Category Archives: Artist’s Trading Cards
- Napkin – Hoffmaster “Sweet Sunflowers”
- Stamp – Indigo Blu “Bunnies Dinkie”
- Copper embossing powder
- Sequins – 28 Lilac Lane
- Cardstock – Neenah
I participated in a swap that had a “sunshine” theme recently with a group of online friends (some of whom I’ve actually met!). We trade these baseball card-sized Artist’s Trading Cards (ATCs) with each other from time to time. This time around the theme was “Here Comes the Sun.”
I made my cards using a pretty cocktail napkin as a base, adhering it to cardstock with gel medium which makes a nice texture.
I heat embossed the stamped sentiment onto vellum, cut it out and added it to the cards strategically so I didn’t cover the flowers completely. I’ve had this stamp for quite a while and have always liked the sentiment on it. Finally I arranged sequins from my stash around for a little visual interest. You can get a closer look at one here.
Thanks for stopping by.
Challenges:
Shopping Our Stash #358 – Summer Color Palette
Crafty Gal’s Corner – Challenge #167 ~ Summer Colours
5 Comments | tags: embossing, flora, IndigoBlu, mixed media, stamping | posted in Artist's Trading Cards, Challenges, Shopping Our Stash, Summer, Uncategorized
- Stamps – Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz Collection “Mini Bouquet”
- Dies – Sizzix Framelets “Flower Garden & Mini Bouquet”
- Embossing folder – Sizzix 3-D Textured Impressions “Leaves”
- Cardstock – Bazzill Bling
- Zig Clean Color markers
- Ranger Distress Inks
I created these Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) to swap with some online friends. Our theme was Nature’s Beauty. I started by stamping the flower images on watercolor paper and then coloring them with Zig Clean Color markers and a water brush. I used the matching dies to cut out the watercolored flowers. After I cut the cardstock into trading card size (2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″), I ran them through my Cuttlebug with the embossing folder to achieve the leaf background. I then adhered the die-cut flowers to the cards. I printed out the Emerson quote and applied Distress inks, cut out the quotes and adhered them to the cards. Thanks for visiting.
2 Comments | tags: die cuts, flora, Ranger, Stamper's Anonymous, stamping, watercolor | posted in Artist's Trading Cards
- Stamps – Technique Tuesday Coffee Break Seal
- Cardstock – Ranger Manila
- Distress inks – Ranger Old Paper and Walnut Stain
- Pigment ink – Tsukineko Delicata Dark Brown Shimmer
I created this set of Artist’s Trading Cards (ATCs) for an upcoming exchange I’m participating in. A friend gave me the stamp set I used, which is the perfect size for trading cards! I started with the manila cardstock, which is the same stuff used for manila tags. I applied a layer of Old Paper Distress Ink with a foam applicator around the edges and then added the Walnut Stain Distress Ink and blended it into the other ink, around the very edges. I then spritzed some water on the craft mat and mopped up some water and Walnut Stain ink to make it look a little coffee-splotched–which is a technical term. I then stamped the seal in the center and added a coffee bean at each corner–all with the Delicata shimmery brown ink. I connected the beans with some freehand double-lines drawn in fine-line dark brown ink to pull the composition together. These cards are also very fitting for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog Anything Goes Challenge. I even showcased Technique Tuesday stamps! Thanks for visiting today.
