No desk to show today but I have a question for you.
I am primarily a scrapbooker, and I make cards when the pile of scraps and leftovers gets too big. My style is pretty simple - I don't really like fancy die cutters, don't own many stamps and I just can't make the distressed look work. I also make jewellery for myself, for gifts and for sale.
I love visiting all your blogs and I am constantly in awe of all the talent out there. All that stamping, distrssing, layering - what a lot of time and mess! The results are beautiful, artistic and so clever....but....
My question is WHYspend so much time and effort on tags, inchies and ATCs?
I can totally understand doing it for a birthday card which you are going to sell or give to someone you love. Of course I understand scrapbooking to preserve your photos and memories for the future.
Don't be offended, but I just don't get the point of those tiny pieces of art for art's sake.
Please, someone enlighten me, because I think I am missing something here, with my 12x12 obsession.
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26 comments:
*LOL* I know what you mean! :) I reckon that the thing with those little things is that people get to be artsy and creative and as those get swapped, you end up owning little bits of other people's art. and if you put them all in a folder, I suppose it is a bit like stamp collecting! :)
I'm not sure, ultimately that there is any point beyond the art's sake as you said. After all, if you're feeling creative and have an urge to play, and you have no photos and need for a card...you make jewellery probably. I make an ATc or something with paper and sticky because that's all I can do to erm, express, vent, meditate... It will be intersting to see what other people say!
I can only answer for me, but I love the chance to try out new techniques on a small scale - the ones that work best often then get tried at a bigger scale; I love having to be imaginative to create something on such a small canvas; smaller pieces can be mounted onto cards or used as accents on a layout; I can put something together quickly when I might not have time for a full layout; and basically, I just have fun doing it! That's my answer, anyway :-)
I don't scrapbook because I don't have anything intereting enough to document. I love to try new techniques and so tags are an ideal size to try them out on. Before I started blogging I made mainly cards (which I still do). Besides, it's FUN!!
Hi Kirsty
i luv me cards n scrap booking (digital) i have never seen the point of atc to me they are a card topper!! said that once got me legs slapped! lol. have good day, sue,x
I can only answer for myself, but I have to admit I totally don't get card making that takes four to 12 hours to make one card, uses more layers than a wedding cake, and costs about three times as much as a store bought card, then gets tossed in the trash after the event. I also don't scrapbook, so that 12 X 12 size is awkward for me. Of course, I don't make tags, either. I do make a few ATCs, reluctantly for swaps, but I think bigger is better. And it often takes as long to make an ATC as it does a much larger format piece of art. Just my opinion, since I'm more a "find it in the dumpster" kind of gal.
I love making small craftrak cards and atc as it's great for using up all the small things that I have. I have never made a scrapbook but hope to soon as I get a book from my mother that she had made for me as a child.
Elaine
it's for the fun of doing them basically =)
LOL Kirsty, I used to make many many atcs and I loved them because you can experiment on pieces of card and create some real masterpieces, One of the only reasons I stopped doing those was postage, but they are so much fun, Inchies I dont get I mean they are super super tiny lol. Joey.x
Simple answer ... I LOVE decorating tags, ATCs and other stuff and to me ... that is the point :0)
Hi Kristy - tags - I do because I use them as a small smampler before I commit to a big project ( but I rarely post them) so I can try out compostion and colour as well as try a new effect and not much tiem or resource is wasted if it's a disaster - ATCs because it provides a method of giving a recieving real pieces of Art from anywhere inthe world and all it costs is a reciprocal agreement - it smacks of Love - to me. As for 12 X 12s I love those too - I will post a view of one of mine next week, I guess I abide by the addage that a change is as good and a rest, and vareity is the spice of life...
such a question does not offend - maybe the responses will tempt you to try something new? by the way (in my opinion) a smaller piece that reproduces the 12 x12 is a really stunning embellishment for the larger piece of work...
I have never made anything but cards, but I do see the point of these smaller projects like tags and ATCs - it is just a way to express yourself and I guess we all have a lot to say through our art! It doesn't matter what the size is it is what you enjoy doing! My humble opinion of course!
Hugs,
Cardarian
I love my 12x12 but can do smaller, not to sure about ATC's thought I would give them a try this year and we are into month 6! Do love my tags though I hang them on my craftroom wall to give me insperation.
Loving the new course not had time to get it on to my blog yet as I need to work on the photos.
Thanks
Cathx
I must admit I am kind of with you on this one. Don't do inchies or atcs myself either. Maybe we should start out own club?
unless as you say it is a gift, there is no point at all in the end piece, its more about the journey..the process, learning and exploring techniques, trying colours and mediums never tried before, knowing it won't cost a lot, nothing will get broken, and the world won't end if it goes wrong. Ultimately it is the child within, just wanting to play.
Have read the comments that have been left for you because I have been thinking the same as you. I'm not really a paper crafter. I do love seeing what the girls do and love the effects they get but don't really know what they do with tags etc.
A x
I find LO's ...cards ...ATC's and tags etc ...mini books ... and altered art all seem to need different talents and mind sets ...some can do it all others can scrap but not card make, alter but not scrap etc etc. I find that the small things are fun ...and I can get messy ...and it doesn't matter what the end result is like as it is an arty journey. Maybe that is the difference between being an outright crafter and having an artitic bent ...????? not sure. xx
I must admit I'm not sure about atcs or inchies & I only make tags to go with presents (if I'm honest I have issues giving stuff away ...unless I have made it for that purpose lol), I've never really got the whole ATC thing, I can appreciate the ones made by others but they're just not for me, but if we were all the same, life would be dull. In saying that I never used to be interested in altering things, but now, if it doesn't move, it gets altered :D
C
xx
I think tiny tags and inchies are the perfect way to practise a technique. I am not a card maker but I love using my textile skills to create little pics for cards tags, gifts etc. They are all just little experiments really and I rarely make 2 the same.
I'm with Twiglet, you make a little piece and you love it and then you can move on to bigger pieces or if you hate it you can bin the little piece and start all of again!
xx
i love making ATCs because they are such a small size and i can actually do art even if i don't have the time. then when i see someone else's ATC and get to trade for it, i just love receiving snail mail.
when whoever i trade with tells me they are so happy to trade with me, that they like the card i made, it makes me happy too. so i am one happy ATC maker. the ATC i receive in exchange for mine goes into my collection binder and looking at it inspires me to do more art. even if i don't particularly like the ATC i make, i find there is always someone who wants it.
mmm interesting question :0) Each person is different and each person has a craft they love...I suppose it is like the marmite thing...you either love it or hate it :0)
*hugs* Heather x
Good question. Can't be bothered with that either :) I love expressing myself while making scrapbook pages and I adore making cards. But if people are happy making up those iny-tiny bits and bobs, who are we to spoil their fun?
It's like people who collect things I guess, pure inspirational or something??
** Evi **
I think sometimes I just like to sit and play and make something that I am not sure where its going or what its going to be used for but I spend ages messing around with techniques and just having fun and then end up with a lovely tag to look at and keep - then they are useful to look back at and see if the ideas/techniques can be used on something else such as a card etc. I write all my tools/stash used on the back of tags or artwork so that I can see what I used at a later date - also sometimes its just nice to play without the pressure of creating something for someone else (if you see what I mean!). Hope this helps :)
I don't think i can add much more to whats already been said, i feel anything you make be it big or small has a point, your creating something from the heart for whatever reason it may be, as long as your havig a good time and enjoying what your doing i think THATS the point!
I guess it's the old question of why anyone does anything... because they can, because it's there, because it's a challenge, because they enjoy doing it... so why not?
Chrissie
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