I asked the super duper talented Gwen Lafleur (You should follow her on instagram. I do!) to choose a tutorial from my blog archives to put her own spin on. Check out what she did:
I’ve been super inspired by all of the tutorials Julie has posted over the years, but while I was trying to choose one to put my own spin on, the Colorful Garbage ATCs from back in May 2011 really jumped out at me. Like Julie, I’m pretty good about throwing things away, but I can’t let go of my under-paper. (You know, the stuff where you clean off your paint brushes and stencils, test pens and stamps, and all that good stuff?) I tend to use both copy paper and deli paper for this, and I let the layers build up until they look cool. Then I stash them away and save them.
To make my own version of Julie’s Colorful Garbage ATCs, instead of sewn fabric scraps, I pulled out these piles and pieces of under-paper.
While you could just cut out ATC-sized sections of these sheets and be done with it, I loved the mixed-up look of Julie’s cards, so I tore these into strips.
Rather than sew them together (which you totally could,) I grabbed some Heat n Bond and cut a piece about the size of my assembled strips. I arranged them face down on my ironing board and overlapped the edges, then laid the piece of Heat n Bond on top and ironed over the liner per the package directions.
Could you just collage the papers onto a sheet of deli paper or directly onto ATCs? Yes! This was faster though, without the sticky fingers and drying time. Once I was done ironing, I had a solid sheet of fused together strips of under-paper. So cool!
For the ATCs, I decided to go big and pulled out some old 5×7 playing cards. I arranged them to figure out how they would fit and how many I could get, then cut my sheet into roughly 5×7 pieces. Back to the ironing board! I just peeled the liner off the back, laid it over the card (trimming overhanging edges) and then got ready to iron. This time I used what’s called a Goddess Sheet (it’s a folded Teflon sheet for ironing stuff like this).
I got four cards, then took the scraps and layered them to make a fifth. It only took about five minutes, and I had my jumbo ATCs, ready for finishing touches!
Julie finished her cards with some cool stitching (which you could totally do here,) but I decided to use paint instead and pulled out gold acrylic with a fine-liner tip and drew some scribbly circles. Then I just added some words and a touch of gold along the edges.
I absolutely love the different layered patterns and colors together! I’m thinking I might bind them into a book instead of trading them, but we’ll see how it goes.
A big thanks to Julie for inviting me to participate in her 10 year Blogiversary, and I hope you enjoyed my take on these colorful garbage ATCs!
Gwen Lafleur is a lifelong artist and crafter, currently living in South Jordan, Utah. Gwen has been involved in arts and crafts her entire life, trying anything from drawing lessons to paper crafts, and finally finding her true home as a mixed media artist. Whenever she gets a break from her full-time job in the eCommerce industry, Gwen can most often be found playing in her studio and working as a stencil artist and creative team member for StencilGirl Products.
Blog: http://gwenyth.typepad.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gwenythlafleur
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/gwenaval
Great idea the resulted in BEAUTIFUL results.
Great idea the resulted in BEAUTIFUL results.
Great idea the resulted in BEAUTIFUL results.
Great idea the resulted in BEAUTIFUL results.
Great idea the resulted in BEAUTIFUL results.
Great idea the resulted in BEAUTIFUL results.
Beautiful results, great use of throw aways, and super good instructions. Julie has a way of inspiring others and you sure fulfilled that!
Beautiful results, great use of throw aways, and super good instructions. Julie has a way of inspiring others and you sure fulfilled that!
Beautiful results, great use of throw aways, and super good instructions. Julie has a way of inspiring others and you sure fulfilled that!
Beautiful results, great use of throw aways, and super good instructions. Julie has a way of inspiring others and you sure fulfilled that!
Beautiful results, great use of throw aways, and super good instructions. Julie has a way of inspiring others and you sure fulfilled that!
Beautiful results, great use of throw aways, and super good instructions. Julie has a way of inspiring others and you sure fulfilled that!
I love this idea! What a great way to up cycle those papers! Just beautiful.
I love this idea! What a great way to up cycle those papers! Just beautiful.
