ATCs - Beyond Trading: Vintage Memories

Christmas is a season when thoughts often turn nostalgic. Even if vintage Christmas images are not part of your memories, this classic box will provide a unique way to display ATC treasures. Grab your Tim Holtz™ Distress Inks, and in no time at all this sophisticated project will add to your Christmas decorations.

You'll find directions for this project and the ATC below on page 104 of the December 2011 issue of Crafts 'n things. Stamp sets are by Oxford Impressions (Sleigh Bells, Winter Snow, Season of Giving, and St. Nicholas.) Ranger® products also include Archival™ Ink, as well as Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks and Mixatives.

Stamped Holly Mug & Gift Tag

Travel mugs for personalization are available in a variety of sizes and shapes. While I was fortunate to find a bargain at the local dollar store, similar mugs are readily available in craft stores as well as specialty shops. This is a project that is easily adaptable to any occasion or skill level with guaranteed satisfaction by the recipient.

You'll find directions for this bonus online project (December 2011 Crafts 'n things) here. For best results, you'll need Ranger® Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper, Archival™ Ink, and Adirondack® Dye Ink. The Season of Giving and St. Nicholas stamp sets are by Oxford Impressions.

Steampunk Treasures

I felt like I'd found buried treasure when I discovered this faux leather backgammon set at the thrift store for only $1.00. I knew that I wanted to use steampunk images to decorate the exterior, but the brown surface had to go. Thus began my experiment with materials that generally are not compatible with a synthetic surface, but perseverance and a light hand created the results I was seeking. I love finding inspiration at a bargain price. Here are the results.





I love the Oxford Impressions stamps: The Deep, Steampunk Works, and Steampunk Elements. This was a simple transformation with Claudine Hellmuth Studio products, Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Color Wash, and Archival™ ink. You'll find the details on pages 96 - 97 of the August 2011 issue of Crafts 'n things.

Steampunk Bird Tag

The absurdity of steampunk is one of the things that makes use of the images fascinating. Only the imagination can limit the possibilities. Where else could you find a mechanical bird wearing a top hat?



You'll find the details on this project from page 97 of the August 2011 issue of Crafts 'n things here. The Steampunk Works stamp set is by Oxford Impressions. All other products are from Ranger ® including the oversized manila tag.

ATCs - Beyond Trading: Vintage Fairy Images

I didn’t notice when I purchased the trim that one set of beads in the middle of the section was not firmly attached. When I took the beads out of the plastic bag, the droplet fell apart. Sometimes the unexpected enables the imagination to take a giant step, and the broken beads provided that inspiration. Until then, I hadn’t realized that one of the small turquoise beads was actually a heart. The largest bead, why that could be a lantern for a little boy in search of fairies. One bead left, and I knew I would find the perfect spot for it atop a vintage ornament featuring stamps from the Oxford Impressions Fairy Sweets plate.



The ornament box and the ATC below feature Archival™ Ink, Adirondack® Dye and Pigment inks, and lots of Tim Holtz™ products: Distress Ink Pads, Alcohol Inks, Alcohol Ink Metallic Mixatives, and Alcohol Blending Solution. The instructions may be found on pages 84 and 85 of the April 2011 issue of Crafts 'n things®.

ATCs - Beyond Trading: Steampunk Valentines

Recycling has a much nicer sound than dumpster diving. At least that’s what I claimed when I rescued this heart shaped box on the way to the landfill for the project on page 48 of the February 2011 issue of Crafts 'n things®. What better reuse than turning a box that once held chocolates into a repository for these non-traditional Valentine ATCs.

The box and the ATC below were designed with Ranger® products: Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gesso; Archival™ Ink; Adirondack® Dye Ink Pads; Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks; Inkssentials™ Glossy Accents™; Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers.

If you are unfamiliar with the genre, steampunk provides a perfect opportunity to exercise your creativity. When I created this project, Suzanne Melvin of Oxford Impressions had one steampunk plate, Steampunk Elements. (Other plates used in these projects were The Dressmaker, Bonbon, My Story, and Fairy Sweets.) Now, Suzanne has two more exciting steampunk plates, Steampunk Works and The Deep. Two times the ways to create non-traditional Valentines!

