Spring ATCs at the River of Creativity

I have done it AGAIN - this post is too early - the challenge doesn't start until tomorrow {4/5/22}!! So take the rest of today & create something for us :) I apologize for the confusion!!

Hello! Time for another challenge at River of Creativity! For challenge #12, our theme is spring as well as anything goes but a card - that's right, put away your card blanks and get inky with us!  I had planned on making something completely different than these Artist Trading Cards but nothing seemed to coalesce, so I listened to the universe and made a set of 6 ATCs instead of struggling to create something that just wasn't working! I've had a small box of scraps that I have amassed over the years {small die cuts, pieces of Dresden, punched patterns, stickers, scraps of paper, etc} and I decided to use what I had in the box to make set. I'd had the box for so long I really needed to go through all the things I had saved and figure out if I was truly ever going to use the pieces or not; so I went through the box, set aside what I really wanted to use and threw the rest away so a lot of what you see on these is from that scrap box and is almost vintage {grin - ok not really, but I have had it for a long time!}.  Enjoy!

 

I used a bunch of assorted products on these little guys, and I stuffed them full of bling! I used gems and sequin mixes from Picket Fence Studios, Dresden scraps from Alpha Stamps and many other sources, washi tape (and matching die) from Pinkfresh Studios as well from my stash, a ton of Dream Drops {I used  Indigo Eclipse, Cloud 9 and Love Potion} from Tonic Studios and many other bits and pieces, including stickers and more that are from my huge stash.  The background paper for these ATCs is from ModaScrap from the Fly and Scrap Collection, 6" x 6" paper {I could not find it on the ModaScrap site, but I did do a search and it is available}. I also used a bunch of small alphabet stickers and tiles, most from companies that aren't in business anymore, sadly.  All this stuff I've saved over the years

needs to be used so I can get new stuff! I had so much fun making these ATC's; I am finding myself using lots of bling and glitz in my work lately and I just went nuts with these. Knowing that if I really didn't like how something came out, I could just throw the paper away {I have so many blanks that I have amassed over the years, I could probably make an ATC a day for the next year!} and begin again with no harm.  Something about these little canvases is so freeing!

I was showing these to my roommate and explaining how "back in the

day" we'd make a bunch of ATCs, using the same design and bring them to stamp conventions and trade.  I think I still have a notebook full of traded ATCs. Do you remember those good old days? Hopefully, soon, we will be able to attend stamp conventions again - I miss the energy and all the cool products! Thanks for dropping in and get out your creative muse and create anything but a card and join us at the River of Creativity, optional theme of Spring - hope to see you there :) Christi

PS: To see the smaller pictures bigger, just click on them. If that doesn't work please let me know ~ Thanks!

I am entering my Spring ATCs in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Easter/Spring
Country View Challenges - Spring is Coming
We Love 2 Create - Anything Goes
Four Seasons Challenge - Spring Challenge
The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, #207 - A is for ATC 

Autumn Blessings

While the last of the leaves get blown off the trees and we begin to prepare for snow, I thought at least one more autumn card was needed.  I love creating with fall colors and this card was really fun to make.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Simon Says Stamp Thanks & Leaves stamp set, #SSS101894
Various Autumn Colors of Ink {I used Hero Arts Ink}
Lindy's Gang Embossing Powder in Tannenbaum Green Gold
Embossing Ink
Simon Says Stamp Autumn Greetings stamp set, #SSS101637
MFT/Die-Namics Stitched Oval STAX, #MFT-0152
Dimensional Dots
Tim Holtz Tonic Stamp Platform

This was a fairly easy card once I was able to stamp the background without messing it up.  Even with the stamp platform, I struggled with getting ink where I didn't want it, but I think that had more to do with the fact it was really late and I was tired.  Who knows why I do that to myself, but I do!  I know crafting late and/or when I am tired is a disaster waiting to happen, yet I do it anyway.  I'll probably never learn.  Anyway, I trimmed the background down a bit and layered it onto a white card base.

