Tracy Evans "Special Delivery TE64" Flower Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I've used a Tracy Evans Boutique Designs stencil and stamp set.

First I used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp the flower, which is part of the Tract Evans "Special Delivery - TE64" stamp set.  I then used a paint brush to apply Pebeo "Drawing gum" oa masking fluid, over the stamped area.

I used four shades of Ranger Archival Inks through the Tracy Evans "Brick Wall Stencil - ST9".  The shades of ink I used are: Shadow Gray, Leaf Green, Tea Rose and Orange Blossom. 

I rubbed off the masking fluid. Using a black fine liner pen, I drew circles round a lid.  I then used Van Gock Pastel Pencils to colour the flower and areas where the circles overlapped.  finally I added some dashes round the edge to replicate stiitches.

Tracy Evans "Flora & Fauna - TE53" Lamp post Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day. I've used pastels through the Tracy Evans "6x6  Brick Wall Stencil - ST9), in various shades of white, browns, greens and red shades.  I stamped the lamp post and the sentiment in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.  The stamps are part of the Tracy Evans "Flora and Fauna - TE53" stamp set.  The dog, also stamped in Verasfine Clair "Nocturne" black ink is part of the Tracy Evans "Beauty Surrounds Us - TE56" stamp set.

I grounded the dog and the lamp-post by using versafine Clair "Morning Mist" and added touches of black fine liner pen to some of the bricks and a white gel pen to the lamp-post.

Traacy Evans "Flora and Fauna - TE53" Artist Trading Card

An evening play session, making this Artist Trading Session (ATC).  I used two Distress Oxide Inks painted on to a central band of the card and then stretching the colours from top to bottom by dragging the paint brush.  The two shades of ink I used are:  Crushed Olive" and "Saltwater Taffy".

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the flower on to the card.  I then stamped it again on a piece of white card, painting it using a brush with a Derwent Inktense pencil.  I then fussy cut the image and glued it into position over the original stamped flower.  The flower is part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Flora and fauna - TE53" stamp set.  The sentiment (also stamped in Nocturne), is from the same stamp set.

Finally, I added some dots of black pen and then some larger dots of white Ranger Enamel Accents.

 

Lavinia Stamps "Coven of the blue moon" on a charming background card

I found the background of this card in my stash, if I remember correctly I used the Lavinia Stamps "Charming Stencil" with inks, I don't recall which ones, to stamp the stencil design on to the card.  There was quite a lot of white space on this card, so I added some yellow and orange diluted Distress Oxide Ink to the card.  The colours I added are:  Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade.

Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the witches, all three are from the Lavinia Stamps "Coven of the blue moon" stamp set.  Using Versafine Clair "Twilight", a dark blue ink, I created the landscape using the Lavinia Stamps "hill masks".  I used the same ink round the edges of the card. Returning to Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the trees on each side of the witches, using the Lavinia Stamps "Tree of courage" and "Tree of hope" stamps.

I used pastel pencils to colour the trees and some of the landscape, adding touches of white gel pen as highlights and tiny dots of yellpw and white Posca Pen for flowers.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Wilderness - TE52" Artist Trading Card

This is my morning Artist Trading Card (ATC), I think the muted colours reflect what is going on outside, the fog horn has been sounding all night and there is a thick mist/fog hanging in the air, obstructing my view of the sea and the breakwater.

The background design is a piece I made a while back using acrylic paint and bubble wrap to create the circles.  I used Versafine Clair 'Nocturne" black ink and "Morning Mist" grey ink for the stamping of two Tracy Evans stamp sets.  "Wilderness - TE52" for the deer and the sentiment and "On the wild side - TE50" for the trees.

TRacy Evans "Quirky Birds - TE10" Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day, using three Tracy Evans Boutique Designs stamp sets.

I stamped the Tracy Evans "Quirky Bird - TE10" and the word "Tweet" from the same set in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink. I then used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp the line of clocks from the Tracy Evans "Wilderness - TE52" stamp set and the line with dots from the Tracy Evans "Berries - TE55" stamp set.

I gave a wash of an aqua coloured water colour paint and then used a pink water colour paint on the bird. I needed it to be more vibrant so used a neon pink Posca Pen to add tiny dots to the bird to lift the colour.  Finally, adding some more black dots and a loose stitching detail round the edge using a black fine liner pen.

