52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017 Summary

I can't believe how quickly this year has passed, especially taking part in the 52 week challenge.  

Throughout the year, after making each tag, I have put it into a box and not looked at them since, so it was nice to open the box today and remind myself of my makes.  There were too many to put in one photograph, so here they are in two pics.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my tags.  I have decided to continue the challenge for 2018.  Each Sunday night/Monday morning I will post a prompt with a tag I have made on the theme.  

Several people have shown an interest in taking part in the challenge, so I have started a group on Facebook called "A Crafting Niche - 52 Week Mini Art Card Tag Challenge".  Anybody is welcome to take part.  There is absolutely no pressure with this challenge, do what you can of the challenge and upload it to the group to share with your fellow crafters.  I hope you'll join me in 2018.

Sam x

Week 52 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

So here we are, the final week of the 2017 weekly challenge.
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy Christmas and to thank you for taking an interest in my little blog of makes.

The prompt for Week 52 is "The Tree".

The background for this tag is once again made by using Tim Holtz Distress Inks, in shades of yellow, orange and pinks. I have also black inked a couple of corners.

The tree image is a stamp by "Designs by Ryn" and is called "Stylised Tree Set".  The script text is a stamp by Oak House Studio.

I have heavily used Stickles glitter glue on this tag and also self adhesive gems for the ornaments.

Don't forget, if you would like to see the prompts for the previous weeks of this 2017 challenge, you can click on the button to the right hand side of the "home" button for the full list.

Week 51 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

Can you believe it, this is the penultimate tag prompt for the year.  The prompt for Week 51 is "The Church Window".

For my tag, I started off with a Tim Holtz Distress ink background in purple shades.  I like to save my distress ink off-cuts from previous pieces, so I end up having lots of coloured strips.  I decided to put them across the mauve background in a diagonal angle.

Using a Memorybox die, (sorry, I don't have the packaging for this die and don't recall the name). I cut the decorative diamond shape in black card, layering it over the multi coloured background.

I then stamped the dove and used watercolours to paint the grey colour.  I found a punched sprig of leaves and stuck it to the tag, and then added the dove.

Finally, I die cut the word "Peace" using the Stampin' Up set called "Christmas Greetings Thinlits".

Don't forget, if you would like to see the prompts for previous weeks of this challenge, they can be found to the right of the "Home" button at the top of the page.

Also, I'd love to see your creations.  You could post them on the "A Crafting Niche" Facebook page.

Week 49 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

This week, I've noticed that the wind is tumbling the leaves around the garden, so knew I wanted to reflect that in a tag, which I have managed in this tag.

The prompt for Week 49 is "Together"

Again, I have started out with a background of Tim Holtz Distress Inks in assorted shades of yellow with a touch of orange.

Both the owl and the tree branch that they stand on is from a free set from the December issue of Crafts Beautiful magazine.  I stamped these onto the tag.  

Don't forget, you can check out the previous prompts for this challenge, by clicking on the tab to the right hand side of the "home" button just below the banner.

Also, don't forget to like the A Crafting Niche Facebook Page too.


Here's the magazine and stamp set in case you want to purchase your own copies.

I then coloured the owls using Promarker pens.  

Next, I turned my attention to the background.  I used a little stamp from the Visible Image stamp set which has leaves in fight, which I stamped using Versafine ink. The "Love" sentiment is a stamp by Stamper's Anonymous.  I finished the tag by inking the edges of the tag in darker shades to pull the eye to the central image.

Week 48 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 48 is "Warm"

For my tag, I went with the idea of winter outer wear, so all the items that lay dormant in a drawer through the warmer months.

I went for a cool blue look for the background using Tim Holtz Distress Inks, with white dots to signify ice.

The scarf, hat and glove set is from a small DoCrafts stamp set called "Warm & Cosy".  The Merry Christmas sentiment is a stamp that I have had for some years.

Week 47 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 47 is "Clean and Simple".

Quite often in crafting less can be more, so this week keep your creativity relatively simple.

For my tag "Clean and Simple" goes hand in hand with white, so that's the way I went to match this prompt.  Using dies from the Stampin' up "Banners Framelits" die set, I used the two large dies in the set.  The smaller one, I put in a Crafter's Companion "Scandinavian Christmas Embossing Folder" then glued it to the top of the large die.

Using the Stampin' Up "Christmas Greetings Thinlits" dies I cut the word "Peace", sticking is across the centre of the tag.  Finally, I cut two pieces of mistletoe and a bow using the Stampin' Up "Pretty Pines" Thinlits dies.

Don't forget, if you want to see a list of previous prompts for this challenge, there is a list at the top of the page next to the "home" button.

Also, if you are taking part in this challenge, I would love to see what you make.  You can share your makes on "A Crafting Niche" Facebook Page here.

Week 46 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 46 is "Dance".

In previous years, I have never really been into "Strictly Come Dancing", but this year I have become almost addicted!  So it seems only right that this should be the theme of the tag for this week.

