Lately I have been making a lot of ATCs (Artist Trading Cards). Whilst I store them in a binder, I like to be able to transport them safely to swaps etc.

I have a small white tin for carrying cards. I got mine in my local craft shop. As well as these ATC tins you could also use any tin sold for storing trading cards.

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Small tin of your choice
Fawn coloured acrylic paint – any “vintage” type shade would do
Matte medium gel – or PVA, or Mod Podge if you prefer
Distress Ink – I used Brushed Corduroy
Sponge applicators – for distress ink and matte medium
Paintbrush – for paint (and matte medium if you prefer using a brush)
Small rubber stamps – I used some old wooden block ones
Permanent marker pens – I used Faber-Castell PITT brush pens in black and walnut
Black Sharpy or other alcohol marker
Thread and fibres

Tin Teddy ATC Holder Materials

Optional:

Any other embellishments you wish to add!

 

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1 – My tin was already primed with white paint. If yours is not, you can undercoat it with gesso to provide a good base coat for the decorating.

2 – I painted Fawn coloured craft acrylic paint around the edges of the tin. You could paint it all over but the important bit is to cover any white that will show at the end.Painting the edges of the tin in a vintage colour

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 – Next I cut rectangular panels from vintage style scrapbook paper. My panels did not fully cover each side, there is about half an inch all around them. I used scrap paper to make a template first, so I knew I was cutting my panels to the size I wanted.

4 – Go around the edges of the panels with distress ink (I used Brushed Corduroy). I also added some distress ink to the edges of the tin.

5 – Glue the panels on to the front, back and sides of the tin with matte medium gel. You can use PVA if you prefer but the matte medium works particularly well. I then added more matte medium over the panels to seal them into place.Scrapbook paper added to the sides of the tim

The some Tin Teddy Collage Sheet 1" Circles are added6 – Next cut out your chosen images from a Tin Teddy 1″ Circle digital collage sheet – you could of course use the 1″ Squares, Tin Teddy Dominoes, 40mm Ovals or any other images you wish.

7 – Brush the side of a black Sharpy or alcohol marker on the edges of the circles to get rid of any white. This will also help tidy it up if you are not so neat at cutting them out.

8 – Add the circles to the front and back of the tin with matte medium. Again I added a coat of matte medium over the top of each circle too for protection.

You could, of course, add as much or as little embellishment as you wish. Because I knew I would be carrying this tin around with me I wanted to keep mine quite simple.

9 – I stamped some tiny flowers and butterflies over the tin. I coloured them with Faber Castell Pitt brush markers Add then some distressing with a Faber Castell Pitt Brush markerbefore stamping, but you could also use a permanent type ink pad. If you want to use acrylic stamps for this you may find it easier to not mount them on to a block, as you usually would. I used old wooden mounted stamps which were very tiny and on long mounts, so I had no problems stamping them in the small areas around the handle etc.

10 – Finally tie an assortment of threads and fibres around the handle for a fun finish.

A fun alternative would be to hang a tag from the handle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The images used in this tutorial are from the Tin Teddy Vintage Ladies 1″ Circles Digital Collage Sheet.

The matt medium works as a sealant as well as glue. You can add an extra coat or two to ensure your tin is hard-wearing. You could also coat it with ModPodge.

You could add whatever extra embellishments you wish- buttons, charms, yarn and lace all look great. I kept mine simple because I knew I would be carrying it around.

I strongly recommend keeping your embellishments away from the area of the tin that is covered by the closed lid. If you make this area thick the lid may not shut – or open!Tin Teddy - ATC tin tutorial

Decorated Artist Trading Card Tin – a tutorial
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