Today I’m sharing some silly cacti ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) made with super cool PaperArtsy Infusions. I used Strathmore watercolor paper and brushed on some Liquitex Matte Medium withĀ Infusions in The Sage, Lemoncello, and Orange Country. I love the faux wood grain look that comes naturally from Infusions because they include walnut stain crystals with the colored powders.
I also wanted some red to evoke the heat of desert heat and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Ken Oliver Merlot Color Burst I had in my stash blended in nicely (although without the cool wood grain look of the Infusions). I cut some of it down into standard 3.5″ x 2.5″ ATC backgrounds, inking the edges with Versa Fine Black Onyx Ink with a finger dauber.
The rest of the colored watercolor paper was used to stamp out the Carabelle Studio Cactus Stamps, and I used some scraps to create grounding for the images. I stamped the cactus with Momento Tuxedo Black Ink, then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder to set the ink (NOTE: when I had tried to fussy cut a cactus before embossing it, the ink smeared even after I had heat set it; I guess the matte medium left the surface non-porous).Ā Then I fussy cut all the images with my Fiskars Spring Loaded Scissors and inked the edges with a black Sharpie marker for a clean finished look.
I placed the two smaller cacti in the pot together and doodled speech bubbles for each of them that said, “You Make Me Less Prickly.” and “Ditto.” I painstakingly fussy cut around the spines of the smaller cactus in this duo so that the spines would show even on the cactus behind it. For all the other cactus I either stamped the whole cactus on the background and glued the fussy cut cactus on top of it or I doodled the spines behind the cactus before fully gluing down the cactus on the background.
The large Opuntia cactus was so majestic on it’s own that I just doodled a black sign with white letters that said, “Can’t Touch This”.
The skinny Saguaro looked like it had arms so I added eyes using a Peachy Keen “In the Garden Face Assortment” face and doodled in a mouth. I also doodled a speech bubble for the cactus that says, “Hug Me!”
This ATC series was so fun and fast to create. Using the Infusions gave such great color and visual texture, and I saved lots of time not coloring the pot, grounding and each cactus individually. The following is a process video of creating this ATC trio:
Disclosure: Many of the supplies Iāve used for todayās project are linked.Ā Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!
This ATC series is being entered into the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Friends/Friendship Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes with Optional Use Vellum Challenge
Crafty Gals Corner Anything Goes Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday A Trio of Something Challenge
Oh I just love these! Not seen many atcās for a while but glad I got to see yours. Love the warm colours you have used. Thanks so much for sharing with us today over at LPCF
Awww thanks so much Sue! Yes, I don’t see ATCs too often either, but I like to keep my crafty mojo going from time to time experimenting on them since they are such easy things to try new things with in such small formats.
Wowzers!!! love these! If you have the time a video would be awesome. These are so cool.
I did do a video of making these. I think the link is in the blog post on the last picture. Hope that helps! š
Such a cute and fun set of ATC. Love the backgrounds. Thank you for joining us at Crafty Gals Corner.
Lena – DT
xxx
Thank you so much Lena!
Kewt! Thank so much for sharing with us at Creatalicious. Jackie DT xx
You are so sweet. Thanks so much Jackie!
This is so cute! I love this set. The backgrounds are like a washes off rainbow, so soft and blended. I love the cacti images a lot, too. Thank you for joining us over Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.
Thank you so very much Macarena! I love playing with these Infusions. š
adorable. they just cracked me up. thank you for sharing it with us at TTCRD and good luck, Theresa xx
Awww thanks so much! They are going to a crafty friend who has a great sense of humor and lives in the desert. š
Awesome ATC’s. Thank-you for joining us at the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge this month.
Thanks bunches!
What a fun set of stamps. Great ATCs.
So glad you stopped by at 613 Avenue Create.
Hugs Sheryl DT member xx
Thank you so very much Sheryl!
Great ATC’s! Love those sentiments… š
Thank you soo much for taking part in our “anything goes with optional friends/friendshipā challenge over at Creatalicious & good luck in the draw.
Hope to see you again in our new challenge as wellā¦
Hugs,
Melanie
(DT-Coordinator Creatalicious Challenges)
(DT Crafty Friends)
(DT The Sketchy Challenges)
PS: Sorry for the late comment, life had been very busy these past weeksā¦
Awww you’re so sweet. Thanks Melanie!