H•A•P•P•Y B•I•R•T•H•D•A•Y

I'm back after taking a little break at my DD's spending time with the grandchildren :)) a wonderful tonic.
These gorgeous ATC's above are Linda's entry to the Numbers challenge.
Linda also happens to be our BIRTHDAY GIRL today H•A•P•P•Y B•I•R•T•H•D•A•Y xxxxx Hope you have a good one Linda.
Luv Chriss x

Numbers challenge

Here is the start of our Numbers Challenge the 2 above have been created by Cathy Hirst, Cathy they are stunning, such style I love the backgrounds and the use of gold embossing. Thank you.
Our next 2 have been created by Sharon Ward and as a school teacher they are very apt, they really are gorgeous and if you were lucky enough to receive one of Sharons in the swap you will know that the scanner didnt do them any favours...sorry Sharon.

Thanx to you both for your great swaps.

Anyone wishing to take part in the July ATC swap ''Lets Face It'' please read July 4th post and posts after that date to give you information. Email HERE to get an address to post them to. You still have until the 31st July to get your ATC's in for the swap. Thanx to all of you who have already sent yours in. Not forgetting the lucky 12 people who names will be picked out of the hat to win a new release rubber stamp designed by Jean from Crafty Individuals

Thanx for reading. xx

blogging friends forever award

Look what we the club have been awarded I am thrilled to receive it on behalf of our club blog thank you Carol. :))))
The rules of this award
1. Only 5 people allowed.
2. 4 have to be dedicated followers of your blog
3. one has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
4. you must link back to whoever gave you the award.quite simple really it is a way of saying thankyou to those who take time out for wonderful comments to boost your day.

Will have to give this some thought and come back later. Luv Chriss

Its a dogs life

Hi,
Just thought I would share this funny card which I received today from my gorgeous pal Denise in Dubai... Thanx Denise you know how to make a girl smile.
Time for the ''Numbers'' theme which was set in May 08.
As you will see from the last couple of post I have been posting several ATC's entered for the monthly challenge on one post ....this is because I would like to try and catch up and hope to show your ATC's from each challenge the following month.
We will be back later with the start of our numbers.

Not forgetting the July ATC challenge of ''Lets face it'' which is open to everyone (hahahaha looking at the faces above I would say they are ''dog ruff'' oops sorry! rofpmsl) scroll down to 4th July post it will give you an insight into the challenge.
The ATC on the right is one we showed some time ago for another challenge it was ceated by Nikki over at Fat Freddie's Craft Shed this ATC would also be a great take on the July challenge.
Why not pop over and get a bargain as sadly they are closing their bricks and mortar shop and have a huge sale on. However the online shop IS staying open.
Have a great day. xxx

Some Freebies for You

Hello,
Some gossip for you on a site I have just found... click on the link below and see the freebies that are available... there is so much that can be used on ATC's and best of all they are FREE.
The above ATC was made using Freddies friends 3Ddecoupage sheets at Fat Freddies craft shed
They have a great reduction sale on.
Link to some freebies HERE
The same site has an area for tips/idea's on making ATC's and would be a great help to those just starting out and some ideas for those that have been making them for years too. Click on HERE

Prize Winner Elaine Hacker

Dottie is here to let Elaine Hacker know she won the Pack of 13 great stamps that were kindly donated by xelacrafts-onlineWhere you can find great stamps starting at just 50p now how good is that just click on their link above as there is sure to be something for everyone
Elaine I have Emailed you letting you know to check our blog ...If anyone knows Elaine please let her know we have a prize for her.
Hope you have all had a fun Sunday.
If you would like to do some ATC swaps pay a visit over here.. http://swapandshop.blogspot.com. there will be more swaps going up during this week. thanks for looking.

Some More Fab Gingham

New member Paula took on the gingham challenge her first attempt at an ATC the colours are sooo delicate and the stamp so pretty, well done paula.

I have been lucky to see the other challenges you have taken on and glad that you are enjoying them. Another of Chris's, great advice Chris
All the way from South Africa ..sorry the scan doesnt do it justice Denise.
Another one the scanner wasnt fair to is this fab 3D ATC from Terrie
Pretty in Pink from Solance it is sooo delicate.Thanks Girls Hope you are all enjoying your weekend. xxx
For those that dont know we have this months challenge open to anyone who would like to join in and have 12 fabulous Crafty Individuals NEW rubber stamps to give away if your name is picked out at random. Please scroll down to our post on July 4th for further information.

The challenge is on the theme 'Lets Face It' an example above, a fab mixed media ATC.

