ATCs WITH CHECKS AND PATTERNS by Fran Chalmers

Hello everyone!

Today I have made 3 ATCs.  I wanted to play with patterns, so the backgrounds and the stamps used all have patterns on them.

Firstly I made all my backgrounds using stencils from my stash and coloured with distress oxides.  I wanted the backgrounds to match the stamps I was using with them - for example, waves for the fish.

I stamped the images I wanted to use on thick paper and fussy cut them out.  You will notice that they all had black and white checks on them somewhere. I decided not to colour the images to give more impact.  

I edged each ATC with a pattern that echoed the pattern from the stencil using a black fine liner.  

I hope you like them!

Stamps Used:

Monkey in hat 19066

Sheep with Legs 19067

Whimsical checker fish 19528

Other Items Used:

Various stencils

Distress Oxides in Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilised Amber, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Salvaged Patina and Peacock Feathers

Black fine liner

Versafine Clair Nocturn

IMAGINATION by Fran Chalmers

 Hi everyone!

Today I have made three ATC's. Children have great imaginations when playing, which I am showcasing with these stamps.  

First of all, I stamped out all the images onto thick paper, using my stamping platform to make sure no detail was missed.  

I made all the backgrounds using distress inks and a small brayer.  Once I had made the backgrounds, I coloured the images, cut them out and stuck on to the backgrounds.

(I can see I've missed a bit of colouring on this one - will have to sort that!)

I added the word "imagination" on each ATC (leaving out the "pure" part of the stamp)

Stamps Used:

Boys Playing with Shopping Cart 19803

Kids in Futuristic Hats 19656

Boy in tub boat 19542

Pure Imagination 19041

Other Items Used:

Distress inks in Spiced Marigold, Candied Apple, Cracked Pistachio, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Uncharted Marine

Small Brayer

Memento ink in Tuxedo Black

Copic Pens

Chrome Pen

See you next time!

ATCs with a twist - Nutrition facts

Hey everyone,

Today I'm sharing an interactive and snarky artist trading card tutorial with you. They are easy to make, but nevertheless so fun. Let's get started!

Here's a little video of how it looks when you unfold them:

 

Since I made two ATCs, I cut two bases with a hight of 3 3/8 inch and a width of approximately 4 1/2 inch. I made a seam at 2 3/8 inch but didn't fold it yet. So one part of each card was a little smaller than an ATC. On the other part I stamped the hilarious lady on a scale. I placed her in a way that she almost touches the upper and lower edge. I cut everything that's right from her as well as between her legs and inked the edges with a black marker. 

Next I added some color blending with three different oxide inks to the inside of the card (where nothing is stamped) and a little speckled egg to the front next to the woman. I didn't do any masking here, just tried not to blend over the lady too much.

Then I stamped the nutrition facts to the inside and a fun quote next to the woman: 'I'm allergic to food. I break out in fat."

I colored her in quickly with my ZIG markers and folded the card after everything was dry. To keep the card closed, I wrapped a rose ribbon around the card and tied a bow to it. With double sided tape I added the folded part to some ATC sized pieces of black cardstock. The tape also keeps the ribbon in place.

Do you like interactive cards and ATCs as much as I do?

Here are some more detail photos:

 

 

 

Stamps used:
Lady on scale (18492)
Nutrition facts (4335)
I'm allergic to food (18391)

Other material:
- Canson watercolor paper
- black cardstock
- Oxide Inks (black soot, broken china, speckled egg)
- blending tool
- score board
- ZIG real brush markers
- double sided tape
- ribbon


See you soon!

Quote Artist Trading Cards with Jenn Engle

Hey Everyone! I have a trio of Artist Trading Cards to share today. I was looking thru my stamps and realized there are so many great quote stamps by VLVS that they shine all on their own. So, I decided to showcase a few of my faves on ATCs.

To see exactly how I made them, check out the video at the end of this post.

STAMPS USED:

"Your Time as a Caterpillar"

"I Believe In by Cat Kerr"

"Art is Anything"

"Numbers Set"

"Mesh Texture"

I started out with 3 cards cut to 2.5" x 3.5" that already had some modeling paste thru a text stencil on the cards. I adhered some Sewing Pattern tissue paper to my cards with Collage Pauge Matte.

 Next, I took 3 colors of Fluid Acrylic paint and applied them to my cards. Once that was dry, I did some stamping with Mesh Texture and Numbers Set. Then, I scraped some gesso (white paint works, too) around my cards using a palate knife.

The last step was to add my quote stamps. I stamped them out, cut them apart, then inked all the edges with a black ink pad to help them stand out. I splattered some yellow paint all over and that's it!

