{Mixed Media Tutorial} Easel ATC by MariLynn

Hello, everyone. MariLynn here with my first mixed media tutorial for STAMPlorations. I love creating projects and I love sharing how I made them. My hope is to encourage you create mixed media projects of your own.

Today I am going to share a project I call a mixed media easel ATC (Artist Trading Card).

The first ATCs were created 20 years ago. I am sure that there have been many variations in those 20 years. One thing that has been fairly standard is the size. 3.5 x 2.5. My variation was to make mine with a built in easel. Ready to see how I made it? Well, here we go.

Step 1: I started with a piece of cardstock cut to 8.5 x 2.5.

 Step 2: I collected some scraps of designer paper and a page from an old encyclopedia.

 Step 3: I took those papers and tore them into little pieces.
 (Tearing paper is a great stress reliever.)

Step 4: I took a ruler and a pencil and marked where 7 inches was. I also marked 7.5 and 8.

Step 5: I used Aleene's tacky glue and covered the cardstock up to the 7 inch mark.

Step 6: I placed the small pieces of designer paper in a random pattern.

 Here is a photo of all the pieces glued down.

It didn't matter that I went over the edges.

Step 7: When the glue had dried I added another layer of the tacky glue over the top.

Step 8: When the top layer of glue dried, I used my scissors and cut along the edges.

See... nice straight edges again.

 Step 9: I used BUBBLES - ARTplorations stencil.

I used a sharpie black marker and the stencil to trace the bubbles onto the cardstock.

Step 10: I painted some highlights to each bubble with white acrylic paint.
(I painted a long curved line on one side,  a smaller curved line on opposite side  and a dot.)

I folded the cardstock at 3.5, 7, 7.5 and 8.

Step 11: It was at this time that I saw the edge of my  ATC. I didn't like how the edges were white, so I took my black sharpie marker and colored the edges black.

Step 12: I added glue to the last 1/2 inch of the cardstock strip. I then glued that to the top of the strip.

 Here is a photo showing how it looks when glued.

Isn't it cute how it stands up?

Time to decorate the ATC

Step 13: I used SOME BIRDS- ARTplorations stencil, a small piece of black cardstock and a white colored pencil.

I traced the bird with the white colored pencil on the back of the black cardstock.

Step 14: I cut out the bird and added a drop of white acrylic paint for the eye.

Step 15: I decided that I didn't like the eye all white so I added a black dot with a sharpie marker.
I took some of the scraps that I used on the ATC and made a piece that I could stamp on.
I used a sentiment from  TRENDY BIRDS 2- STAMPlorations set.

Step 16: If you saw the little punched out circles in the photo above, I took them and put them on the back of the bird sandwiching glue in between each circle. (Kinda looks like mini oreos) I did that to add some dimension from the bird and the ATC. I did the same to the back of the sentiment piece.

Step 17: I added some rhinestones to the ATC and I added one little one to dot the "I" on the sentiment. I also added a small rectangle of burlap behind the bird.

There you have it. My mixed media easel ATC. I hope you enjoyed seeing how I created it, and that you want to have a try making your own easel ATC. Have a blessed day.