Gingham ATC's and update on Dottie

The scanner doesn't do this Gingham ATC justice it truely is gorgeous craeyed by Karen.
The Famous Tilda has been paper pieced by Andrea aka Laurens Mum. To celebrate a baby girl this pink Gingham has a cute fabric covered button and the tiniest of star brads by Terrie
Sorry about the not so straight ATC above must have been one of my tired nights but it doesn't take away the fab look to it. Thanx Tina.
Welcome back Dottie she had a quiet few days as she was exhausted and I am not surprised at all she had a fun packed holiday with two friends in S Africa they were fantastic hosts to her. Thank you Denise and Jessie... anyone who didn't read all about it just pop overto their blogs listed on the right.If you would like to be in with a chance of your name being picked out of the hat to win 1 of 12 of the above New stamps donated by 'Crafty Individuals' then scroll down and read the post for July 4th. If you would like to see and exchange some ATC's click on HERE
It's a new blog just launched ...very soon there will be greeting cards, rubber stamps and crafty items too. Thanx for visiting our ATC blog. Chriss x

July Swap Examples and an ATC to swap

Sorry I have not posted this last few days..... Feast your eyes on this Fabulous new release stamp from 'Crafty Individuals' guess what, we have 12 of them to give away, all you have to do is enter into the 'Lets Face It' ATC challenge your name will go into a hat and if you are one of the lucky 12 who's name is pulled out on the 3rd of August Jean & Malcolm will post one out to you. ATC's to be with me by the 31st July, Good Luck everyone. Why not pop over HERE and see what other new stamps have just been released. Thanx again to CI for your very generous gift to the club. Very apt for the lets face it challenge this ATC was a swap some time agao from club member Margaret Speight.This ATC which was created by Chris another club member, I think it fits in well with the challenge too. I actually watched Chris create this one sometime ago for another challenge... we had to create an ATC using one ink pad, one stamp, a plain white ATC and some words she coffee stained the blank card (coating it 3 times drying it before each coat )using the edge of the inkpad and a button she created the background and then stamped on the pocket watch added words she printed off and stained with just 1 coat of coffee.Thank you to those (LMC) who have sent in their July challenge swaps..... Could you please email me so I can confirm they have arrived.

SCROLL DOWN TO AN EARLIER POST TO READ UP ON THE 'LETS FACE IT' JULY SWAPThe above ATC would also fit in really well with the July challenge and guess what it is up for a swap so if you would like to swap just click on HERE a NEW 'Swap and Shop' blog. Back again later..Chriss x

An Award..thank you

A couple of days ago 'The Artist Trading Club' received this award from the lovely and very talented Susan, Thank you Susan from all of us.
You can meet the lovely lady HERE she is always soo cheerful has a fabulous smile and shares some great nature photos with along with her scrap booking and card making .

thank you so much for this award Susan x.
Now to pass this fab Award on .... there are sooo many fabulous blogs out there and it was sooo hard to choose, here they are in no particular order.

Annette

Fabrizio

Natasha

Dottie

Adele

Mya

Scrapz

(1) The awarded blogs can put the logo on hers or his blog.
(2) Link the person you received your award from.
(3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
(4) Put links of those blogs on yours.
(5) Leave a message on the blogs of the people you've nominated.

Tomorrow sees the end of Dotties fabulous adventure holiday in S.Africa If you havent caught up with Dottie you can by popping over HERE

chriss x

Gingham ATC, Lets face it Examples and update on Dottie

Some more of our Gingham ATC's, the top one was created by Jill of 'the Stampman' it is sooo pretty a lovely use of Velum and the little heart can be removed...Thanx Jill for taking on the challenge.
Howdy folks. this creation is one from our club member Margaret great use of peel offs. Thanx Margaret. I'm sure most of us think of school summer dresses when we think Gingham and it would seem our club member Michelle did too.

This ATC is one I made using mostly recycled 'STUFF' I had a black blank ATC, the image, the crown and the small black brad but the rest is recycled even the ribbon is from a Christmas gift set, I am sure you will recognise the rest of it. Reason for showing is to let anyone that has not made 1 before see that it doesn't have to be costly to come up with something that is individual.
The above ATC is one of the 1st ATC swaps I received in our club swap it was made by Jean of Crafty Individuals.
The is one created by Club member Karen of Scrapz Karen stamped onto acetate and backed it with an ATC.... love that stamp. I do not own this one but I wish I did...lol
This one was created by Wendy for our Black, white and a hint of red our 2nd club challenge, it seems so long ago but in fact it was only January.

Now then Dottie what has she been up to from what I have read today she had a good time shopping and down at the stables with Jessie's daughter.

Have you ever seen baby porcupines... Dottie met these 3 last week and was quite taken with them...I just forgot to show you them Sorry! They are sooo tiny... 3 in the hand is worth what?.. lol.