1 Comment | tags: distress techniques, Simon Says Stamp, stamping, technique tuesday | posted in Artist's Trading Cards, Challenges, Simon Says Stamp
- Die – Memory Box “Oak Leaf”
- Stamps –
- Impression Obsession: “Small Oak” and Seth Apter “Faded Fragments”
- JudiKins “Calligraphic Flourish”
- Inks – Ranger: Adirondack Lights “Cloudy Blue” and Black Archival
- Gold Vellum
- Gold metallic thread
- Derwent Inktense Pencils: Peacock Blue, Iris Blue, Shiraz, Red Oxide, Tangerine, Madder Brown
- Golden Gesso
- Dina Wakley Gel medium
- Old Book Paper
I created these Artist’s Trading Cards to share at my monthly Craft Stamper group this past week. The inspiration came from the December 2015 issue of Craft Stamper magazine, pages 10-12, which featured techniques by Designer Kim Dellow. I worked in layers, with old book pages adhered with gel medium and covered with a thin layer of gesso. I added stamped images and areas of watercolor with Inktense pencil and waterbrush, creating a masterboard and then cut the “board” into 2-1/2″ X 3-1/2″ backgrounds. I then attached my gold vellum oak leaves with two french knots tied from gold metallic thread. Finally, I edged the card with a gold Krylon pen to pick up the gold metallic for a finishing touch.
I am entering this ATC in the November Take It Make It Challenge at the Craft Stamper Magazine Blog. Thanks for visiting today.
4 Comments | tags: die cuts, Impression Obsession, leaves, memory box, mixed media, watercolor | posted in Artist's Trading Cards, Backgrounds, Craft Stamper
- Stamp – Penny Black “Allegro”
- Patterned paper – Bella Blvd. – Campout Collection: “Gone Fishing”
- Bling – Mark Richards – Crystal Stickers in Light Blue and Lavendar
- Cardstock – Bazzill
- Distress Markers – Shabby Shutters, Spun Sugar, Mermaid Lagoon, Stormy Sky, and Dusty Concord
I created eight (alike) Artist’s Trading Cards (ATCs) to trade with my Craft Stamper group that meets monthly. This technique was featured in the May 2015 issue of Craft Stamper magazine. This technique works really well with imagery that is not perfectly representational since coloring your image is not necessarily within your control. The watercolor medium is Distress ink via Distress markers, with a spritz or three from a water bottle! Thanks for stopping by today.
1 Comment | tags: distress techniques, flora, penny black, stamping, watercolor | posted in Artist's Trading Cards, Craft Stamper, Distress Techniques
- Stamps – Limited Edition Rubber Stamps “Face Close Up #2” (face) and Uptown Design Company “Spiral Leaf Element” (Leaves) and Stampers Anonymous Wendy Vecchi “Discover Art” set (sentiment and blanket stitch border)
- Sequin waste (used as a stencil)
- Cardstock – Bazzill
- Gesso – white – Golden
- Tim Holtz Tissue Wrap “Melange”
- Kraft Cardstock
I made ten Artist’s Trading Cards (ATCs) that were similar to this to trade with my fellow Craft Stamper club members this week. We take a look at Craft Stamper magazine and create ATCs that are inspired by something we see in the magazine. This project was inspired by the January issue’s “Soul Stamping” article. I layered gesso, tissue paper, stamped images in ink, and acrylic paint. Lots of layers put together to make these ATCs. Thanks for stopping by.
1 Comment | tags: mixed media, stamping | posted in Artist's Trading Cards, Craft Stamper
More Than Just a Background Series:
Water Stamping
- Stamps – Hampton Art Vingologie Butterflies Clear Stamp & Stencil Set; Kodomo, Inc. “Leaf01”; JudiKins “Calligraphic Flourish”
- Inks – Ranger Distress Inks – Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Crushed Olive, Shabby Shutters; ClearSnap Chalk Ink – Creamy Brown, Rouge, Ice Jade, and Azurite
- Ink spray – Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist – Suede
- Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper
This is the first in a series I’m planning. I make Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) generally once a month to trade with my “Book Club” friends. One of the processes I like to follow is creating a background on a full 8-1/2″ X 11″ sheet of cardstock and then cutting it into 10 standard sized cards. Mirkwood Designs has a great template for getting 10 out of one piece of paper with little waste. But there are so many wonderful techniques you can do to create lovely backgrounds for card bases and ATCs, that I thought I’d show a little more about my backgrounds here and explain some of the steps and variations I try.