Exploring Image Transfers: Tape Transformation

Do you remember the first time that you saw heat embossing? It’s still a moment of wonder for me. I had a similar experience years ago when I first watched a demonstration of packing tape transfers. Now, when I share this technique, the reaction is always the same. People can’t believe that the process is so simple. I have to agree.
These projects are the first in a series of three articles on image transfers for Crafts 'n things®. First, a card featuring a stamp by Impression Obsession, Inc. , Hopes & Dreams. Perfect Pearls™ always provide an elegant touch.


Below, you'll find a necklace featuring patterned paper by DCWV and stamps by Hero Arts®, Manuscript Background and a simple heart. (The Hearts Ink and Stamp Set. is no longer listed, but a similar stamp is available in the From the Heart set.) I'm not a jewelry maker by any means, but this is a project that anyone could complete.



Want to know more? Pull out your "inky" supplies: Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper; Archival™ Ink; Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers; Adirondack® Dye Ink Pads; Adirondack® Pigment Inks. You'll find the details on page 50 of the February 2011 issue.

30 Minute Card Ideas: Playful Cherub Tag and Tiers of Cupcakes

It was similar to an out of body experience. The only reason that I know that I made this card is that my name is under the picture on page 32 of the February 2011 issue of Crafts 'n things®. You wouldn't describe my stamping style as "cute," but this tiered cupcake card is cute and was fun to complete. The stamps are both by Memory Box, Tiers of Cupcakes and Sweet Cupcake, with color provided by Adirondack® Dye Ink Pads. The patterned paper is from the DeLovely Mini Deck by Cosmo Cricket.

The mischievous cherub on page 30 definitely looks more like something I would create. Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks and Alcohol Blending Solution combine with Suzanne Melvin's Oxford Impression Bonbon plate for a spirited Valentine tag.


Both card and tag use Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper and Archival™ Ink. The details for 30 Minute projects are available on line. You'll find the cupcake card here and the cherub tag here.

30 Minute Card Ideas: St. Nicholas and Song of the Chaffinch

Racking your brain for fresh ideas for Christmas cards? The 30 Minutes section of the December 2010 issue of Crafts 'n things® is filled with inspiration. The best thing? All the instructions are available online.
You will find my first card, St. Nicholas, on page 42. The stamps are from the St. Nicholas plate from Oxford Impressions. Archival™ Ink and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads (Ranger®) were used. Paper is from the All Dressed Up Paper Stack (DCWV). Instructions for this project may be found here.

The Song of the Chaffinch, page 44, also uses the St. Nicholas plate with Archival™ Ink and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads. The instructions may be found here.

ATCs – Beyond Trading: Seasonal Door Hangers

When I was a little girl, I loved Halloween. It was a magical experience. Although I don't care for the taste, I still eat candy corn in October and reminisce about homemade popcorn balls. As an adult, these door hangers provide little reminders of the simplicity of childhood. You'll find the details on page 54 of the October 2010 issue of Crafts ‘n Things.

The stamps are from the Trick or Treat plate by Oxford Impressions. The door hangers feature Ranger® inks: Archival™ Ink, Adirondack® Dye Ink, and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink. Tim Holtz™ Distress™ Stickles™ Glitter Glue and Inkssentials™ Glossy Accents™ provide the highlights.

30 Minute Card Ideas: School Days and October Fun

We've been back in school for almost three weeks already. The heat has been excessive, and "standard" dress has replaced the cute little skirts of my day. Times have changed, but the smell of new school supplies and the anticipation I see on students' faces has not. Take a walk down memory lane with this card from the October 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things. (I think I had a dress just like this.)

As with all projects in the 30 Minutes section, you can find complete instructions online here. The Oxford Impressions stamp is one of several that bring back pleasant memories from the School Days plate. The card uses Archival™ Ink, Adirondack® Dye Ink, and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink.

If your Halloween memories don't include super heroes or television characters, you may enjoy this card.

The instructions may be found here. The stamp is from another Oxford Impressions plate, Trick or Treat. The card also uses Archival™ Ink and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink. You'll find these cards on pages 42-43.

ATCs – Beyond Trading: Casablanca Luggage Tag and Card

Rising temperatures and high humidity mean summer has arrived, and summers are synonymous with vacations. While budget may limit destination, there are no restrictions on stamping adventures. You can find mine on page 89 of the August 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things.
The automobile on my ATC luggage tag is appropriate though my travel will not include a flight to Paris. The stamps for this tag and the complimentary card are all from the Casablanca plate from Oxford Impressions. You'll need Ranger®'s Archival™ Ink and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads for this sophisticated palette.

