52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge - Taster tag for August 2023

52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge

To start getting us in the mood for making tags in 2024, I thought I would initially provide you with a prompt on the 1st of the month, between now and the start of the challenge in 2024, so just one tag a month for the time being.

You can use any size of tag for this challenge.  The tags that I use meaure 8cm across and have a length of 16cm.  They can be purchased from Craft Obsessions for £5.75 for a pack of 50 tags.  Alternatively use any tags you may already have or perhaps cut and make your own tag bases.  The choice is yours.

The prompt for the August 2023 Tag Taster is "Circles".

I hope you enjoy this taster.  I hope you enjoy the challenge.  I'd love to see what you make.  You can share your tag within the "Crafting Niche - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge" group over on Facebook, here is the link.

Sam x

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This is how I made my tag using the August 2023 prompt of circles.

In an attempt to stash bust - using up things floating around the craft room, I found a piece of patterned paper with a circular design on it.  I cut it down to size and stuck the patterned paper on to my tag base using double sided sticky tape.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the Visible Image flower from their "Creative Chaos" stamp set.  I then stamped the flower head only on an off cut of cerise coloured card.  I fussy cut the flower head and set aside till later.

Next, using the Versafine Clair "Blue Belle" ink, I stamped the collection of mixed circles twice across the tag, going over the upper part of the flower head too. The circles are part of the Visible Image stamp set called "Butterfly Effect". I used a Derwent Inktense Pencil (called Denim), to paint the colour within the circles, chosing to cover some in a lighter and some in a darker shade of blue. At this stage and while the ink was out, I inked up the outer edges of the tag too.

Once the surface of the tag was dry, I then stuck the cerise flower head over the top of the one on the tag, I used a wet glue for this so that I could slide it into position with ease.

Finally, I added some extra black dots using Ranger "Enamel Accents".  I then added a trail of pink dots using some Liquid Pearls called "Dazzle.

Once everthing was fully dry, I then mounted the tag on to a piece of blue card.  This is because I like the finished look the tag has.  It also provides a bit more strength to the tag.

Butterflies Challenge Card

I'm playing catch up with the challenges I have missed, while I was away.  The Friday Eileen Godwin challenge prompt was "Butterflies", this is the card I have made. 

The central image is actually the mask I used for the "glitter" challenge a few days ago.  I couldn't bring myself to throw it away as it was so pretty - just as well I didn't!

The mask is a stamped image from the Visible Image stamp set called "Butterfly Effect", stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink. It's got lots of different Archival Inks and splatters on it.

In the background, I have used a stencil called "Butterfly Wreath" by Funky Fossil Designs, with "Shadow Grey" Archival Ink, using more ink in the central area and blending out so it is lighter on the edges.

I used foam pads to adhere the butterfly over the wreath.  Then stamped the sentiment, which is part of the Simon Says Stamp set called "Tiny Words - Birthday", stamped in Versafine Clair "Monarch" purple ink.

I then mounted the card on to a piece of grey paper and then on to a card blank.  Finally adding some dots of Ranger "Enamel Accents" to complete the card.

Visible Image "Butterfly Ink" glitter challenge card

Eileen Godwin set a challenge today (12th April 2023) to use glitter.  This is the card that I have made. 

Starting with a plain piece of white card, I stamped the central butterfly, using the Visible Image "Butterfly Effect" stamp set, stamped in Versafine Clair "Medieval Blue" ink.  I then coated it in Wow! Clear embossing powder and heat set.

I stamped the butterfly again on a piece of copy paper, then fussy cut the shape to use as a mask while I created the background. I used a small amount of repo glue to position the mask over the top of the card.

Using blending brushes, I applied two shades of Archival Inks:  Vivid Chartreuse and Violet around the background.

I then used Cactus Flower and Vivid Chartreuse Archival inks through the Visible Image "Strobes" and "Supernova" stencils.

I then lay the Visible Image "Breakout" stencil in a couple of positions and applied "Wow!  embossing ink" with a finger dabber through the stencil, then coated in Wow! Clear Embossing Powder and heat set.

I lay the Visible Image "Butterfly Ink" stencil over the butterfly and applied Versafine Clair "Medieval Blue" ink through the stencil to creats the dark splatters.  I used the same ink to stamp the "Butterfly" sentiment which is also part of the "Butterfly Effect" stamp set.

Using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" I stamped some rings on the left hand side of the butterfly and some random circular images on the top right, which are both part of the "Butterfly Effect" stamp set.

I used a white acrylic paint with a fan shaped paint brush to add fine white splatters, from the bottom left to the top right hand corner.  

I then removed the paper mask from the butterfly, it looks so pretty with all the colours.  If it didn't blend in so well with the background, I would have kept it in position!

I now turned my attention to decorating the butterfly itself.  I used Creative Expressions Cosmic Shimmer Iridescent paints in a blue and purple shade.  I then used "Lavender" coloured stickles for the four main sections of the wings, adding small dots of silver glitter signo pen to the dots at the ends of the wings.

In the background, I added dots of Ranger Glossy Accents and also some dots of White Enamel Accents.

Once everything was dry, I inked the edges of the card using Versafine Clair "Medieval Blue" ink, then layered it on to dark and then white card. Finally adding some very small sequins to the top left and bottom right hand corners.

Visible Image "Butterfly Effect"

A couple of days ago, I watched an Eileen Godwin live demo on a Facebook group.  As I had most of the items she used, I decided to do a "lift" of her work and this is a result.  The demo was an hour long.  I'm not going to go into detail how I made it, but have listed some of the items used below:

Visible Image Butterfly Effect stamp set

Visible Image Peace, Love and Hope stamp set

Funky Fossil Designs Vintage Script stamp

Visible Image Butterfly Ink stencil

Visible Image Breakout stencil 

Visible Image Supernova stencil 

Visible Image Strobes stencil

Wow! Clear Embossing ink pad

Wow! Rich Gold Embossing Powder

Archival Ink Thistle

Archival Ink Orange Blossom

Archival Ink Library Green

Archival Ink Cornflower Blue

Archival Ink Red Geranium

Archival Ink Bluebird

Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink

Versafine Clair "Twilight" ink

Ranger Glossy Accents

Ranger Enamel Dots

Van Goch Pastel Pencils

Colouring Pencils

Gel Pen