Re-Post: Polymer Clay Artist Trading Cards

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you mommies out there.  I hope your day is spectacular.  Pamper yourself; you deserve it!  I plan on it.  Well, that’s sort of a lie; I’ll be helping my daughter move out of her dorm for the summer.. but at least I get to be with my family.  That’s enough for me.

(click picture to enlarge for details)

I was going through some of my blog posts and thought I would re-post one of my favorite tutorials I shared with you about a year ago, since some of my new subscribers may not have seen it.

ATC’s are one of my favorite art pieces to make and share with others.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE POST.    I hope you enjoy or re-enjoy it.

As always, I thank you for stopping by and subscribing.

Judy ♥

Published!

Hey Bloggersnooks..

Well, I’m excited to say that I am part of a self-published book that was created on our Ning site called Lovin Mixed Media.  This is the same site that the ATC Swap resides that I made my polymer clay ATCs for.

This book is a is the end result of a year long (maybe longer) Create and Pass Journal project.  Four journals, each started in Norway by our Ning King, Gary Reef (check out his YouTube vids) and traveled the world to about 70 artists creating their pages and then finally making it back to the organizer.

“Many Lands, Many Hands” is book self-published on Blurb, see it here if you want to order one.  What a GREAT coffee table book.

Here’s the cover:

Here’s a shot of my page:

You can actually get a look at Journal 1′s pages here. (I’m in #1 @ the 2 min. mark)

I can’t tell you (well, I actually can) how excited I was to be part of this amazing journey and this book.  My hat goes off (I actually don’t wear hats.. I have too much darn hair and… oh wait, never mind) to Gary, all the artists and our wonderful organizer Mary Helena.

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy

Next up….

ATC Workshop & Renewed Friendships

Hey Bloggeroonies…

I recently did a workshop in Rhode Island to my dear friends from the Rhode Island Polymer Clay Guild.  I had stopped going to meetings there a couple of years ago, but was invited back for a workshop after the board members saw my blog.  We also have kept in touch since I left.

I was honored the asked me to teach my ATC workshop.  They were elated that my friend, Karen (you can see her post of the RI visit), and I returned for a visit.  In our honor, they had a buffet lunch and at the end of the day, and because I taught the workshop, they presented me with a Zentangle print shown below. Each of them did a square tangle and they had it professionally printed on one large board.  Seeing this in person is more amazing.  I love the one on the bottom right.. look at that little cat… can you see it?

Here a some pictures of the gang and their ATC’s.

BRAVO, ladies.. they came out gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s a call out to Toine, Bobbie, Sandy, Christine, Tricia, Arlene, Ilene, Rita, Tamala, Dora, Sarah, Toni, Pat, Sheila and my partner in crime, Karen.

Thank you all at RIPCG.. you are one terrific group of creative souls.   You haven’t seen the last of me.. I promise.

Thanks for stopping by.

Judy

Next up…  Martha’s Vineyard, here I come (may not post next week).
When I get back… what I’ve been up to in the studio.

Workshop Success!

Hey Blogereetas…

Well, my class was a success.  I guess I would measure success on that it was relaxing, my students/artists were so talented, social, humorous and down right fun.  Thanks, Kristen, Raine and Susan for making it easy for me.

The class was scheduled for 3 hours, but we could have gone 4.   The books just came to life with each step they completed.   We could have used about 30 more minutes, as 2 did not finish their books.  They promised to finish at home and send me pictures.  I’ll be expecting them, ladies.  Don’t make me come over there.  I’ll post them as soon as they do.

Here are some shots of the day and their work.

First, introducing our Hostess at the Scrapbook Cupboard, Bev.  Thank you so much for being wonderful and bringing me in to teach.

If you’re in the area, please stop by to visit and/or take one of their great classes.

Here’s my class, aren’t they cute?

Artist’s work in progress.  I wasn’t able to shoot more pictures than this, but this will give you the flavor of the class.

What fun!!!.. and Bev made us eat chocolate.

I’ll be back at Scrapbook Cupboard in September to teach my Buttons, Embellishments & More Workshop.

Thanks for stopping by.

Judy

Next up…. Dryer Sheet Collage Paper

Mini Accordian Book Workshop – Reminder

Hey Bloggeroonies…

I just wanted to remind the locals that my afternoon workshop in E. Bridgewater, MA is going to be held June 12th at the Scrapbook Cupboard. There is still room if you want to learn to make these cool mini accordian books… lookie there below…..

