February Swap - TRIPTYCH

Sorry for the lateness of this post but it's been really, really busy at my end. As you may be aware, the theme for February is 'Triptych'. This simply means that you create an ATC with three panels on it. I posted a while back a simple tutorial where I had worked out the measurements to make it really simple - check it out HERE.

As usual, you can make 4 ientical ATCs or 4 different - it doesn't matter. If you are a new swapper and thinking of joining in then simply send me a message at:

atcswappers@hotmail.co.uk

and I will send you all the relevant details.

Hope you enjoy this month's theme.

January Swaps

Here we go with the January swaps. So many different ways of tearing:

Jane

Sheffsue

Mette

Cazz
Anesha

Steph

Paul

Catherine

Elaine

Sue

Ju

Lots to Update

All the January swap I was expecting have arrived and I wanted to draw your attention to Steph's set. She has created a set of four spelling out the word TORN. The reason I am showing this is that I think it would be a shame to split the set. If somebody would like to have the four so as to keep them like this then I can do so. If you would like Steph's set then comment below.

I will do an official announcement for the February theme later on but you might probably be aware that the theme's have already been announced in a post below. With the February swap comes some exciting news. Up until now, the swap has been for UK participants but a request came last month from an American crafter, Terry. After trying to sort out the logistics, it proved too difficult and costly to do so. We set about thinking of a way around this and the result is:

ATC SWAPPERS US

That's right, we have gone Stateside!!! Teryy will be conducting the swaps in the US. They'll be using the same themes as us but swapping amongst themselves. Obviously this is a new set up and Terry is looking for more participants so if you know of people who might want to join with her, let them know or if you are willing to help spread the word by posting on your blogs, we would be so appreciative.

Are you ready for some sneak peeks of more Tearing ATCs? Well here you go:

And finally, here's Pat's box using the die cuts from the last swap. I like the use of butterflies in the corners of the side panels, a nice touch.

A few more boxes

Here's a box made by Julie. She has used the main box to create this vintage and stylish box.

I really like the clock papers used as panels.

I also have a box made by Elaine to show you. Elaine won the box pack as part of my blog candy last month so it's slightly different (well, the only difference is that she had a white base not a black - everything else was the same)

And remember our swaps have started up again. This month's theme is TEARING and if you'd like to join in, make 4 ATCs (all identical or all different) that have some form of tearing on them. For details of where to send them etc, please e-mail ATC Swappers at:

atcswappers@hotmail.co.uk

Swap Themes

First of all

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

I can't believe it was a year ago that the swap was set up! Thanks to all of you who have made it a success by joining in with the swaps, following the blog, commenting and generally supporting the venture. I hope 2010 will be equally as successful if not more so. Please keep on spreading the word and encouraging others to join in.

Today I will announce the themes for the next 3 swaps - how organised am I!!! The next 3 months sorted. I know, can't quite believe it myself.

January - TEARING
Tearing is the theme for this month. Make 4 ATCs which include some form of 'tearing'.

February - TRIPTYCH
I saw this idea on a card somewhere and thought it would make an intersting and different theme for an ATC. I went about trying to work out how to do it and have come up with a quick tutorial with measurements to make it really easy.

The idea is to stamp a picture, create a backing paper or use a bought backing paper to create 3 panels of equal size. For this, I am creating the 'making a backing paper technique'. Firstly cut a piece of cardstock to 3" by 2 and a quarter".

Stamp over the piece.

Colour as desired

Now cut the piece in 1 inch wide strips.

Attach to ATC base.

How simple is that? The measurements are easy too.

Imagine taking a stamped image and slicing it into 3!

Add extra embellishment onto the backing paper!

Use your imagination and see what you can come up with.

Again, make 4 ATCs and post them to me as usual.

March - 'Red and Black' and/or 'Yellow and Black'

Here's the first double challenge of the year. It's a colour theme challeng once again.

If you are unfamiliar with our doubler challenges, basically it gives you more options.

You can choose one of the themes and make 4 ATCs or do both and make 8! So the options would be:

Make 4 'Red and Black' ATCs

Make 4 'Yellow and Black' ATCs

Make 8 ATCs, 4 of each of the themes.

WOW - that was quite a lengthy update for ATC Swappers! Hope it all makes sense. If you have any queries then don't hesitate to e-mail me at

atcswappers@hotmail.co.uk

This is also the e-mail address if you'd like to join in with the swap and would like more info. New swappers are always welcome.

Another idea

Here's Steph's box that she made using last month's free gift. I like how she has embossed the green panels to add texture.

I'm really enjoying looking at how people have tackled these boxes. It's interesting how different people use the same basic kit and come up with such a range of boxes. Maybe we should do something similar again in the future - what do you think?

And they keep on coming...

Here's how Hazel decorated her free Sizzix Box kit. She has used a Forever Friends stamp, coloured using Promarkers and added a bit of Opal Stickles.


Snowflakes seems to be the 'in thing' for stamping on the side panels!!!
For those eagle eyed among you, you may have spotted that the themes for the next 3 months are up in the sidebar. I'll be back before long with more information regarding these.

Another Free Gift Idea

Here we go with another box made with last month's free gift. This time it's from Jane. She has used a Penguin from Elzybells to decorate hers and has added pink ribbon to the front of the box and as a tab to open the box and then added a flower held together with a brad.

If you've made up your box and want to show it here, then e-mail me some piccies and I shall do so. Remember to check the other posts below for more ideas and news on the next swap.

Free Gift Ideas

Just wanted to share with you some ideas for using last month's free gift. Each participant was given the box base pieces and the panels to go with it.

Firstly, here's Anesha's. She was given a pack with red panels and used that as inspiration for the image. I love how she's stamped the snowflakes onto the red panels and added a sentiment vertically. The Pennyblack sheep was coloured using Promarkers and Copics.

And here's the one I made (yes, I had one kit left over and used it myself!). I ended up with the pink kit which stumped me at first but then remembered about my Elzybells cow. She has been coloured using Promarkers. I used the cow spot stamp which comes in the set to stamp onto the side panels. The sentiment used is also from the same clear stamp set. A bit of doodling finished it off nicely.

If any others have made a box using their free gift, then please send me some piccies to post here on the blog. I'm sure we'd all love to have a look at how others have used the kit.

Although there won't be an official announcement of themes until January, I thought I'd let you know in advance that 'tearing' will be the next theme. Just have some tearing of paper or whatever on some part of the ATC.

November Swaps

Here we go with our final swap for the year. It's the biggest swap in terms of number of ATCs! As a thank you to all who have joined in, not only will you get 12 ATCs this month but also this kit shown here:

If you are a visitor to my blog then you'll know that I love this new Sizzix Die (Box 3) so I have decided to give each person a kit to make one of their very own. It has all the pieces to make the box and also all the panels ready cut for you. You have a piece of white card to stamp onto and decorate too! The coloured panels can also be decorated. The boxes are ideal for keeping you ATC collection inside.If you'd like to see a tutorial on making these boxes then there's a link HERE. I'd love to see what you make with them. If you send me some piccies of the boxes then I'll post them on the blog here (e-mail link in side bar). Here's an example of the kind of thing you could make:

So, without further ado, here are the swaps:

These are the first pics I've taken with my new camera and I'll need to keep playing with it to find out what it does and how to get better pics.

Finally, I'd like to wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a big thank you to all who have participated over the last year. I hope that you have enjoyed the swaps and are looking forward to more next year.

Please get in touch if you have any comments, suggestions on improving the swap or if you have any ideas for themes etc. Either e-mail me at atcswappers@hotmail.co.uk or comment here. Thank you.