Why not pop over and see what else she has been up to... please click on HERE

Hope you enjoyed going down memory lane with me looking at some of my ATC collection. Chriss x

Let's face it update Dottie update and CI new stamps

More on the 'Lets Face It' July Challenge, it also gives me a chance to show you some of my brilliant collection the above ATC is one Karen swapped with me about a year ago... I love it.
I have been hearing alot about 'the green man' lately.. no not the hulk.. lol... and well thought I would show off my 'Green Lady' which I have in my collection she was a RAK from my fab pal Denise in Dubai...Hi Denise.. wave. :))
Here is another of our gingham ATC's this time from Martine and if you click on HERE you will see her fantastic header ....it's got birds on it and I love birds.. lol. Martine also has some fab cards to show you.
Thanx for taking on the challenge and by the way ..they were her 1st ever ATC's. Well done!
Now then just what has Dottie been up to today, I wonder...don't forget the next installment can be found over at Jessies place... if you click on HERE.
For LMC readers who wish to know more about the July challenge scroll down a few posts or contact me via email HERE
Feast your eyes on this Fabulous new release stamp from 'Crafty Individuals' guess what, we have 12 of them to give away, all you have to do is enter into the 'Lets Face It' ATC challenge your name will go into a hat and if you are one of the lucky 12 who's name is pulled out on the 3rd of August Jean & Malcolm will post one out to you. ATC's to be with me by the 31st July, Good Luck everyone. Why not pop over HERE and see what other new stamps have just been released. Thanx again to CI for your very generous gift to the club.
Until tomorrow Chriss x

Catch up with Dottie and lets face it challenge.

If you have been following Dotties adventures in S Africa with Denise you will know Dottie is now staying with Jessie and family and would seem she enjoyed a fantastic day doing the sites...why not pop over HERE and see for yourself.
The next 3 ATC's would be a great take on our July challenge which we have invited the readers of LET'S MAKE CARDS magazine...for more info please scroll down to Fridays post.
This stunning ATC below is one created by Karen L. our club member it is one of her 5 she created for the Gingham Challenge and I think you will agree a great take on the theme.. Thanks Karen
The lucky winner of the Blog Candy stamps can be seen in the post below.
Thats it for now, back tomorrow.

For more ATC's click on HERE

Blog Candy winner

The winner of the Blog Candy is....... Elaine, well done, you answered both questions correctly and your name was picked out of the bag.... you are now the owner of the 13 great unmounted rubber stamps supplied to us by
http://www.xelacrafts-online.com/ a very generous gift, thank you Helen.
Why not pop along and see what else they have as they are so reasonably priced from as little as 50p...how good is that.
Be back shortly with more on Dottie and our monthly challenge.
chriss x

ATC queen update

If you have been following Dottie on her adventures in S Africa with Denise you will know she has had the time of her life.
If you haven't caught up with the 2 D's believe me it is well worth a visit click on HERE.
Although our ATC queen Dottie has moved on for the next stage of her holiday she is still in S. Africa this time with club member Jessie and you can check out just what she gets up to on a daily basis by clicking on HERE
We will be back later with more on the 'Lets Face It' monthly challenge and our Gingham ATC's.
Remember the Blog Candy if you havent entered see posts below 13 free unmounted rubber stamps for 1 lucky person.
Chriss X

Lets Face It Challenge for July.

'Lets Make Cards' magazine issue 16 is on sale today and we as a club are featured in it. We have invited it's readers to get together with us on this months challenge, the theme being.... 'Lets Face It'...... here are 3 examples for those who do not know about Artist Trading Cards...ATC's for short.Each of these ATC's measure 2.5'' x 3.5'' and can be achieved by using ANY medium you like to work with, be it stamping, paints, crayons, pen n ink even recycled bits from a magazine/newspaper are just a few examples to choose from.

This challenge is open from to-day 4th July (American Independence Day) until Thursday the 31st July.

We ask that you make 5 ATC's on this months theme (they can either be all the same or each one different...the choice is yours). Keeping one for your own collection you send in the other 4 to me (address in LMC) including a SAE with a LARGE letter 1st class stamp on it and they will be swapped with our members and guests, on this occasion Age 14 and over may enter into the swap.

However if we get enough interest in 5-13 yrs wanting to do be involved we can organise a swap for them too...PLEASE email me at the address in the header above before sending them in and if we have enough young people wishing to take part we can make an ATC swap for that age group using the same theme.

Over the next week we will show more examples of what could be seen as ' Lets Face It ' ATC's but at the end of the day it is how you perceive it.

More information on the swap and free draw for those who take part will be posted here throughout the week, please keep popping back so as not to miss anything.

Most of all enjoy creating your tiny works of art and please scroll down to the next post and see our fab blog candy give away.

Chriss x