ATCs

I’ve recently become part of a Facebook group that exchanges ATCs (Artist Trading Cards)* and have also been taking part in an exchange on The Cross Stitch Forum, so I thought I’d display them here.

The Easter Bunny and Smile designs were both for the Facebook group for the April exchange (I’ll post the pictures of the May exchange ATCs when they’ve arrived at their destinations – the posting date is the 20th of the month).

For the Easter-themed ATC, I thought there could be nothing more associated with that holiday (well, for me, anyway) than the Easter Bunny, so I adapted a sweet little design I found online for free (click HERE).

The “Stitch a Smile” theme had me thinking – what would I choose? Wile searching for something suitable, I came across a beautiful freebie daffodils design. FOr me, the first sign of daffodils is the first sign that Spring is here and it always makes me smile. Again, I adapted the design slightly. Unfortunately, I cannot for the life of me, remember where I got the chart, so if you spot it anywhere, please let me know, so I can give credit to the designer!

The final ATC is on a Summer theme and is for the Cross Stitch Forum exchange. I designed this one myself and it was fun, yet simple, to stitch. You can download the chart for free at my Kincavel Krosses design blog.

* ATCs always measure 2.5″ x 3.5″. They are exclusively swapped, rather than being sold, and can be done in any medium on any theme.

Blackwork Biscofleur

Design: Blackwork Biscofleur by Kell Smurthwaite, Kincavel Krosses
Materials: White 14-count aida; DMC 310 floss; black tassel; black ribbon; soft toy stuffing

WTF? Mini Subversive Sampler

Design: Circular Mini WTF? by Kell Smurthwaite, Kincavel Krosses
Materials: 16-count white aida; various flosses in purple shades; mini circular frame (plastic with metallic gold finish)

PMS and Chocolate Subversive Sampler

Design: PMS Subversive Sampler by Kell Smurthwaite, Kincavel Krosses
Materials: 28-count latte evenweave; DMC linen flosses in chocolate and caramel shades

Baa Baa Blackwork Sheep Mini Sampler

Design: Baa Baa Blackwork Sheep by Kell Smurthwaite, Kincavel Krosses
Materials: 16-count white aida; DMC 310

I designed this mini blackwork sampler to hang in my hallway at home - I tried to put across a bit of a folksy feel and liked the idea of a play-on-words reference to the nursery rhyme.

Aquarius Keyring

Design: By Kell Smurthwaite
Materials: 14-count ecru aida; Trebla 51 floss (variegated magenta); Minicraft supersoft toy filling; Magenta ribbon; Keyring

This is a little birthday present for a friend of mine who is visiting this week (her birthday is next week). The design is very simple - an "S" (her initial) and the symbol for Aquarius, which is her zodiac sign. The two pieces are whip-stitched together, attaching the keyring and ribbon to the top.

Starburst Blackwork Biscornu

Design: Starburst Blackwork Biscornu by Kell Smurthwaite, Kincavel Krosses
Materials: 18-count ecru Aida; Red Heart 187 floss; white ribbon with turquoise stars; ssilver Celtic beads; Minicraft supersoft toy filling

My second biscornu of the year is a pattern which I designed myself. Because the design on the front is very intricate, I left the reverse almost completely blank with only a star motif in the centre and at each corner, and the details of my name, the month and the year. The silver beads were taken from a necklace I had which broke. They were so pretty I had to save them and I thought the silver went well with the turquoise of the stitching.

The border on both the front and reverse are stitched in two strands, but the rest of the design and the text is all stitched in a single strand.