Funky Fossil Designs "Filigree Flakes" New Stamp Release

Today is the launch day for the five fabulous new stamp sets and a paper pack by Funky Fossil Designs.  I've used "Filigree Flakes" for this sample.

I've made an Artist Trading Coin using one of the MDF blanks covered in patterned paper from their new "Let It Snow lack and heat embossed the snowflakes which are part of the new "Filigree Flakes" stamp set that will be available to purchase from today.  I have also used a Funky Fossil MDF christmas tree shape and heat embossed the surface with a Wow! glitter powder called "Mistletoe Magic".

Funky Fossil MDF Artist Trading Coin for St.Patrick's Day

Today, the 17th March is St.David's Day.  To give a little nod to the special day I made this MDF Artist Trading Coin.

I used one of the Funky Fossil MDF Artist Trading Coin blanks for the base.

I used three shades of Paperartsy Chalk Acrylic paint.  I covered the whole surface with the white "Snowflake" shade.  Once dry, I then put a strip of low tack masking tape down the centre of the coin and used "Jade" colour on the left and "Tangerine Twist" on the right.

Once dry, I removed the masking tape and used a new Funky Fossil "Feeling Lucky" stencil with "Lucky Clover" Distress Oxide ink.

Finally, I used a Tim Holtz Idea-ology word sticker saying "Lucky" to finish the coin.

St. David's Day Artist Trading Coin (Lavinia Stamps)

The 1st of March is Saint David's Day (the Patron Saint for Wales).  So I made an Artist Trading Coin to commemorate the day.

I've used Distress Oxide Inks for the background (Tumbled Glass for the sky and Mowed Lawn and Lucky Clover for the grass.

Using Versafine "Smokey Grey" shade of ink, I stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Skeleton Tree Scene".  I then stamped the "Small Dragon" in Versafin Clair "Tulip Red" ink.  

I then created the landscape at the base of the coin, using a mask and Distress Ink in the shade of "Peeled Paint".  Finally I added letters for the word "Cymru" which is the Welsh work for Wales and I inked the edges of the coin.

Artist Trading Coin - Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine Issue 186

It must be the sunshine that has sent me into a spin of tidying this morning.  I decided to tackle my craft desk as it was starting to get difficult to find space to work.  But then I got distracted.  This often happens as obviously everything is far more interesting than tidying and cleaning.

I was sorting through my craft magazines.  Storing the free stamp sets, saving the odd article and then popping the rest of the mag in the recycling.  

While doing this I came across a tiny little stamp on a sheet of goodies that came with Issue 186 of Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine.  Although the stamp was small, the sentiment actually packed quite a punch, reading "If it doesn't make you feel fabulous, don't do it, don't buy it, don't keep it!  Which made me smile.

That is the point that I became distracted.  I grabbed an off cut of oxide background, stamped the sentiment.  Also with the stamp came a cute little triangle stencil, so I popped some ink through that and then die cut the circle.  I layered the front, middle and back with glue and then inked the edges.  

See how easily I'm distracted?  I can't face the remaining pile of magazines, so I may take heed from the sentiment and pop them in the recycling - minus the freebies, obvisously.

Artist Trading Coin using Indigoblu "Bumble Bee"

I absolutely love the Indigoblu "Bumble Bee" stamp and decided to make this Artist Trading Coin.

I had a section of patterned paper with a bee design on it.  I smeared some Gesson over the surface and left to dry.  I then stamped the Bee image, using Versafine Ink, onto the Gesso surface.  Die cut the circle and then inked the edges of the disc.

On a separate piece of card, I stamped the Bee again and cut the shape out, with the exception of the tricky legs.  I coloured the body of the Bee with a gold coloured Promarker.  I coloured the wings with a Sakura Jelly Roll pen, which added a shimmer look to the wings.  I added a clear sticky pad below the wing to give the look that the wings are lifted.  The body of the Bee I stuck flat to the disc.  Finally, I added some tiny sticky Adornit letters to spell the words "Bee Happy".

Lavinia Stamps "Fairy Bridge" Artist Trading Coin

I made my second Artist Trading Coin today to go into the little album I made a couple of weeks ago.

I used a Lavinia Stamp called "Fairy Bridge", coloured with Promarkers and water colour pencils.

Lavinia Stamps Artist Trading Coin #1

Having made the Artist Trading Coin Mini Album I decided I should make a coin to go in with it.

I used Distress Inks for the background and the following Lavinia Stamps:  Woodland Hares, Climbing Ivy, Creeping Vine and a pound stamp.

I think I'm going to enjoy making these little pieces of art.

Artist Trading Coin (mini book)

Recently I've seen swaps for Artist Trading Coins - think Artist Trading Cards but round in shape.  I don't take part in swaps but fancy giving them a go, just for myself so want a suitable way to store them.

While looking on-line, I came across this YouTube tutorial by Teresa Morgan, on how to make a mini book to hold 9 coins.  Today I have made a little holder for them.  I still need to decorate the cover but it is more or less ready to hold the  coins.

Each pocket has acetate over the aperture so that the decorative coin can be seen in its little home.  I deliberately chose a patterned paper that had a calm colour scheme to that the eye is drawn to the coin itself.