What are art trading cards or ACEOS?

I like to make art trading cards.  They are small pieces of art that you make in different  art mediums; ; painting, mixed media, clay, quilting, or stamping. They are little miniature canvases that reflect an artist’s work. There is only so much space in any home or office to display large pieces of art.  This is a small inexpensive way to have an extensive art collection.

Some people trade them with other artists, and some cards are sold to collectors.  The ones that are sold are called  ACEOs = Art Cards, Editions & Originals. . ACEO stands for ‘Art Cards, Editions and Originals’. . They are the size of a baseball trading card , 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches. People collect them to create a small art gallery.  Holiday cards are especially treasured since you can put them out on small easels to make a holiday display that does not take up much room.

I put our Halloween, Christmas, Easter and 4th of July cards in my  home that I have collected from artists around the world. There are interesting stories that come with each card. My guests are always curious about the medium that the card is made from and where the artist lives.  I have over 250 cards in my collection.  I keep them in a binder like you would keep baseball cards.

Here is one that I made yesterday.  It is a simple mixed media collage called Peace.  The dove was part of a recycled Christmas card that I received last year from a dear friend.  I like to use old Christmas cards to make new art for the new holiday season.  This one will be on my mantel this year.

how to make a stained glass door embellishment with Spellbinders Edwardian door die cut and foil do it yourself

Just got a Sizzix big shot and went crazy with die cuts and embossing folders.  Here is one of my favorite Spellbinders Edwardian door die cut.  I made these stained glass doors embellishments from it to use in my mini journals, scrapbooks and greeting cards.  I thought I would do a tutorial on how to make one

First I cut the door with the Sizzix and the Spellbinder die.

then I pushed out the holes in the card stock.  Next I made the material for the stained glass insert.  I used alcohol inks, spray air and foil and wax paper.  I dropped the ink on the foil and sprayed with the air can to make different designs.  I did the say with the waxed paper.  The foil insert is shinier than the wax paper insert;  I use them both depending on what effect I want to get in my project.  I cut a sample of the size I needed to fit the colored insert onto the back of the door.  and then glued it with glossy accents ( you can use any liquid glue that you like).  When it is dried I decorate the door with paint and./or other embellishments.Here are some examples of how I used them; Hope this helps.