Celebrating the Second Anniversary of the Stampotique ATC Swap!

We're celebrating the second anniversary of the Stampotique Facebook Group's ATC Swap, which is organized by the lovely and talented Nikki Woodward.

This is what she's said about this swap.

"This is a very special trade as we are celebrating our second year anniversary. For this trade we would like to see lots of 2's : 2's of things, 2 years, 2nd anniversary etc etc etc, wherever '2' takes your mind and creativeness."

Here's my first ATC with Agatha's Parrot (Magda Polakow). 

Agatha's Parrot was stamped twice with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a Black Multiliner pen. The parrots were set aside while I worked on a background for them.

140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore) was die-cut with one of the dies from the ATC set (Spellbinders). I should have actually measured it first because it was actually smaller than I would have liked, since I wanted to fit both parrots with a bit more room to spare. Alas.

Viridian and Titan Buff Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints (DecoArt) were mixed, then randomly sponged over the cardstock. I built up the layers until I was happy with coverage and pattern. Viridian MFA paint was sponged over the Vineyard stencil (The Crafter's Workshop) and allowed to dry. The stencil was moved and this step was repeated several times. The stenciled painted cardstock was coated with a layer of Multi Matte Medium (Ranger). When that was dry, Leaf Green Archival ink (Ranger) was sponged over the stencil again to add another leafy layer. The same ink was sponged over two of the twos from the Made to Measure stencil (Andy Skinner/DecoArt). This layer was sealed with another layer of Multi Matte Medium.

The Agatha's Parrots were adhered to the stenciled, painted background, then sealed with Multi Matte Medium. Two vine/branchy things were first drawn in with a Sepia Pitt Artist pen (FaberCastell), but it smeared and was translucent, so I went over them with Burnt Umber and Payne's Grey MFA paint. Several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) were added to Agatha's Parrots' beaks, eyes, and talons.

The ATC front was matted with white cardstock, then mounted onto a black ATC.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this ATC into the following challenges:

• Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media Challenges: Stencils

• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges: Stencil It

• Die Cuttin' Divas Challenges: Tweet, Tweet. Use a Bird

• Crafting With An Attitude Challenges: Anything Goes