February Faith Art Artist Trading Cards

Hello friends.  Today I'm sharing the next 4 ATC's (Artist Trading Cards).  In case you are new to the term .... ATC's are little 2.5" x 3.5" works of art.  I created these along with the other ladies in the "52 Card Pickup" class / group.  If I keep moving at this pace I will have my revolving ATC holder filled up before I know it!

These days a lot of people spend a lot of time doing physical activities in order to "transform" their bodies into what they think it should be.  Exercise is certainly a great thing.  But I'm wondering how much time we spend transforming who we are "by the renewing of our mind".  When we spend more time focusing our minds on God and His word we see a different kind of transformation.  Often helping us to become someone we didn't even know we could be.  A transformation  that can allow you to forgive someone you never thought you could ...   that allows you to feel peace at times when in the past you would have felt stressed ...   that allows you to feel joy during difficult times in your life ... and more.  I LOVE this verse and all the power it packs!! 

I'm linking this one to the buttterfly challenge at "All Sorts".

Just a few words from a great song by King and Country.  I get up everyday and hope that something that I say or do can be proof for others that His love is real.  

Listen HERE.

Another one of my favorite songs because of the lyrics.  Even though we will never be worthy, and will always be sinful, He knows it and still loves us!!  

Listen HERE.

I'm linking this one to Word Art Wednesday's "love" challenge and the "tie one on" challenge at Unruly Paper Arts.

Trying to achieve perfection results in my defeat.  I have to remind myself often that what I'm doing will never be perfect and that's ok.  

Hope you all have a great week and find some time to get crafty!
hugs,
Melisa

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PROJECT DETAILS

ATC #1

Stamp image : "Tiny Butterfly" and "Faith Text Background" Stampabilities (Hobby Lobby)

The background for this card was created by rubbing on Tumbled Glass and Mustard Seed Distress Inks with one of the Ranger Inkssential blending tools.  Dye ink drys fast so I sprayed my paper first with matte acrylic sealer so that the ink would blend better vs. soaking into the paper. I think it helped and I like how the blue and yellow blended together.  I stamped the background with the "Faith Text Background" by Stampabilities (Hobby Lobby) with black pigment ink (Tsukineko VersaFine Onyx Black).  I stamped the butterflies on white cardstock with Momento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic Markers.  I used an oil pastel to grunge up the edges.

ATC #2

Stamps  : old Technique Tuesday (heart) and Inkadinkado (wings)

Rollagraph Tool with SU stamp wheel (music notes on background)

Butterfly punch : Martha Stewart

The background on this one was created with watercolor paper.  I spritzed the paper first with water, stamped with watered down blue acrylic paint and a chapstick lid.  If the paint does not run, then you can spray it again with more water.  

You can see more ways to use acrylic paint on your projects on this recent blog post HERE.

ATC #3

Stamps : Hero Arts "Classic Bloom"

The background on this one was created like the one above using pink acrylic paint, a chapstick lid and a small lid from a hand sanitizer bottle.  The flower petals colored with water color paint and the center with Copic Markers.

ATC #4

Stamps : Gina K. Designs "Springtime Silhouette

The background for this one was created a while back.  You can check out the tutorial HERE. 

The butterfly was stamped and embossed on yellow cardstock.

You can check out all my Faith Art HERE
You can check out all my ATC's HERE
You can check out more background inspiration HERE

January Faith Art - Artist Trading Cards

Hello friends!  A quick post today to share my January artist trading cards for the "52 Card Pick-up" group.  I didn't sign up for the class til late january so I'm playing catch up.  The class / group is taught by Stephanie Ackerman.  Stephanie had the idea to alter a deck of playing cards.  I've been working on trying to fill up my Revolving ATC holder for a while now, so all my cards will be for that.  If you check out Stephanie's blog you will see she loves faith art and the grunge look.  She is known for using hearts as her main element on projects.   If you need some inspiration to get you started on a project like this then please join the class.  Details HERE.  There are lots of creative ways you can use your cards beyond the standard ATC's.

Create them to add to the front of cards or scrapbook layouts.  Make a mini album out of them.  One member is doing a set for her grandson.  Use some of them as book marks.  The sky's the limit.

As a part of the class she creates an ATC each week, and share's some techniques or idea's that she uses to create hers.  But you can do what ever you like.  I have a lot of stamps .... so my first cards will focus on how I can use them to create faith art cards .... like the Hero Arts chair image above.  And I LOVE butterflies, so I will try to make them the thing that I try to work in as much as possible.

Normally ATC's are 2.5" x 3.5" and if I were doing a swap I would stick to that.  But since this is for my Revolving ATC holder, I'm making them a little wider to compensate for having to punch the notches to attach them.  So I am adding 3/8".  

The other fun thing about doing them for me is that I can hang things over the edges without the constraints of the standard 2.5" x 3.5" size, like the ruffle on card #1.

Tips of idea's for creating my cards :

Card #1

1.  Spray book paper and add random stamp patterns in black ink.

2.  Stamp heart on green tissue paper.  Use tissue paper to create a ruffle and then stamp polka dots over it.  

3. Use oil pastel to add that grunge look (Stephanie shares another product that she uses for this).

Stamp Image : SU

Card #2

I created this background a while back and shared the tutorial HERE.

Stamp Image : Hero Arts

Card #3

This one is just patterned paper with script stamp over it.  One of the things I like to use to add just a little random pattern to a background is the "Rollagraph" stamp wheel by Clear Snap.  I know that SU sells them as well.  It allows you to lightly apply the image / ink in small area's. So when I talk about randomly stamping the background with an image I've either used my Rollagraph wheel or added ink to a background stamp only in small area's.  Hopefully that makes sense.  

Stamps : Gina K. Designs

Card #4

Consider creating a background by typing the words over and over again and then printing them on your paper.  I used words from a new Christian song by Colton Dixon "You Are"

On the back of the card I'm either printing the full bible verse or some personal journaling about what the verse means to me.

Hope you have a blessed day!!

hugs, Melisa

You can check out all my Faith Art HERE
You can check out all my ATC's HERE
You can check out more background inspiration HERE

New Mixed Media Class by Stephanie Ackerman!!

I just signed up to take Stephanie's class and wanted to spread the word.  This is one of the projects we will be making in her online class.  Check out all the details HERE.

Class fee is only $25.  She also has a doodling class HERE.

Happy Monday!

Melisa