Hi, crafty friend! Artist trading cards (ATCs) are so fun to create. They are a mini little project perfect for trading or gifting. Turning your ATCs into some sweet little ornaments makes them even easier for the recipient to enjoy. 

You can make your ATCs from literally any collection, but I thought these Keepsake Swans from the Buttons & Keepsakes collection were so graceful and perfect for a tasseled ornament! I've got all the supplies you need to recreate these swan ornament ATCs listed below, so let's get right into the tutorial!

First, cast some of the buttons moulds from the Buttons & Keepsake mould. You can use white resin or the Redesign casting mix for this. Then, cut out and assemble the Keepsake Swans from the coordinating Spellbinders products for this collection. I used both Spellbinders cardstock and the Buttons & Keepsakes 6x6 paper pad for this. 

Mist a piece of white cardstock with water and then place it into the Haberdashery Buttons 3D Embossing Folder from the Spellbinders coordinating product set. Run this through your die cut machine and set it aside. 

To create the circles of paper, I used the Spellbinders Everlasting Circles metal die set. For the front, I die cut the 3rd largest and 5th largest circles from Buttons & Keepsakes 8x8 paper pad. For the back, I cut the 3rd and 4th largest circles. I also cut the 8th largest circle from some white cardstock--this will be sandwiched between the decorative papers for more stability. 

Add sewing details to your largest and 5th largest circles. I used my sewing machine for this but a hand-sewn running stitch or backstitch is perfect if you don't use a machine. I used basic white thread for this. 

Create texture and a bit of sparkle on the smaller pattern circles for the front by applying some of Finnabiar's Crushed Ice effects paste through one of her stencils. I used the Calculations stencil. 

Once dry, glue the top circle layer to the larger circles for both the front and back--but don't glue the fronts and backs together yet! You can add the white cardstock circle to the inside of the back circles though.

If you used resin to cast your button moulds, be sure to prime them with gesso first. I prefer Finnabair's Clear Gesso as it is thinner and keeps the details of the moulds better than the heavier White Gesso. Then paint the button moulds a wooden beads with pink chalk paint. 

Using one of Finnabair's Dabbing Brushes, apply her Celestial wax to the bead. Then use your finger to apply the wax to the highlights of the button moulds. 

String a wooden bead onto a light pink tassel. I added a little dot of hot glue to keep it firmly in place. Then add one of the button moulds above the bead using hot glue. Add a second mould to the back of the first to encase the tassel loop between the button moulds. 

Hot glue the remaining portion of the tassel loop to the inside bottom of the back circle. Cut a 4 to 6 inch piece of distressed silk ribbon and hot glue the ends to the inside top of the back circle to create a hanging loop. 

Then glue the top and bottom circle sets back-to-back-encasing the ends of the ribbon and tassel loop between your paper circles. I used both roller adhesive and hot glue for this, adding the hot glue just over the ribbon and loop of the tassel. 

Using the Heirloom Words Press & Foil Plate and the Spellbinders BetterPress system, ink and press the sentiments onto some cotton card panels. Then die cut these sentiments out with the coordinating die that comes with the plate. 

Add your assembled swan die cuts to the front of your ornaments using 2 millimeter thick foam adhesive. Add a button ephemera from the Cherished Companions Ephemera pack in the collection using roller adhesive. 

Fussy cut some embossed buttons from the cardstock you embossed then glue a button (or two!) down using some 1 millimeter thick foam adhesive. Glue a pink rose from the collection onto each ornament using hot glue. Add a BetterPress sentiment with a foam adhesive strip. Then as a finishing touch, add some Spellbinders pearls for a shimmery touch!

And that's it--these ornament ATCs are ready for hanging up and enjoying, gifting or trading! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial using the Buttons & Keepsakes collection designed by Frank Garcia for Prima, plus the coordinating Buttons & Keepsakes products from Spellbinders! If you want even more Buttons and Keepsakes inspiration, check out my Swan Easel Card and my Altered Embroidery Hoop tutorials. Until next time, happy crafting!

Adrienne

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Below are products that I used for this project.