French Kiss ATC Designed For Alpha Stamps

 

In addition to designing the Vintage French Painter’s Canvas Book for Alpha Stamps, I also designed this ATC using the French Kiss 6 x 6 paper pack.  I thought you might enjoy going through my design process step by step. 

I started by covering an ATC sized piece of chipboard with the burgundy paper from the collection.  Next, with a pencil, I drew an oval the size of the frame I intended to use.  This oval acts as a guide for paper placement in future steps.

Then next step involves tearing small pieces of paper from various paper patterns in the collection.  Using a small sponge I inked the edges of the torn pieces.

I glued the torn paper pieces to edges of the ATC using the oval as my guide.  Note, at the top of the ATC I glued the paper slightly over the oval line.  You’ll see why in a further step.

Next, I trimmed the excess paper along the edges of the ATC.

I used a gold German scrap frame that I painted black with Ranger Alcohol ink to frame the image.  Note how you can see the paper at the top, peeking out under the frame.  Now can see why I glued the paper over the pencil oval guide.  I next added some torn pieces on top of the frame.

I added the Eiffel Tower that came from the Paris Collage Sheet. .  To give it a more vintage feel, I tore the image rather than cutting it.  In the bottom right corner I added a piece of cheese cloth.  I first the cloth by lightly sponging it with the same ink I used to ink the edges of the paper.

To balance the black in the frame I added a few black rub-ons at various points on the ATC.  Next, I started adding dimensional embellishments.  In the bottom right corner I glued a clock button to a piece of filigree.

To the bottom right corner I added a sprig of brass leaves, fabric leaves and a beaded flower.  To balance the weight of the items in the right bottom corner, I added embellishments to the upper left corner with a silk ribbon bow and a brass fleur de lys with a burgundy Swarovski crystal.  To attach the ends of the ribbon to the ATC I used miniature glue dots.

As a final touch I added a few flowers to the bottom right corner in colors that complemented the papers.  Note how the weight of the embellishments is heaver on the bottom right than on the upper left.   Without the embellishment at the top the bottom would feel too heavy.  With equal embellishment at both ends the focal point (the image) would be overwhelmed.  Also note the vertical line the tower creates contrasted by the oval of the frame.

The paper tearing technique is a great way to use leftover scraps of paper.  You can scale this technique up and use it for a greeting card, a scrapbook page or other piece of art. 

List of Alpha Stamp Supplies I used in the ATC

French Kiss Paper Pack

Cleo de Merode ATCs Collage Sheet

Paris Collage Sheet

Clock Face Buttons

Fleur de lyse Charm

Small Dresden Oval Frames

2mm Silk Ribbon - Oatmeal

Brass Branch with6 Leaves

Alpha Stamps has created a French Kiss ATC kit which includes some of the supplies I used for this ATC and other items that complement French Kiss paper pack.