Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Bird SS29 Stencil" card

Earlier today, I made some backgrounds, using  a stamping block and sprtized Distress Paints, I used Prize Ribbon, Salvaged Patina and Speckled Egg colours.  I've used one of the lighter backgrounds for this card.

I placed the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Bird SS29" stencil over the background and applied "Aquamarine" Ranger Archival Ink through the stencil with a blending brush..

I then stamped the floral/part circle wreath, which is part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs stamp set called "Malva TE8", using Versafine Clair "Twilight" dark blue ink.  I used the same ink to create a landscape, using the torn edge of a piece of paper.

I used Van Goch Pastel Pencils to add colour to the bird and the landscape, also using a white gel pen on the breast of the bird. I added shadows using a 2B pencil and a paper stub.

Using Versafine Clair "Twilight" ink again, I stamped the grasses in the foreground, which are part of the Tracy Evans "On The Wild Side TE50" stamp set, adding touches of white and aqua coloured Posca Pen.

Colour prints using a stamping block

Unusual for me, I didn't want to stamp or be creative in the normal way, so decided to make some backgrounds for future use instead.

I cut a couple of pieces of A4 300 gsm card into four quarters and lightly spritzed the surface with water

On an acrylic stamping block, (place a piece of kitchen roll under the block), I've used dots of three shades of Ranger Distress Paint. The colours I have used here are: Speckled Egg, Salvaged Patina and Prize Ribbon. I lightly spritzed the paint dots and then moved the paint around using the non brush end of a paint brush.

To take the prints, I lay a piece of the spritzed card over the top, smoothing it down and then took the print. Each print became lighter and in some places the paint was nearly non existent, so I added another spritz of water, to move the paint around, till there was no more paint left on the block.

I set the prints aside to air dry fully and cleaned the stamping block of any residue paint, so it was ready to use again.

For any body that reads my posts regularly, you'll know that greens and blue shades are my favourite colour combinations, so I look forward to uisng these backgrounds in the future.

Top Tip: When saving the backgrounds for future use, in pencil write on the back of each one, what shades of paints or inks you used, or write it on a post -it note and cliip the prints together. It makes it a lot easier than relying on memory when writing your blog posts

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Zinnia TE41" Hope Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I had a background in my stash with very pale  speckled colours on it, so decided to use that for the base of this ATC.

Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink and the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Zinnia TE41" stamp set, I stamped the central image.  

I then used the Tracy Evans "Snowflakes SS47" stencil with two shades of Ranger Archival inks.  The colours I used are:  Garden Patina and Majestic Violet.  I then used the blending brush used for the violet, to add colour round the edges of the ATC.

Next, I used a lid to draw a circle with a black fine liner pen round the stamped image.  I coloured the flowers using a yellow Derwent Inktense Pencils, adding touches of orange Posca Pen to the flower too.  Finally, stamping the word "hope", which is also part of the "Zinnia" stamp set.  I then inked the edge of the card in black Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink.

Funky Fossil Designs "Festive Greenary" Artist Trading Card

For the base of this Artist Trading Card (ATC), I have used an off cut of the Funky Fossil Designs "Turn It Up" patterned paper pad. 

In the top left and bottom right corner, I used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp the Funky Fossil "A7 Vintage Script" stamp.  Then in the top right and bottom left corners, I stamped the Funky Fossil "A7 Brick Wall" stamp using Versafine Clair "Avocado", green ink.

I lay the Funky Fossil Designs "Pretty Print" stencil over the top of the ATC and applied Versasfine Clair "Avocado" green ink, "Strawberry" red ink and "Acorn" brown ink, with a blending brush, through the stencil.

At this stage, I decided I wanted some warmer tones to the background so used some "Tiger Lily" Ranger Archival Ink on a blending brush.  I then used the remains of the "Strawberry Versafine Clair ink on the blending brush round the edges of the ATC, finally adding a little bit of Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink to the very edge of the ATC.

I moved on to stamping, using two shades of Versafine Clair inks.  I used "Shady Lane" and "Acorn" to stamp the berry branch, fir cone and fir branch, all are part of the same stamp set from Funky Fossil Designs called "Festive Greenary".

I added touches of gold gel pen to areas, green , brown and white Derwent Inktense pencils and a red Posca Pen and a white gel pen for the berries.  Finally, I printed the word "Seasons", cut to size and glued into position.  I dulled down the stark white background, by running a blending brush over the surface.

A Crafting Niche "52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026" - Week 36

 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 36 is "Postage Stamps"

Using a plain tag for the base, I rummaged through my stash of "essential bits" I have saved over the years and came across an air mail envelope fully addressed with a postage mark of July 1993 - yes, that's how long some of my stash is!!!! 

I decided this would be an ideal base for this tag.  I had to cut it about a bit to fit and to cover up the written address, so the background is a bit of a paper patchwork really, but unless you look closely, you wouldn't really know.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink with a blending brush to apply the ink through the Funky Fossil Designs stencil called "Ava".  then to pull all areas together, I added some small dots using "Tulip Red" Versafine Clair ink through the bottom section of a Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous stencil with a reference of THMM178 and left the tag at that.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Alpha Florals TE32" on a star background Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day,  For the background, I have used three shades of Ranger Archival Inks, Chrome Yellow, Sunflower and Tiger Lily, through the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Cluster SS42 Stencil".

I then used the small start stamp from the Tracy Evans "A Promise Of Tomorrow TE63" stamp set with Versafine Clair "Summertime" orange ink stamped over the stencilled background.

Next, I used Versafine Clair "Acorn" a rich brown coloured ink to stamp the flowers, which are part of the Tracy Evans "Alpha Florals TE32" stamp set.

I added a word sticker saying "memory" and edged it in gold gel pen, I added highlights to the flowers with the same gold gel pen and edged the ATC in Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "The Wonder Of Nature TE14" pencil worked card

For this card, I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the flower from the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "The Wonder Of Nature TE14" stamp set and a sentiment from Simon Says Stamp from their "Tiny Words" stamp set.

I used a 2B pencil and a paper stub to shade and highlight areas of the stamped flower, adding some white pastel pencil detail to it and tiny dots of white gel pen to the middle of the flower.