Tracy Evans "Wilderness - TE52" Tree in the dark scene

I kept looking at the antlers of the deer on the Tracy Evans "Wilderness - TE52" stamp set and thinking I'm sure they'd make a tree, so I decided to have a go, creating this scene.

I masked off the bottom third of the card and then added a vertical strip of tape in the middle of the white card, so that I had something to stamp up to.  I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the right hand side of the tree.  I then moved the central strip of tape over to the right hand side slightly and stamped the left hand side.

I, then popped a circle of paper over part of the tree as a moon mask and coloured the sky area using four shades of Distress Oxide Inks.  The colours I used are:  Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Prize Ribbon and Chipped Sapphire.

I then moved on to the landscape using the torn edge of rough paper and two shades of Versaifne Clair ink.  I used "Nocturne" the black ink and "Morning Mist" the grey ink.

I used a black fine liner pen to draw in the tree trunk and add some grass tufts to the hillside.  I used a white gel pen for detail and a white pastel pencils to lighten the area around the moon.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Berries - TE55" stamp set - A Winter Scene

 

I am clearly feeling the bright colours, with this and my previous make.  I've no idea why this happens but it seems to!

I started with the sky, using several shades of Distress Oxide Inks.  The colours I used are:  Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry and Villainous Potion.  For the snow area,  I used a couple of Ranger Archival inks: Forget Me Not and Shadow Grey along with a couple of pastel pencils.

I stamped the trees, which are actually branches from the Tracy Evans "Silhouettes - TE38" stamp set in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.  I stamped the hares and the berries, whicha are both part of the Tracy Evans "Berries - TE55" stamp set in Versafine Clair "Fallen Leaves" a dark brown ink.  I used a red Posca Pen for the berries and used Dr Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White Paint, applied with a paint brush to create the idea of snow on the trees and the berries.

Stampers Anonymous "Cat and Balloon" - THMM109 Artist Trading Card

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day.  I used a piece of pink card for the base then lay the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous stencil THMM108 over the top and applied "Vibrant Fuschia" Ranger Archival Ink through the stencil.  I then used a red fine liner pen to add circles within the darker dots.

On a piece of white card, I stamped the cat and the balloon, which are part of the Tim Holts / Stampers Anonymous s"tencila and stamp set - THMM109", using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink. I then splattered the ink from a white Posca Pen across the surface of the card.

I coloured the cat by painting "Carved Pumpkin" Distress Oxide Ink and a red Posca Pen for the bow tie.  I used "Lucky Clover" Distress Oxide Ink for the ballloon, adding gold cooured dots with a gel pen.  I fussy cut both shapes.

Finally, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the "Hello Friend" sentiment, the stamp is part of the same stamp set I mentioned earlier.  I drrew a black line around the card, like a frame using a black fine liner pen, then glued the fussy cut cat and balloon onto the vcard, I then drew in the string for the balloon.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Garden Elements -TE30" wren card

 

I've been playing with layers on this card. Starting with drawing the shapes of random pebbles toward the base of the card.  I then painted the shapes using Prima Watercolour Confections "Tropicals" paint and a gold shimmer paint by CSY Art Gallery..

I then stamped the clocks and flowers background, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Garden Elements - TE30" stamp set, stamped in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink. I then stamped the wren, from the same stamp set, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.   But it looked too solid, so I stamped it again on a piece of white card using Versaifne Clair "Acorn" a mid brown coloured ink.  I then coloured the brown stamped image using Van Goch pastel pencils, fussy cut the shape and glued over the black stamped image.  

To finish, I used a black fine liner pen to draw round the pebble shapes and added some black dots to some of the pebbles too.

Tracy Evans "Garden Elements - TE30" Hydrangea Artist Trading Card

 

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day. I've used Verasfine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp the hydrangea petals on to kitchen roll.  The petals are part of the Tracy Evans  "Garden Elements - TE30" stamp set. I've then inked the edges of the petals using "Saltwater Taffy" Distress Oxide Ink, fussy cut the petals then peeled off the extra layer of paper on the back to achieve a delicate less rigid looking petal .  I've then glued them on to the grey coloured card base.

I used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink again to "finger" stamp sections of a text stamp which is in Tracy Evans "Create A Garden - TE66" stamp set, stamped in random poisitons.  I then added some silver coloured sticky backed dots from Funky Fossil Designs, finally adding some black and white dots of ink by the text and a Tim Holtz "idea-ology" word sticker saying "faith".

