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.

ATC’s: Beyond Trading – Shed New Light

As a child, each Halloween we enjoyed making a "lantern" from black construction paper by folding the paper in half lengthwise and cutting from the center out. Those memories inspired this windowed lantern, a perfect holder for these seasonal ATCs.











"Beware" of this stand alone ATC.


You'll find the directions for these Halloween creations on pages 74-75 of the October 2011 issue of Crafts 'n things. These great stamps are from Oxford Impressions: Halloween Party, Haunted, Trick or Treat, and Wicked. Stamping is easy with Adirondack® Dye Ink and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink on white gloss Inkssentials™ Surfaces Artist Trading Cards.

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!

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.

ATCs – Beyond Trading: Sweet Fairy Eyelet Ornament

When I first saw this image from Suzanne Melvin's Fairy Sweets plate (Oxford Impressions), I was fascinated. Her look is slightly impish, and I knew that she had to find a place on our already heavily decorated tree.

The ornament box is one that I created just for this project. You can find the pattern and instructions in the December 2010 issue of Crafts 'n things® at page 50. I used some of my favorite Ranger® products: Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks and Metallic Mixatives, Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink, Adirondack® Dye Ink, and Archival™ Ink. The crystal trim provides the perfect finish.
One little ornament might be lost on our tree. I think this little angel needs some friends!

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.

By the Sea Journal and Trinket Box

"Recycle. Restyle. Reuse." It's even on the cover. Long before "going green" became the trend, crafters enjoyed the thrill of transforming what some would have seen as trash into treasure. Such was the case with this tin and matching journal found in the August 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things. Who could guess that this textured vintage finish conceals primary paint colors. It's all in the products you use!


The photo images, tin trinkets, and sentiment are from the "By the Sea" plate by Oxford Impressions. For successful stamping with photo stamps, quality paper such as Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper is the key. Other supplies for this project include Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers, Tim Holtz™ Distress™ Crackle Paint™, Tim Holtz™ Distress™ Stickles, Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads, and Archival™ Ink.
What could be a better compliment for a special box to store your trinkets than a journal to record your memories? This bathing beauty will keep your secrets, and the packing from my husband's shirts has found new life.


The beautiful papers on the journal covers are from the All Dressed Up Stack by DCWV. In addition to the products for the tin, the journal uses Adirondack® Pigment Inks, Super Fine Detail™ Powders, and Inkssentials™ Glossy Accents™. The spiral binding coil is from one of my favorite vendors, Bonnie's Best Art Tools. (Here's a commercial: Not only does Bonnie have a great selection of specialized tools and products, she offers fabulous customer service. Just ask my husband. He loves it when my gift list has items from Bonnie's store. They're on a first name basis!)
For detailed instructions, see pages 66-67 of the August 2010 issue.

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.

30 Minute Card Ideas: Palm Trees and Cowgirls

My submissions for 30 Minute Ideas in the August 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things share little in common other than stamps from Oxford Impressions. That's one thing I enjoy - the opportunity to create without the constraint of a particular theme. Another plus is that the instructions are provided on the Crafts 'n Things site. It's probably no surprise that both projects feature Ranger® products.
My first project is a "Palm Tree" tag on page 59. The stamp is from the Travel Journal plate. Color is provided by a variety of Tim Holtz™ products: Adirondack® Color Wash™, Distress Ink Pads, Distress™ Embossing Powders, and Adirondack® Alcohol Inks.You can find the instructions and an even larger photo here.

The "Always Gets My Man" card (stamp from the Cowgirl Blues plate) is a definite contrast to the tropical tag. Archival™ Ink is a standard ink for many stampers, but are you aware of the fabulous colors beyond Jet Black? The cobalt ink used here is definitely rich with coloring is provided by Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads. You'll find the card on page 58, and the instructions are here.

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.

Better Backgrounds: Metal Effects

It may not seem romantic to some, but when my husband asks if I would like to accompany him to the home improvement store, I typically jump at the opportunity. It's bigger than any craft store I've ever seen and what an abundance of product. There's just something special about transforming a material that would typically be attached to your house into a lovely piece of art.
Two such examples of one of my latest hardware store projects may be found on page 58 of the June 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things. As would be expected, metal and Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks provide a winning combination. Here is a close-up of the first card. Any ideas as to where you might find this metal?

The second card features an Oxford Impressions image and sentiment from the My Story plate. A change in ink colors and what a different impression.

In contrast to the metals of my imagination, here's a background with a more traditional metal finish. This "gold" has the potential to provide a base for a fine art piece.

Need more metal inspiration? Check out my "Memories of Roses" in the April 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things.

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.