Oil pastel backgrounds

I bought some water soluble oil pastels at the NEC last November for creating coloured backgrounds... this was being demonstrated by the PaperArtsy team. I had a very quick try out when I got home, but it wasn't very successful. So they have been lying about unused since then, but last week I decided I really must get to grips with them!! I soon discovered what I had been doing wrong the first time and managed to get a good result at last. You blend the pastels on the card with your finger and I really like the bright colours they create. You can also blend two or more colours together. I had to make some ATCs for a couple of swaps I am involved in, so decided to use the oil pastels for the backgrounds. I used various inks for my stamping including Versafine, Memento, Archival and dye inks - they all worked well on the oil pastel surface.

In the middle ATC I used Stampotique's Smile and the other two both use stamps by PaperArtsy.

Flying high ATC

This ATC used up some of the card I had left over from the previous project, this part was sprayed with chalk mists in green and yellow. I embossed it with a Cuttlebug folder and then rubbed Inka Gold paste (another new purchase) over the raised parts. The bird was die cut from card, covered with Inka Gold, then stamped over. The 'flying high' words are courtesy of the latest free stamp with Craft Stamper magazine.

ATC-duction!

I can't stop making ATCs now that I've started again... yes, they really are seductive! Here are a couple more I made over the weekend.

ATCs revisited

I had a very enjoyable day last Saturday at the first of my two day workshops, creating inky backgrounds with dye inks, water, salt, cling film, etc. The centre where I teach has asked the tutors to propose details of courses in the autumn term, so I asked for suggestions from the learners. One of the things they have requested is how to make ATCs! At least this is something I know a little about having made hundreds in the past (unlike the Never Ending Card). Although I have loads of ATCs made by other people, I haven't got any I've made myself as they have all been traded! Deciding to make a few over the past few days, I rediscovered the joys of making them. I made the two below for the Stampotique challenge, then went on to make these three. I want to try and make a variety using different techniques. The ATC at top right has a background using the paper blending technique, and the top left one is made entirely from grunge board and grunge paper (a first for me!).

Birds of Time ATCs

Here are a pair of ATCs made for the current Stampotique Designers Challenge which is on the theme of animals, insects or birds. I've used alcohol inks on glossy card for the backgrounds and stamps mainly by PaperArtsy.

3 more ATCs

As I had been working in black, white and green, and I had my Wizard out, making the card for the RSS challenge, I decided to carry on and make another ATC for the Craft Swap Forum challenge - this particular theme is Black & White plus one other colour. I used another Tim Holtz embossing folder for the background - Bingo - and the free stamp that came with Craft Stamper magazine last month. However, I found I couldn't just be content with one... I made two more! The themes for the other two are Heavy Metal (to use any sort of metallic technique) and I used one of my all time favourite stamps by Paperbag Studios; the word 'Hush' is grungeboard letters that I have covered with foil. The third ATC is for the theme Bad Hair Day (what else?) and I used a really old Judikins stamp, with the birds nest (by Anitas) stamped on top! Just like my hair usually is when I get up in the morning, although I haven't actually found any eggs in mine yet!

ATCs revisited!

I haven't made many ATCs recently, but was inspired to make some for a revamped challenge over on Craftswap Forum. We have set six challenge themes and members can take part in any or all of the challenges over the next 12 months. I decided to make one over the wekend and then went on to make two more... I had forgotten how much fun it is to make ATCs! The themes for these three are (from the top): Less is More, A Day Out, and It Had to be a Man.

Autumn ATC

I've just made this ATC for the monthly challenge on Craftswap Forum - the theme is Autumn colours. Stamps used here are by Katzelkraft.

Words ATC

It seems ages since I made an ATC! This is one that I've just done for the monthly Florrie's ATC Challenge over on Craft Swap Forum, on the theme of words. The stamp of the woman is by Art Journey and text stamp by Paper Artsy. I couldn't resist using a new 'spiral bound' punch I've just bought too!

Boys will be boys ATC

I made this ATC for one of the Craft Stamper magazine swaps and was thrilled to see it published in this month's edition! I've used Distress Inks for the background, together with some stamping, and an image of the boy & dog by paper Whimsy.

MTTC: Metallica

An ATC made for the My Time to Craft challenge theme this week: Metallica. For the background I ran some gold card through the 'forest branches' Cuttlebug folder and then added alcohol inks.

MTTC Challenge: Nature

An ATC for the latest My Time to Craft challenge theme of nature. I've used some lovely background papers by Crafty Individuals, a butterfly stamp by Hero Arts, and the leaf stamp is by Stampendous.

Silhouette ATC

Silhouettes is the theme of the March ATC challenge on Craft Swap Forum. Stamps used here are by Katzelkraft.

New beginnings...

... is this week's theme for Florrie's ATC challenge over on Craftswap Forum. I've called this one "First Day at School". Stamps used here are by Tim Holtz and Paperbag Studios.

Autumn ATC

Another ATC on the Autumn theme - this time by Florrie's ATC Challenge on Craft Swap Forum - and the full theme is Autumn... season of fruitfulness. I made this by stamping & colouring the pear and leaves and then embossing with clear ep. Then I sponged Distress Ink over the background and stamped the leaf a few more times with the same ink - Aged Mahogany.

Dance ATC

Having just made a Moo on the theme of dance, I decided to make this ATC for Florrie's Weekly Challenge on Craft Swap Forum where the theme is 'Be Bold'! I've only recently bought this Time to Stamp plate called Dance - and you know what it's like with a new stamp... you can't wait to try it out. But I thought it was a good image for the theme. The background was made by sponging dye inks onto the card, using a piece of torn paper as a mask.

An ATC with more leaves...

... this time for Florrie's weekly challenge on Craftswap Forum. I have stamped the background and the leaves with Versamark ink and then coloured with chalks. The quote is a Rhonna Farrer rub-on.

An ATC: Special and Blue!

I've made this ATC for two challenges - firstly for Florrie's ATC Challenge on Craft Swap Forum and also for the My Time to Craft challenge this week. The MTTC theme is to use only blue (plus a bit of white) and the CSF theme is 'Something Special' - to use a stamp, materials or techniques special to you. I certainly had some special inspiration for this piece from the excellent tutorial by Dan on ink blending, and I was dying to try out my new Tim Holtz ink blenders bought at Archiver's during my holiday. I used three different shades of blue Distress Inks for the background, and then spattered on some water drops (having masked off the circle for the moon first). The stamp of the seagulls was bought in a little shop near Lake Michigan - so it is a lovely reminder of a very special holiday.

Even though I used a stamp positioner, I had great problems getting the quote down the left hand side straight! This was my third attempt and it is still not exactly parallel with the edge of the card!! Oh well, I can always use the 'failed' attempts on next week's Make a Moo challenge which is on the theme of 'wings' (but don't tell anyone).

Trees at sunset

I made this ATC for Florrie's weekly challenge on Craft Swap Forum - on the theme of TREES. The background was created using various dye and distress inks, and I used the Lone Tree stamp by Paperbag Studios and the smaller trees are by DoCrafts. The idea and technique used owes a great deal to Michelle Zindorf and the absolutely fantastic tutorials on her blog, although this effort of mine can in no way be compared to Michelle's wonderful work! If you have never visited it - please do! She has some stunning examples of what you can do with ink and stamps! There is a link to her blog on my list of favourites on the right.

Little things

An ATC for Florrie's Weekly Challenge on Craft Swap Forum where we had to use two colours - and we couldn't use black & white!