Looking for romance? What could be more romantic than Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman? Add an ATC to a card front, and you'll be transported to Casablanca. "Just Believe." In addition to the supplies for the luggage tag, this card uses Inkssentials™ Sepia Accents™.

Check out Crafts 'n Things for detailed instructions to recreate these projects.

Ooh La La Fan & Card Set

Does this happen to you? Do you ever begin with a project in mind and end up in a completely different place? This is what I'm talking about.
I'm not sure why we have what I grew up calling "funeral parlor" fans in our comfortably air conditioned church. It could be that others, like me, reminisce about similar fans they used while attending church with a grandparent, or it could be this is an effective manner to deal with changing female hormones. Either way, I originally planned to create a useable hand fan. Something happened along the way, and that fan grew into the full sized wall art project below. (And by the way, I really hope that you'll purchase the magazine to see a much better image. The photographer did a beautiful job in capturing the details including the elegant black bow.)

I'm going to blame this change in direction on Suzanne Melvin. First, her stamps were just too beautiful for me to choose just one focal image. Next, I realized that the accompanying flourishes and borders could be used to define sectional pieces. This fan definitely reminds me of a time when such fans were a necessity and life was much slower. The beautiful images from Oxford Impressions may be found on these plates: Marie Antoinette, Le Beau Monde, and French Script.
My best description for the accompanying card is "foo foo." I love the contrast between the pink feathered lady and the elegant coach. Another beautiful French lady from Suzanne.

For directions (and better pictures!) see the June 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things. Ranger®Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper, Archival™ Ink, Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink, products used include Adirondack® Dye Ink, Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabber, and Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi Medium Gloss.

ATCs – Beyond Trading: A Walk in the Garden

Looking for additional ideas that place your Artist Trading Card collection in the limelight? While the flowers in our garden were destroyed by recent rains, these projects from pages 62-63 of the June 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things bring blooms to the forefront.
The three featured stamp sets are by Oxford Impressions: Country Girl, The Fairest Flower, and LeJardin. You will also need the following Ranger® products to recreate the ATCs : Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper, Archival™ Ink, Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink, Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers, and Posh Impressions Accent Pen™ The patterned paper is from the Wild Asparagus Collection by My Mind's Eye.
First, the elegant card. The window in the flower-shaped card provides a view of the underlying ATC, perfectly framed in gold.I know that the recipient of this card will treasure the beautiful flowers.

Next, the flower garland. I wish that I had the photography skills (and the proper lighting in our home) so that you could view this on the door frame in my studio. While I created five blossoms to embellish the door frame, this would easily be adaptable for a fireplace or larger area.

Below, the detail blossoms. I liked the look of the tulip flanking the children.

30 Minute Card Ideas: Flowers and Fruit

Thirty minute card ideas. Don't you love that concept! What's more, you can find all the directions for these cards online in the June 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things. All inks are Ranger® products, and both cards use stamps from Oxford Impressions. Now, a look at my two cards.
I've typically avoid coloring, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to add my own twist to these lovely flowers. The image is from the Fairest Flower, the same plate that I used in my "Walk in the Garden" ATC project this month. Definitely versatile images, and it can be fun to use your ink pads for coloring. You'll find this card on page 32 of the magazine, and the instructions are here.

If you prefer not to bother with staying between the lines, here's the project for you. In this L'Abrege card, you simply stamp and emboss over your beautiful background. The LeJardin image, another plate that I used in the "Walk in the Garden" ATC project, puts the pear and writing together for you. This card is on page 34 of the magazine, and the instructions are here.

Classically Alice Ensemble

When Suzanne Melvin of Oxford Impressions first clued me in that Disney's Alice in Wonderland would be released this month, I had a perfect excuse. Now, I had seen stamps before based on the illustrations by Sir John Tenniel from my childhood edition of the book, but I'd always resisted. That is until I saw the three new sets Suzanne recently released: Classic Alice (the one I've used here,) Illustrated Alice, and Wonderland. Projects for the April 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things provided the perfect excuse for me to add these stamps to my collection. See what you think.
First, a spiral notebook: black and white with an accent of red. An easy look to accomplish with Archival™ Ink, Adirondack® Dye Ink, and Inkssentials™ Glossy Accents™. When the self-adhesive crystals (Prima Marketing ®) were not the color I wanted, that too was a quick change with Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks.

