Frilly & Funkie Challenge #5; Artist Trading Coins... ATC Keychain Collection

    March hasn't exactly been "springing" yet. At least not anywhere near this family.  The snow melted here, but the nights are still chilly enough for the melted junk to ice over again. Up north in Red Wing; the Younger Kids are facing some 'gnarly stuff' this weekend and the Younger Son FB'd about sinking into 2 feet of snow still on his ROOFTOP, that needed to come off before the eaves get backed up with ice that pushes upward. (While I've read of this before, it really never occurred to me that could remotely happen in our family!) I like to do the roof-walking myself, and make use of my blower 2x a year- getting all those "50 Trees of Indiana" and all the mess they "leave" in the gutters and on the roof. I like to tread around up there in my bare feet (or tight-fitting socks if it's a bit cold) because I can feel the loose roofing gravel that way, and even one tiny object can cause a fall from the roof. Better safe than sorry, so no boots up there for that job. The Younger Son doesn't have that kind of luxury, and if the blasted, lying, conniving GROUNDHOG turns out to have tricked us and Spring comes late; it will come even later up in Red Wing. So my prayers are for their continued safety up there.
      Meanwhile, down here in Indiana; we've kept prayers out for more family down south who have been in the path of yet more tornadoes. Last time, was Panama City, with family right there on the Panhandle (and hopefully, we will be working Missions for a week in PC to help rebuild, but we're waiting on plans to come together for that), but this time; it hit near Opelika, Alabama. This time, it did quite a lot of damage to the farms and homes...and LIVES. I cannot imagine losing my 6 yr old child to a storm. My heart mourns for the things that happen in this Earthly Life, but I know GOD is still in control and I take peace in that; otherwise...how could we keep going? Death goes along with life, and if we didn't know loss, we would never know what joy is. Still.... waiting for the birth of our 2nd Grandbaby (Girl) and spending time with our Wittle Peanut as he gets ready to share us all with his "Sissy"; it hits hard when innocents take the brunt of hurt and pain. Having lost yet another friend this past week to cancer, can give us ALL that much more FAITH to hang in there! Pam was my Bestie back in HS, and we worked our first jobs together where we met, and knowing that she still kept her sights on Heaven, gives me reason to hope I will see her again. :')
       Getting back down to the craft business at hand here.... I have a few points to make; one is that from this post onward, I may or may not be able to do those "Step By Step" photos and explanations to all my projects. At least; for the coming weeks or so. I'll let you in on it as soon as we find out a few things for sure, but suffice it to say that I am just not as able to keep up right now.  I actually realized this while crafting this very project; I got sooooo busy having FUN on this, that I forgot to keep taking the photos as I went along! I got to about the 2nd Coin done when I realized my 'mistake'. Going back to resituate everything for photos was a daunting thought right now. I am simply fighting the fatigue too much. While I look forward to this being TEMPORARY... I'm just going to 'wing it' as I can. I know my Followers and Readers will be ok with that, but it's my own OCD that bothers me with it, & it's being handled.  So,,,, let's get this moving!
         
       While these were made in 2011, they've never made it onto my Blog, so this is just a look back to allow you fellow Crafters in on the fact that I am no stranger when it comes to the ATC (Artist Trading Cards. And, once you get started; they are very addicting! I think it's because they are so tiny and while the idea is to keep them simple....well, you know ME by now. I have trouble rounding up my Craft Muse when she's let loose out in the open Studio. Pulling on her bit doesn't work, and neither does taking things away. She's just WILD when an idea pops into her head!! lol
Just for the fun of it; can you guess which one was done first? We learn as we go along, but sometimes, that 'simplification' hits some of us backwards. This was my case.



           Fast forward to this FF Challenge about ATC (Artist Trading Coins), & my first reaction was "Did I misread that...COINS??", and I had to actually take a really close up look at the inspiration from the FF Design Team. I'd never heard of "AT COINS" ! So I did what most of us do; I took a look on Pinterest for more designs and specs. And then I googled the origins of it. Here's what I came up with, courtesy of a Blog called DIY Craft Club  (Thanks, DIY Craft Club for the helpful article !!)
               After checking through all my circle dies (including a set of Spellbinder Circles, TH Alterations Repositionable Circles, and several other Sizzix Dies of circles or circle frames, as well as circle punches), I couldn't believe I did NOT have a 2 & 1/2 inch circle !! I went through every drawer and finally texted to the DT if the coins had to be only that size? They answered back that any close size is ok. This was understandable seeing that we often hang things well off the sides of our Tags and ATCards. But by the time I'd thought it over... I figured "in for a penny...' and ordered a large heavy duty punch. I was VERY GLAD I did and it arrived in just one day; BONUS!! My mind was already spinning with ideas- especially those TH DOLLS!!  The one Q I didn't ask: can we make more than ONE for this project? Well, that got answered by my run-away Muse. I had been itching to make another tiny 'collection' on a TH key ring, and this was my chance! I noticed that several of the FF DT, as well as the 5 or 6 who already posted their projects, made 2 or 3 posted. So I felt I was ok since I was making these FIVE to match together onto one ring. 3 was too few on it, and I'd already had the 5 planned out in my head. I couldn't STOP!! lol...

I made my TACoins to be much thicker- I layered 5 cardstock pieces together

to form the base for each. That would support some of the heavier TH IdeaOlogy items.

Another change: ATCoins and ATCards usually have a backside on them for info about

the maker/designer for trading purposes. I skipped this part in favor of adding

a backside to each, because it added to my "story" on the collection ring. 

                Here's what I ended up with.... and I am very pleased with it !!

                      A few 'perspective' views so you can see the layered details...

Some of the Tim Holtz products I've used on this:

Paperie: Paper Dolls, Tissue Tape, Paper Stash 12x12 (Correspondence, 

                   Dapper, Destinations, Memoranda), Chit Chat Stickers,

Ephemera Pack (Expedition);

IdeaOlogy: Adornments (Keys & Stars), Baubles (retired), Clock Hands,

Mini Gears, Mirrored Hearts, Mirrored Stars, Monocles,

Sprocket Gears, Index Clips, Jump Rings, Long Fasteners,

Book Rings, Number Brads, Swivel Clasps, Trinket Pins;

Trimmings: Crinkle Ribbon, Filmstrip Ribbon,

Ranger/Distress Products: Distress Regular Inks (Picket Fence, Tea Dye),

Distress Oxide Inks ( Antique Linen, Vintage Photo),

Distress Markers (Black Soot)

Distress Paint (Black Soot, Gold- retired, Picket Fence), 

Distress Collage Medium (Matte)

This FF Challenge was truly a fun surprise!

Please, go check out the rest of the projects, and you have until Tuesday Evening (3/11)

to join in with us at The Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog ,

with a chance to win- sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique

(You'll want to check out their new page design- and SALES !)

Thanks for all the SWEET comments, thoughts, and especially the SHARING

of great ideas and all those AWESOME talent-filled projects I keep seeing

from all of my Crafty Friends from all over!!

Be Safe &

HAPPY BLOGGING!!!