52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026 - Week 30

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 30 is "Black Birds"

The base of my tag was tones of green and yellow Dylusions spray inks.  I used "Cobalt" Ranger Archival Ink through the Visible Image "Strobes" stencil.  I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the bird, part of the Visible Image "Leave Your Fears Behind" stamp set and their "Into The Woods" stamp set for an additional tree. Using the same ink, I stamped part of the spray from the horse in the Visible Image "Stay Wild" stamp set.

I inked the edges of the tag using "Cobalt" Ranger Archival Ink.  I used an orange Pan Pastel through part of the Visible Image "Breakout" stencil.  I then added dots of orange and white Posca Pen splatters.

Tiffany Johnson Creative #100daysartplay Challenge - Day 6

This is my make for Day 6 of the Tiffany Johnson Creative #100daysartplaychallenge.  I've used spray inks to stamp an image.

I used four shades of Distress Oxide Sprays:  Salvaged Patina, Mermaid Lagoon, Blueprint Sketch and Twisted Citreon to stamp (using a Misti) the bird image,  which is part of the Visible Image "Life is beautiful" stamp set.

Once dry, I used "Shaded Lilac" Distress Oxide Ink through the Visible Image "Strobes" stencil.  I inked the edges with the same ink and then used Versafine Clair "Monarch" purple ink to ink the edges again.

The sentiments is part of the same stamp set and stamped again in Versafine Clair "Monarch" purple ink.  

Daisy B "Dapper Gent" Birthday Card

Here's a card I made for a male friend.  I'm not happy with it for a couple of reasons, but maybe that is me being a bit picky - One of them being the sentiment isn't quite central, no idea how I managed that!  I doubt very much that he will notice.  My Hubby didn't when I showed him.

For the male image, I used a stamp by Daisy B called "Dapper Gent" stamped in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink then coated with Wow! clear embossing powder and heat set. I then stamped the image again on a piece of paper, fussy cut it and used it as a mask for the stamped area, while I worked on the background.

With the mask in position I used "Chrome Yellow"  Archival Ink through the Visible Image "Strobes" stencil.

I then used "Shadow Grey" Archival Ink through the Visible Image "Halftone" stencil.

Next I used "Orange Blossom" Archival Ink throguh the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Chevron Shifter Layering Stencil - THS127".

Then I used "Cobalt" dark blue Archival Ink with the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Grime - THS130" stencil, edging the card with the same colour.

Removing the mask, I coloured in the stamped area of the male, using a paint brush to apply "Tattered Rose" Distress Oxide Ink for the skin and "Faded Jeans" Dsitress Oxide Ink for the clothing.

I used a silver glitter gel pen to go over the outline of the male and also added some dots of sparkle to the background too.  I then mounted the card on to a 7x7" card blank

I used Versafine Clair "Twilight" dark blue ink to stamp the sentiment, which is part of the Daisy B stamp set called "Men Sentiments".

Visible Image "Peace, Love & Hope" Christmas Gift Tag

Today, there isn't a Karen Telfer tag, every eight days there is a days break to allow people to catch up - today is that day.  Instead, I've made my own Christmas gift tag.

I've used the Visible Image "Strobe" stencil with a gold and beige colour that was left over on my blending brushes from an ealier project, so I decided to make the most of what was there, using darker ink in the middle, getting lighter towards the edges.

I used Versafine Clair "Chianti" dark red ink, with the Visible Image stamp set called "Peace, Love & Hope", for all the stamping, using first and second generation stamping for the trees and edging the tag in the same colour too.

I found some matching card and mounted the tag on to it, then used a gold gel pen to add a little subtle shimmer to areas of the tag.

Day 11 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" Challenge

This is my take on Day 11 of "Karen Telfer's 24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge, making an alternative Christmas tag, for those in warmer climates across the world.

For my tag, I have used "Chrome Yellow" Ranger Archival Ink through the Visible Image Stamps "Strobes" stencil, fading the colour out towards teh right hand side of the tag.

Using Versafine Clair inks, I stamped the bunch of daisies, which is part of the Visible Image "Daisy Grunge Stamp Set".  I've used the following colours of Distress Oxide Inks, applied with a paint brush to colour the flowers:  Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Gathered Twig and Mowed Lawn.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the sentiment and the star, both are part of the Visible Image stamp set called "Peace, Love and Hope".  Finally, I mounted the tag on to a piece of black card.

Visible Image Stamps "Life Is Beautiful" card

Having had a few days away, I'm back in my "happy place" crafting again.  The sun is shining and all is good in the world!

This card features a Visible Image stamp set and several of their stencils and a whole host of different inks! 

I started with a white piece of card and "Milled Lavender" Distress Ink.  I put some ink on my glass mat, then lightly spritzed it and then swooshed the white card through the ink.  I then used my heat gun to dry the surface before repeating the process with four more Distress Inks:  Victorian Veleve, Tea Dye, Weathered Wood and Old Paper.

Next I used "Peat Moss" Ranger Archival Ink through the Visible Image "Seeing Stars" stencil, uising the chequerboard section of the stencil.

