52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2024 - Week 40

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2024:

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 40 is "Autumn"

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This is my Week 40 "Autumn" tag, using a cream coloured tag for the base, I used the Funky Fossil Designs "Slimline Windy Day Stencil" with four shades of Ranger Archival Inks, using Coffeem Red Geranium, Tea Rose and Fern Green colours of inks.

I used a Sweet Poppy Stamps "A6 Seasons stamp" for the sentiment, stamped in Versafine Clair "Chianti" dark red ink.

I edged the tag with two colours, first using "Red Geranium" Ranger Archival Ink and then on the very edge using Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown" ink.

Finally I mounted the tag on to a piece of brown card and added dots of metallic gold Signo Pen for extra detail.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2024 - Week 39

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2024:

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 39 is "White on white"

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We're now three quarters of the way through the challenge - the end is in sight!

For my Week 39 - "White on white", I started with a piece of white Papermill Direct 300gsm super smooth card, cut into a tag shape.

I then used the scroll die from the Sizzix / Tim Holtz thinlit die set called "Mixed Media #2 - ref 661185" to cut the pattern on the right hand side of the tag.

I then mounted the patterned tag on to a piece of plain white card and cut around it, using a border.

Next I used two different die cut sets to add the foliage.  The first was a Sizzix / Tim Holtz thinlits die set called "Garden Greens - ref 661206".  The second was a Sizzix / Stampin' Up thinlits set called "Pretty Pine ref 141851".

I glued the components together, using wet glue and foam pads to elevate areas of the tag.  Finally, adding a few dots of white Ranger "Enamel Accents" for extra interest.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2024 - Week 38

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2024:

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 38 is "Engineering/cogs"

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For my Week 38 - "Engineering/cogs", I used a cream coloured tag for the base.  Stamping the Funky Fossil Designs engine, part of their "Engine Room" stamp set in Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink.  I then coated the ink with Wow! Clear Embossing Powder and heat set the image.

Next, I used Versafine Clair "Sand Dune" ink through the Funky Fossil "Mechanical" and "Micro Dots" stencils.

I then used Versafine Clair "Pine Cone" brown ink through the "In the air" stencil for the birds. I edged the tag in Versafine Clair "Chianti" dark red ink, using the same ink through the diamond section of the Funky Fossil "Make your mark III" stencil.

Finally, I used a Posca Pen to make black paint splatters across the surface of the tag and then mounted the tag on to a piece of co-ordinating card.

Lavinia Stamps "Penblwyd Hapus" card

I used a part sheet of the Lavinia Stamps "Dream-Scapes" patterned paper as the base of this card.

I used several Versafine Clair inks to create the wreath, using some of the Lavinia "Mini" stamps and the new "Magical Mist" stamp. The colours I used were:  Monarch, Purple Delight, Hawthorn Rose and Verdant.

Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the "Penblwyd Hapus" sentiment, a bird and the black cat called "Witches Cat".

I used a white gel pen to add highlights to the leaves and a silver glitter pen to add little dots around the wreath and the background.

I mounted the piece on to coloured card and then on to a white card blank.  Finally, I added dots of two shades of Liquid Pearls, using "Silver Pearl" and "Avocado" and set aside to dry.

Lavinia Stamps "Blue Moon" Witches Card

I've surprised myself, a third card in one day!  This was supposed to be a birthday card, but Hubby reckons it's "a bit dark" for a birthday card, so I will make another one.

For this card, I started off with a white piece of square card and stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Tree of courage" and "Tree of hope" using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

I popped a moon mask in postion then used Lavinia "Sundance" Elements Ink with a blending brush within the tree area.  At the base of the tree, I used "Lime Punch" Element Ink to add more of a green tinge.

Next, I used a further three Element inks, around the edge using Dark Denim, Violet Chalk and Midnight Blue colours in that order.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the three witches, which are part of the Lavinia Stamps "Blue Moon" stamp set.

I used Derwent Inktense pencils with a paint brush to colour the tree trunk and to add some background foliage and green shadows.

I then used a white gel pen and a black fine liner pen to add highlights and low lights to the tree areas.  I also used the black fine liner pen to add extra shadow.

Finally, removing the moon mask, I used "Antique Linen" Distress Oxide Ink to colour in the moon with a blending brush.

"Life is a mixtape" Male Birthday Card

Two cards in one day!  I must be on a roll!  Our friend celebrates his birthday next week, so I needed to get a card made.

