I call this the anatomy of an ATC. Putting together the elements of an Artist Trading Card reminds me of quiltng in a way. I have a quilting friend who told me the formula for a nice looking quilt which is the following: fabric in 3 lights, 3 darks, 2 mediums; 2 solids, 4 prints, 1 plaid, 1 stripe. The same is true of creating an ATC, at least for me. I have a little formula for myself and although I vary here and there this is basically how it goes: a dark, a light, a medium colored papers; black rubber stamp(s), a stripe paper, a dotted paper, paper punch forms (flowers, etc.), a copy of a vintage photo or postcard. Then I start to layer the elements. I use gel medium which really adheres papers nicely and keeps them down.
ATC Tutorial
These are the tools I used: flower paper punch, matte gel medium, black ink pad, flower stamp, Cutter Bee scissors, vintage photo distress ink, round sponge.......
Pick out 4 to 6 papers, one dark, one light and one medium in colors.....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzjgktBBvLrHNb2sUM3M2DOAv3QPIpNGaZqI9O1LgSAzh0-J8MOv-XJSwd0Kj1MYGN1ahskLwEatucpT1ibqS1hGlTNWrf3B_JhZxXKhyphenhyphenIYkwi3-nMeAPrnYt4-RirORlbCdakmcw69o/s400/ATC+Tutorial+002.jpg)
I start with a paint chip for the back. It adds good stability.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2v8J3yRURkPQ1uDlwr-DL2Kg9WBUyKCkq6XRiV-JUWBv8MPOIeU2MWyqKklWJe0HttLaCwwxKoWusHLdMtCSc2CaU8FNZgmYx2u4XlOOgFQd8WUDN5BkSMoj5p56R3ugieFaqqwCpfsI/s400/ATC+Tutorial+001.jpg)
I glued the dark blue decorative paper onto the paint chip back with the gel medium.......
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXttgeuKwNR_3uEahS9t6TN6JRwdJqFfiu2vCFY20o82mU7-8Rb_J-i_O66VnCrW0_jgJ_iOH6v1G6ZrBl5oTwfOTcKAifSVymRELKWyu0nceDOorCV9BByXfryeRjhu1jqyY4JXVMSc/s400/ATC+Tutorial+003.jpg)
Next I stamped the flower image with black ink 2 places on the card and used the distressing ink and smudged on the ink with the round sponge here and there......
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso6tyD3DDnJNJ9jPclmkJHyRIfWCy3jvV4tjdhY0wIWW5xx7a43Sk3aDCn03XkhcO_T-gqURmwf8FWM2VZkcHHbfe4dz_N7QrrxX1X4fmVjP1DPwp1pFiylujqhQtYixECO2THfUDFRg/s400/ATC+Tutorial+004.jpg)
I copied a bunny image from a vintage postcard and a vintage photo of a little boy. I colored the boy's shirt and pants in with marker. Flowers were punched out of the pink with white polk-a-dot paper and glued down.![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8k03gh73b2dSwxO0O9aaJMilNXHCxjeE887MRpTDG91dmyV_YLa7KpRIXZ9rEtJYx0eZkMv5nKcEOB-HJOSdiGV0efE0tiL3F1yXhZA-eUKmy99xlf7YrnNO_kw0F2OSnxzV-ULn8Lk/s400/ATC+Tutorial+005.jpg)
Lastly, I add the little finishing touches such as adding ears to the boy and a tiny banner with the word "joy" stamped on it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7hm0JbiY3aW6F6AojIdIyswUzXRCiDdfG6RTFY7zXXLO3xCBiCwbV38VJzTY-lx0BLuPufraN8R-TdlZHT3EFAdO1_Rgvj1tOsWved5XSOJM6RoBoqcMh4lhGRmccXE7Fk8QtbLUMKs/s400/ATC+Tutorial+006.jpg)
Here is the finished ATC, ready for Easter! The title of it is: Two Bunnies!