Media Reviews
Myshelf.com:Its small, rectangular and the latest crafting craze to sweep the world. What is it? ATCs of course! Artists Trading Cards started out as a way for artists to showcase their work and have been taken over by crafters as a fun way to try out new techniques, make friends and generally have fun. Find out how they are made in this little book, one in Search Press' new series Twenty To Make, showing twenty ideas (plus variations) for crafters in a number of popular crafts.Anybody who is a papercrafter will already possess things like fancy papers, rubber stamps, embellishments etc. This series of books really gets down to the business straight away, starting with a simple idea and then showing not only how to make it, but how to make two variations on the same theme. Here is the layout of the series in a nutshell, and at only GBP4.99 (US $GBP9.95, CAN $12.95) they make ideal stocking fillers, or an inexpensive treat for yourself. I was particularly eager to get hold of this title as I had never made an ATC in my life and am not generally keen on working small. But this book got to the heart of good ATC design straight away, and I was soon crafting away. All the ideas make use of the type of craft materials available at any craft stores and are sorted into categories such as using stamps, metals, embellishments, stencils etc. I'm always pleased to see any practical book that cuts through the jargon and tells you what you really need to know, and this is a good example.Papercraft Inspirations:If you fancy having a go at the latest papercrafting trend for making ATCs, this little book is a good place to start. It has 47 pages of pure inspiration and beautiful photographed projects to offer. It's a great read whether you're new to ATCs or are an established addict looking for more ideas. Choose from complicated or easy projects to suit your style.Papercraft Essentials:Artist Trading Cards, also known as ATCs, are small cards measuring 2A x 3A which are decorated and traded, giving everyone the opportunity to collect unique and original pieces of art. You'll find a detailed and useful sourcebook here. This inspirational book provides numerous ideas for a wide range of ATCs, based on many different techniques and papercraft methods.Workshop on the Web:Artist Trading Cards have become very popular and there is only one rule: they must always be given or swapped - never sold. This book is a good introduction to a wealth of materials (all on the 'arts' side, rather than stitch). It illustrates the use of photographs and art materials, although it doesn't always explain the materials or how to use them. It contains good ideas for using stickers, charms, brads, beads and all the 'itsy-bitsy' trimmings sold for scrap-booking. I think you would need a little knowledge of the materials to use the book and a resources section of where to find them would have been useful. However, the twenty cards shown, many with variations using the same materials, give a really good idea of the way all the elements could be brought together to make the cards.Girlslife.com:Your creativity can go above and beyond what you wear. Leonie Pujol's Twenty to Make: Artist Trading Cards can show you how to make cool cards out of wallpaper, ribbon and other materials you can find right in your own home. With these fun eclectic designs, you'll have a collection of trading cards that showcase what you love. Grab a group of friends and start constructing these delightful treasures. Craft Stamper:This new book by QVC favourite Leonie Pujol is small on price but big on ideas. An ideal book for ATC newbies, it has lots of different ideas for making ATCs with everything from beads to photos and, of course, stamps! The pages are well laid out, and the instructions are easy to follow. Each ATC idea shown has at least one variant, so you are actually getting a lot more than 20 makes in this book.Stitch:This is the latest publication in the terrific new craft series of books from Search Press, and at only GBP4.99 each they are a real bargain. Artist Trading Cards are an interesting and exciting way for artists to share their creativity. There are many ATC websites on the internet for swapping these cards. This little book has 20 designs, each one with its own clear instructions, using a variety of materials and techniques. Some of the ideas could also be used to make greetings cards. Provides numerous ideas for traditional, classic, contemporary and unusual cards using stickers, stencils, decorative papers, metal, beads, charms, memorabilia and stamping, decoupage and collage techniques. A great book for artists and crafters of all skill levels.-Simply Cards & Papercraft