Old Bird ATC Pocket Letter

It's the first Friday of September (already!) which means it's my turn to share a tutorial using magnifique products from Gina's. Woo hoo! This month I thought we'd do some nitty gritty paper crafting and create a sort of pocket letter.

I've been seeing these pop up all over my timeline and wanted to give it a try. 

What is a pocket letter, you ask? Janette Lane, the creator of Pocket Letters™, explains on her site:

"Basically, you fill all the pockets of a 9 Pocket Trading Card Protector and send the whole page to someone who wants to swap with you... You fill the pockets with anything you like (stickers, tea bags, a note, washi tape samples, pictures, etc.) A short note or letter is included and tucked into one of the pockets. Then the Pocket Letter is folded up and sent in a standard 10 size envelope."**

I am a huge fan of ATC's (Artist Trading Card: miniature works of art measuring 2.5" x 3.5") so I've created a cohesive set of birdy themed cards to fill those little pockets with. You can source your own public domain images, or purchase a collage sheet with all of those vintage birds and sentiments available HERE.

When creating your own piece, consider other little bits and pieces to tuck into those sleeves. Stamps, ephemera, feathers... little bits that match the theme or look of your cards.

Also consider the sleeves themselves. I've added clear stickers to the exterior.

Of course you could just create these pretty ATC's and trade/give them separately. There's nothing wrong with spreading the crafty love around.

If you're not keen on making these little bits of art, you may want to check out the tutorial anyway as it includes creating the textured background seen below.

But enough blabble! HERE is the video tutorial. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give me a shout. I'm happy to lend a hand or answer any questions you have. Seriously. Don't be shy ;)

THE SUPPLY LIST

From Gina's:
Cardstock Doily Set 1
Cardstock Doily Set Intricates
Steampunk Fan
Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set
Pen & Ink Shape Set
Faux Metal Number Plates
Herringbone Small

Other things you'll need:
For the Birds Collage Sheet or your own vintage bird images
Cardstock
Paper (I used pages from an old book)
Decorative scrapbook paper
Glue
White acrylic paint
Watercolour paint
Stamp pad
Clear stickers
Foam spacers
Ultra fine glitter
Tim Holtz Long Mini Brads 
Jute twine
Washi tape
Buttons, stamps and other small embellishments and trinkets
ATC Pocket Pages

**For more information on Pocket Letters you can visit Janette Lane's YouTube Channel or join the Pocket Letter Pals Network

Steampunk Marie Antoinette by GDT Amador

This steampunk Marie Antoinette monochromatic cage was created by guest designer Amador!

Here is a great view of the back of her showing many of Gina's Designs products.

Gina's Designs Products Used

Steampunk Cage - Dressform

Steampunk Hearts

Steampunk Fan

Feathers Shape Set

Layered Flourish Chloe Small

Paris Shadowbox - the Fleur-de-lis

Clock Hands Shape Set

Art Doll - Small

Wedding Anniversary and Father's Day Cards by Melissa

Hi everyone!  Melissa here with two cards using Gina's Designs Lasercuts. 

I painted the chipboard on the pink card with gesso, followed by a combination of watercolors and twinkling H20s.  I then stamped with chalk ink using a leaf stamp.  I topped it with Dimensional Glaze.

I painted the gear chipboard on the brown card with gold and silver lumieres on top of dried gesso.  To add more definition,  I took a very small brush and painted the edges with black acrylic paint . I topped everything with  perfect pearls, and then a thick layer of crackle.  To make the cracks show I used brown chalk.

On the wooden charm I used gesso, then painted with gold deco pen. Underneath the chipboard is canvas. I painted it with gold lumieres. While it was wet I sprinkled on some gold embossing powder and heated everything. I put on some verdigris embossing powder, heated it , then dry brushed the powder with some more gold paint. I used some halo pink-gold lumieres around the edges.  I poured  some crackle on in a few areas,and put black chalk on when dry.

Thanks for looking!

Chipboard used:

Bird in Ivy

Steampunk Fan

Wooden Charm-Circle Small

Other products used:

Printery paper by Prima

Watercolor paper

Winton and Lewis watercolors

Twinkling H20s

Tim Holtz found relatives cards, Chitchat words,metal pieces

Jaquard Lumieres

Vintaj pewter charms

Perfect Pearls

Ranger Crackle Accents

Dimensional Glaze

Petaloo flowers

Tsuineko chalk ink

Marvy Uchida  DecoColor liquid gold paint marker 

Jolee's Gems

Steampunk Shrine by Kathi

Hello everyone!  Thanks for stopping by, it's Kathi here to share with you my House Shrine Box, 

Supplies Used:

Gina's Designs Lasercuts:

House Shrine Box, 

Steampunk Lady, 

Steampunk Fan, 

Gears Shape Set

Steampunk Frame, 

Faux typewriter keys, 

Dressforn & Wings ShapeSet, 

Small Skeleton Clock/hands, 

Gothic Chandelier, 

Steampunk Hearts

Other Supplies used:

Metal Butterfly from Craftsupplies1

Metal Key,

Metal  Gears and washers.