STAMPS USED:

"Your Time as a Caterpillar"

"I Believe In by Cat Kerr"

"Art is Anything"

"Numbers Set"

"Mesh Texture"

Other Products Used:

Watercolor Paper

Modeling Paste

Text Stencil

Sewing Pattern

Collage Pauge in Matte

Golden Fluid Acrylic in: Quinacridone Magenta, Cobalt Turquoise, Indian Yellow Hue, Hansa Yellow Medium

Liquitex Gesso

Staz-On Ink in Black

Thanks for looking,
Jenn

Bright ATC's

Hey everyone. Shanna here today and I wanted to inspire you with some fun quick ATC's I made. 

So for the first ATC I first coated it with yellow paint then I laid down a stencil and went over that with blue paint. I stamped the Whimsical Diver - 19354 and Into the Abyss - 19352 on white paper and cut them out, then glued them down.   

I used the stamps In the Pale Moonlight - 19351 and Whimsical Patterned Moon - 19357 for my second ATC. I started with a base of pink paint then used blue again with a different stencil. 

For my last ATC, I used the stamps Dictionary Page - 19015 and the stamp Winged Girl Under Umbrella - 19116. I started with yellow paint. Then pink through another stencil. I stamped the dictionary page on the background and then added the image with some Tim Holtz chit chat stickers. 

I hope i inspired you. 

VLVS and Pocket Letter Pals

Hello Everyone!!
I'm So excited to be back as a part of the VLVS design team!! I hope you all are ready for some fun stamping inspiration!!!
(It may get a little photo heavy in here)

Have you heard of the new fun craze in the crafty mail world? 

It's called Pocket Letter Pals!! Read about it HERE or a short video HERE from the woman who started it. 

I am in love with creating these!!! 

Naturally I love creating ATC's and you know any excuse to create a decorative envelope gets me excited!! So, needless to say this new trend is right up my alley!!!

 I hope you all love what I have to share with you and give it a try also! I know you will love it too!

Stamps used:
Plate 1455 (seriously a MUST HAVE plate! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this plate!!!) 

Pair of Boots 2 1/2 x 2 1/2

Grunge Plus Sign 3/4 x 3/4

Coffee Ring Stain 2 3/4 x 2 1/4

Banksy Achieve Greatness 1 1/2 x 2 1/4

Skinny Minnie 1 x 2 3/4

Pen Tips 2 3/4 x 2

Large Lightbulb 2 x 3

Moon Circle 1 3/4 x 1 1/2

Whimsical Owl in Clothes 1 3/4 x 3

Window Fish 2 1/2 x 3 1/2

Other supplies: 
 Dylusions paints (or whatever you want to create your background with)
Black Ink
Memento Ink in pink (optional used for some background stamping)
Scissors for fussy cutting the owl out
pink marker (color in top right card)
White Gel Pen (add highlights and depth)
Black Marker (to draw "hello")

I started with these super fun painted backgrounds (these two were actually created for me by my mom :D whom is also a craft addict! her blog is HERE) 

           (created the owl card with a cut out from this sheet)

Next I cut the paper up into individual cards measuring 2.25in x 3.25 in (if you don't want to mount yours on black standard ATC size is fine also)... NOW the fun begins!!!

(Here you can see how my layout started... {Sorry this photo is a bit washed out}
and
from the final picture you can see things have been moved around some)

I start by arranging my base cards so that they are pleasing to the eye.. then I start stamping :D I like to add something tea or coffee related since people often send these items with thier letters, so thats what I start with. my next step is usually my "Hello" or about me card. From there i tend to bounce around adding qoutes, and things that blend nicely and make me smile :D 

(Feel free to simplify yours I got super excited and went stamping crazy!! )

Below are some close up - detail shots

(the boots and fish are my 2 favorites... :D )






(had to share one more close-up of this one! I love it!!)

(with VLVS there is no limit to what you can do with these things! Some prefer to work by theme, or style or even color inspiration... Heck you could do cats, dogs or things that start with a specific letter..lol) 

I hope you feel inspired and as excited as I am about these! Let us know if you'd like to see more Pocket Letter inspiration!! 

WOW & VLVS - Double "WOW" factor!

Welcome to our blog! This week we will be swapping with the talented team @ WOW! Embossing Powder. Stamps and Embossing Powder = a match made in heaven!

1

Find WOW! : 

Shop | Blog | Facebook

Find Viva Las VegaStamps! :
Shop | Blog | Facebook

Here is a set of FOUR ATCs by Glenda Tkalac:

 Boy in cape, waybill/invoice background stamp, and Pearl Gold Sparkle Embossing Powder.

grungey guy,  the not all who wander are lost  and the stars stamp as well as the addicting Pure Gold Sparkle WOW embossing powder.

banksy diving helmet boy, row of stars and the censored stamp

Plate 916 and  Metalline Green and Nice Ice Blue WOW Embossing Powders

That's a pretty amazing set of ATCs!

Don't forget to leave comments on all the blogs this week. You can win a prize! Stop by the WOW! blog to see what their team has worked up for our swap. See you tomorrow!