Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Good Things Take Time TE60" pigeon Artist Trading Card

 

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I've used a piece of white card for the base, adding colour that was on my blending bushes through the Tracy Evans "Brick Wall ST9 stencil".

I used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp the flower pot, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Blossoms Of Hope TE62" stamp set.  Using the same ink I added the text down the left hand side, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Good Things Take Time TE60" stamp set, stamped in second generation stamping.  I used the same stamp set and ink for stamping the pigeon too.

I then used Versafine Clair "Sand Dune" a sandy/beige coloured ink to stamp the special delivery postal mark, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Special Delivery TE64" stamp set.  I then coloured the pigeon and the flower pot by using a paint brush to apply Derwent Inktense pencil.  Finally, adding Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" and "Morning Mist" ink to the edges of the card.

Visible Image Stamps "Live In The Moment" Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I have used a gel plate print background from my stash, where I have used a Tim Holtz chevron layering stencil to achieve the pattern.

I have stamped the small drogonflies, part of the Visible Image "Live In The Moment" stamp set using Versafine Clair "Bali Blue" ink.  Then using stamps from the same stamp set, I stamped the sentiment and the large dragonfly, using Versafine Clair "Twilight" dark blue ink.  I used the same ink to edge the ATC too.

I added silver glitter pen to the wings of the large dragonfly and a blue fine liner centre to the small dragonflies in the background.  I added white polka dots in the background, which I circled using a black fine liner pen, to make them stand out more.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "On The Wild Side TE50" Wilderness Artist Trading Card

 

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day. A water colour scene with stamping.  I used Derwent Inktense Pencils with a paint brush to create the river and landscape scene.  

I used Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" green ink to stamp the trees in first and second generation stamping.  The trees are part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "On The Wild Side TE50" stamp set.  I then stamped the wild grasses in the foreground, part of the same set using Versafine Clair  "Rain Forest" a dark green ink, topped with white Posca Pen.

Next, I stamped the word "Wilderness" which is also part of the Tracy Evans "On The Wild Side" stamp set, using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.  Using the same ink and a stamp from the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Take The Scenic Route TE68" stamp set, I stamped the heron standing on the rocks.

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.

Get Inky Card Challenge - September 26 - Colours

There is a new group on Facebook called "Get Inky Card Challenge" which I was invited to join.  The first challenge is for September and is "colours" using a specific colour palette, shown below.

I think my photo has made the background look a bit brighter than it is in real life

I started with a white card and used lots of different shades of Distress Oxide Inks, adding, drying then adding another layer. I have no idea what order I iused them or which I used for the squirrel, so I will detail all the shades used here:
Rusty Hinge

Tea Dye

Crackling Campfire

Barn Door

Carved Pumpkin

Ripe Persimmon

Wild Honey

Mustard Seed

Crushed Olive

Mowed Lawn

Peacock Feathers 

Chipped Sapphire

The stamps I used are all by Funky Fossil Designs.  The squirrel is part of the "Grateful Heart" stamp set and stamped in Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink, with added black Posca Pen, pastel pencils,white gel pen detail and dots of "Copper Pearl" Liquid Pearls,

I stamped the trees, part of the Funky Fossil "Badger Trails" stamp set in Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" green ink, fussy cutting them and glued into position with dots of "Avocado" Liquid Pearls.

In the foreground, I used the Funky Fossil "Circle Cascade" stamp with Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.  Adding a white dot of Posca pen to the middle of each swirl.

Finally, I added some shadows using a black fine liner pen and some dots of colour for flowers.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "The Miracle Of A Flower TE59" Wisteria Card

I started with a white card and drew the window in pencil, shading the windows and adding demention with shading and a paper stump.  I then covered the exterior edges of the window frame with Pebeo Drawing Fluid to mask the area.  I then gave the rest of the card a wash of diluted "Antique Linen" Distress Oxide Ink. 

Once dry, I then used two shades of Ranger Archival ink:  Tea Rose and Shadow Grey, through the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Brick Wall ST9" stencil. I then used the Frisk Maskaway eraser to remove the drawing fluid.

I then started to stamp the wisteria.  There are two sizes of it on the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "The Miracle Of A Flower ST59" stamp set.  I used the following Versafine Clair inks:  Avocado, Shady Lane and Very Peri.  I then added extra colour using Derwent inktense pencils.

