ATCs

You know what? I have a serious issue with ATCs. I love them. I love the idea of trading them (as the unwritten rule of ATCs is that they are never sold, only given or traded). I love looking at them. Some people make incredible ATCs. Each person brings their own style to this mini canvas (always 2.5x3.5 inches). Here's my issue: I have a really really hard time making them. I can get ideas in my head. I can see gorgeous ATCs in magazines or online. I just can't get it down on paper. I don't like what I make. I think it's stressful to try. The thing is, I tend to get into swaps where I make 10, and receive 9 different ones back. I love that. I love getting ATCs that other people made. I even love the ones from other people that have the same style as me- clean and simple. But I wonder if the other participants are disappointed in mine. Why don't I like my own? Something to ponder.

Anyway, here are 2 sets I made today (yes one day late for mailing). Tell me what I could have done so that I like them???
The haunted house ATCs seem a little too simple. I do like the mini scallop though. I had given those scissors to ds a few years ago, after I got through the whole "decorative cut everything" of the 2000-2002 era. I stole them back today! lol The stamp is The Angel Company (TAC). The tiny strip of paper on the top is Basic Grey. Markers (yellow and gray) are Tombow. I embossed the house using black pigment ink and black embossing powder. And I used glossy paper (from TAC) in order to get a nice, dark, even image.

The pumpkin ATCs I'm really not happy with. I wanted to try this idea I got a while back, but I'm not sure yet. I stamped and black embossed the pumpkins (retired TAC), and used Prismacolor watercolor crayons to color them in (I didn't use water, though). Then I punched holes, two different sizes, with my Crop-A-Dile around the top of the image, and layered pattern paper (Basic Grey) behind the panel. That wasn't good enough for me, so I applied black stitching rubons (QVC) around the panels, too. That helped, but I'm still not sure. Any ideas??

I made this mini book a few months ago, using only pictures of me, my Mom, and my Nana, taken over the years. I love it. The reason I'm posting it now is because the Weekend Challenge at ASB is using One Sheet of paper to make a mini album. The directions are posted, along with some examples. Go check it out!