Next, an Alice pendant. Same basic supplies but a totally different look.

Finally, a card. Alice with an attitude. Could that be caused by the Stickles™ Glitter Glue crown?

Fun stamps and fun projects. For additional details, see pages 48-49 of the April 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things.

ATCs – Beyond Trading: Eggs-actly Perfect

The common plastic egg transformed into a unique marbleized encasement - all through the magic of Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks and Metallic Mixatives. Best yet, these eggs are the perfect size to display Easter ATCs.
The first egg features ATC Duckies by Red Lead Paperworks stamped with Archival™ Ink and colored with Adirondack® Dye Ink Pads and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads to add a vintage touch.

The second egg, another stamp by Red Lead Paperworks, ATC Hello Happy Easter, was stamped and colored in the same manner as the Duckies egg. In both cases, I've attached the trim with Inkssentials™ Glossy Accents™.

Of course, I wanted to create a card to accompany my eggs. I enjoyed creating this ATC with fantasy colors. The patterned paper is from the All Dressed Up Stack (DCWV).Certainly not your typical Easter colors!

See the April 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things at pages 50-51 for further details of these projects.

ATCs - Beyond Trading: I Love Lucy

Welcome to my new column on pages 90-91 in the February 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things: ATCs - Beyond Trading. If you've been looking for ways to showcase these miniature pieces of art, I hope that you will find inspiration here.

When I first saw the Lucy stamps from the Stampsmith, I knew that they would fit my dollar store frame. With glitz, glitter, swirls, and curls supplied by the Filigree Heart from the Artful Stamper, this will be the perfect gift for the one in my family who "Loves Lucy." See what you think.

Now, all that I needed was a matching card. The stamped image below will bring back memories of happy hours spent together watching I Love Lucy. The Glitter Mat Stack(DCVW) provides the perfect sparkle.

You probably won't be surprised to find that the keys to success for these projects are Ranger® products: Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads, my favorite Archival™ Ink, Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper, and Ancient Golds™ embossing powder. Of course, as a Ranger Educator, I'm a little prejudiced!
The ideas are swirling around in my head for additional ways to display ATCs. The new year has yet to arrive and I can't wait to show you the April 2010 issue. Be sure to check back with me. I think you will find it "Eggs-actly" perfect.

Fanciful Flight Birdhouse with Card Gift Set

I was excited when I discussed this project for the April 2009 issue of Crafts ‘n Things with Dawn Gehring, managing editor. With birdhouse in hand, I envisioned stamped panels in the window openings that would match a stamped card set. When Dawn asked if the cards would fit inside the birdhouse, I remembered there had been larger houses on the top shelf at my local Hobby Lobby. With a trip back to the store, the project took on a new dimension. After removing the rope from inside the birdhouse and gluing the roof pieces together, I found that the birdhouse was a perfect repository for a 4 1/4” x 5 1/2” card set.
Now the real fun began. The patterned paper that I used, Twelfth Night from the Poetry Range by Scrapperdashery, is by my friend Judi Hodgkin. I’ve enjoyed using her papers since we met at Ranger several years ago. The stamp set, the Bird’s Nest from Oxford Impressions, is by fellow Tennessee stamper, Suzanne Melvin. Suzanne continues to amaze and inspire me with the variety of her collections and the quality of her stamps.

Here’s a “bird’s eye view” of the birdhouse:



Now, for the cards that were featured:


The birdhouse was painted with Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers. Images were stamped with Coffee Archival™ Ink and colored with Adirondack® Dye Ink Pads. For details, see pages 56 – 57 of the April 2009 issue of Crafts ‘n Things. For eight additional cards using the same supplies, see the previous post.

More from the Fanciful Flight Collection

I guess I might as well admit it. I got carried away and couldn’t stop. When I began to create cards for the “Fanciful Flight Birdhouse” feature for the April 2009 issue of Crafts ‘n Things, I kept thinking of additional ways to use the Bird’s Nest set (Oxford Impressions) on the Scrapperdashery Twelfth Night patterned paper.
Below, you’ll find the eight cards that were not published. After creating twelve different cards, I told myself that enough is enough – even though I still had more ideas. (As with the four cards and the envelops that were published, the images were stamped with Coffee Archival™ Ink and colored with Adirondack® Dye Ink Pads.) The Bird’s Nest is definitely a versatile set. I think that my next post will prove that.