Friendship's Garden Challenge Blog: Vintage Children's ATC (and HAPPY NEW YEAR!)

Hello, all !!!  First of all, I'd like to wish all of my readers a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!  I hope you enjoyed the holidays and that Santa was good to you! LOL!

I've been on a little break, trying to enjoy the holidays and get geared up for 2012.  One momentous occasion that happened since I last posted was my FORTIETH birthday!  YIKES!!!  Yep, it's finally here:  my forties! LOL!  But, you know, forty isn't as bad as some people make it out to be.  I, for one, am looking forward to this new chapter in my life.  I've learned a lot in my first forty years of life, and I know I still have much to learn.  But, I was so ready to say goodbye to my thirties and move forward and upwards!  Things will only get better!  So, here's to FORTY !!!  HIP! HIP! HOORAY!!!  =)

(This was my bday cake.  It was one of those cake bites from Baskin & Robbins.  We used a candle that was supposed to be used at Maddie's party.  LOL)

Now, on to my first project of 2012!  This week's bonus challenge over at Friendship's Garden Challenge Blog is an ATC with a vintage children's theme.  I haven't made an ATC in a while.  An ATC is an artist trading card which usually measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches.  The base is often just quality cardstock, but I like to use chipboard for mine so that the ATC is a lot sturdier.  I get my ATC chipboard from Etsy.

You will notice that I didn't use any images of children on my ATC.  I did want to, but I just couldn't fit any into my design.  Also, the challenge did not REQUIRE that I use an image of children.  

For me, when I think of "vintage children" as a theme, I often think of children at school.  I pictured a little red school house.  So, I took some red and brown cardstock and embossed them to give them a woodgrain texture.  I then did a simple paper piecing to create the school house for my ATC.

The background paper is actually some digital paper that I scaled down and printed.  If you are interested in the kit, I can look it up for you.  Just leave a comment here with your email address.  It's hard to tell in the picture, but I used TH Distress Ink in Walnut Stain on the edges of the ATC and TH Distress Ink in Vintage Photo on the face of the background paper.

The blue tag base is a really thick chipboard tag that I had in my stash.  The composition book, pencil, ribbon, and little blackboard were all stickers that I found in my supplies.  Gotta love it when I can put something together without having to buy anything new!

If you're wondering what someone might do with a finished ATC -- well, they are meant to be traded.  However, I normally just use mine on cards or tags.  

Finally, I'd like to make a few announcements.  

I've been accepted as a DT member over at Forever Night Challenges, where creepy meets creative!  Think Halloween all year long!  I don't know about you, but I LOVE Halloween as much as I love Christmas!  My term runs the first half of 2012, and I am really excited about this new gig.  Now, don't be spooked.  It's not as scary as it might sound!  =)  I will be posting my very first project for FNC in a few days.  =)

Last, please keep an eye out for some upcoming blog hops I am hosting in February and March.  I will be posting the blog hop buttons in my sidebar.

Come check out some sweet Valentine's Day cards and recipes for decadent desserts that you can make for the loved ones in your life! =)

This blog hop is SPONSORED BY Kenny K. Downloads!  The participants in this hop will all be using some of the sexier images from Kenny K. Downloads for their projects.  One lucky commenter will win FIVE Kenny K. digi's of their choice!

I am super excited about this last blog hop I'm hosting for the first quarter of 2012.  Think Oprah's Favorite Things show where the audience members receive an array of fabulous gifts !  Now, this hop won't be that extravagant, but commenters will have a chance to win blog candy AT EACH stop on the hop!  I will be given away at least ONE DOZEN prizes on my blog!!!!  So, mark your calendars and be sure to stop by that weekend!  And, don't worry.  I WILL post a reminder on my blog before the time comes in case anyone forgets.  =)

Well, I know that was a lot to process.  Thanks for sticking with me through this long post.  Have a great Wednesday!  ALOHA!