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The theme for my original ATC (Artist Trading Card) swap group this month was "hand drawn." This one really had me stumped. I love to design and work with patterns and colors but I seldom draw anything other than doodles. I kept trying to come up with a simple subject to draw - a flower, a cute little person or animal but I think the drawing skills in my family went to my brother - he has amazing talent and has even illustrated books! Finally it occurred to me that when I make a quick sketch of an idea for a page - I am drawing (a bit slow on the uptake) and I had my idea for the card.
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I drew some one inch square layout sketches in a grid pattern. I needed to make fourteen of these, so I needed to figure out a system.
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I calculated the measurements of the layout for the squares and made a drawing to scale. I first tried using a one inch square punch to create a template from a piece of chipboard, but I had a hard time getting the punched squares to line up perfectly.
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By using Design Studio, I was able to set up a quick file to make the template with the squares perfectly aligned.
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Here is my template - I cut it from a pretzel box and used it to trace the squares onto each ATC front.
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I often use my digital scrapbooking software (Creative Memories StoryBook Creator Plus) to create the backs of my ATCs - it gives me a chance to try another design and have a bit of digital fun. I chose this paper because it had small colorful squares that worked with the sketch boxes on the front.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_utx2TOgJeHM/SoTivrEqnOI/AAAAAAAAI1w/5F-y6X66x2U/s400/ATC+Hand+Drawn+Back.jpg)
Here is a closer view of the back of one ATC. I applied a 50% opacity to lighten the paper so the information could be easily read.
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Here are my finished ATCs - I drew the sketches on each card - at least it did not take as long as the thousand inchie project (if you missed that one - here is a LINK)!
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_utx2TOgJeHM/SoTif4vT-PI/AAAAAAAAI1Q/3SG4Yuz71II/s400/Four+of+the+Fronts+-+variations.jpg)
The cards are very similar but not identical - it is tricky to draw the same thing over and over in a one inch space. It took most of an evening while watching TV to finish them. I don't often sketch layouts before I create a page, but when I do the sketches are much larger!
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_utx2TOgJeHM/SoTie8dvl6I/AAAAAAAAI1A/BPM35wdpzSA/s400/ATC+Hand+Drawn+Front.jpg)
In the wider strip across the center of the card I wrote "So Many Pages ... So Little Time." I cut the fronts from a light sage green textured 12 x 12 paper with my ATC cut file. I chose that paper because it was an odd color and usually the bits and pieces that are odd colors are the ones I end up using for test cuts and sketches.
I can't wait to see what the others in my group came up with - I think a lot of us were outside our comfort zone this month. When our organizer, KER, posts photos of the group of ATCs on her blog I will edit to add a link here.
These are so very cool! You are in an ATC rush lately, love it :)
ReplyDeleteFor some reason your remark: " I cut it from a pretzel box" about the template made me laugh out loud, was it empty? I had this whole series of situations going through my head, forcing the family to quickly eat stuff cause I NEED the boxes for my cricut ;) I know.. maybe I just need another coffee before commenting someplace else ;)