Hope you can join us…

Backgrounds are up next, as promised… and a tutorial too!!!!

Thanks for stopping by..

Judy

Artist Trading Card (ATC) Swap and Tutorial

Hey Blogsters…

Did you think I forgot about you?  No way, I love you guys…

Just to give you a teeny weenie bit a background.. I am a member of “Lovin Mixed Media”.  LMM is a Ning network.  As a matter of fact, if I had to choose one place to just stay and eliminate all my other art memberships, this would be it.  It’s creator is Gary Reef; a fantastic artist who’s honest, fun and plain entertaining.  I want to hang out with him.   Well, the only way to describe Gary is to watch his YouTube videos.  He has an (as he would say) “amaaaaazing” staff running all different aspects of the site.  Gary has put a great team together to run “Lovin Mixed Media”.  You’ll notice right away, the hard work he and his staff do to create a phenomenal place to “hang out”.  It’s a well oiled machine.  Come join us!

On LMM I recently joined a new ATC group.  I’m not a huge fan of swaps because of some recent swappers or swap leaders not committing to the end, etc.. but, I think this one is honest and legit.  The leader is so excited to take this on.. and it continues.. there are no deadlines.

So, with that.. I decided to make my ATCs out of my first love, polymer clay and make it a tutorial so that whoever gets my ATCs can go see how I made them.

Here we go…..

As I said in my buttons tutorial, please keep safety in mind.. please visit that post for my “safety note”.

Here is what you’ll need to make these beauties:

• One package of Polymer Clay (I like Premo or FimoSoft) – you may get 2 ATC’s from one package.  Light colors clays work best.. I like beige to get my results.  It “antiques” well.
• pasta machine, acrylic roller or rolling pin.
• rubber stamps, textures to imprint clay
• baby powder, water or cornstrach to keep the stamp from sticking to clay
• 2.5″ x 3.5″ template of ATC.  I made one out of clay, but you can also use a playing card. Glue a bunch together to make a thick template.  Make an ATC window out of heavy cardstock.
• craft knife or clay blade
• piece of saran wrap or piece of paper
• dedicated polymer clay oven, if you don’t have one, read below.
• acrylic paints
• colored pencils (not water soluble)
• paint brushes
• stamp pad (I like StazOn)
• alcohol and cotton swabs
• sand paper (not too rough; 400′ish grit)
• glitter glue
• brown paint for “antique” finish
• sealer (I like Future Floor Polish)
• blow dryer or heat gun to speed up drying time
• gold paint or Krylon 18kt Gold Paint Pen

Condition the clay until soft and pliable.
Roll the clay to a 1/16″ inch thickness.  On an Atlas pasta machine, I use #3.
If you don’t have a pasta machine, you can use your rollers and measure as needed.  Here are some ideas from Glass Attic under “no pasta machine?”.

Lay your sheet out on your flat and clean work surface.

Spray with water or use baby powder.  Now push your rubber stamp into the clay making sure you get a good impression.

Lift it up and make sure you see good lines to color/paint in between.

Now take the template/playing card and center over the impressed image.  Cut around it with a craft knife or clay blade.

Here is the image of another one I started; my favorite.  The entire face won’t get on the ATC, but it will still look good… you’ll see.

Now, here is another option if you do not want to impress the clay.   You can stamp right on the clay with the rubber stamp and ink pad, just like paper.  Don’t press hard enough to make indentations, but just enough to get the inked design on the clay.  I’ll do one for you.  Note: You can also stamp it after it’s baked which will allow you to press as hard as you want.

Once the clay is cut to the ATC size, you want to smooth down the cut edges.  I do this with a piece of saran/plastic wrap or you could use a piece of paper.  Just slide your finger around the edge gently, just enough to smooth down the sharp edges.

Now it’s time to bake the clay ATCs according to the clay’s package directions.   I put mine on ceramic tiles to bake.   If you don’t have a dedicated oven, you can use your kitchen oven, but make sure you cover the clay.  You can use parchment paper on a cookie sheet, but cover the cookie sheet with another one or cover with aluminum foil.   Also, make sure your oven is regulated at the correct temperature.  Let it preheat as necessary.  You may want to get a separate thermometer to make sure it’s correct.  You don’t want the oven to spike while the clay is in the oven.   If the temp is not steady, you will risk burning the clay and the fumes are not good.  Remember, these ATC’s are thin; pay attention to your timing.