Using Versafine Clair "Morning MIst" grey ink, I stamped the text down the left hand side, using a stamp from the Tracy Evans set called "Create A Garden TE66".  I used the same ink to stamp the robin, part of the Tracy Evans "Love Grows Here TE65" stamp set, using Derwent Inktense pencils.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Delight In Nature TE13" Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I have used a piece of a gel plate print from my stash for the background.  I have then used Versafine Clair "Adriatic Blue" ink through the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Distressed Background SS31" stencil. I used a blue fine liner pen to accentuate the left hand side of each diamond shape.

Then, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the leaves and flowers from the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Delight In Nature TE14" stamp set.  I used Posca Pen dots for the flowers and in the background, also a white gel pen to highlight the large leaf.  Finally adding a word sticker saying "Dwell".

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Flower Power TE37" Spotlight Card

For the base of this card, I have used a Brusho background, with lemon and blue colours merging to green.

Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped teh flowers, which are part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Flower Power TE37" stamp set.  I then stamped the flower heads again, using the same ink on to a piece of white card.  I fussy cut them and glued them onto the card.  

I used a circle mask to create a spotlight area and coloured the rest of the card using a blending brush and Versafine Clair "Adriatic Sea" ink.

Returning to the spotlight area, I edged the circle in a white pastel pen to lighten it a little.  Then used Derwent Inktense pencils and a Posca pen to colour the flowers.  I stamped the "Hugs and Kisses" sentiment, also from the "Flower Power" stamp set and finally added three sticky backed gems to the rim of the circle.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Creative Spark TE24" Clean and Simple circular design card

Today I have made a very clean and simple looking card, using three Tracy Evans Boutique Design stamp sets.

Using Versafine Clair "Bali Blue" ink, I stamped the circular design in the background, which is part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Creative Soark TE24" stamp set.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the flower, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Love Grows Here TE65" stamp set, the bird which is part of the Tracy Evans "A Promise Of Tomorrow TE63 stamp set and the sentiment which is also part of the "Creative Spark TE24" stamp set.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Framed Delights" Clean and Simple heart wreath card

 

I absolutely adore the heart wreath I've used on this card.  I had planned to do something quite different to what I ended up with, prefering to keep a clean and simple look.

Using the heart shaped wreath stamp from the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Framed Delights TE58" stamp set, I used Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" a green ink and "Acorn" a brown ink to achieve the colour I wanted for the wreath.

I used the same colours of ink to stamp the sentiment, which is part of the Tracy Evans Boutiqeu Designs "Amongst The Flowers TE61" stamp set.  The birds are from that stamp set too, I used Versafine Clair "Nocurne" black ink to stamp those, adding a littel bit of black fine liner for a hair-do on one of the birds and a white gel pen to add some highlights to areas of the birds

A Crafting Niche "52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026 - Week 35

 

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 35 is "watercolour"

A few weeks back I saw a technique on Instagram where the posted had made three water colour stripes over a stamped image.  It was a technique that stuck in my mind, so thought I'd give it a go.  I did try stamping first, but I didn't like the way the stamping reacted to the paint, so I have achieved a similar look but carried out in a different way.

I started by using watercolour paper and a large mop paint brush, laden with water and brushing the water along the lenth of the tag.  I then used diluted pink, yellow and blue childrens water colour paint and using the same brush adding the colours the length of the tag, starting with yellow down the middle, pink to the left and blue to the right, allowing the colours to run into their neighbouring colours.  I then set it aside for a couple of hours to dry naturally.

I then started to stamp, initially using Versafine Clair  "Morning Mist' for the images further away and then Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink for the images in the forefront.  I used a selection of cling Stampscape Stamps that I bought from Sweet Poppy Stencils, who hold a licence to reproduce the stamps in to a clear stamp rather than red rubber.

Lakeside Cove

Critter Set 2 & 3

Lilygrass

Pine and Rocks small & medium

I added shading using a 2B pencil, a paper stub for blending and a white pastel pencil.  I added touches of colour using Derwent Inktense Pencils and "Morning Mist" Versafine Clair Ink,

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Poppy TE39 Stamp Set". Poppy Artist Trading Card

 

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I used a gel plate print for the background that has been in my stash for some time.  I stamped the Poppy in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.  The poppy is part of a Tracy Evans Boutique Designs Stamp Set called "Poppy TE39". I stamped the poppy head again on a piece of white card too.

Down the left hand edge of the ATC, I stamped text, from the same "poppy" stamp set, using Versaifne Clair "Shady Lane" green ink.  I then used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the sentiment.  

