Quilting Arts Embellishments: Announcing the 2009 Calendar!

After last week's issue of Embellishments encouraging readers to make ATCs for Make it University! in Long Beach next month, some readers emailed and asked us, "What the heck is an ATC?"

ATC stands for Artist Trading Card, and they're easy and fun to make. The only requirement for an ATC is its dimensions: 2.5" x 3.5 ". Otherwise, the only limit is your imagination (and copyright laws, of course). Scan and print your own photos or copyright-free clip art; stamp fabric or paper; embellish with stickers, drawing, writing, paint, stitching, beads, buttons, found objects and papers, grommets, fibers, and anything else you can think up. Stitch or glue a border on it if you like. Then add a cardstock backing, sign and date the card on the back, add contact information such as an email or web address if desired, and number the cards if they are one of a series.

DIRECTIONS For fiber ATCs

1. Fuse fabric to a rectangle (approx. 8.5" x 11") of craft felt according to the manufacturer's directions.
2. With fabric or acrylic paint and simply cut rubber stamps (you can even use a potato stamp for this), stamp randomly over the fabric. (See tips below.)
3. When the paint has dried and been heat-set, cut 2.5" x 3.5" rectangles out of the fused fabric.
4. Stitch and embellish as desired.
5. Glue or stitch on a border.
6. Glue on a cardstock backing, sign and date the card, and add contact information, if desired.

Other tips and ideas

Rubberstamping on Fabric
1. Apply paint with a cosmetic sponge or foam brush to the rubber stamp.
2. Press the stamp onto the fabric once.
3. Gently lift the stamp and allow the paint to dry.
4. When dry, heat-set with an iron.

Angelina
1. Place strands of Hot-fix Angelina between 2 sheets of parchment paper.
2. Set iron to silk setting and press Angelina for 2-3 seconds.
3. Voila! You have a sheet of Angelina that you can cut and appliqu� to your fiber piece.

Shiva Paintstiks
1. Peel the outer shell of the Paintstik with your fingernail or knife.
2. Apply Paintstik directly to fabric, with a stencil brush and stencil, or place a textured surface underneath (e.g. rubber stamp or Indian print block) and do a rubbing.
3. Allow to dry for 3-5 days.
4. Heat set with an iron. Do not dry clean your fiber piece.bring.

For details on the trade at Make it University! with Cloth Paper Scissors in Long Beach, visit our MIU page on our website.