My "Enjoy the Journey" ATC

I'm always the last one getting my swaps done for the monthly Collage Stuff yahoo group ATC swaps. Everyone else has to mail them by the end of the month. Not me! I have to have mine done by the time I swap out the ATC's!
The February ATC swap on the Collage Stuff yahoo group was a Tim Holtz themed swap titled "Enjoy the Journey." I got in the new Tim Holtz stamps and decided to challenge myself to just stamp an ATC. I hardly ever do this. I usually use collage sheets.
The background is made on a vintage dictionary page. I can't create without some vintage text. I used the "Urban Tapestry" stamp set. I stamped the background image using Pallette Ink "Noir". Then I took a cut-n-dry pad and sponged Distress Inks over it - "Scattered Straw, "Tattered Rose" and a little "Worn Lipstick." Sponging the inks over the stamping makes it fade into the background a bit.
I found some beige vellum and sponged "Scattered Straw" over it. I stamped the bird image with black Archival Ink. I used the heat gun to speed up the drying and cut the bird out. I glued the vellum down with a glue stick. I thought I'd try this. Normally it doesn't work, but somehow it did this time.
I used the text stamp in the set to stamp at the top and bottom of the ATC. I used the Archival Ink.
I don't know if you can see the new Tiny Fasteners that I put on either side of the word "create". Geez, these tiny fasteners are tiny.
I rounded the corners and swiped "Dusty Concord" Distress Ink around all of the edges. To seal the ATC, I applied a quick spray of Krylon Matte something.
All in all, it's a simple ATC, but I like it!