I then used "Garden Patina" Ranger Archival Ink through the Visible Image "Strobes" stencil on the left hand side of the card.

After that, I used "Shadow Grey" Ranger Archival Ink through the Visible Image "Strobes" stencil on the top right hand side of the card.

I then used "Cornflower Blue" Ranger Archival Ink through the Visible Image "Breakout" stencil" at the base of the card.

Moving on to the stamping, I used Versafine Clair "Twilight" dark blue ink to stamp the bird and words, all part of the Visible Image "Life Is Beautiful" stamp set.

Placing a mask over the bird, I stamped the circles, also part of the Visible Image "Life Is Beautiful" stamp set using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.

I used Van Goch pastel pencils to add depth of colour in areas.

Placing the mask back over the bird and strips of paper over the words, I used Dr PH Martin's "Bleed Proof White Paint" with a fan shaped brush to create splatters across the surface.

Removing the masks, I edged the card in Versafine Clair "Twilight" ink using a finger dabber.

I then used white and black Ranger "Enamel Accents" for extra dots.

Finally, mounting the piece on to navy blue card and then on to a white card blank.

Tuesday challenge card "Black and White"

Today, Tuesday 18th April, Eileen Godwin has set a challenge of "Black and White".  This is the card that I have made for this prompt using a selection of Visible Image products.

I stamped the main image, called "Behind Every Mask" in the middle of the card using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.  With the remaining ink on the stamp, I stamped the image on a post-it note then fussy cut the shape to create a mask.

With the mask in place, I used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink through the Visible Image "Strobes" stencil, fading it out towards the edges.

Using Versfine Clair "Nocturne" black ink I stamped one of the Visible Image "De-stressed" stamps multiple times around the edge of the card.  I then did the same using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.

I then used the Visible Image "Free Your Imagination" stamp set for the feather and the sentiment, stamping both in "Nocturne" black ink.

Finally, I mounted the card on to a piece of black paper then on to a card blank.  Around the edge of the black paper, I drew a line in a white gel pen.  The last thing I did was to add dots of white Ranger "Enamel Accents" below the flight of the bird.

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 "Hope" Card

Sharing another card, this time featuring Visible Image stencils and stamps. 

I started this card using three shades of Elements Inks (Sahara, Greensleeves and Bermuda) on a glass mat, spritzing with water then swooshing a piece of white card through the ink.  I added extra colour in a few areas to make it a little stronger, by repeating the process.  I then used a heat gun to dry the surface.

Once dry, I used the Visible Image "Strobes" stencil with "Peat Moss" Archival Ink. I then used "Library Green" Archival Ink through the Visible Image "Super Nova" stencil.  I used "Cornflower Blue" Archival Ink through the "Halftone" stencil ina couple of areas around the edge of the card.

Using Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" green ink, I stamped the Visible Image "Fibonacci" image.

I ran an anti-static bag over the surface of the card, before stamping the word "Hope" (from the Visible Image Peace, Love and Hope stamp set) in Versafine Clair "Twilight" dark blue ink.  I then coated the stamped word in Wow! clear embossing powder and heat set.

Using the same ink and the edge of the large stamp from the Visible Image "Stay Wild" stamp set, I repeated the process around the edge of the card.

I used a white pastel pencil to lighten a couple of areas.  Addeing touches of yellow Posca Pen, White Gel Pen and a shimmer of gold using a gel pen.  I then mounted it on to a piece of white card.

Visible Image "Chandelier Set" Card

I picked up an old Visible Image stamp set from ebay recently, so decided to make a quick card using it. 

I used the Visible Image "Strobe" stencil with two shades of Archival Inks "Chrome Yellow" and "Sunflower", fading it out towards the edges of the card.

Using Versfine Clair "Twilight" Dark Blue ink I stamped the chandelier and the sentiment, both are from the Visible Image "Chandelier Stamp Set".

I added splatters of "Chipped Sapphire" Distress Oxide ink and also white paint to add a little more interest.

Visible Image 'Bring on the beers" Birthday Card

Having a birthday at this time of year is rubbish.  I should know, I have my birthday sandwiched  between Christmas and New Year. 

For my friends who have a birthday in December, I try to ensure I have made a card in advance.  There is nothing worse than receiving what is clearly an "after thought card", usually purchased from a garage or an "open all hours" type shop.  Birthdays are special and need to be kept that way, regardless of age.

So here is a card I have made for a male friend ,who actually shares the same birthday as myself.  I've used Visible Image products for this card.

I used an "Ink on 3" Fade out ink pad to stamp the beer glass, which is part of the Visible Image "Bring on the beers" stamp set.  Colouring the image with Derwent Inktense Water Colour Pencils and a 2B pencil.  I then stamped the glass of beer on to a post it note, cut around the shape and then popped it over the top of the coloured image, to use as a mask.

I used three shades of Distress Oxide Inks (Antique Linen, Weathered Wood and Scattered Straw) with a blending brush through the Visible Image "Strobes" stencil.

Finally, I stamped the "Cheers' sentiment, also part of the "Bring on the beers" stamp set in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.