My Little Paper World

I've had some oil pastels lying around the craft room for awhile now. I've never used them before, I've always been drawn to watercolours or acrylic paint. But I figured now is a good enough time to try them out! I decided that I would create a ATC (its been awhile and I LOVE ATC!!) Figured its the perfect size to have a play with a new product that I'm really not 100% sure how to use... At first I just drew on some card stock to see what it looked like, I wasn't convinced so I smudged it with my finger and was happier with this outcome. Id say its like playing with very soft crayons.  I used book paper stuck to the ATC sized card stock as the back ground, I applied red, orange, and yellow and blended it with my finger. I then drew a (not so scary) "monster" also on book paper stuck down to card stock and coloured him in with yellow and green (again using my finger to blend in the colours). I then cut him out. It needed more... so I outlined hi...

So awhile ago (like the beginning of the year) I created a list of ATC themes for myself. More like I had all these fantastic ideas and thought a ATC challenge would be awesome...  But...looking after a toddler, helping my sister with her wedding planning and invitations, house hold duties and participating in other swaps I haven't had the time or energy to put these ideas to paper.  So with the help of facebook, I sent out a message to one of my swap group pages hopeful that someone would want to do a one on one swap.  The theme I wanted to tackle was House/Home. I saw some great mixed media ideas using book paper and a collage like technique. So I was really excited that someone responded to my message.  I set a time frame which was the end of next month (October) But...the next day she private messaged me and said hers was ready to post!!!! Just what I needed to hear to get my creative gears in full swing! So Jan, thank you ...

If you've been following my blog, you probably have guessed that I am a huge fan of ATC swaps. I generally participate (time permitting) in at least 2 (minimum) a month and can and have done up to 4 a month! For those who do not know what a ATC is, here is a quick overview. Artist trading cards (or ATCs) are miniature works of art about the same size as modern trading cards or 2  1 ⁄ 2 by 3  1 ⁄ 2 inches (64 mm × 89 mm), small enough to fit inside standard card-collector pockets, sleeves or sheets. Cards can be created from various media, including dry media (pencils, pens, markers, etc.), wet media (watercolour, acrylic paints, etc.), paper media (in the form of collage, paper cuts, found objects, etc.) or even metals or fiber. Anything really! They can only ever be traded or exchanged. If sold, they are usually then referred to as art card editions and originals (ACEOs). So here is one of my ATC for this month. The theme: Circu...

Here is my second creative piece for my guest spot over at Viva Las VagaStamps . You can find the 'how to' tutorial and more photos over on their blog ! I created these ATC for a group swap over at 'Scrap With Us'. The theme for August was fairy, and this stamp was exactly what I needed! Quote: Don't let anyone ever dull your SPARKLE!   I have also entered this into Anything but a Card Challenge #26 Fairy Tales or Fairy Theme. Thanks for stopping by... Happy Crafting!    Samantha

It's already August!!! I have been such a busy crafter, and can't wait to show you what I've been up to...for now though here is my first step by step tutorial for a ATC I created. ATC Theme: Seasons Title: Autumn Quote: “Autumn ~ the year’s last loveliest smile.” – William Cullen Bryant Products Used: o Black Card Stock x2 o White Card Stock x1 o KaiserCraft 6x6 Black and White Timeless Paper Pad (the leaf patterned paper) o Distress Ink Pads - Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge Aged Mahogany, Dried Marigold and Spiced Marmalade o Maple Leaf Stamp o Washi Tape o Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad o Brilliance Pigment Ink – Galaxy Gold o Glue and Double Sided Tape o Distressing Tool o Scissors o Silhouette Cameo (though it’s easy enough to cut these with your paper trimmer) First cut your card stock to an Artist Trading Card size (3.5x2.5”). I used my Silhouette Cameo which I created a template, for both the ATC and a card slightly smaller than the A...