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Create A Garden - TE66" Stamp Set -Crow Artist Trading Card

 

A late in the day Artist Trading Card (ATC) make from me today. I added a wide band of a peach coloured water colour paint down the middle of the card, then painted a line of bright pink down the centre of the stripe of colour.

Once dry I was able to stamp the background design, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Create Your Own Story - TE51" stamp set, stamped in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.  I then used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the bird, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Create A Garden - TE66" stamp set.  finally adding some black dots and a touch of white to the bird.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026 - Week 27

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 27 is "Diamonds"

Starting with a plain white tag, I sprinkled some Ken Oliver Crafts "Bursts" paint in a turquoise and  orchid colours on to the surface (I think I got these as a free gift when I subscribed to a magazine years ago, they're a bit like Brusho paint). I then spritzed the surface lightly with water and watched the colour develop, setting aside to dry fully.

Over the top of that, I lay a Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "THmm104"stencil down and applied Deco Art "Snow" acrylic paint through the stencil using a stencil brush with hardly any paint on it to create the diamond shapes  I then splattered white acrylic paint and a metallic gold paint from a paint brush, again setting aside till fully dry.

On a white piece of card, I stamped the bird, which is part of a Sizzix / Tim Holtz Framelits die called Love you - 660190" stamp and die set, stamped in Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink.  I then die cut the bird using the die from the same set.  While the Sizzix / Big Shot was out, I also cut a multi circle dot shape in white card.

I glued the circle die cut on to the card, then used foam pads to adhere the bird over the top, to give dimension.  I used two Tim Holtz "Idea-ology" word stickers saying "Sprinkle Inspiration", which I edged in gold pen.  I also edged the tag in gold coloured dots using a gel pen.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs ":Love Grows Here" Wildflower Card

For the floral background of this card, I have used the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs 6x6" Wildflower Stencil with four shades of Ranger Archival Inks.  The colours of inks I used for the flowers are:  Chrome Yellow, Sunflower, Tea Rose and Tiger Lily.

Moving on to the stamping, using the Tracy Evans "Love Grows Here - TE65" stamp set,  used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp the feather.  I then used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the birds and the sentiment.

Finally, I added some shading using a pastel pencil and added white dots to the background frame area using a Posca Pen.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Love grows here - TE65" cicles card

Before leaving my craft desk to do house work chores, I made this very quick card.  I used three shades of Ranger Archival Inks through a circle stencil.  The colours of ink I used are:  Forget Me Not, Shadow Grey and Vivid Chartreuse.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the flower, which is part of the Tracy Evans "Love grows here - TE65" stamp set.  I then used a fine liner pen in black to draw circles and dots.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "New Beginnnings - TE4" Artist Trading Card

For this Artist Trading Card (ATC):  Using a white card base, and Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink, I stamped the base text which is the Tracy Evans "Background Elements TE11" stamp.  I then inked the edges and dragged Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" and "Avocado" inks down the length of the ATC.

On an off cut of white card, using Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink, I stamped the flower and then the bird (in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink), both these elements are part of the Tracy Evans "New Beginnings - TE4" stamp set.  

I fussy cut the shape and glued it on to the prepared ATC base.  I added more colour to the flower using a pastel pencil and a yellow Posca Pen, finally adding dots of black Ranger Enamel Accents to provide depth to the background.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Create a garden - TE66" wild flower card

I used a piece of white card 4x4" on one edge I added diluted "Saltwater Taffy" Distress Oxide Ink.  Once dry, I then added another layer of ink using a narrower strip of diluted "Picked Raspberry" Distress Oxide Ink.  I used a little of the "Saltwater Taffy" ink on a fan shaped paint brush to splatter fine dots of paint over some of the white area.  I then wafted the heat gun over the surface till totally dry.

I tore the edge of a piece of copy paper and used the torn edge as a mask over some of the inked edge.  I then used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to multi stamp the text from the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Create a garden - TE66" stamp set, repeating the process till the right hand edge of the card was filled with text.

Next, I used the wild flowers from the same "Create a garden - TE66" stamp set with Versafine Clair "Twilight" a dark blue ink. I added some touches of yellow Posca Pen to the middle of the flowers.  

Finally, I used a small bird from the Tracy Evans "Garden Elements - TE30" stamp set, stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.  I added touches of white gel pen to areas and some white dots of Posca Pen to the pink areas.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026 - the half way mark - Week 26

I thought I would share a photo of the first 26 tags i have made for The Crafting Niche "52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2026" - the half way mark, down hill to 2027 now! 