My tag started out with a Tim Holtz Distress Ink background of shades of oranges and yellows with a touch of raspberry flecking across the surface.  I had purchased a little set of stamps from ebay, which I believe may be a replica of a Stampin' Up set.  However, these are quite small and ideal for decorating a tag. I used these for the dance figure and the sentiment. Colouring in the hat and dress using a red Promarker pen.

Using a Memorybox die "Honeycomb Background", I cut a section of yellow card and then cut it into sections, sticking it to areas of the tag.  I then inked the edges in different shades and mounted the tag onto black card to make the colours pop more.  Finally, I added random dots across the surface of the tag and some self adhesive gem stones.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my blog.  Have a great week.  Sam x

P.S.  I forgot to mention that as always, the up to date list of prompts are available at the top of the page, next to the home button.

Week 45 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 45 is "Never Forget".  

This week, we honour those who were injured and those who died for our country in wars past.  We must never forget!

My tag for Week 45, started out with a blended background of Tim Holtz Distress Inks in shades of reds & blues.  Water droplet marks were left on the surface to create a more mottled effect.

I next stamped the poppy image, using StazOn ink on a Woodware stamp (ADS506). I then created a mask by stamping on a post-it note, cutting around the outline of the image and sticking it on top of the poppy image on the tag.  

Using a Stampin' Up verse stamp from the "Faith In Nature" set I stamped a couple of images across the poppy at the top and at the bottom of the tag.  I then lifted off the mask to reveal the poppy not marred by verse.  I coloured the poppy in using Promarker pens in red and in an olive green colour.

I used Making Memories Tiny Alpha stickers for the words "Never Forget".  I then added some droplets to replicate tears falling.  To do this I drew the tears free-hand in a black felt pen and added white high-lighted areas using a white "Signo" pen.

This has to be one of the fastest tags I have ever made.  For some reason, it all came together so quickly it was as if my fingers were doing the thinking.  I'm really happy with the finished tag.

Don't forget, if you want to see the prompts from previous weeks, there is a list at the top of the blog page, just under the title banner and to the right of the "home" button.

If you'd like to take part or just do a one-off tag, I would love to see what you make.  You can contact me on the sister page to this blog on Facebook.

Week 44 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 44 is "Sentiments".  

You can include one or several sentiments this week. The prompt is really loose, so open for you to create what ever you please.

For my tag, I used a background of Tim Holtz Distress Inks in yellow, blue and grey.  I used a Stampin' Up stamp set called "Pun Intended" for the light bulb, the heart and the sentiment.

Week 43 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 43 is "After The Storm".

As it's been a rather rough week weather wise, this prompt seems to be very apt.

The corners of our garden seem to have collected mounds of leaves, so I attempted to reflect this in my tag for this week.

I used assorted Tim Holtz Distress Inks to create the coloured background.  For the moon, I used Cosmic Shimmer "Colour Cloud Blending Ink".  The tree and leaves were bith from the same Stampin' Up set called "Sheltering Tree".  Finally, I added some stars to the sky using a white Signo pen.

Week 42 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

Wow, I've only just realised that there are only ten weeks of this challenge left!  The year is passing so quickly.  The prompt for Week 42 is "A Country".

For my tag, I chose to go with the country "China".  I started with a background of red and yellow distress inks.  

I then used an assortment of Paper Artsy stamps from "Asian - Plate 2" and also a circle stamp set "SM15".  Once an image was stamped, I masked each section so that I was then able to fill the blanks with circles and dots with a stamp.  To those circles and dots, I added some small red gems.  I highlighted some areas with a white Signo pen adding some white dots to fill the background.

Finally, I dug out some small metal coin embellishments and stitched them to the base of the tag.

Don't forget, I would love to see your tags/art cards that relate to this challenge.  You can message me/post on The Crafting Niche Facebook Page with your images.

Week 41 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 41 is "Paint it".
This can be interpreted in any way.  You can paint all or just some of your tag/art card.

For my card, I stamped the image of the seed heads using a Bee Crafty "Poppy Heads" stamp and the Bee Crafty "Winged Things" stamp,  I then used a selection of Tim Holts distress inks to paint the vibrant sky.(I apply the inks to a glass mat and dilute and blend to get the colours i'm after).

Week 40 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

So here we are in October already!  The prompt for Week 40 is "One Stamp".

I started this tag with a blended background of Panpastels in purples, blues and green.  The stamp I decided to use is a Clarity Stamp "Dandelion" which I stamped in a purple StazOn ink.  I added small white dots to the background using a Signo pen and inked the edges of the tag.

Week 39 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

For my tag, I started with a Panpastel shaded background in pink & mauve tones.  I then put the tag in an embossing folder with a sewing theme pattern.  The pattern didn't show up very much, so I then decided to use a brayer and brown ink to colour the raised area.

Using a Hero Arts stamp, I stamped some thread reels, colouring them in with Promarker pens.  I then cut them out and stuck them to the tag.