Now they are out of the oven.  Get I get an “oh ya”??  C’mon people.

Take your sandpaper and sand around the edges.. take off anything sharp;  get it smooth.  Lay the ATC flat and with a firm but gentle hand sand the image.  Specifically, the places you will be coloring.  You want to gently rough it up.  This will allow the color to grab the clay.  Especially with colored pencils.  Try one section with no sanding and the other with.. you’ll see the difference.

Now it’s decorating time.  You can choose to use acrylic paints or colored pencils.  Pencils, I used Prismacolor.  Paints, I have used Golden, Claudine Hellmuth’s Studio Paints and basic craft paints.  Try what works best for you.  Your world, remember?

Start painting in the design.

You can speed up the drying time by using the blow dryer or a heat gun.. but don’t stay hovering over the ATC with the heat too long as it will soften the clay again.  So do it quickly like a fanning motion…. or just be patient and wait.. go have a cookie or even better, chocolate… oh, chocolate.. be right back.

I worked on several of ATCs at a as time seen here.  These are ready for an antique application.

This next step is what will make you go “ooooo…. ahhhhh….ohhhhh”.

After I took the supplies picture, I realized I left out my Golden Heavy Body Acrylic in Burnt Umber which, I feel works best and gives the lines a nice deep color.

With a soft paint brush gently brush the paint over the entire front of the ATC and push the paint into the lines of the stamped image.   Use caution when brushing.  Don’t use a heavy hand.  If you push too hard, you will rub a little of the paint off.

Take a damp paper towel or clean rag and gently, I mean gently, wipe the paint off the top.

“Oooooooooooooo”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh”

“Ohhhhhhhhhhhh”

Let it dry.  Make sure the deep lines are also dry.

This is another favorite step of mine….. this will definitely make you feel the love.

Time to take out your sealer.  I like Future.  I guess  you could say “Back to the Future”..  get it?  No.. ok movin on.

Again, soft brush.. I gently brush on the Future and let dry.  You could do another coat if you wish.

Here is the ATC done with colored pencils… very pretty.

This just keeps getting better…

After the sealer is dry and you like the finish.. here comes the magic.  The whole process is magic.. each step just gets better and better.

Get out your glitter glue.. I like Stickles.  Start to highlight your image that makes you smile.  Bring them to life.  They are so beautiful, you’ll want to marry them… ok too dramatic?

This one continues to be my favorite.  It actually won 1st place in an ATC contest at a local art fair.  Woohoo!

Here is the ink stamped ATC with glitter…

The finishing touch is edging the ATC with gold paint.  I usually use an 18kt Gold Leafing Pen by Krylon.   After completely dry, brush a light coat of sealer on the edges.

Here’s a photo of my bunch of ATCs finished.   Lots of them will be going to England to begin the journey of finding new owners.

Be creative every day and have fun.

Thanks for stopping by.

Judy

I hope you create your own and show me your results.  I would love to see them.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Swaps

Swaps can be fun.  Here’s one I did for manilla tags.

On the tags I used: Clearsnap’s Colorbox Cat’s Eye Ink Pads, and smooshed those different colors around, rubber stamps, polymer clay button I either sewed on with thread or fun wire, embossing powder, ribbon and brads.

Swaps need a good coordinator and most importantly committed participants.. one person can ruin it all.  I’ve done a few, most are excellent, but a couple have fell through the cracks.  I’m still waiting for the results of one; it’s been almost a year.  People get busy and can see it through to the end.   Now, I choose wisely or not at all.. lately it’s been the latter.

Here is another I did for ATCs.  I made them out of polymer clay.  Now, that was fun.  The recipients were thrilled to get something so different.

Some, I stamped into the raw clay with rubber stamps then antiqued with brown paint or shoe polish, others were covered with decorated napkins once out of the oven.  The others were covered with a sheet of millefiori clay canes.  All of them have been embellished with clay buttons or beads.

I can’t help but use polymer clay thingamajigs on all my work.  they don’t seem complete without one, two or ok maybe three.

Thanks for stopping by.

Judy

Next up…. Mixed Media Mirror Frame.. Oooo la la