My First ATCs

I have been hearing a lot about ATCs lately, and I didn’t know what they were so I googled it. Here’s what I found out. ATC stands for Artist Trading Card. They are little cards that are made by artists and crafters for the purpose of trading with other artists.

You can do anything you want with an ATC as long as you make it the right size. ATCs should always measure 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. You should label the back side of the ATC with your name and contact information. Also include the name of the piece as well as information about whether it is part of a series or edition. This information came from this page about ATCs. You can learn more about ATCs and see some examples there.

I am going to give my first ATC to my mom, who taught me to knit, crochet and sew at an early age. The second one will go to my sister-in-law Lisa, who is also my best friend.

Even though these are meant to be traded, I think giving them away to prospective customers at craft shows or whenever you meet someone who seems interested in your crafting would be a great idea. I plan to make some up just for that purpose, but it may be awhile before I get around to it. I have a bunch of other projects that are higher on the priority list right now.

Recycled Box Shelf

Here is a project you can do to use up your empty cardboard boxes. I used Huggies diaper boxes, but you can use any kind as long as they are all the same size.

The shelf is actually sturdier than I expected it to be, but if you are going to use it for heavy books, you should use boxes that are the same height as the majority of the books so that the books help support the shelf and keep it from sagging.

To make this shelf, I first cut the flaps off the boxes and glued the handles flush with the sides. Then I taped the boxes together with packing tape. Once the boxes were joined together, I used Mod Podge to glue fabric squares all over the boxes. I didn’t cover all of the inside of the shelf because that part will be covered up when I put my books on them.

So now I have a cute little bookshelf, and I didn’t have to spend a cent for it. Well, unless you count the glue and tape. And it looks even better with the books on it.