I now need to start to schedule the prompts for the 2027 challenge.  I keep a list of ideas on my phone, adding to the list as I think of a new prompts, I find this easier than trying to think of them all together!

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Create a garden - TE66" Artist Trading Card

My Artist Trading Card (ATC) for the day uses the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Create a garden - TE66" stamp set.

This was a really quick make, using a piece of yellow card for the background and dragging three shades of Ranger Archival Inks across the card.  The colours I used  are:  Cactus Flower, Vibrant Fuchsia and a very small amount of Violet. I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the wild flowers and the sentiment, both are part of the Tracy Evans "Create a garden - TE66" stamp set.  I also used the same ink to ink the lower edges of the ATC.  

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Create a gardem - TE66" stamp set

Another make using one of the recently released stamp sets from Tracy Evans. For this card, I have used the "Create a garden - TE66" stamp set.

I used a circle mask for the coloured circle, drawing a line where I knew I would be stamping.  then I used "Shadow Grey" Ranger Archival Ink through the circle shape, leaving the area where I would be stamping lighter in colour.

I used two colours of Versafine Clair inks for the fuchsia, using "Avocado" green and "Baby Pink" coloured ink.  I then coloured the flowers with Derwent Inktense coloured pencils, applied with a paint brush.

I then used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the bird and branch, which is also part of the "Create a garden - TE66" stamp set.  Finally, I added extra detail to the flowers and the bird using a white gel pen, adding some white dots to break up the grey colour using a Posca Pen.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Garden Elements - TE30" Wren Artist Trading Card

 

This is my Artist Trading Card (ATC), for the day.  I've used the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Garden Elements TE30" stamp set across this card.

Stamping the flower in Versafine Clair "Carrot Orange" and "Avocado" shades of ink and the wren and sentiment in "Acorn" brown ink.  I edged the card in the same brown ink too.

For the background colour, I used "Tumbled Glass" Distress Oxide Ink applied with a paint brush, adding gold coloured dots over the top of the blue.  I painted the flower and wren using Derwent Inktense pencisl adding touches of a 2B pencil and gold coloured gel pen.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "A Promise of tomorrow - TE63" Christmas Card

 

I'm not sure if it is too early for the "C" word, but here's a Christmas card I made this morning.

I started by masking off a circle and filling it with two shades of Ranger Archival Inks, using "Sunflower" at the top and blending into a darker shade "Tea Rose" at the bottom.  

In the middle of the large circle, using Versafine Clair "Chianti" a deep red coloured ink, I stamped the large star, then stamped the two smaller stars in the same ink.  The stars are part of the Tracy Evans Designs "A Promise of Tomorrow - TE63" stamp set. I then stamped the two smaller stars. I edged the large circle in black pen then drew round a couple of lids in black pen for the smaller circles.

Masking off the star, with a piece of paper, I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the holly branches and the little birds in the small circles.  These are also part of the "A Promise of Tomorrow - TE63" stamp set.

Across the middle of the star, I stamped the "Peace & Joy" sentiment, which is part of the Funky Fossil Designs "Stripped Back Christmas Sentiment" stamp set, also stamped in Versafine Clair "Ncoturne" black ink.

Within the central star I added touches of gold coloured gel pen.  I also added little splatters of black and gold ink aorund the holly, finally adding some dots to the edge of the medium sized circle.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "One of a kine - TE54" Artist Trading Card

I'm late in the day with my Artist Trading Card (ATC), so here it it.

I started with a piece of grey card by rouding the corners.  I then placed the Tracy Evans Boutique Dsigns "Snippet Stencil Leaf - SS32) over the top of the card and applied "Yellow Ochre" Pan Pastel through the stencil.

Once the stencil was lifted, I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the snowdrops and the sentiment, which are both part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "One of a kind - TE54" stamp set. I used the same ink for the edges of the ATC.

I then used a black pen to go round the edge of the leaf and a gold coloured gel pen to draw extra detail on the leaf.  Around the edge of the leaf, I used an orange and a white Posca Pen to add dots to the background, circling some of the orange dots in  a black fine liner pen.

Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Explore Nature - TE67" Nigella Card

 

A quick early morning make and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  Using grey coloured card for the base, I used Versaifne Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the nigella plant, which is part of the Tracy Evans Boutique Designs "Explore Nature - TE67" stamp set.  I coloured the image and made a moon in the background using Van Goch Pastel pencils.