Oh how I love...

...Artist Trading Cards - the making, the shipping, and the receiving of them just give me such a sense of wonder.

These tiny little bits of art (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") slip so easily into an envelope and bring so much fun that sometimes I can't stop.  We had a trading session over at Creating & Sharing Mixed Media that got me totally jazzed.  That's a good thing, since the theme was all about songs.  The two trading cards could be based on a whole song, song title, line from a song or our favourite song, with a third one of any theme whatsoever.

I keep a healthy pile/stash/hoard of ATC 'blanks' for such opportunities, and I carefully chose three of them.

ATC Blanks

And then it got really tough, because I Could. Not. Stop.  

ATC fronts

ATC Backs

I enjoyed listening to hours of music so much that I've decided to go back to my original life plan of becoming a world-renowned vocalist.  Stay tuned (pun intended).  In the meantime, these cards have gone into an envelope carefully crafted from two colour-coorinated Gelli prints, stapled, glued and taped together so tightly that the recipient will have no chance of EVER getting into them.

Envelope front

Envelope back

So, here's the scoop - I want to make more.  Do you want to receive one?  If you're into trading with ATC's, here's your change to get an original Win Dinn Artist Trading Card.  Just email me  and I'll happily get into Make Mode just for you.  It's an open theme, so get creative!

It's been three weeks...

...since I last did a post, and I can't figure out where the time went.  I definitely got lost in the studio as I was prepping for an upcoming show.

I do want you to see some Artist Trading Cards that have been dancing into my snail mail box, though.  They are so unique, so delightful, and such a pleasure to receive that I must share them.

This first one is from Lynne Pfeffer, an artist from Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Don't you love the colour combination and stitchery?

Shirley Deatcher from Ontario, Canada sent this next one.  You might check her blog for some gorgeous cards, tags and all things paper - so fabulous!

Tracy Woodsford sent these next three, all the way from Australia.  I so much enjoy her thoughtful posts and fabulous artwork.  Her blog is always a delight.

The next five cards are from Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith in the UK. Her blog is a fascinating read always, and I know she did a post about creating those cards so do take a peak into her archives to find it.

All of these stunning ATCs were accompanied by cards, found and created papers and other wonderful ephemera.  I so much enjoy sending and receiving these miniature works of art; they are a fabulous visual record of art friends from around the world, and a constant source of inspiration.

Many thanks to those of you who responded to my request for a trade.  I am so grateful that you did.

Rarely...

...do I get a chance to play with other artists, so when I do, it's a treat.  A recent visitor to the studio was Lynne Mizera, who brought me this lovely ATC as a gift:

Thank you Lynne!

I'm a huge fan of Artist Trading Cards, and of course putting Lynne's gift in my book led me to looking, 

 and looking,

 and looking

at other cards in the book.

 What a feast for the eyes

are these miniature works of art.

 Like baseball cards,

 the 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" format is delightfully tiny,

yet can range from whimsical,

 to abstract

to profround.

Because I no longer live in a large centre where I can attend trading sessions, I'm looking to do so online.  Are you a fan?  Would you like to trade with me?  If so, please email me to let me know your snail mail address.  I'd be so happy to trade with you; I just love getting artwork in the mail (and mailing it out, too!).