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).  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 I’ve used for today’s project are linked. 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

I stamped out the top part of the Alice and the White Rabbit and used the following Copic colors on them:
Skin: E50, E51, E21, R20, BV000
Lips: R14 and R17
Hair: Y11, YR24 ???
Blue dress: B01, B04 and B06
White apron: C1 and C3
White Rabbit: W1, W3, R20, Y11, YR24
I fussy cut them out and inked the edges with a Tuxedo Momento Black Marker to give them a finished look, all ready for them to be popped up on some ATCs.

But then I wondered what type of background would compliment them, while not competing with or distracting from them? I thought about spritzing some watercolor paper with pigment powders but then I researched how to use the PaperArtsy Infusions (which were also in my design team package) and found an interesting NEW-to-me use for them with glaze medium that created a variegated wood grain look. Since I didn’t have glaze medium but had some Liquitex Matte Medium, I thought I would experiment just brushing these powders on with the matte medium onto Strathmore Cold Press Watercolor Paper. Oooh the effect was so neat! The walnut stain granules in the Infusions released more slowly than the pigment powders, but with a little patience brushing, they activated beautifully. I wanted a bluish – greenish – yellow background, but since I only had the Lemoncello and The Sage Infusions, I also added some Ken Oliver Color Burst powder in Ultramarine Blue. The Color Bursts are brighter and the Infusions have a more vintage and distressed look, but working them together, muted the Color Bursts enough to create a well-blended, colorful wood grain background.

When this background paper was all dry, I cut them it down to size for 3 ATCs, plus some left over. For the ATCs with Alice and the White Rabbit, I inked the edges of the ATCs with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot and also took Fine Point and Ultrafine Point black Sharpie Markers to doodle on some spikey lines to frame them.

For the Alice ATC, I stamped out the sentiment from the Follow Your Heart stamp set in the upper right corner. I also stamped out three of the smaller hearts from the set onto the left over background paper and fussy cut those out to add some interest and slight dimension behind Alice.

For the White Rabbit ATC, I used a DecoArt stencil by Andy Skinner called, Tornado with some Brilliance Moonlight White pigment ink to create a swirly whirly look. I highlighted some of the white swirls with my trusty Uniball Signo white gel pen and I also lined some of the swirls with an extra fine point black Sharpie.

For the middle ATC with the main sentiment from the Alice’s Adventures stamp set, I used sections of the large heart stamp from the Follow Your Heart stamp set and the zigzag line stamp to kind of frame the sentiment. I also doodled some hearts with faux scripty writing in them on some more of the left over background paper and fussy cut those out to add some color contrast and dimension onto this ATC.

The following is a process video sharing a lot of what I did to create these ATCs:

Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. 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!

These ATCs are being entered into the following challenges:
Oddball Art Feature a Creature Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Cute Challenge
Crafty Gals Corner Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Layer it Up Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Anything Goes with Twist Create Something New Challenge

I clear heat embossed a couple of the outline flowers from the Altenew Peony Bouquet stamp set (my favorite floral stamp set of all time!) onto 140 lb Strathmore watercolor ATC card bases (2.5″ x 3.5″). Then I went to town water coloring with Ken Oliver Color Bursts in Yellow Ochre, Burnt Orange, Merlot, and Terre Verte (this Earthtones color set is AWESOME and I have my eye on the Brights for my holiday wish list).

After I dried and mounted these little “pieces of art” onto heavy weight chipboard, I added a few well-placed 6mm and 4mm Pretty Pink Posh Clear Droplets. They add the perfect watery finishing touch. Don’t you think?

The following is a process video:

These ATCs are being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday Red, Orange, Yellow and Brown Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Fab ‘n’ Funky Fabulous Flowers Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Just Keep on Creating Anything Goes Challenge
Addicted to Stamps and More Anything Goes Challenge
Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge

I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Dusty Concord, Mowed Lawn and Spiced Marmalade and “smooshed” them onto some wet 140 lb Strathmore water color paper that I had cut down to ATC size (2.5″ x 3.5″). Then I inked the edges of each card with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot along with some Versafine Onyx Black to get a deep dark edge border.

With a little stamping from a Hampton Art and Recollections Halloween stamps (sorry neither set seems to have a name), doodling with a black Uniball ink pen, a grounding of torn and layered washi to create a floor for the witches’ boots to stand on, and some coloring with some metallic gelly roll pens, the ATCs started to get some visual depth. Lastly, to add some dimension, I added painted wood veneer stars and skull to the black cat ATC, orange and champagne colored gems to and sparkle around the witches boots, and magical purple star gems to the witch with her cauldron.

