Artist Trading Cards

Hello Monday, my friends! Glad you've popped by to check out our newest challenge - Artist Trading Cards. Think of these as mini masterpieces (2.5x3.5"/64x89mm) and join us in the fun. I made a pair of ATC's using similar materials and designs and went for very different effects. 

Don't forget our Kids Summer Challenge through August! 

I started out stamping a background onto the mat board - Tim Holtz compass, and a design from Seth Apter. 

I'll show you how I did Letter D first. I stenciled arrows on top of the stamped design.

Next, I layered paints on and added another stencil. I used my fingers to rub the paint in, and wiped it off in areas so the stamp would show through. 

Another paint layer...

I adhered the image I had stamped on the tissue wrap, decided I had lost a lot of the background, so stamped the compass again. I added some Diamond Glaze, Rusty Paper, Henna mica flakes and let that dry, then I scratched it with the Prima Distress tool. Final step was to add the arrow. 

This ATC is in darker colors with a grungy, distressed vibe.

focusing on the letter D

For my second ATC, I wanted to go for a brighter look, and started with this fun stencil over the image.

Over to the gelli plate with pinks and purple...

Next, I tried out this cool new texture plate for mono printing from Carabelle Studio. I really like it and can see a lot of fun printing ahead! I laid it onto the gelli plate to pick up the colors and then printed it onto the ATC. I also took a sheet of deli paper and printed off the gelli plate for future use. 

I added more color with the Scribble Sticks (I did this on both).

Final steps...add the Scrabble tile and metal word band. I looped a lot of thread around the back and tied it off on the front. 

focusing on the letter A

I finished the backs off with some rice paper that I had mono printed previously.

I was glad I remembered these Stampers Anonymous Classic stamps (now in cling rubber) that I've had in my stash for years...they are perfect for ATC's!

So there you have it...two different takes using similar materials. 

I hope you will get out your materials and make an ATC to share with us this week! 

Our generous friends at Simon Says Stamp offer a $50 voucher selected at random to one lucky participant! 

SUPPLIES:

                                       

                                       

A great place to shop!!

Simon is on Instagram...#sssmchallenge

Let's head over to see the awesome mini masterpieces/ATC's from the design team!

Simon Says Nautical

Happy Monday, my crafting friends! Our challenge for you this week is NAUTICAL at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. 

Don't forget our Summer Vacation Kids Challenge this month!

I thought of the ocean when I saw Nautical and headed to my big art journal. I was thinking about the deep ocean and the creatures that live there, that we sometimes find kind of scary. I wanted to make the bottom in dark colors to reflect that, while making it bright and happy closer to the surface.

"Who knows what lurks in the depths?"

I used the same colors to paint my backgrounds, both on the watercolor paper and in the journal. I stenciled in some texture by removing some of the paint with a baby wipe. 

I remembered this great fish fossil stencil and thought it would make a great border, as well as incorporating it into my piece. (Perhaps I remembered it because my son and I had a fossil hunting adventure yesterday...) I mixed the Inky Pool paint and the Texture Paste together to get the dark blue.

Time to pull out the MISTI to get great stamped images.

I used Dina Wakley's Scribble Sticks to color. I wanted my deep sea creatures in dark (and kind of ugly) colors.

Time for some fussy cutting...and the octopus was a challenge! 

Laying the papers together...

I added the deep sea creatures with 3D Matte Gel to hold the heavy watercolor paper onto the background. 

Then I added the bright surface mermaid and critters and added some sparkle.

Life can be very different on the ocean's surface than in its depths, I imagine!

I hope you've enjoyed my Nautical take on this week's challenge and are ready to join us in the fun! 

Simon Says Stamp has a $50 gift voucher to share with one of you!

SUPPLIES:

                                       

                                       

A great place to shop!!

Simon is on Instagram, use #sssmchallenge.

Let's head on over to the challenge to see how the rest of the team has interpreted this week's challenge!

Celebrating Mondays!

Happy Birthday to us!! We are celebrating the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, and I bet you can guess how many years! Yes, 7!!

Please join me in welcoming Simona Rebecchi, aka Ginny and the Sheep as our Guest Designer this month! I know you are going to enjoy her creativity!! We are so happy to have you with us, Simona!

If you have kids, grands, nieces, nephews, neighbors between the ages of 2 and 16, we have a special summer challenge just for them this month!

Can you believe it?! 7 years - I think that is exciting!! I decided to make a celebration card.

I started off by stamping the Kaleidoscope Background stamp from Simon's new release - Encouraging Words. Next, I added Distress Oxides and spritzed it with water. I let that dry and then went back in and blended a bit more. I also used the oxide inks on the ruler ribbon. As you can see, I did a bit of stitching too!

And here is why you should ALWAYS check what your word looks like before you add ink and stamp!! LOL!

I dug through my stash and found as many sevens as I could and arranged them in a cluster along with my words. I added some Rainbow Unicorn bling from 28 Lilac Lane to finish it off. Aren't these colors luscious?

I stamped the MONDAY to the bottom in pink, and then added a secondary stamping of blue to make a shadow. I'm not sure if it looks like a shadow, or double vision!

So please come join us in celebrating our 7 years!! Think Happy Birthday, and show us your Simon Says Stamp products if you have them. I'm looking forward to seeing what you make!

Simon Says Stamp is offering TWO $50 gift certificates, drawn at random.

SUPPLIES:

                                       

                                       

A great place to shop!

Simon is on Instagram! Use #sssmchallenge.

Be sure to head on over to the challenge to see the wonderful creations by the design team!