Artists' Trading Card

My lovely teamies at Everybody Art Challenge want us to make an ATC.  I have never made one before and I have to confess to being very outside my comfort zone.  It took me ages to come up with an idea for my 3.5 x 2.5 inch card but I knew I wanted to upcycle some old snippets of abandoned watercolour card I had in my stash.  

A couple of years ago I went to an "art class" on a cruise ship.  I have italicised the phrase "art class" because frankly, the "teacher", whilst pleasant and capable of producing some nice pieces herself, had absolutely no idea about teaching and came up with some (in my view) completely unsuitable projects for our class who were probably aged between 30 and 85!  The first session would have been ideal for 3-10 year olds and involved drawing through a giant basic butterfly shaped stencil and painting it with watercolour paints.  I outlined more than one butterfly, and overlapped them.   We were given no idea how to prepare our paper, mix our colours, or put the paint on the page.  We actually had no instruction whatsoever and at the end of the class I had learned absolutely nothing and had a childlike flat image of parts of 3 yellow butterflies against a blueish background.  

Upon my return from the cruise, I cut the large watercolour paper into 4 pieces and put them in my stash.  It was another one of these 4 pieces I used today for the base, back, and frame of my ATC.  And wow!  I'm thrilled with how it worked out for my project.   I used an Aall & Create Die for the abstract honeycomb and cut my inked and stamped apple and honey wand from the same piece of discarded watercolour cardstock. 

This is a small stamp and die set from Papertrey Ink which I have never used before and it came with the "sweet & fruitful" stamp which I heat embossed in copper on vellum.  As a finishing touch I used Glossy Accents on the uncut half of the apple and for the honey on the wand.  I felt really stretched making this project but I absolutely love how it turned out.  I even used a coverplate to emboss another piece of "butterfly watercolour" and adhered it to the back of my ATC.   

Do check out the wonderful inspiration of my teamies and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs and then why not come and play along with us

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations - Sept - Always Anything Goes

Krafty Chicks #732 - Stamps

Polkadoodles #36 - Always Anything Goes

We Love to Create Mixed Media #8 Anything Mixed Media Goes

Simon Says Stamp (Mon) & Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - "Stamp it" for Stamptember!

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #253 A is for Autumn.  I thought my ripe apple and honey combined with my colours were a good match for Autumn

 

See Ya Again!

My niece went to Prague with two friends for her birthday this year and it seemed an opportunity to use "See Ya" from Mo’s Digital Pencil again.  I made a card using this image last year for a special friend  who accompanied us to Prague. You can see it on my blog here.  Mo drew a curly haired girl, and also a boy version of this fun image with the characters holding up a driving license and set of car keys but I asked and received permission from Mo to slightly alter her image and replaced the items in the girls hands with a little miniature British Passport.  

I included the same artsy rendition of Prague's famous Astronomical Clock tower in the background of my image as I did last time in addition to adding plenty of stencilled cogs and other shapes from a variety of stencils.  I used some bold colours for one of the challenges I want to enter. 

If you would like to showcase your own creations using Mo Manning's stunning images, you can join Mo's Fans' Facebook page HERE.  If you need inspiration on using her images you can check out the Dream Team Blog HERE.  I should also tell you that Mo has a "Patreon" Page HERE. There are three levels of Patron to choose from with a minimum of just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) and each month Mo offers treats to her patrons like coupons to spend in her store and free images.  

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

AAA Birthday #65 Background Focus

CD Sunday Plus - #141 Always Anything Digital Goes

Colorful Options - Sept - Be Bold

Creative Inspirations - Sept - Always Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams - Sept - Happy Birthday (in memory of lovely Traci)

Krafty Chicks #732 - Stamps

Polkadoodles #36 - Always Anything Goes

Stencil Fun Challenge - Sept - Anything Stencilled, optional Fall Frenzy 

 

Belle in Summer

My lovely teamies at  Everybody Art Challenge are back from their summer vacation and we have a new challenge theme starting today which is "Anything Goes".  Do come and play along and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

Today, for my birthday card, I have used the beautiful "Belle in Summer" image from Mo’s Digital Pencil which is available in her shop here.  I love these images of women Mo drew for us all last year.  There is a wonderful variety to chose from here.  

