A Year Of Wild Nature Taster 4 - Mystical Botanicals (Toni Burt

Today, I have tried my hand at a pen and wash technique which was part of the "A Year Of Wild Nature - Taster Event" on Facebook.  This taster was tutored by Toni Burt and is called "Mystical Botanicals".

In my piece, I didn't have black ink, so used blue Quink Ink in a fountain pen instead.  I broke off a couple of pieces of honeysuckle from the bush in the garden and used those as my reference point.

I wasn't really sure what extra colour ink to use, so opted for "Peacock Feathers" Distress Oxide Ink as blues and greens are my favourite. Splattering some white Dr Ph. Martins Bleed Proof paint over the surface.

Once I got to grips with the fountain pen, I really enjoyed the process.  I will likely try something similar in the future.

Nature Napkin/Serviette Artist Trading Card

 

While in Tesco this morning, I spotted some beautiful paper napkins/ serviettes with nature images on them.  I had to buy them as the images would be great for a decoupage project.  Obviously, I had to buy them!

Once home, it was time to make my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day, so I set about cutting out some of the images and layering them on to a white ATC card covered in glue.  Once in position, I added a little bit of "Antique Linen" Distress Oxide Ink with a brush to tie in all the pieces.  

I used a white Posca Pen to highlight areas on the toadstools and berries, then added a Lavinia Stamps word sticker saying "nature", finally adding dots of "Avocado" liquid pearls over the surface of the ATC.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Wild and Free TE47" Nature Artist Trading Card

My Artist Trading Card (ATC) is late in the day today, as the day just seems to have disappeared! For the background colour, I spritzed a white ATC with water then sprinkled a tiny bit of Lindy's "Snozzleberry Magenta`' Everlasting Brights, available to purchase from Tracy Evans Boutique Designs,  paint granules on to the wet surface and let the colour develop and move across the card.  I then used the heat gun to dry the surface.

I used Versafine Clair "Monarch" purple ink to stamp the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Wild and Free TE47" stamp set on to the surface of the card.  I then stamped it again on to white card, fussy cut the flowers and glued them into position on to the ATC.

I used Derwent Inktense Pencils and an orange Posca pen to add colour/detail to the flowers and leaves, finally adding a word sticker saying "nature"'.

Tracy Evans "A Myriad Of Designs TE44" pumpkin card

 

I made this scene for the "Get Inky Card Challenge Group" on Facebook.  The theme for October is "Pumpkin Patch".

I used Versafine Clair "Sand Dune" for the stamping of the pumpkins , which are part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "A Myriad Of Designs TE44" stamp set and "Acorn" for the stamping of the tree stump, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Quiet Moments TE72" stamp set.

I coloured the scene using Derwent Inktense pencils, a black fine liner and a white gel pen.  I then decided to add a bird to the tree stump, which was stamped in Versafine Clair "Portobello" brown ink.  The bird is also part of the "A Myriad Of Designs TE44" stamp set.

For the background colour, I initially used a light coating of "Chipped Sapphire" Distress Oxide Ink, but it looked a bit flat, so I lifted the colour by using "Wilted Violet" Distress Oxide Ink over the top.  to finish, I dipped a fan shaped paint brush into water and tapped it so that small droplets fell on the inky background.  I then used a piece of kitchen roll to mop us the surplus which left a nice milky way style background.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Quiet Moments TE72" Tree Stump Artist Trading Card

 

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day. Using a piece of green card for the background, I used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp the tree stump, which is part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Desgins ""Quiet Moments TE72" stamp set.  

I used a white pastel pencil and the Tracy Evans "Circular ST6" stencil to create the moon, I then used the same ink to stamp the grasses, which are part of the Tracy Evans "Sit and Reflect TE70" stamp set and the birds from the Tracy Evans "A Promise Of Tomorrow TE63" stamp set.

 I shaded the tree trunk, the ground using an HB pencil.  Adding white highlights using a gel pen and a black fine liner to vardious areas too.  Finally, adding a word sticker saying "don't forget to fly".

A Year Of Wild Nature 2026 - Tester 3

Tester 2 of "A year of wild nature" is using air dry clay.  As I don't have any, I have skipped to Tester 3 which is creating a Pan Pastel scene "Light In Bloom" tutored by Dawn Van Der Stoep.

I have to say that I struggled with this, because it is quite messy and I like to craft in a clean area.  The Pan Pastel dust seemed to get everywhere.  My finished scene is no where near the sample Dawn created, I think I will call it a "loose interpretation"!

I didn't have all the Pan Pastel colours Dawn used in her sample, so made do with the ones I did have, which was the same for the pastel pencils.

The more I look at this photo, the more the scene is growing on me!

A Year Of Wild Nature Tasters 2026

On Facebook, there is a page called "A year of wild nature - tasters". where you get free taster sessions of different ways to craft by different teachers.

I'm a bit late to get going with mine. These are my makes from the Taster 1, run by Tamara Laporte, creating happy butterflies and happy ladybirds.  The idea is that you create without inhibition, just going with the flow, allowing the creative process  without expectiations or perfection.

The last two words are a struggle for me, as I like to plan and am super critical of my work.  Also, this wouldn't be my chosen style of crafting... not sure what is, but I know this isn't it.  I found it a challenge to create so informally, but I guess the results are not too bad.

I used Prima Marketing "Confections Tropical Watercolour Paints" and Posca Pens for these makes.