Once I got the background done, I went through my stamps and dies and choose a sentiment stamp and a shaped die.  None of the word dies I have really fit the card and they took up too much room.  After what I'd been

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through, I wanted people to see that background!  Plus, I really like it.  I settled on using Autumn Blessings and a new embossing powder I just got.  I embossed the sentiment and then cut it out with the stitched oval die.  I finished the card off with adding dimensional dots to the back of the sentiment to pop it up.  I used tall dots so it really sticks out.  

I personally don't subscribe to the craziness of this time of year, of course not having little ones {or big ones for that matter} helps.  The cats don't ask for anything that they don't regularly get so I don't have any pressure to buy gifts.  The few gifts I do give out I make by hand and I'll be sharing a few of them here next month.  I hope you take some time out for yourself to enjoy the true spirit of this upcoming season.  It's not about presents, or how much you can afford to buy {your teenagers may vehemently disagree.}   To me it's about enjoying the gifts that you already have in your life.  And you, dear reader, are a gift to me.  Thanks so much for reading my post; please don't forget to leave me a comment or just a hello!  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Autumn Blessings Card in the following challenges:

You Are Pretty Amazing

I am SO sorry this is late - I thought I had scheduled it correctly! I am off to lunch with my mom, sister & cousin :) 

Hi all! Today is the last day to enter the Die Cut Diva's August Challenge, Silhouettes.  If you get a chance to enter, you will be in the running for a gift certificate from our sponsor, Cheapo Dies.

I had to make at least one cat card when I start crafting for my Design Teams, and this one is made with some new goodies I just got.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Kraft Card
Black Card
Penny Black, FeLINE die, #51-145
Simon Says Stamp You Matter Stamps, #SSS101645
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Stitched Rectangle {actual die cut was a gift}
Tim Holtz/Tonic Stamp Platform

I love the way this card came out; I am always surprised when a project actually looks the way I envision it!  And it's a super easy card to make.  To begin, I took the FELine die and cut it out three times - once from white card, once from black card and once from Kraft card.  I pieced together the white cats, using the black cut as the background.  Then I trimmed one of the Kraft cats and just glued it on right over the corresponding white cat.

The cats were then layered onto a white stitched rectangle that a dear friend sent me; I inched the cats closer to the top so I had plenty of room for my sentiment.  This was the first card I'd made with my brand new Tim Holtz Stamp Platform.  I'd been using my MISTI until my sweet friend offered me a Stamp Platform at near cost; how could I resist such a great deal!?!  I have to be honest, as much as I adore my MISTI, the Platform is easier for me to use.  The big game changer for me is the ability to switch from clear stamps to red rubber stamps by just flipping the top around.  So much easier!  Anyway, I lined up my sentiment and stamped it directly onto the stitched rectangle.  I just have to say how amazing it is to be able to get a clear, semi-straight {straight is NOT one of my many talents - I still struggle and I imagine I always will} image, and not

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worry if you don't since you can ink it up again!  I shudder when I think of the "old days," using wood mounted stamps and not being able to see exactly where you are putting the image, and how much cardstock I wasted because the stamp didn't give me a good impression {mostly due to my error, but still}.  I would have NEVER stamped directly onto a card as one of the last steps; it had to be done first, just in case I flubbed it and had to begin again.  

Anyway, once the sentiment was stamped onto the rectangle, I adhered that to a trimmed piece of Kraft card that was then glued onto my card base.  There you go!  An easy card, ready to be popped in the mail.  

I hope you have been inspired this month to get inky with silhouettes, and if not, never fear, as tomorrow the new month begins and a new challenge starts at Die Cut Diva's.  Thanks so much - Christi

I am entering my You Are Pretty Amazing card in the following challenges:
CARDZTV - #63, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Sunny Day Crafting - Anything Goes including an Animal
Papercraft Challenges - #19, Animal
That's Crafty! - Animal Magic
4 Crafty Chicks - #418, Anything Goes