I decided not to use Belle in her entirety.  She is a full length curvy woman in summer attire but I used just her face and upper body, coloured with my Copics and double framed within a diecut square overlapping an embossed frame.  I encircled Belle with a variety of hand coloured die cut and punched flowers and leaves and added a stamped ticket from my sentiment stamps.  If you are looking for inspiration to use your own Mo Manning images, check out one of my previous posts, I regularly post links to great sites where you can view cards made with her images as well as links to where to post your own Mo makes, in addition to details about her Patreon scheme.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Can you Handle the Pressure Anything using an embossing folder, optional leaves

CD Sunday Plus - #140 Always Anything Digital Goes

Creative Inspirations - August - Summer Fun

Cupcake Inspirations - #600 Happy Birthday

And I'd like to give a big congratulatory shout out to Cupcake Inspirations who are celebrating their own 600th challenge and 15 years of challenges.  Happy Birthday Cupcakes!  

Dragonfly Dreams - August - "These are a few of my favourite things" (mine include images by Mo Manning, colouring with my Copics, Embossing folders, stamps, die cuts, flowers, birthdays and summer!  

Krafty Chicks #730 All Occasions

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #253 S is for Summer. Nothing snarky in my creation today but lots of summer!

 

Fishy Little Mermaid Set

I have recently returned from a trip and my computer is STILL playing up. It's actually driving me nuts.  The internet is turning on and off literally every three seconds and I have a VPN which is  suddenly confusing all of the places I visit to the point where I keep being unable to  access my own blog or Facebook pages because the sites don't know it's me.  I've had the VPN for a year.  I have no idea why it's causing me such a problem now.  

On top of that, it's blimmin roasting in England.  We suffered with October weather from October through July (except when I myself was abroad of course - then the weather in England was more summery) .  We had the heating on in June it was so miserable but now it is positively tropical.  The house is uncomfortably toasty and my Craft Space is in the attic and is way too hot to sit in.  

I brought my alcohol markers into the lounge and coloured this image there but the curtains were closed to keep the worst of the heat out and I was working on my lap which is never a good idea so my colour work is a bit of a disaster but I still like my card because the fish is so cute!   It is actually the same fish resized and flipped horizontally, with one of them wearing spectacles with glossy accent lenses.  I was following a sketch from the lovelies at Sketch Saturday.  I was a member of that team for years but gave it up when life got in the way.  The fishy and the big seaweed sprig behind the rock is from Mo's Patreon Page HERE.  The rock with it's urchins, coral and darker green leaves is from Mo's Little Mermaid set in her store HERE .  You can also purchase the rock image with two mermaids and some fish in rubber from Penny Black. It's an adorable stamp set called simply Mermaids. My sentiment is word processed, the fish have sparkly Wink of Stella scales, and I have used two stencils - a kind of dappled light one and a sunrays one for the background.  

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

AAA Birthday #64 Critters

CD Sunday Plus - Always anything digital goes

Seize the Birthday #289 Cute Critters

Simon Says Stamp (Mon) - Sparkle & Shine (There is wink of stella on my fish and the lenses in the fish's glasses are shiny)

Sketch Saturday #757 Sketch 

Stencil Fun Challenge - August - Summertime

Sweet Stampin - Summer Fun

 

Edited to display my excitement having been selected in the top 3 from the lovelies at Sketch Saturday and at CD Sunday!  Thank you so much.  I'm thrilled

Let Love Grow

For my card today I have used this lovely Let Love Grow image from Mo’s Digital Pencil.  You can find her and view Mo's shop by clicking on the blue bold underlined linked text above.

There is a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations and we look forward to seeing you there. It's easy to become a member.  Just click HERE.  And check out the Dream Team Blog where there is lots of inspiration from my teamies HERE.

Mo also has a "Patreon" Page HERE. There are three levels of Patron to choose from with a minimum of just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) and each month Mo offers treats to her patrons.  

