Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Flora and Fauna TE53" gate and pigeon card

I've created this little scene for no reason other than wanting to craft.  I can add a sentiment and make it into a card at a later date if I want to.

I started by using Versafine Clair "Sand Dune" and "Morning Mist" inks to stamp the gate, part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Flora and Fauna TE53" stamp set.  I then used three shades of green Distress Oxide Inks fo the grass and ground.  The colours I used are:  Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint and Rustic Wilderness.

I used Versafine "Morning MIst" grey ink to stamp the pigeons, which are part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Good Things Take Time TE60" stamp set.

I added more detail and depth of colour using Van Goch Pastel Pencils ,with a 2B pencil and paper stub too. Finally adding some tiny dots of yellow and white Posca Pen to replicate buttercups and daisies in the grass.

Penny Black "Fall Flourish 40-783" Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.

I used a piece of grey card for the background. stamping the Penny Blak "Fall Flourish 40-783" image in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.

I added shadows to the image first, using a 2B pencil and a paper stub, then coloured the image using Van Goch Pastel Pencils.  I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the word "time" which is part of the "That's Crafty - Lots Of Words" stamp set.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Flora and Fauna TE53" Sign Post Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I have used a piece of card where I removed ink form my brayer in shades of blues and greens for the background.  I stamped the grasses in the foreground in Versafine Clair "Shady Lane", a mid green coloured ink. The grasses are part of the Tracy Evans "Explore Nature TE67" stamp set.

Next, I stamped the signpost in two shades of Versafine Clair inks.  The first was "Sand Dune" and the next "Morning Mist", this achieved a good "weathered look" to the signpost.  I enhanced it using a 2B pencil for shading and a black fine liner pen.  The sign post is part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Flora and Fauna TE53" stamp set.

I then stamped the bird, which is part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "A Promise Of Tomorrow TE63" stamp set, stamped in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink and coloured with Van Goch pastel pencils and outlined in a black fine liner pen, 

I added extra colour to areas using Van Goch Pastel Pencils.  I added some white dots of Posca pen to the grasses and then stamped the word "Paunse" using Versafine Clair "Morming Mist" grey ink. The word is also part of the "Explore Nature" stamp set.

A Crafting Niche "52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026" - Week 38

 

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 38 is "Black Background!" 

I cut a piece of black card to tag shape, then lay an oval shaped Clarity stencil ovet the top of the black background.  Through the oval aperture of the stencil, I applied white Pan Pastel with a foam blender.

I then used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the Lavinia Stamps "Starmoth" one of the magpies and the Raventhorne branch.

I created the landscape that "Starmoth" stands on, by using Versafine Clair "Morning MIst" grey ink with the torn edge of a piece of copy paper.  I used a black fine liner pen to create the look of grasses and added some white dots of gel pen to replicate the look of flowers. I added  some pink and some gold glitter gel pen dots to the Raventhorn branches. Finally, addiing a word sticker, cut in two, which says "always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder".

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Amonst The Flower TE61" grunge background Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  In the background, I have used a very grungy looking gel plate print.  I filed the edges of the ATC to give a more distressed look too!

Using Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" green ink, I stamped the large flower from the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Amongst The Flowers TE61" stamp set.  I then used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp text from the same stamp set, down the left hand edge of the ATC.

Next, stamped it again on white card as the stamping didn't show up too well on the background.  I fussy cut the flower and leaves and then glued it into position on the ATC. I added some colour using Van Goch Pastel Pencils.

I turned my attention to the background, using a blending brush, I added some blue colour, using "Chipped Sapphire" Distress Oxide Ink.  I used the same ink to drag along the edges of the ATC. I then added splatrers and coffee cup rings using more stamps from the "Amongst The Flowers TE61" stamo set, using Versafine Clair "Pinecone" dark brown ink.

Finally, I added gold coloured vertical stripes to the card, adding the occasional dot to them too.  I also edged the word sticker that says "go out and make things happen", using the same gold coloured gel pen.

Lavinia Stamps "Forest Flower - LAV813" Card

I must be in an experimental mood today.  Following on from my ATC this morning, I've experimented with more squares with this card.

I lightly drew a grid of twelve squares in the middle of a white piece of card.  Each square I coloured a different colour of Distress Oxide Ink:

On the top row, I used:  Iced Spruce, Saltwater Taffy and Frayed Burlap inks.

On the second row, I used Fosilized Amber, Peacock Feathers and Old Paper inks.

On the second to last row, I used:  Mowed Lawn, Wilted Violet and Dried Marigold inks

One bottom row, I used: Rusty Hinge, Salvaged Patina and Festive Berries inks

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the Lavinia Stamps "Forest Flowers".  I then used Dr. Ph. Martin's bleed proof white paint to paint between the lines of squares, dragging the paint brush up and down.  

Next, I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the word "Hope" which is part of an old Lavinia Stamps set called "Christmas Blessings".  I then used an orange/bronze coloured glitter gel pen to colour in the flowers.

Finally, I lightly drew a frame round the blocks using a black fine liner pen and then added black dots diagonally across the card using a Posca pen.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "A Promise Of Tomorrow TE63" flower Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I very roughly painted six even-ish squares on my ATC using Distress Oxide Inks.  The colours I used are: Dried Marigold, Fossilized Amber, Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers, Festive Berries and Hickory Smoke.

I then stamped the large flower from the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "A Promise Of Tomorrow TE63" stamp set, in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.  I stamped the flower head again, on to white card, fussy cut it and glued it over the one on the ATC.

I painted three or four areas using Dr Ph. Martin's white bleed proof paint.  Once dry, I used a black fine liner to draw a rough grid work adding black dots occasionally too.  I added some dots of yellow Posca Pen to the middle of the flower.

Finally, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the word grow.  This is to reflect the flower, but also my growth in my art work.  It is constantly evolving, I don;t think I have a definite style, but I do like clean-ish look to my work - if that is a style, then that's it!