I added cotton lace to the base of the tag and off-cuts of ribbons to the left hand side.  I added ric-rac and then white buttons with the letters "GBSB" (Great British Sewing Bee).  Finally, I added a safety pin and buttons.

Week 38 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

It's as if getting of the plane earlier in the week I have walked into Autumn, it is so cold here compared to Italy!  I suspect this has influenced the colour used on the tag for this week. 

The prompt for Week 38 is "Die Cuts".  So really it is anything goes as long as there are some die cuts on your tag/art card.

I started with a Panpastel background of light browns, yellows and greens blended.  I then used a Crafters Companion script stamp on a piece of medium brown coloured cardstock using a Versafine ink.  Using a die, I then cut the intricate pattern, adhering it to the Panpastel tag.  I then inked the edges of the tag in shades of red and black.

I then took a piece of red cardstock and blended various shades of yellows and greens to the surface, setting it with hairspray.  Using Stampin' Up "Vintage Leaves" set I stamped the leaf design and die cut the shape using Stampin' Up "Leaflets Framelits".  I stuck one flat on the tag, the other I elevated with foam pads to give a little dimention.  Finally I added a little more ink around the edge and added a wooden heart button to finish the tag.

Week 36 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 36 is "Floral".  

Time is not on my side at the moment, so I opted for a straight forward design with a more fussy background for my tag.

I started using distress inks in shades of orange and yellows, using a splattering effect.  I then used a mask with holes cut in it and filled the holes using a red Promarker pen.  Finishing with inking the edges in two different colours.

Because the background was so busy and obvious, I wanted to dilute it a little, so I positioned a white paper doily to one side.  I then layered some flowers, shading the orange one with the same red pen used for the dots and secured them to the tag with a decorative brad.  Finally, I dug out some foliage bits from my scrap box and positioned them.

Don't forget, If you are taking part in this challenge, I would love to see what you've made.  You can find me message me on Facebook here.

Have a great week.

Sam x

Week 35 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

So it is bank holiday weekend and the sun is shining here - I hope it is where you are too.

The prompt for Week 35 is "Use a Verse".

For my tag, I have used the "She sells sea shells" verse as I like creating sea/watery tags.  They just seem to come easy to me as I love the blue/green shades more than all the other colours.

I started off using blue Distress Inks.  Then with a paint brush, I made wavy green lines using Distress Inks too.  Once dry, I then ran the tag through the Big Shot using a Stampin' Up embossing folder called "Seaside".  I don't think the photograph picks it up, but I also used Glossy Accents in wavy vertical lines too.  I then put it to one side to dry.

I then raided my pre-cut dies for seaweed type foliage and found a small die cut fish that I hadn't used on an earlier project.  On the beach earlier in the week I had picked up a few small shells that I thought would be suitable for the tag.

On the computer, I typed the verse, changing the font and colour and leaving plenty of clear-line spaces between each word.  Once printed, I then cut the words up and inked the edges using a lime green and a blue ink.

Once the tag was dry, I was able to assemble all the bits.  (To secure the shells, I used a mixture of foam pads and glossy accents).

Finally I added clear rubber dots and self adhesive dots to replicate air bubbles.

Week 34 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

I'm a little later in the day today as I'm playing catch up after being away for the weekend.

The prompt for week 34 is "Use a non-standard tag shape".

So really this is an "anything goes" week, but make sure it is in a different shape from the usual tags.

For my tag I used a die of a skull.  I die cut the skull in pink, then stuck it onto black card.  I drew round the skull leaving a small edge.  Using a white Uniball Signo pen I highlighted various areas and then added blue self adhesive gems.

Don't forget that you can also follow this challenge on Facebook.  I'd love to see your creations, so please share them with me on the facebook page.

Week 33 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 33 is "Eastern Influence".

My tag is very loosely Eastern. I started with a piece of patterned paper with a blossom design, (it's from the Floral Fusion paper pad available from The Range).  Using some off cuts from the same pad, I cut around some flowers adding them to the top and bottom corner of the tag.

Using Memory Box dies (Pippi Butterfly - 98508 and Isabella Butterfly - 98507) I cut three base butterflies and three lace top layers in two different papers.  Finally, I used a Martha Stewart punch to cut the foliage.

Week 32 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2017

These weeks are coming round far too quickly. The prompt for Week 32 is "The Ocean".

For my tag, I started off with a blended background of Tim Holtz distress inks.  I then stamped the turtle (and made a mask too) using the Stampin' Up set called "From Land To Sea".  Using a stamp from the Stampin' Up set called "By The Tide" I stamped the seaweed, masking that area I then used a Stamper's Anonymous stamp to create the rays and the dotty edges.  To add further definition to the central area, I inked the edges of the tag.

I finished the tag, by die cutting an anchor, added two metal fish embellishments and small pale blue gem stones to replicate air bubbles in the water.

Don't forget, If you are following this challenge, I would love to see your creations.  You could follow the challenge on Facebook too by clicking on this link.