Just sharing a Artist Trading Card I created quickly from a free digital stamp that is currently available from Unity Stamp Company Blog . They are having a little competition, basically colour the image in and create something beautiful with it. When finished post it to their 'show and tell' facebook page. There is an opportunity to win a guest design spot! I don't really expect to win - but I haven't coloured in awhile, so I thought I'd colour this image in while watching an episode of 'teen wolf'. Enjoy!  Title: Bloom Inktense Pencils and Perfect Pearls Happy Crafting!    Samantha

Put your hands up if you have a billion pins on Pinterest of art, paper craft, and mixed media techniques!!! Well...I've got two hands up in the air... and I am sure like most of you there just isn't enough time or enough money to go and try them all out! So I am really happy to share this ATC with you because I got to try a new technique that has been pinned to my Pinterest board for awhile and I am so happy I got to try it out. I was going to provide you with a tutorial - but instead I will direct you to the tutorial I used from my Pinterest board!!! If you wish to try it out click here :) I didn't follow it completely. I did change the thickness of the strips of paper and pretty much just followed the photos - its a fun technique which I found super easy. I imagine you could even create different patterns and come up with something totally different... Oh the technique is a Herringbone Technique - I've seen it a lot on cards (and will be creating some...

This is going to be a rather quick post but I just wanted to share another fantastic ATC I created for this Month of July. Loving the time theme chosen over at Scrap With Us.  This is one of my favourites, love themes that make you think 'outside the box'!  Check them out!!  I used Dylusion sprays (Postbox Red and Black Marble) for the broken hearts and Black Soot Distress Ink Pad to darken the edges. The heart is stamped, a KaiserCraft stamp (Tic Toc). I used book paper to create both the background and the heart of the ATC. Lots of distressing and a fitting quote: Time Heals Most Wounds. Challenges: I will be entering this into the  Stampotique Designers Recycle It Challenge  as I recylced book paper.  In fact, I now have a very large book collection that I keep for scrapbooking/crafting purposes and should think about crafty ways that I can use this (free) book paper more.   ARTastic - Black & White and pr...

So I've been rather slack in the crafting department this month. Don't get me wrong I've had a few craft ideas and I've been pinning madly on Pinterest, I even bought some new inks to play with, but I just haven't had the time...or energy! I even pulled out of my owl themed ATC swap due to lack of inspiration and loss of my crafting mojo!  But... never fear!!! A new month is approaching and I've got some one year birthday invitations to make, a few more  fantastic themed ATC and if I can squeeze it in create a card. Also I should mention that my (wonderful) sister is getting married in November and we need to start on her decorations and I need to get a move on with her guest book! Last but not least I have some good news!!  My  Mother's Day Card  will be in the June issue of  Life Paper Scrapbook  (which comes out today!). What fantastic news! I was so happy when I received the email and can't wait to read the June issue... I wonder ...

Scrap with Us  had a lovely ATC theme this month of seasons. My favourite season is Spring, and with this cold winter weather I just can't wait for this season and the joyous transformations that goes along with it!  Here are the completed ATC: A brief overview on how I created this: I embossed my new hero art stamp (large flower background) in white on craft card paper slightly smaller than a ATC. I than coloured the main image using my inktense pencils (which I absolutely L.O.V.E!). Distressed the edges, then stuck it down to the ATC card (which originally was pink coloured card stock, but ended up liking the look of craft paper better - gives it a nice recycled spring feel). Then I printer 'welcome spring' (also on craft paper) and (painfully) cut each letter out individually and glued them to the ATC. (Repeat 8 times!) These are probably  my favourite ATC  so far...  Lot of fun creating these cards, and we all know I love th...

This months ATC theme from KJ's Crafty Corner is monochrome. We could pick any colour but had to mat it on black. So I of course chose RED!!! Though I have a ridiculous stash of red card stock and patterned paper I went with a simple idea and created my own background with a sizzix embossing folder and tim holtz ink pad (barn door). My original idea incorporated red glitter, but in the end didn't seem to impress me so that idea was scrapped. Most of my ATC have a quote or word on it so I only found it fitting to use the word inspiRED! Here is the finished ATC: These were fun to create. I just love this circle pattern embossing folder. Also, there was something about using the blending tool in a round circular motion to get just the right colours with the embossed and debossed areas that I found very relaxing.  Before I finish up with today's post I want to mention that Fresh Squeezed Stamps are searching for Design Team Members and I have decide...