The following is a share of the ATCs and a short process on how to make the watercolor backgrounds with Distress Inks:

These ATCs are being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamps Monday Use Some Lucky Stars Challenge
Simon Says Stamps Wednesday A Bit O’ Green Challenge
Card Mania Polka Dots and Stripes Challenge – Witchy boots and whitch’s hat on ATCs
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Crafty Gals Anything Goes Challenge
Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge
Crafty Your Passion Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge

However, with some beautiful images I had been gifted from my crafty friend, Sherry (YT: Sherry Ramsey), and gorgeous trims and laces from MelsCraftBoutique, I actually think I came up with some ATCs that are interesting and tell a story (my favorite extra “layer” in crafting).

NOTE: This is my last Guest Design Team Project for MelsCraftBoutique so if you are interested in purchasing any items from her store, through the end of this month is your last chance to use the coupon code: CraftyPaws10 for 10% off your entire purchase of $15 or more and free U.S. shipping on orders of $40 or more. 

The first one I made was the one with the pretty pink framed image. I covered the chipboard base with lace and then added a delicate bridal applique with beads and sequins from MelsCraftBoutique. To add a little more depth and interest I also tucked in here and there some plastic pink flowers that I cut from rings (sorry, these seem to be currently out of stock). I titled this ATC “Femme”.

For the second one, I pulled out my sewing machine and did a little sewing and spraying on a Ranger Inkssentials Sticky Backed Artist Trading Card. I had never used this product before, but I love it (I can’t wait to try painting on it). I first sprayed the canvas with a lavender Recollections spray and then layered over the top and sewed on a little strip of cotton script patterned fabric, some gorgeous scalloped embroidered trim and a 3″ wide delicate pale blue lace. To fill anchor a corner, I added a fluffy flower from this flower spray. Lastly, I centered a beautifully regal lady image (which I painstakingly fussy cut) under the scalloped embroidered trim, which was sewn on a little wonky–kind of representing the extravagant lifestyle of the time kind of falling down around the royal court.  I titled this ATC, “Hold On” or “A Stitch in Time”.

The third ATC is a little darker, this ATC base was created by decoupaging on a Parisian scene napkin in moody blues. I then used some gesso to create a painterly frame. Using Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen, I softened the white of the gesso. On one corner I added a very blingy sequin and pearl applique (sorry, this seems to be out of stock but MelsCraftBoutique has other similar gorgeous pieces) and on the right side of the ATC, I placed a dainty scalloped ivory lace, dotted with Ranger Champagne Stickles.  In the other three corners I also tucked in background netting-type pieces that I cut apart from this stunning black Venice floral trim. This is supposed to represent the encroaching downfall of this royal line in France. This ATC is titled, “Life Is But A Dream.”

The following is a video share of the three ATCs:

These ATCs are being entered into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Add a Little Texture Challenge

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! WOOF

I used some silver Liquid Pearls for the lids.  Then, what I think makes this ATC, I added some Glossy Accents on the little labels that I stamped from a Recollections mason jar clear stamp set (picked up from Michaels using a 40% off coupon).  These stamped labels added a little whimsy to the ATC, which I’ve decided to name, “Sweet and Sour.”  To accent those labels, I added some black and white twine and tiny enamel brads to “tie” on the labels. To add a little extra interest and texture, I also added a bit of rough twine ribbon and 3 shiny mint colored enamel dots.

The following is a video share of this ATC:

This ATC is also being entered into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Boldly Go Challenge

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! WOOF

When I am feeling a little less than creative, I like to work on ATCs. They are small, so they don’t take a lot of time (although sometimes they take more thought and effort because you want to make the most of such a small tiny format), and if you mess up, you aren’t wasting lots of materials. 🙂

With these ATCs, I knew I wanted something cheerful and spring-themed so I googled those types of quotes. I found two that “spoke to me,” and worked with these quotes from Margaret Atwood and Kahlil Gibran as my inspirations. If you haven’t tried ATCs, I highly recommend them. They are quick, easy, and can help get your creativity flowing.

The second ATC is also being entered into the One Sweet Challenge for May

The following is a video share of these ATC:

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day! WOOF

So clearly both of her dogs had drop ears. I knew I needed to draw something that would better represent her fur babies. After all, I had started this project wanting to make something especially for Theresa. I wasn’t going to stop short now.

So here is a picture of the drawing I did of two boxers that I hoped looked somewhat like Theresa’s. One looked smaller and older than the other, although I couldn’t be sure since the videos I watched showed them separately (and one of them only from one side and lying down).  Anyway, I know I tried my best. 🙂

The following is a Youtube video sharing these projects:

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=ypmkxD05YrY

Thanks for stopping by! Subscribe if you wish, and have a great day! WOOF