September Swaps - So much fun!!!

I had a very trying week at my full time job.  Thankfully I signed up to do two swaps which forced my hand at creativity and in return provided a nice peaceful activity to combat my stress.  I hope you enjoy the items I made, I will post pics of the items I received soon!

First up is the card I made for the Consultant Stamp Camp I attended Saturday.  A full day of creativity with a fantastic bunch of ladies.  It was just what the doctor ordered... really, I work with a bunch of doctors and they told me to do something I really enjoy this weekend... so I did!

FROSTED HAPPY HOLIDAYS CARD

I made this Frosted Happy Holidays Card and have provided the recipe below:
X1410 Colonial White Card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
X71758 Frosted Paper Packet (blue/cream snowflakes paper used-first pattern in packet)
1272 Cranberry Cardstock
Z2116 Crankberry Ink
Z2173 Slate Ink
Z2419 Cranberry Marker
Z1751 Cranberry Baker's Twine
Z1752 Sparkles Clear Assortment

Stamps Used:
B1412 Perfect Fit Holiday (see Circle Punch Below)
B1424 Classy Doily (see Cricut Cut below)

Z1790 Artist Cricut Collection (pg 56, Accent 1 H @ 3 1/2" - Doily
Z1686 Art Philosophy Collection (pg 31 @ 2" -Scallop Circle

Z1311 1 1/4" Circle Punch (Small Circle for Perfect Fit Holiday Stamp)

AUTUMN ARTIST TRADING CARD

This next little piece of art was a lot of fun.  I have never made an Artist Trading Card, I didn't even know what it was.  I admit I had to google it to see.  One of my fellow CTMH Consultants posted this swap and I thought it would be fun to try something I have not done before.

This is what I learned while doing my first ATC (Artist Trading Card)...

• Anything goes - this allows you to just create freehand and see what happens.  Fun Fun Fun!
• It is not as easy as you would think to make all that art fit on a 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" piece of paper!  That was probably the toughest part about creating this card!
• You actually sign the back with your information and the theme of the card. Pretty cool!

I decided to take pics of the process and the creative steps that led me to this cute little card so you can follow along on the creation of my very first ATC.

Stamp Set Used: Petit Perks - A Touch Of Fall

(Note: Consultant Stamp Only - if you want one, contact me to find out how you can get one)

 

   Step 1: I cut a piece of Colonial White Carstock just under 2 1/2" x 3 1/2", to fit on the actual size piece of Goldrush Cardstock I cut as the base of the card and sponged the background to add some Fall color.  I sponged the blank piece of paper using a piece of sponge and Cashmere Ink (first pic), followed by Goldrush Ink on another piece of sponge.

  

Step 2: I chose the acorn from the stamp set to use with Cashmere Ink to add a pattern to the sponged background.  I stamped the acorn in random patterns.  I made 9 of these and each one is unique! 

Step 3: I added a small piece of Burlap Ribbon... nothing says Fall/Autumn like natural Burlap!  I adhered it with Liquid Glass to make sure it stays in place.

  

Step 4: I added some Bronze Shimmer Trim at the top.  I wanted to create a nice base that would show behind the title once I added it.  I cut the strips in half as I only wanted a small accent.

Step 5: I dug into my stash of stamps knowing I wanted to use the small Autumn words from last year's Stamp Of The Month Fall Favorite!!!  I love this stamp set, too bad it's retired!  It was perfect for this tiny card front. 

  

Step 6: I added some Sparkles - Brown and Tan Assortment so I could make the words look like little bullet points.  

Step 7: I stamped the word "fall" in Cocoa Ink onto Goldrush Cardstock and cut it out to make the title.  Again, this retired Stamp Of The Month was perfect as the title fit perfectly on this little card.

  

Step 8: I took the remaining stamps from the Petit Perks and used each image with a different color of Pigment Ink from the Whimsy Collection.  I used Sweet Leaf for the green leaf, Creme Brulee for the Wheat/Corn, and Sorbet for the Pumpkin!  I combined the Pigment Ink with the Clear Detail Embossing Powder  and heated it with a heat gun.  You can't tell very well, but there is a glossy effect to these pieces.

Step 9: I adhered the top card I created to the piece of Goldrush Cardstock, added my Artist Trading Card information to the back and it's all done!  I hope you enjoyed following this little gem from plain paper to work of art!