For this set of cards, I was inspired by the September issue of Craft Stamper magazine, page 38. I created the background by starting with a sheet of Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper. This paper has a very non-porous surface and is very smooth. I applied Ranger Distress inks with a sponge applicator in several of the greens. I then took the fern stamp and misted it with water. I placed it on the inked surface, which creates a ghost image. I repeated that across the page, changing the orientation of the stamp. I then stamped the flourish in Mowed Lawn randomly on the page. I then spritzed some water, some larger drops and some smaller. Finally, I missed areas with Glimmer Mist to add some additional texture. Below is what the background looked like.
Once it all dried, I cut the paper into 2-1/2″ X 3-1/2″ inch cards for my ATCs. I must confess–sometimes it is pretty hard to cut up my background pieces! I stamped the butterfly and the word “lovely” on a separate piece of cardstock. I cut each out and distressed the stamped pieces and the outside of the cards with chalk inks. I then attached the pieces to the cards with dimensional adhesive, letting interesting places in the background peek through.
Thanks for visiting today. Please let me know if you try this technique.
1 Comment | tags: distress techniques, hampton art, JudiKiins, Kodomo, stamping | posted in Artist's Trading Cards, Backgrounds
- Stamp – Stamper’s Anonymous Tim Holtz Collection “Mini Blueprints” set
- Ranger Distress Inks – Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, and Mowed Lawn
- Perfect Pearls Mist – Biscotti
- Krylon gold pen
I made a set of 10 of these trading cards to exchange with my Craft Stamper group. We meet monthly and exchange ATCs and ideas from things we learn from Craft Stamper magazine. This design was inspired by an Andy Warhol technique featured in the November 2013 issue. I used Ranger Distress Inks and Perfect Pearls mists to create the background. I then stamped the tree in the same color as I applied to the background, and made a metallic gold border around the edge of the cards with a Krylon gold pen. I inked and stamped another tree image in Mowed Lawn green, cut it out and popped it up with dimensional adhesive to give the tree some visual interest. Finally, I added accents on the tree with Sakura Jelly Roll pens. Thanks for visiting today.
Leave a comment | tags: clean and simple stamping, distress techniques, Stamper's Anonymous, stamping | posted in Artist's Trading Cards, Christmas, Distress Techniques
- Stamp – Paula Best “pumpkin cat”
- Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust pen “Copper-star” and “Green-star”
- Inkssentials Opaque pen – White
- Kraft cardstock
I made this spooky little ATC after being inspired by “Zentangle-style Doodles” article in the November 2012 issue of Craft Stamper magazine. The article is written and projects created by artist Lisa Mason and opened up a little bit of a different creative outlet! It shows how to use your stamps as a starting point and doodling around the image for a whole new look. So for this one, I used an opaque white pen to doodle on the Kraft paper, then I added outlines to the pumpkin and cat’s eyes with Sakura Sparkle pens. The challenge today, Day 237 at 365 Cards, is Spooky. So this fits the bill, even though this Paula Best stamp is pretty cute, while being spooky! Thanks for visiting today.
Leave a comment | tags: ATC, stamping | posted in 365 Cards, Artist's Trading Cards, Challenges, Halloween
- Stamp – Postmodern Design – “Wooden Ruler”
- Stickers – 7Gypsies “School” and Pebbles Inc. “Masking Tape Labels”
- Distress ink – Ranger “Dried Marigold” and “Walnut Stain”
- Heavy-weight Kraft paper
This was a fun challenge that made me dig into my stash of supplies! The 365 Cards Day 227 Challenge is to make an Artist Trading Card (ATC) with a school theme. I’ve had the ruler stamp for years, and with its distressed look it begged to be stamped with Distress inks and spattered with a bit of water. The stickers again have been in my stash for years as well! I need to do more with all of the stickers I own! Great challenge! Thanks for visiting.
2 Comments | tags: distress techniques, stickers | posted in 365 Cards, Artist's Trading Cards, Distress Techniques
penguinpapers 