swapping with you all.

Enjoy.

[mizamigo]

I loved all the November digital ATCs, so I'll sign up for December's. Thanks Anne for all you do with this swap.

[peppapig]

Sign me up please Ann :D

Jayne x

[mizamigo]

Bump.... Please take the poll at the top of this thread. Thanks!

[Yorkshire Lass]

By the small number of sign ups for the December ATC, it looks as though Christmas preparations are taking up all of your time this month. Not surprising of course, so anyone who finds time to add themselves to the list, make a digital card AND email me a high res copy by the end of December is welcome to join in.

PLEASE take the time to complete the above poll if you want to have a say regarding the medium of future ATCs.

[LotusCloud]

By the small number of sign ups for the December ATC, it looks as though Christmas preparations are taking up all of your time this month. Not surprising of course, so anyone who finds time to add themselves to the list, make a digital card AND email me a high res copy by the end of December is welcome to join in.

PLEASE take the time to complete the above poll if you want to have a say regarding the medium of future ATCs.

Thank you! I really enjoyed my first ATC experience, and would like to try again; please sign me up for December.

[LotusCloud]

Our November's ATC swap was a big success, so I propose to continue with the digital theme through December. However, during December I think we should discuss whether we want to continue making digital cards through the new year, or if mailed cards are preferred, or, if we should alternate on a monthly basis between digital and mailed ATCs. I will liaise with Donna on how this should be presented.

<snip>

If anyone has any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

I look forward to swapping with you all.

Enjoy.

I saw part of a collection of ATCs for the first time recently. Many were so unique. It seemed to me that tactile expression (glitter, string) and the presentation of the card (bows, envelopes, etc.) added to the experience.

I really enjoyed my first ATC swap, and admit that once I had designed my card, I wanted to be able to "touch" it. Now that I have my Nov cards, I wish they were "mailed" too!

I don't know how to print my cards. They are so small, and there is a front and back. Someone suggested I use a printer to print several "front" and "back" on the same page, cut them out, and glue them together.

Please share how you print and distribute your cards! Thank you!

Harmony,

Christine

[kygirl]

Here's a reprint of an article I did on my blog on just this subject.

As I was putting together some ATCs for the latest swap at Digital Art Quirks, I was thinking about how much easier the process is now that I've had some experience. To be perfectly honest, the first time I put together an ATC, it was an awful mess. I used a lot of paper and ink just getting my digital creations printed, and the physical act of putting the cards together resulted in glue and paper everywhere. So, here's the process I use now.
I almost always print my card on matte cardstock designed for laserjets. The colors are crisp, the weight is good for cards, and the surface takes inks and paints well. I print the cards eight up on letter-sized paper. (Since we usually have 15-16 ATC swappers at DAQ, I only have to do two printings). Obviously, you'll need to print both the front and backs of the cards.
http://donnabmiller.typepad.com/my_weblog/images/2007/09/24/atctemplate_2.jpg (http://donnabmiller.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/24/atctemplate_2.jpg)
To end up with crisp, clean edges, you really need a good pair of scissors. I love the Cutter Bee brand. They're precise and they cut through sticky papers without any problems. When cutting, always cut from the base of the scissors instead of the scissor tips. You'll find you have a lot more control.
I've tried tons of ways of adhering the two sides of the cards together -- spray mount, Elmer's glue, running them through a Xyron machine. And for me, the one that works best is a plain old glue stick. I really like the Archiver's brand, but their store is two hours from my home. I'm having really good luck with the Scotch brand. When using a glue stick, the papers will adhere better if some heat is applied to the surface. Usually, I'll just run my hand up and down the cards a few times. Body heat is enough to make the adhesives stick. (Tip I learned from Donna Downey: When working with glue sticks and larger surfaces, such as book covers, just place the project in your chair, sit down, and let your body heat do the work.)
For a more finished look, I like to round the corners using my handy-dandy corner punch. Beware, not all corner punches are the same. With some of them, you have to have the strength of a linebacker just to punch through the cardstock. That's not true with EK Success's product. Oddly enough, they're also some of the least expensive punches available.
The last step is to ink the edges. Any flaws that occurred during cutting and pasting are easily covered by the ink. I love the little Color Box fluid chalk inkpads (they're shaped like a cat's eye). Because of their small size and elevated sponge, they're perfect for inking the edges of any of your scrapping projects.

[kygirl]

I'll be participating, Ann, I'm just running late with everything in my life right now. :)

[LotusCloud]

Thank you Donna, for your excellent tutorial on printing my ATCs! I feel enlightened, and excited to try printing one of my cards. Never would have thought to ink the edges. Brilliant.

[Yorkshire Lass]

Here is the list so far :

Mizamigo
Peggapig
LotusCloud
KYGirl
Yorkshire Lass

Thanks for joining in.

[Yorkshire Lass]

My December ATC is in the gallery

http://www.digitalartquirks.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=7219&cat=501&limit=recent

Thanks for looking

[kygirl]

Here's mine: http://www.digitalartquirks.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=7223&cat=580

[peppapig]

Here's my ATC.

http://www.digitalartquirks.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=7243&cat=501

[Yorkshire Lass]

I love your jaunty Santa Jayne.