My friends at Everybody Art Challenge are still enjoying their summer vacation but will be back soon with a new challenge!  In the meantime, happy crafting!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #138 Always Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - July - Anything Goes

Krafty Chicks #726 Anything Goes

Make my Monday -#231 Colouring Mediums (and they have a DT call too)

Polkadoodles #30 Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Beautiful Blooms (featuring Altenew)

Edited to proudly add my Golden Egg Award from the fabulous Krafty Chicks  (which I will happily do as soon as my laptop allows me too!  Arghh)

Celebrate the News!

My teammates at Everybody Art Challenge are on summer vacation so I have carte blanche to play with my images from Mo’s Digital Pencil.  Today I have chosen to enter some birthday and celebration challenges with this cute guy from Mo's who is called "Stocks Up"  You can find him in her store HERE.  Mo, being an equal opportunities artist, also has a girl version of this image available HERE.

My internet is playing up a storm as I type this.  I was unable to get into Blogger at all in Chrome and I had to use a different browser altogether so just in case I lose my connection again, I'm going to head straight into my card and the challenges I am entering.   Information about Mo Manning's Facebook page, Dream Team and Patreon Page can be found in nearly all of my recent blog posts.  

This little guy is coloured with Copic markers and I used a variety of stencils in the background.  I was trying for a blues and teals theme but the green somehow sneaked in.  I love this colour combo.    I am really enjoying adding stencils to my projects and also a little texture with embossing folders.   Today I have used a 3D embossing folder on some of my added embellishments.  The sentiment is Word Processed

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

 

Can you Handle the Pressure July - Anything Goes with a twist of checks or stripes

CD Sunday Plus - #137 Always Anything Digital Goes

Creative Inspirations - July - Anything Goes

Make my Monday -#230 - Let's Celebrate (and they have a DT call)

Passion for Markers -#747 - Favourite Colours 

Polkadoodles #28 - Always Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #252 L is for Lindsey whose presence in this life shall always be missed.    I simply opted for a fun snarky comment which I'm sure she would have liked 

Stencil Fun Challenge -  July - Shades of Blue

Edited to publish my Special Mention Badge for my card from the lovely team at Make my Monday, together with a Princess of Snark Badge from the Sisterhood AND a win at CD Sunday Plus too!  Wow!    Thank you ladies.  I'm thrilled! 

Hope your Birthday is Flamazing!

We have a new theme for "Stamps" at Everybody Art Challenge.  I saw that SSS has a challenge featuring products by My Favorite Things and so I decided to use this cute flamingo from the MFT's Let's Flamingle stamp and die set for my summery card.       We, at the Design Team at EAC, would love it if you would grab some of your own stamps and join in our challenge.  

In addition to the MFT Flamingo and sentiment (which is heat embossed), I added a stamped and heat embossed white feather from Papertrey Ink and then offset stamped over the top in a grey ink to give it a shadow. A little pink inking over the top finished it off. 

 

Then I decided to skip the die and instead to stamp the flamingo first, mask it, and over stamp with an embossed feather, then overstamp again in a salmon colour for the shadow.   

This gives a very flat card but one which looks like it has dimension.  I'm not sure which card I like the best.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CAS on Friday #286 Nature

Cupcake Inspirations - #597 Anything Goes

Four Seasons July (influenced by the flamingo pool floats in their cute inspiration photo)

Krafty Chicks #722 All Occasions

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Anything Goes

Because Elephants Never Forget!

This is an early post for my DT responsibilities at Mo's Dream Team Blog.  I've just returned from abroad and I have a sneaky suspicion I have come back with more than just a tan. I have been fighting a headache all afternoon in spite of a long nap and my throat is raw so I figured I would post this before going back to bed.

I have used this adorable Dear Diary Elli which you can find in Mo’s Digital Pencil store. And I found the perfect sentiment by Taylored Expressions which I heat embossed in white on black.  I just love these papers from Echo Park.  They worked perfectly with my Copic coloured Elli.

There is a Facebook page HERE for fan's of Mo Manning.  It's a really friendly clubhouse where everyone can upload their creations made with genuine Mo Manning digital images which have been purchased from her store or in rubber from one of her legitimate partnering companies. You can always find lots of inspiration from my fabulously talented teamies there in addition to lovely cards made by other crafters.. 

