Tim Holtz stencils 2016

I  am loving these NEW stencils.  Check them out, they make such beautiful backgrounds .for ATC's

These are mini stencils for ATC's

Tim Holtz  sneak-peeks 2016

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Looking for the perfect color combinations?

Check out these beautiful color combinations on Pinterest.

Colors, colors and more colors!!

Handmade Designer Papers

BEAUTIFUL Background Papers!

I love these handmade paper backgrounds. We can make our own paper backgrounds using paints and rubber or clear stamps.

Check out these BEAUTIFUL handmade backgrounds.

What a magazine!!

I found this at Joann's craft and fabric's. Woot Woot!!

Adding Age to Your ART!!

Ink Pad Aging

I’ve been ask many times “ how do you make an ATC look vintage?”  That’s a  hard question because there are many ways to make your ATC’s  look or feel vintage.  

 In my option it’s simply all about the colors that you use. I use lots of brown tones on my edges to give the feel of vintage or aged to my cards.  I also use lots of old book pages along with the inking of the edges to represents a vintage look.  You can also tint your paper with coffee or tea.  

There is no right or wrong way to do this.  So just play until you reach the desired look.

Here’s a few websites to help you with aging your papers.

How to age paper

Tutorial on how to make paper look olde

Recycle Your Cardboards!!

 Various Cardboards

Packages from your cereal boxes, 12 pack soda cartons, or anything that’s comes in an actual cardboard package can be recycled into ATC cards.  ATC’s should be created with heavy cardstock paper.  The truth is regular cardstock scrapbook paper is NOT quite heavy enough to prevent ATC ‘s from bending.  If you’re a swapping and your ATC's  are being mailed to your partners a heavy and more sturdy backing is need.

Start recycling your cardboard packages into beautiful ATC cards. You can always cut them down and store them in a plastic storage container for later use.

Check out these other ways to recycle your cardboard boxes.

Make your own postcard

Cereal box notepads

Welcome to the Vintage Cafe Art Room Blog!

Beverly, Kristy, and Donetta did some brainstorming, and Beverly came up with the wonderful idea of having a blog for the Vintage Cafe Swapbot group!  This will be a better, more effective way to share new ideas and techniques,YouTube videos, and other blogs with exciting art and craft projects.

We are full of great ideas, and we're always looking for new techniques and inspirations.  If you have any ideas to share, please let us know so we can post them...the more help and interaction we have, the better!

I'm going to start with a YouTube video showing how to make a flip book.  Adorable, and truly not difficult to make...I know you'll be hooked, as we were!  You can find one of the videos here, and another here.

I think I see a flip book swap posted in the very near future!