Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Flora and Fauna TE53" ...waiting for Dad! Artist Trading Card

I've made another Artist Trading Card (ATC) today, this time using a brayer clean up sheet for the background in green and blue tones.

I used Versafine Clair "Acorn" a mid brown coloured ink to lightly stamp the fence, part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Flora and Fauna TE53" stamp set.  I then used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the dog, which is part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Beauty Surrounds Us TE56" stamp set.  I then returned to the "acorn' brown ink pad to stamp the bird, which is part of the Tracy Evans"A Promise Of Tomorrow TE63" stamp set.

I coloured and shaded the ATC using Van Goch Posca Pens, a black fine liner and a white gel pen.  I added some white and yellow dots of Posca Pen for flowers, then printed out and cut down a sentiment saying "...waiting for Dad!".

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs :Explore Nature TE67" Pause Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I used a piece of pale blue coloured card for the background.

I used Versafine Clair "Twilight" a dark blue ink, to stamp the flower and the word "Pause". I then stamped the wording in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.  All elements are part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Explore Nature TE67" stamp set.

I used Van Goch Pastel Pencils to add colour to the flower and a black Posca Pen to add dots in the background.

A Crafting Niche "52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026 - Week 40

 

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 40 "Acrylic Paints"

On a plain tag, I spuezed three shades of DecoArt "Americana Acrylic Paint" on to the surface,  The colours I used are: Blue Harbor, Lavender and Vivid Violet.  I used a witde flat paint brush to co=ver the surface of the tag, deliberately leaving streaks of the colours.  I then set it aside to dty.

Once dry, I then squeezed a couple more colours of "DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint" on to the painted surface of the tag, this time, I used the narrow end of a paint brush to loosely mix the colours up, ensuring there was a fair distribulation of the background colour left. The colours I used are:  Primary Yellow and Bright Orange paint.

I then had a "stash-busting" exercised, by using up some die cuts from previous projects I came across in the collage box, using pieces from the following:

Memorybox Honeycomb Background Die (99434)

Sizzix/Tim Holtz Wildflower Stems #2 Die Set (664164)

Sizzix/Stampin' Up Swirly Sribbles Thinlits Dies (141497)

Funky Fossil Designs Butterfly Wishes Stamp Set

Once I had glued on all the die cuts, I then glued in to position the butterfly, which was also in the collage box.  I had heat embossed the outline of the butterfly and coloured the middle with what looks like a Distress Oxide Ink.  Not really sure which colour I had used.

Finally, I added some black sticky backed gems and a word sticker saying "be original".

Stampers Anonymous / Tim Holtz "Flower Jar CMS297" Card

 

I have made this card by using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp the jars and flowers which are part of the Stampers Anonymous / Tim Holtz "Flower Jar CMS297" stamp set.  I have coloured them using Derwent Inktense Pencils.

In the background, I have used the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "String THS004" stencil with "Lost Shadow" Distress Oxide Ink.  Over the top of that I have used "Speckled Egg" Distress Oxide Ink through the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Dot Fade THS006" stencil.  I added shadow to the jars using a 2B pencil. I'll add a sentiment to the card when I need it.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Love Grows Here TE65" Dandelion Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I started with a white card colouring three quarters of it using "Veridian" green Ranger Archival Ink, making it darker at the bottom fading the colour out towards the top.

I then coated the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Tiles SS37" stencil with "Peacock Feathers" Distress Oxide Ink and gave it a very light spritz of water.  I then turned the inked stencil upside down on to the ATC.  Holding the stencil in position, I used a piece of kitchen towel to blot any excess ink away before lifting the stencil.

After cleaning the stencil, I then lay it on top of the ATC, aligning the pattern and applied "Peacock Feathers" Distress Oxide Ink again through the lower area of the stencil using a blending brush.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the dandelions, which are part of the Tracy Evans "Love Grows Here TE65" stamp set.  I then added some white dots of Posca Pen and a word sticker saying "a new beginning" and inked the edges of the card using "Veridian" Ranger Archival Ink.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Explore Nature TE67" Notes Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day. I have used a gel plate print from my stash.  I've no idea what I have used on it, but the ink for stamping seemed to bleed into it, giving the branches a more distorted look!

Using Versafine Clair "Acorn", a mid brown coloured ink, I stamped the 'Notes" tag, part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Explore Nature TE67" stamp set and the berries and mouse, part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Berries TE55" stamp set. I used red and white Posa Pens to colour the berries and a black fine liner pen to add some shadow to areas.

Funky Fossil Designs "Pawprint Stencil" Card

I received some very sad news from a close member of my family saying they had to put their dog down due to ill health.  Having been in that situration myself in the past, I wanted to recognise their loss, too many people just think "it's a dog" where as quite often the pet in question is almost loved like a child is.

For this card, I used the Funky Fossil Designs "Pawprint" stencil with  "Speckled Egg" Distress Oxide Ink.  The "Sending Hugs" greeting is part of the Funky Fossil "Stripped Back Sentiments" stamp set, stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.