Mo also has a "Patreon" Page HERE. There are three levels of Patron to choose from with a minimum of just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) and each month Mo offers treats to her patrons.  

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #136 Always Anything Digital Goes

Cupcake Inspirations - #597 Anything Goes

Krafty Chicks #722 All Occasions

Polkadoodles #26 Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Anything Goes

Edited, with a little jump for joy, to proudly post my award from the Krafty Chicks!  Thank you for selecting this little cutie amidst your other top picks.  

 

I Dunno

 We have a new theme for "Most recent Purchase" at Everybody Art Challenge.  Do come and play along and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

Today I have slightly altered this cute "i Dunno" image from Mo’s Digital Pencil which is available in her shop here by flipping the image then cutting out Bronte the dog, shrinking her, and putting her back next to Bella (the little girl).  I also added just Bronte from another image called Bronte and Louis available here.  The recipient of my card has two white chihuahuas so I needed two dogs and I needed them to be smaller. I also needed them to be male but fortunately that wasn't a problem with these pups!    I always ask and ensure that I have received permission from Mo Manning before I alter any of her already perfect images. 

There is a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations and we look forward to seeing you there. It's easy to become a member.  Just click HERE.  And check out Mo's other sites where there is lots of inspiration from my teamies.

* Dream Team Blog HERE for inspiration

* Mo's "Patreon" Page HERE. There are three levels of Patron to choose from with a minimum of just $2.50 per month!  

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #135 Always Anything Digital Goes

Just Us Girls #731 Word - "Celebrate"  I'm hoping that this birthday card counts as a celebration

Polkadoodles #24 Always Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Wed - Bright & Cheerful 

Tic Tac Toe #249 - I used the first column of layers, die cut and patterned paper

Edited to add my happy surprise that this card was in the Team Picks from the lovelies at Tic Tac Toe!

 

A Secret

We have a new theme for "Patterned Paper" at Everybody Art Challenge.  Regulars to my  blog will know that I love patterned papers!   It's a great opportunity to use up some of your own pretty stash so please join in the fun and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

I missed my Mo's post a fortnight ago because I was away and I like to keep that a secret from social media until my return.  Coincidentally, "A Secret" is also the name of the adorable image I used for my card today.  It's available in Mo’s Digital Pencil shop here.  

I used my alcohol pens to colour this sweet girl and combined her with die cut numbers, and a stamped banner all teamed up with these pretty papers 

Inspiration for your Mo's Digital Pencil creations can be found on the Dream Team Blog HERE. There is a Facebook page HERE where members can upload their Mo Manning creations and we look forward to seeing you there.   And for fans like me, who love coupons and freebies, Mo has a "Patreon" Page HERE. There are three levels of Patron to choose from with a minimum of just $2.50 per month!  

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #134 Always anything digital goes

Creative Inspirations - #May Feminine

Krafty Chicks #718 Anything Goes

Make my Monday -#227 B is for... Birthday of course

Polkadoodles #22 Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Anything Goes

Edited to add my delight at this card being chosen in the top picks by the super team at CD Sunday Plus

 

Circles and or Stripes (and in my case, also hearts)

So I've been out of the country and did not have an opportunity to make a card using an image from Mo's Digital Pencil for Mo's Dream Team Blog but we have a new theme for "circles and/or stripes" at Everybody Art Challenge and I did manage to find some design papers with tiny circles and heart filled stripes to make this card.   We would love you to play along with our challenge this fortnight and perhaps share some love with my teamies by leaving a comment on their blogs. 

I used Bo Bunny papers, a sentiment from Papertrey Ink and these cute Marianne Design diecut kitties for my card today.    My background heart has been cut with a Spellbinders die and embossed with hearts.

I'm so sorry to Mo and my Dream Teamies for failing to make a card for Mo's Dream Team Blog HERE.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Can you Handle the Pressure #Anything embossed goes with a floral twist 

Polkadoodles #20 Always Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Patterned Paper

Edited to show my happy appreciation to be in the top 3 picks from the wonderful team at Can You Handle the Pressure.  Thank you!  I'm chuffed! 