I love this idea! What a great way to up cycle those papers! Just beautiful.
I love this idea! What a great way to up cycle those papers! Just beautiful.
I love this idea! What a great way to up cycle those papers! Just beautiful.
I love this idea! What a great way to up cycle those papers! Just beautiful.
AWESOME spin – too cool.
AWESOME spin – too cool.
AWESOME spin – too cool.
AWESOME spin – too cool.
AWESOME spin – too cool.
AWESOME spin – too cool.
Eeek! I’m totally doing this. Gorgeousness. Thank you!
Eeek! I’m totally doing this. Gorgeousness. Thank you!
Eeek! I’m totally doing this. Gorgeousness. Thank you!
Eeek! I’m totally doing this. Gorgeousness. Thank you!
Eeek! I’m totally doing this. Gorgeousness. Thank you!
Eeek! I’m totally doing this. Gorgeousness. Thank you!
Awesome job
Awesome job
Awesome job
Awesome job
Awesome job
Awesome job
Hi,
I love the idea and I have sooo many prints ready to be used. I wanred to know if the Heat and Bond is a double sided one. As I read your instructions, it seems that one would need a double sided adhesive.
Thanks,
Reut
Hi,
I love the idea and I have sooo many prints ready to be used. I wanred to know if the Heat and Bond is a double sided one. As I read your instructions, it seems that one would need a double sided adhesive.
Thanks,
Reut
Hi,
I love the idea and I have sooo many prints ready to be used. I wanred to know if the Heat and Bond is a double sided one. As I read your instructions, it seems that one would need a double sided adhesive.
Thanks,
Reut
Hi,
I love the idea and I have sooo many prints ready to be used. I wanred to know if the Heat and Bond is a double sided one. As I read your instructions, it seems that one would need a double sided adhesive.
Thanks,
Reut
Hi,
I love the idea and I have sooo many prints ready to be used. I wanred to know if the Heat and Bond is a double sided one. As I read your instructions, it seems that one would need a double sided adhesive.
Thanks,
Reut
Hi,
I love the idea and I have sooo many prints ready to be used. I wanred to know if the Heat and Bond is a double sided one. As I read your instructions, it seems that one would need a double sided adhesive.
Thanks,
Reut
This is fantastic! I’m in an ATC swap group and am going to try this next month.
This is fantastic! I’m in an ATC swap group and am going to try this next month.
This is fantastic! I’m in an ATC swap group and am going to try this next month.
This is fantastic! I’m in an ATC swap group and am going to try this next month.
This is fantastic! I’m in an ATC swap group and am going to try this next month.
This is fantastic! I’m in an ATC swap group and am going to try this next month.
Julie. It is awesome, the idea, the colors. Maravilhoso, in Portuguese from Brazil. I have always loved your stuff (super work) and also Gwen’s. Thanks for being so artistic and generous for showing. Hugs from Brazil!!!
Julie. It is awesome, the idea, the colors. Maravilhoso, in Portuguese from Brazil. I have always loved your stuff (super work) and also Gwen’s. Thanks for being so artistic and generous for showing. Hugs from Brazil!!!
Julie. It is awesome, the idea, the colors. Maravilhoso, in Portuguese from Brazil. I have always loved your stuff (super work) and also Gwen’s. Thanks for being so artistic and generous for showing. Hugs from Brazil!!!
Julie. It is awesome, the idea, the colors. Maravilhoso, in Portuguese from Brazil. I have always loved your stuff (super work) and also Gwen’s. Thanks for being so artistic and generous for showing. Hugs from Brazil!!!
Julie. It is awesome, the idea, the colors. Maravilhoso, in Portuguese from Brazil. I have always loved your stuff (super work) and also Gwen’s. Thanks for being so artistic and generous for showing. Hugs from Brazil!!!
Julie. It is awesome, the idea, the colors. Maravilhoso, in Portuguese from Brazil. I have always loved your stuff (super work) and also Gwen’s. Thanks for being so artistic and generous for showing. Hugs from Brazil!!!