Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Special Delivery" Artist Trading Card

When you can't sleep... craft!  It's another middle of the night make from me, with this Artist Trading Card (ATC).

Starting with a white piece of card, I used Versafine Clair "Avocado" green ink to stamp part of the Tracy Evans "Background Elements - TE11" stamp I then lighty coated the surface of the card using Versafine Clair "Arctic" a light blue coloured ink.

I used Versafine Clair "Blue Belle" ink to stamp the flowers on the right hand side and the word "Shine", inking the edge of the card in the same ink.  I then used Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" turquoise coloured ink to stamp the special delivery sign and the bubbles,  All of these stamped elements are part of one of the new stamp sets by Tracy Evans, it's called "Special Delivery - TE64".

Finally, I used a blending brush to add more colour to the edges of the card using more Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink.  I added some white Posca Pen to the bubbles, a white gel pen to the flowers and a yellow Posca Pen to the middle of the flowers.  Then added a tied piece of string round the middle of the card (recycled from the packaging of the Tracy Evans order of stamps I had received).

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Love Grows Here - TE65" Card

Today, I recieved a very speedy turn around of an order of stamps I placed on Saturday, which arrived with me mid-day today, Monday.  The stamps are from Tracy Evans Boutique Designs and are part of her recent new release of stamps and stencils.

In my prepared background folder, I found a peice of card with yellow and green spray inks across the surface, so decided that this would be the base. I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the garland, birds and sentiment of "Love grows here", all these images are part of the new stamp set called "Love grows here - TE65".

Next I used the Tracy Evans "Snippet Stencil Heart - SS12" with "Monarch Orange" Ranger Archival Ink to create the heart shape.  I then used Versafine Clair "Summertime" orange ink to stamp the flowers within the heart using flowers from another new stamp set by Tracy Evans called "Create a garden - TE66".

I returned to the Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the small hearts within the large heart shape.  These little hearts are part of the Tracy Evans "Quirky Birds - TE10" stamp set.

I decided I wanted some bolder colour around the edges of the card, so used a blenting brush to apply "Mowed Lawn" Distress Oxide Ink at the lower section of the card and "Mustard Seed" Distress Oxide Ink at the top.  Finally, I added some dots to the garland and a mohican haircut to one of the birds, using a black fine liner pen.

Stampin' Up "Dragonfly Dreams" Birthday Card

Time for a birthday card, I made this about a week ago, but don't share the posts till later on the day of the birthday.  I don't like feeling pressured to create anything.  For me, it takes the joy away from crafting.

Starting with a white piece of card, I used Versafine Clair "Verdant", a lime green coloured ink to stamp the dots around the edge of the card.  The dots are part of a Stampin' Up stamp set called "Dragonfly Dreams".  I then used the same ink with a blending brush to colour the edges of the card.

I used "Sky Blue" Ranger Archival Ink with a blending brush to colour the central area of the card.  Then using Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink and a cotton but, I stamped dots and edged the card in the same ink.

I used Versafine Clair "Twilight", a dark blue ink to stamp the dragonfly, which is also part of the "Dragonfly Dreams" stamp set.  I used the same ink to stamp the sentiment, which is party of a 7 piece stamp set, by Chloes Creative Cards, which came free with Simply Cards & Papercraft Magazine, Issue 283.I then used three gel glitter pens, a silver, a green colour and blue colour to add sparkle and shimmer to the card surface.

Zebra Print Artist Trading Card

In the corner of my desk, I found a small piece of card painted in bright yellow, that was just big enought for an Artist Trading Card (ATC), so I decided to use it for the base of my next ATC.

I used  Versafine Clair "Carrot Orange" ink to stamp the Dark Room Dooe "Zebra Print Background Stamp".  Howeverm because of the paint I had used ion the base, it took some time to set, which allowed me to drag some of the ink off with a wet wipe, reulting in a more distressed look background.

I added a black frower die cut, some black and white dots of Posca Pen, some sgold coloured sticky dots and finally a Tim Holtz / Ideaology" word sticker saying "just one life".

Memory Box Co. Kensington Border 98743 - Butterflies Artist Trading Card

A quick Artist Trading Card from me today, using different widths of Washi Tape for the background.  Topped with part of a Memory Box Co. "Kensington Border 98743" butterfly die cut,  I've added a word sticker saying "be amazed" and dots of gold coloured gel pen and white Ranger Enamel Accents.

"Stampin' Up "Because I care..." hydrangea Artist Trading Card

 

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I covered a white background with "Old Paper" Distress Oxide Ink.  I stamped the Stampin' Up hydrangea using a stamp from theirn "Because I care" stamp set, using Versafine Clair "Avocado" green ink.  I used a small flower stamp from the same stamp set, using Versafine Clair "Dahlia Purple" I multi stamped the design in the background.

I used a cotton bud head tip to colour the flower head using the following shades of Versafine Clair Ink". Shady Lane, Dahlia Purple and Purple Delight.  I inked the edges of the card with Versafine Clair Shady Lane green ink and used a green Derwent Inktense pencil to colour the leaves.

I added extra detail using a yellow Posca Pen and a black fine liner pen, finally adding a word sticker staying "be awesome today".

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026 - week 26

 

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2026:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in. 

The prompt for Week 26 is "just add water"

Here we are at the mid point of The Crafting Niche "52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026", thanks for keeping me company on this challenge, it is very much appreciated.

The prompt for this week may seerm a bit scary, but actually when you think about it, there are a few options that you can consider for your make.  maybe diluted water colour paints, adding a spritz ot water to Brusho Paints or similar granular paints, or spritz a stamped design, which is what I have done to create this tag.

I started with a piece of smooth-ish water colour card.  I used "Squeezed Lemonade" Distress Oxide Ink to stamp the Sweet Poppy Stencils "Fern" stamp.  I used a stamping platform to multi-stamp the image in the same position to get a good covering of ink.  I then spritzed the surface with water, letting the ink run and expand.  

Once dry, I then repeated the process (keeping the stamp and tag in the same position in the stamping platform), but this time using  "Rustic Wilderness" Distress Oxide Ink.  Spritzing the surface and allowing the ink to move as it pleased.

Again, retaining the tag and stamp in the same position, I used Versafine Clair "Rain Forest" a dark green ink to stamp the image again. I used a white and a green Derwent Inktense Pencils to give a little colour to the stamped leaves.

I edged the tag with "Evergreen Bough" Distress Oxide Ink, using a blending brush to pull the colour from the edge, towards the stamped image,  I then added some dark sequins and then smaller dots and a line frame round the edge of the tag using a black pen using a fine liner pen. Finally adding a couple of Tim Hoitz "idea-ology" word stickers saying "create magic".