Hello ATCs

Hi there Blogmates,

Just recently I made some ATCs for the WOYWW 7th Anniversary Swap. I had great fun making them, using layered stamps and diecuts. As I needed to make three extras, I decided to photograph the process and do a little tutorial to show you how they were made. Here's the finished design ...


It doesn't show in this photo, but the Hello was highlighted with my fave new toy - the clear Wink of Stella pen, which adds a very pretty shimmery effect, so addictive, I just want to add it to everything at the moment! Anyway, if you would like a peek at the process, click on "read more" ...
Here's what I pulled out ready to get started ...


Top left is a sweet wooden boxed set of mini alphabet stamps my son gave me. I used heavy watercolour paper as the base of my ATCs and kraft cardstock to mount them on. Also wet glue and double-sided tape. Three kinds of ink - black archival, various colours of pigment ink and a couple of Distress Inks which aren't shown here. A fine black Micron pen in the middle there next to the Wink of Stella. Also twine, charms and gems for decoration. The Hello diecut is from a Sizzix set, but any thin die would work with this technique. Rubber Dance stamp on the left there. Most fun of all was the Altenew layered stamp set which was free on a magazine.

So, firstly, I cut my kraft pieces at 2.5 x 3.5 inches each, and watercolour paper slightly smaller to leave a narrow margin. Then I started stamping the flowers onto the paper, starting with the palest colour for the base layer ...


... then the next darkest colour for the next layer, and so on - it was brilliant fun to see the flowers building up as the layers were added, they eind me of those lovely old-fashioned fabric prints ...


Then I inked up this Rubber Dance stamp with the darkest colour, and pressed the card down onto it to give a gorgeous crackled paint effect ...


Now time to add some zing, with Distress Ink in Citron and some Black Soot to the edges ...


I added the words in Jet Black Archival Ink with the little stamp set, and some faux stitching with the Micron pen ...


Then taped the Hello die in place with some washi and ran it through my Cuttlebug ...


I will save the cut-out parts for other projects ...


Now I added some tape to the kraft cardstock, then glue to the bottom of the stamped piece and adhered it in place ...


Next came the diecut piece, which was just stuck to the tape (no glue, too fiddly!) ...


then I applied glue to the top piece and wound some twine around it before sticking down ...


After threading on a charm, I tied a knot in the twine and added a gem. All that was left was to trim the excess off the diecut and add more sparkle with the Wink of Stella and I was done!

Cheerleader effect with them all in a pile waiting to be sent off ...


That was the first time I'd tried out a layered stamp set and I really enjoyed it, must get some more of those - I made some thank you cards to match as I just couldn't stop!

Thanks for popping in today, see you again soon :o)

Annie xxx

Comments

Nikki said…
I love mine !!!
and that crackle stamps is just amazing
hugs Nikki
Helen Wallace said…
Thanks for the step by step. I loved watching the multi toned flowers emerging and then all the extra steps added to the beautiful finished product. I've always thought these stamps might be too hard to handle, but you make it look easy. Sooo pretty :D
Lizzy Hill said…
Really enjoyed watching these come together.... Nice flower stamps for sure!!! And gorgeous result:):)
Val-Belle said…
I saw this post last night when I was on my ipad and just loved the ATC's but the signal was bad and I couldn't open the post. I love these little mini works of art and I am slowly getting into my silhouette machine. The step by step is always helpful to me. I love the colours you mixed to. Just fabulous clever lady <3