Chunky ATC

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a hard time throwing something away that could possibly be repurposed into something useful or pretty.  This project started out as an empty soap box!  While refilling the soap dish, I had one of those "aha" moments and thought it looked the right size for an ATC (Artist Trading Card). These cards are usually flat, 2.5" x 3.5" works of art meant to be traded.  Sure enough, the box was the right size and it became this chunky ATC!  (You could also do this with a small piece of wood, but this is cheaper and, if you were mailing it, much lighter!)

I first taped the box shut to reinforce it and then covered it with the purple and white damask print from the "Sew Artsy" kit.  It's a beautiful, linen-textured paper but a color I don't use often. 

For the front I cut a small piece of the canvas fabric in the kit with pinking shears and stamped a flourish with pink acrylic paint.  Once this was dry I misted with Ranger Colorwash spray ink and the paint resisted the ink.  I cut two small hearts from the batting and misted these with Dylusions pink spray ink and was surprised how beautifully the batting took the ink - it looks like felted wool.  When this was dry I used white pearl cotton to do a blanket stitch around the heart.  This was embellished with a button pin, rickrack bow, resin button and a tiny sticker, all from the kit.

I cut a narrow strip from the white lacy fabric and adhered it around the sides of the box.  I sprayed another piece of canvas pink and diecut it with a Sizzix spiral flower die.  This was formed into the rose and glued to the top of the box along with two leaves cut from green polyester fabric. 

So what do you think of my soapbox ATC? I bet you will never look at those boxes again without thinking of something to make with them!

Almost forgot to tell you that the Sew Artsy Inspiration Gallery is now up and running and is well-worth the trip over here: www.thelittlebluehouseonline.com  And, if you're thinking of getting a kit, don't delay as these are going fast. Due to the vintage one-of-a-kind nature of many items in this kit, once they are gone, they are gone!