Val with Heart

I'm a little late posting for Mo’s Digital Pencil today.  A week slipped by without me noticing and today crept up on me!  I have used this sweet image "Val" image from Mo Manning's Patreon Page HERE. There are three levels to choose from with a minimum of just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) and each month Mo offers treats to her patrons. I see now that you can also buy this image in Mo's shop HERE.    There is also a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations HERE.  And, if you are in need of some fabulous inspiration, check out the Mo's Dream Team Blog HERE.

I used some cute heart papers from Bo Bunny and a stitched banner die for my card today which is a birthday greeting for one of our bestest friends whom we love very much!  The tiny sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp.  

The heart for this image comes pre-coloured and I used my Wink of Stella pen to add shimmer and shine.  I coloured Val with my alcohol markers.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #132 Always Anything Digital Goes

Creative Inspirations -  May Feminine

Just Add Ink #700 Add Shimmer or shine 

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Feminine

 

Holey Moley - It's the gardener's birthday

We have a new theme for "Garden" at Everybody Art Challenge.   Come and play along and  share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.  

The recipient of my card is a keen gardener and has struggled with moles in his garden.  He probably didn't want to see another mole but this little guy looks so cute coloured with my alcohol markers and teamed with these perfect papers (which I think are by Dovecraft) and a couple of cute garden related die-cuts.  The sentiments are word processed.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Krafty Chicks # 714 Stamps

Polkadoodles #18 Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday #282 Anything Birthday Goes with optional off the edge

Sweet Stampin - Animals

Ilana amidst the roses

We have a new theme at Everybody Art Challenge and we want to see "roses in the background" of your projects.  Do come and play along and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

Today I have used the beautiful "Ilana" image from Mo’s Digital Pencil.  I believe Ilana was originally an image from Mo's Patreon page HERE. There are three levels of patron to choose from with a minimum of just $2.50 per month!   I delighted to write that this cutie can also be found in Mo's shop HERE

My roses are from an embossing folder.  I inked the debossed side of the folder with some Altenew ink and a brayer.  After winding the folder through my Sizzix Big Shot, the result is white roses embossed against a soft pastel lilac background.  Ilana has been coloured with Copics and I added some DPs - one of which is plaid for another challenge I am entering.

There is a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations and we look forward to seeing you HERE.  And check out Mo's Dream Team Blog HERE for inspiration

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Can you Handle the Pressure April - Anything embossed (weather twist - which I did not use)

CD Sunday Plus - #131 Always anything digital goes

Colorful Options April - Pastels

Cupcake Inspirations - #592 Flowers

Dragonfly Dreams April - Use a die

Passion for Markers -#735 Check it out (using plaid or checks or gingham) 

Tic Tac Toe #245 - I used the centre column for an embossed, square card with a die cut 

Edited to add a very happy top pick from the lovely team at CD Sunday Plus. Thank you ladies!  I'm chuffed! 

 

It's my birthday and I'll tiara if I want to

We have a new theme for "Numbers" at Everybody Art Challenge.  Do come and play along and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

Today I have used this delightful image from Mo’s Digital Pencil called Tiara which is available in Mo's shop here.  I wanted an image with pleats in the clothes to enter at Inkspiration.  I coloured this beauty with alcohol markers and did some masking and stencilling in the background.  

There is a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations and we look forward to seeing you there. It's easy to become a member.  Just click HERE.  And check out Mo's other sites where there is lots of inspiration from my teamies.

* Dream Team Blog HERE for inspiration

* Mo's "Patreon" Page HERE. There are three levels of Patron to choose from with a minimum of just $2.50 per month!  

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #130 always Anything Digital Goes

Inkspirational - #313 Word prompt - Fold  My folds are in the skirt of the girl's party dress

Krafty Chicks #710 Stamps

Polkadoodles #14 Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Happy Birthday!  And a BIG Happy 15th Birthday!

Stencil Fun Challenge - Anything stencilled goes with optional spring/flowers  

Sweet Stampin - Birthday Girls

Tic Tac Toe #244 Using the middle row of spring colours, free & stencil

 

Edited to add a happy dance and THREE lovely awards to acknowledge my presence in the top picks from the lovelies at Krafty Chicks, Sweet Stampin, and also CD Sunday Plus.  Thank you, thank you!