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

For the watery wavy background I used various blues and aquas from the 60 piece set of Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and free hand colored up the segments. I used a Pentel waterbrush to blend out each section, making sure to color up the segments in alternating order so each segment could dry before the adjacent segment was watercolored so they would not bleed into each other. I also doodled out some zig-zaggy framing around both ATCs using Ultra Fine Point Sharpie Markers in Red, Hot Pink, Medium Pink, Purple and Gray.

For the school of orange fish, I inked up a simple fish stamp with a Ripe Persimmon Tim Holtz Distress Marker and colored the bodies with Wild Honey. For a little shimmer, I also added scales with a Clear Star Gelly Roll Pen. For the purple and yellow striped fish, I stamped out the fish with more Wild Honey and used Tim Holtz Distress Markers in Wilted Violet and more Wild Honey to watercolor them up. For the pink and green fish, I stamped the fish in Abandoned Coral and watercolored using Tim Holtz Distress Markers in Spun Sugar and Twisted Citron. The seaweed are colored up with Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers and Pine Needles, and the starfish are colored up with Squeezed Lemonade and Spiced Marmalade. I added more shimmer with the Gelly Roll Pen over the fins of the fish and the star fish as well. Except for the big school of orange fish, each of these little scene builders were painstakingly fussy cut out and glued on or popped up with double sided foam tape.

For the mermaids, I wanted a soft look, so I stamped out each with Momento Desert Sand Ink to do some no line coloring. I re-defined the facial features with a 0.3 pt Copic Multi-liner Pen in Cool Gray. Then I used the following Copic colors:
Mermaid with green starfish hair pin:
Skin: E51, E21, R20
Hair: YR21, RV52, RV66, RV69
Bikini top, mermaid tail, and starfish hair pin: YG25, YG17, RV52, RV55, RV66, RV69
Mermaid with purple hair:
Skin: E51, E21, E11, R20
Hair: V12, V15, V06, V09
Bikini top and mermaid tail: YR21, R22, V06 and V09
Mermaid winking:
Skin: E51, E21, R20
Hair: YR20, YR21, RV55 R24, C5
Bikini top and mermaid tail: YR20, YR21, R22, R24

The following is a video share of these ATCs that includes the no line coloring of the purple-haired mermaid:

These ATCs are being entered into the following challenges:
The Greeting Farm Farm Fresh Make a Scene Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Glitter/Bling Challenge
Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes with Optional Shabby Chic Challenge
Penny Black and More All Creatures Great and Small 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 covered the chipboard (salvaged and upcycled from the backing of a watercolor paper pad) with double sided adhesive, and used snippets of wide but thin floral lace as a kind of stencil to create glittery lacy textured backgrounds.

For the one with the juggling circus master and elephants, I used Elizabeth Craft Designs Basic Black Microfine Glitter and Sparkle and Sprinkle Jasper Blue Extrafine Glitter.  For the clown-filled Le Cirque one, I used the Sparkle and Sprinkle Jasper Blue Extrafine Glitter and some left over ultrafine glitter from my Heartfelt Creations card kit.

For all the Graphic 45 Le Cirque images, I used Fiskars spring loaded scissors (my favorite, especially since I developed arthritis in my hands) to do a lot of detailed fussy cutting and arranged the images around the ATCs  to hopefully create a kind of dream-like quality.  I added black and teal flat back pearls and rhinestone gems to indicate movement (like the clown running and the circus master juggling).

The following is a tutorial video on how I made the glittery lacy backgrounds:

These ATCs are being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamps Monday Texture Challenge
Card Mania Lace and/or Pearls Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with an Option of Adding Flowers

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 decided to make the first one using more traditional elements like laces, appliques, and butterflies–all classic crafting items. Then I added a little twist. What if I added plastic sweets to the centers of the butterflies to add a little whimsy?  Yes, that was the ticket. I added a little lolly and an ice cream cone and titled the ATC, “Butterfly Dreams.” 🙂

The second one was inspired by the sweet little wood veneer dogs by Studio Calico that I picked up at Tuesday Morning for only $1.99! I cut out a little row of houses from thick watercolor paper (I find the tooth on watercolor paper is great for getting vibrant color from Gelatos), using a Spellbinders in’spire die called “Row Houses.”  Colored them up using a variety of Gelatos (as if the evening sun was reflecting the colors of the rainbow on them), and inked up a handful of wood veneer dogs with Tim Holtz Distress inks antique photo and walnut stain to “hang out” in front. I decided I would create a little scene from an imaginary “It’s a Dog’s World.”  LOL

The following is a video share of the two fanciful ATCs:

The “It’s a Dog’s Life” ATC  is also being entered into the Pretty Pink Posh Cutting Edge Blog Hop

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