Welcome Autumn and Happy Thanksgiving!

 As a certified custom framer working at Michaels Arts and Crafts, I see a lot of frames.  Some made of wood, metal and even acrylic (such as those box frames).   I can't tell you how many times I've restocked the little swivel photo pencil cups and never gave any thought to doing anything with them.  I never even paid any attention to the size photos they're made for.  Imagine my surprise to discover they hold photos that are the same size as Artist Trading Cards (better known as just ATCs)!  And that's when the idea for this project began.

Fall Swivel Pencil Cup with ATCs
By: Regena, Artistic Guide

 Finished sizes:  2.5" x 3.5”

Supplies: 
Stamps:
Autumn text (Hero Arts)
Various Leaf stamps (Hero Arts, PSX, Rubber Stampede, Anita’s)
Seasonal Background Cube (Impression Obsession)
Happy Thanksgiving (Hero Arts)
Paper:
8.5" x 11” matte coated white cardstock (Marco’s Paper)
4 Pre-cut Glossy Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) (Marco’s Paper) 
  (or cut your own from glossy cardstock)
Inks:
Coal Black and Pine Ancient Page dye inks (Clearsnap)
Autumn Leaves Kaleidacolor Rainbow inkpad (Tsukineko)
Lime Green Pinata brand Alcohol ink (Jacquard)
Butterscotch and Lettuce Alcohol inks (Ranger)
Other:
Acrylic Swivel Pencil Cup (Studio Décor-Michaels)
Alcohol inks applicator (Ranger)
Alcohol Inks Blending Solution (Ranger)
18kt Gold Leafing pen (Krylon)
Black marker (Tombow)
Heat Gun (Milwaukee)
Yellow, Orange and Lime Green Stickles Glitter Glues (Ranger)
Scotch brand paper adhesive (3M)
Cutterbee Scissors (EK Success)
Mini Pinking Scissors (Fiskars)
Corner Rounder (Marvy)
Ruler
Sponge or paper towel
Extra Fine Mist Spritzer (JudiKins)
Water

Directions: 

1. Using the direct-to-paper (DTP) technique with a sponge or paper towel, apply various inks from the Autumn Leaves rainbow inkpad all over a sheet of matte coated white cardstock.  Lightly spritz the whole sheet with water and either set aside to dry or speed up the drying time with the heat gun.  Note:  When this dries, the colors will be very muted.  You can skip this step if you don’t want the colors to change.  This will be the background color for the leaves and word panels. 

   

2. Stamp two each of four different leaves with the Coal Black ink on the background sheet.  Stamp one side of the Seasonal Cube a couple times also.  Set aside to dry. Note:  I stamped the aspen leaf twice without reinking and used only the second one because the color would show through more.  Saved the first one for another fall project!

   

3.  The ATC backgrounds are made using the polished stone technique.  Put a few drops of both green alcohol inks, a couple dabs of the gold leafing pen and some of the blending solution on the applicator.  Pounce this combo all over each of the four glossy ATCs, adding more inks and blending solution as needed.  Dry with the heat gun for a few seconds and then add a little of the butterscotch ink (with some blending solution) to the applicator and go over a couple (or all) of them again for a little more ‘fall’ color.

   

4. Stamp the ‘oak leaves with acorns’ side of the seasonal cube repeatedly on one of the ATCs with the Pine green ink.  On the remaining three, stamp the ‘Autumn’ text with Coal Black on two of them and with the Pine green on the last one.  I alternated the images on all three as you can see on the finished images.



5. Cut a strip of the unstamped area of the leaf background about 2" x 8.5” and set aside for the text portions of the ATCs. Carefully cut out all of the leaves (I only cut out the lighter aspen leaf). Edge all of them with the black marker and set aside. 
6. On the remaining background strip, stamp the ‘Autumn’ text twice with Pine ink and the ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ once with Coal Black.  You will need to leave enough space in between the images so they can be cut into small panels as shown on the finished ATCs.
7. Cut one of the ‘Autumn’ texts to a 2" x 1.25” panel, round the corners and edge with the Coal Black ink.  Cut the Thanksgiving text into a 2.75" x .75” panel, with the bottom edge cut with the mini pinking scissors.  The image is actually a little wider (with the leaves) than the ATC so I centered it and then trimmed the sides after it was attached. 
8. Referring to the finished photo, use a ruler to mark off and then trim (into tiny little panels!) the top and bottom words from the second ‘Autumn’ text.  This is just a little tricky, but, we are working with ATCs!  Edge all of the panels with Pine ink. 
9. Refer to the finished images for placement of the leaves.  Everything is glued with the paper adhesive and you only need to put the glue around the back edges of the images, not all over the back!  Keep it about .125” from the edge to avoid seepage and just a touch on the stems. The two with the tiny word panels get the leaves attached first and the other two get the word panels first.   On the acorns background ATC, attach the ‘Autumn’ panel, the small leaves and then the aspen leaf. 

   

10. After all the leaves and panels are attached, add glitter glue accents to the leaves using all three colors as you like.   I also added orange glitter glue dots to all the corners and then various other spots with the green and yellow.  I used the glitter glues for embellishing to keep the ATC panels as flat as possible. 
11. Once the glitter accents are dry, remove the clear plastic liner from inside the cup, place the ATCs on each side and then replace the plastic liner.  It’s that simple!  The liner is what holds them in place.  It would be very easy to make this a project for all seasons and/or holidays.  All you need are four ATCs and it takes less than a minute to change them out!
12. You could also put silk flowers in it.  It doesn’t have to be strictly for pens and pencils.  A small cube of floral foam, a few silk flowers and you’ve got yourself a nice little arrangement that can spin!  I may even do one for Christmas and put candy canes in it!  Lots of possibilities here and it would make a great gift for any occasion. 
13. And remember, these are Artist Trading Cards, so don’t forget to sign them!