Curios Crafter Tash

I know it not that time of the season but no harm in keepin' ahead!!

ATC Rules.....

Just to get you thinking!

Your ATC should be 6.4cm X 8.9 cm (2.5 inches by 3.5 inches ). Try to make sure your ATC has a sturdy backing especially if you have used papers to create. Always lable the back of your ATC with a theme title, your name, date it was made, what materials were used and most of all what number it is in the series or set that you made.

When creating or making a design for ATC swapping it is a good idea to make a set with the same design as this becomes the set that you swap out. At the back of each ATC is written for example 1of 6 which means this one ATC was the first made out of six that were made to form a set or series. Depending on the requirements of a host sets or series can more or less ie 6x6, 8x8, 10x10.

SO why you ask this, well when swapping your ATCs it is handy to know that the ATC received was made from an idenitcal idea or creation and how many were produced this way. It is nice to know that when this set of ATCs was swapped out that every player received the same design. Also handy for the host when they need to swap out so many different sets or series of ATCs that each set are the same made from each player, so there is less chance of being sent out a ATC you have design back. Receiving new ATCs are fun especially if there was a large number of players involved in the one swap.

Swapping is FREE which means no money was needed to buy ATCs. Only cost is the making of ATCs and postage. It is so easy to get started and collect your very own ATCs.

Hope this has helped or have got you thinking about getting started in ATCs.

What is This???

Here are a few what does that mean when you find them on your ATC' s or Host Swap Details:

RAK: Radom Act of Kindness; if you get an ATC with this on it means you keep this ATC & is not to swap out or give away as it was ment for you & no one else.

3/4: 3 for 4; means you make 3 to send to the host and receive four ATCs from the host as they have made an extra one for you.

4/3: 4 for 3; means you make 4 to send & receive 3 in return as the host collects one ATC from every player to keep.

4x4: 4 for 4; means you make 4 to send & receive 4 in return from the host. This is the same if the ATC sets or series are 6x6, 8x8 or 3x3 as it depends on the host.

TY : means thank you which a host will make a card or note of thanks for joining the swap. It is not counted as a ATC.

SSAE: means stamped & self addressed envelope which is needed when you join a swap so the host can send you swapped ATCs back. Also "envie" may be used too for the same thing.

Tips That May Help!!

Just a few things I do to make making ATC's alittle easier!

~ Cut out a peice of very thick card to use a tracing template & mark it as a template so you don't have keep ruling up the exact size all the time!

~ Cut out a peice of ver thick card just 2mm or 3 mm smaller template so it can be use as the main body of your design & then can be placed on a peice of card cut that is at the right size so it creates a frame or boarder around your work!

~ Buy a self inking character stamp to use as your backing details so it makes writing information on th back of you ATC's faster & easier too! It should have Title, Theme, Date, Number (used an abreviation for this as it saves on space) & made by (your name!).

~ Buy a self inking stamp & place you address on it so it can be used on the back of envolopes for who the sender is so you don't need to write it & helps when posting!!

~ Have an exercise book to track & record your ATC's in swaps as this helps to have on hand when you go to create your ATC's & the swap you are joining! The things you may have in there are; Swap theme, Host, Date due, Post date, Host receive, I received! These are ruled up into 6 columns. Plus you tracker book is handy when you don't want to turn on the computer just to find out details of a swap you have already signed up for!