This was super quick to make, I used two patterned papers from the Funky Fossil "Turn it up" patterned paper pad. for the base.

I then used Versafine Clair "Pine Cone" dark brown ink to stamp he central detail and the sentiment, both are from the Funky Fossil stamp set called "Press Play".

I used a Derwent Inktense pale blue pencil to colour the tape. I then stamped "Celebrate" on it using a sentiment from the Funky Fossil Designs "Small Print" stamp set and Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

Finally, I added four colours of Posca Pen splatters using Black, White, Red and Aqua Green colours.  I edged the card in Versafine Clair "Pine Cone" dark brown ink to get a more grunge look, then mounted it on to a brown card and then a red card blank.

Engagement Card (inspired by Manja Nelan)

We received some wonderful news a few days back, that our younger son and his girl are now engaged.  We are absolutely thrillled for them.

I am really not in crafting mode at the moment, due to packing up for a house move.  My crafting mojo seems to have been replaced by all things moving!  So I was really struggling with ideas for a card to make.

I remembered seeing a card on the Lavinia Stamps facebook group that I thought was very clever, so I searched for it and found the one I was looking for, it was by Manja Nelan from 2021, so I decided to give it a go.  The card above is inspired by Manja's card.

Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the two Lavinia Stamps trees, they're called "Tree of courage" and "Tree of hope".

I then found my Visible Image "Love is love" stamp set, with two profiles.  I stamped them on to a piece of card and then fussy cut the face profiles. I used a pencil to lightly draw around the profiles on the edge of each tree.  I then used the central area between the stamped face image as a stencil, colouring and blending the face with "Fern Green" Ranger Archival Ink.  I've shown a photo of what I mean.

I used the same ink with a blending brush and a Lavinia Stamps "Hill Mask" to create the land that the trees are based on.

Next, I used a fine liner black pen to add extra branches to fill in the empty areas of the faces. I  then used a brown Derwent Inktense pencil with a paint brush to colour the tree trunk and some of the thicker branches. I added gold coloured dots within the tree branches too.

Finally, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink I stamped the word "love" between the foreheads, using part of one of the "Heartfelt Verse" sentiment stamps from Lavinia Stamps.  I used the same ink to stamp the word "Congratulations" which is part of a Clarity Stamps stamp set called "Entwined Sentiments".  I mounted the card on to a piece of dark green card and then on to a 8x8" card blank.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2024 - Week 37

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2024:

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 37 is "Rays of light"

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For my Week 37 - "Rays of light", I started by stamping Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp the Penny Black  wood mounted "Cala Lillies 282K" stamp" image.

I placed the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Rays Stencil THS003" over the top of the tag and used two shades of Ranger Archival Inks, using "Shadow Grey" and "Sky Blue" colours.

I coloured the stamped image in using Derwent Inktense Pencils, applied with a paint brush.  The colours that I used were Lemon, Spring Green, Applie Greenm and Malibu.

I added extra detail using a 2B pencil, a Gelly Roll pen called "Clear Star" to give a subtle shimmer and a few dots of white Ranger Enamel Accents.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2024 - Week 36

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2024:

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 "How do you relax?"

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For my Week 36 - "How do you relax"? I started with a piece of patterned paper with a shades of cream and beige zig zag pattern, which I stuck on to a plain tag.

I then used Ranger Archival Inks through the Funky Fossil Designs "Chatty Cups Stencil".  The ink colours I used were Thistle, Tiger Lily, Coffee, Poppy and Vibrant Fuschia.  I also used Vibrant Fuschia to ink the edges of the tag to brighten it a little.  

I used a stamp from the Funky Fossil Designs "Coffee & Friends" stamp set to multi stamp the definition, using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.  I then mounted the tag on to a piece of dark brown card and trimmed the edges.

Over a piece of plain white card, I lay the Funky Fossil "Coffee Cup Stencil" and coloured it in using some orange ink that was left on my blending brush for the right hand side and then used "Pebble Beach" Ranger Archival Ink for the left hand side, blending towards the middle so that the colour was very light down the middle of the cup.  I then fussy cut the cup and inked the edges of it using "Pebble Beach" ink again.

I used Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink to stamp the sentiment on to the cup.  The sentiment is also part of the Funky Fossil stamp set called "Coffee and Friends".  I then used foam pads on the back of the coffee cup to stick it to the tag.