Returning to the poppy head, I used a couple of Derwent Inktense pencils, applied with a paint brush to colour the flower, adding yellow Posca Pen to the middle, with more depth using a black fine liner pen and a white gel pen in areas to provide depth.  I then fussy cut the flower head and glued into position and coloured in the poppy stem with a Derwent Inktense pencil.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Magnolia TE43" Double Magnolia Card

 

A relatively clean and simple design after the busy grungy mistake from last night.

In the backgground, I have used the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Magnolia ST2 stencil" with two shades of Ranger Archival Ink, using "Vivid Chartreuse" and "Fern Green" colours of ink.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the magnolia using the Tracty Evans "Magnolia TE43" stamp set.  In the top left and the bottom right, I stamped the text, in Versafine Clair "Morning MIst" grey ink in second generation stamping.  I then stamped the word "Magnolia" in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.  Both the word and the text are part of the "Magnolia TE43" stamp set.

I added some depth of colour to the stencilled area by using a blue coloured pastel pencil and a white gel pen.  I then added some black speckles of Posca Pen.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Special Delivery TE64" Flower on Brusho Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I have used a small piece of a Brusho paint background from my stash for the background colour.

I used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist`' grey ink to stamp the flower, which is part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs"Special Delivery TE64" stamp set.

On the left hand side, I multi stamped the text saying "Plant a gardem, and breathe new life into a space", using Versfine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink again.  The text is part of the Tracy Evans "Explore Nature TE67" stamp set.

I coloured the flower using Derwent Inktense pencils and a white gel pen.  Finally, adding the sentiment. also part of the "Explore Nature TE67" stamp set, stamped vertically in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

Lavinia Stamps "Coven of the blue moon" Misty Witch Artist Trading Card

This is.my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I used a gel press background from my stash with blues and purples in it, so felt it suitable for halloween.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the witch, part of the Lavinia Stamps "Coven of the blue moon" stamp set, I deliberately faded the ink out towards the base of the skirt as I wanted a misty lool.  

I used a circle stencil to create the moon with a white pastel pencil.  I then used "Nocturne" ink again for stamping the branches from the Lavinai "Tree of courage" stamp set.  

I used Versafine Clair "Twilight" dark blue ink to stamp the text on the left hand side of the ATC, the text is part of the Lavinia stamps "Witching Hour" verse.  I then used Hero Arts "Unicorn" white pigment ink, with a finger dabber to create the misty look at the base of the ATC.  Finally adding some coloured berries to the branches using a lilac and purple Posca Pen.

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

 

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day. I have used a piece of gel plate print for the background.  I used Versafine Clair "Wisteria Purple" ink through the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Tile Stencil S37". 

I then used Versaifne Clair "Fantasia" purple ink to stamp the dandelion head, which is part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Love Grows Here TE65" stamp set. I created a cloud over the dandelion head by using a finger dabber with Hero Arts "Unicorn White" Pigment Ink.  Once dry, I used a white pastel pencil to increase the dreamy cloud look of the dandelion head, then topped each bit with a white Posca Pen, using a white gel pen for the stem.

Finally, I used a purple Posca Pen on the edges of the ATC and a Tim Holtz "Idea-ology" word sticker saying "wishful".

Tracy Evans "TE52 Wilderness" Foxglove Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day, I hade a pretty cottage garden in mind while making this one.

The background is a piece of a gel press print, made many years ago, there was no pattern, just lots of pretty speckles of paint colour. I used Versafine Clair Shady Lane, Charming Pink and Dahlia Purple to stamp the foxgloves.  Stamping the word "Foglove" in Versafine Clair "Monarch" purple ink.  The foxgloves and the words are part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Wilderness TE52" stamp set.  I added touches of Derwent Inktense pencils and a white gel pen for exra detail.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Take Flight TE9" Moth Trio Card

For the base colour of this card, I used three shades of Ranger Archival Inks, masking off sections as I coloured them with a blending brush. The shades of ink I used are Paradise Teal at the base, Garden Patina in the middle, Aquamarine next and then a band of white card at the top.

I then stamped the background, using Versafine Clair "Twilight" dark blue ink to stamp the central image, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Take Flight TE9" stamp set.  Using second generation stamping and the same ink, I stamped the script text, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Magnolia TE43" stamp set.  I then stamped the magnolias in the two opposite corners using "Twilight" again.  The magnolia is part of the same stamp set too.

On a plain white piece of card, I stamped the moth, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Flower Power TE37".  I used three shades of Versafine Clair inks for the moth.  The colours I used are: Charming Pink for the top moth, Dahlia Purple for the middle moth and Purple Delight for the lower moth.  Finally, I added a few touches of black fine liner pen and some black Posca Pen splatters.