A Pair of ATCs

 I have a pair of ATCs to share today for the new Tag-Along and ATC challenge which is just over half way through the first month.  It's amazing just how much detail can be incorporated in a small space and if you've not tried making these little pieces of art I'd certainly recommend having a go - you might be pleasantly surprised.  If you decide to go along with making tags, they can of course be larger, although there's nothing to say they can't be pretty small as well 😉. 

 For this pair I used a couple of images from a paper handkerchief - the packet was actually purchased not for blowing noses but because I'd thought the images would be ideal for ATCs or perhaps card toppers..  I carefully separated the layers of the tissue and used Mod Podge to apply the fashionistas to blank card (2.5 x 3.5 inches). The first one had some die cut 'sequins' and a bit of gilding added and the second  had some background text stamped carefully to add a bit of extra interest.  The words on both were produced on the computer and cut into little labels.

Images torn from tissue handkerchief, applied using Mod Podge
Words produced using Microsoft Word
Background Text stamp was a magazine freebie from a while back

Love a Duck!!

 There were a few ducks loitering on my desk, left over from a previous card so I brought out some of my snippets to cut a few more components to turn them into a card for the Playground challenge # 506.  I started with a fairly large snippet of patterned paper and added touches of green ink to turn it into more of a scene.  Dies from various sets were then used to cut items from some of my Snippets and there is a picture of a few of the left overs. As usual, apart from a card blank, everything else here came from my Snippets mountain.

In my head I rather imagined these ducks were maybe learning to fly by jumping off the bridge with the option of a safe landing into the water 🤣🤣.

                                                       

Ducks and Bulrushes - unbranded dies
Bridge, Tree trunk and Clouds - from Playing in the Rain Stampin' Up (retired)
Ripples in Water - die from Gummiapan Easter Calendar exclusive set

Why not have a rummage in your own Snippets collections to make a card for the challenge -

lovely prizes for the lucky winner

While we're talking challenges, I hope that the Playground management won't mind if I remind you that the next Allsorts challenge is a special Birthday Event with some great prizes to be won.

Allsorts Challenge # 823

The theme for the current Allsorts Challenge has been chosen by Lynne and is **Paper Piecing** with as usual the option of *Anything Goes*.  Prize this time  is  a voucher to spend at Personal Impressions. They stock a wide range of crafty goodies.

I really like this style of paper piecing and ended up making two cards because I was unable to choose between the two stamp sets which I pulled out as  being suitable for this technique..  In both cases the images were stamped onto the backgrounds and then again onto some Gelli prints using archival ink.  The Gelli print ones were carefully fussy cut using scissors and then adhered (paper pieced) in place to match parts of the stamping.

Acorn and Sentiment - Blueprint Sketch style stamp from Stampers Anonymous
Flowers - Abstract Florals by Stampers Anonymous collection
Sentiment - computer generated
Background on Second card - from a Prima paper pad (not recent)

Tag Along

 I have another project to share for the new Tag Along and ATC challenge which launched recently.  This time I've made a tag from a piece of corrugated pizza box which a kind friend let me have.  These were brand new pieces so no greasy remnants of cheese or tomato and they have nice fine corrugations.  I started by cutting the tag shape and then carefully peeled away some of the top layer to reveal the inside layer in places.  Distress Oxide was smooshed on and then a background texture stamp used to add some interest.  I then found scraps of cream card and stamped the chevrons, flowers, leaves and the word before cutting everything out with scissors ready to assemble into what I hope is a pleasing composition.  I'm quite enjoying this foray into making tags and ATCs as a change from the usual greetings cards.  Why not have a go yourselves - you might just discover a whole new interest.  After all variety is the spice of life, or so 'they' say 😂😂

Stamps - all from various Crafty Roo sets (sadly no longer trading)

Generosity

 Thanks to the generosity of a lovely crafting friend I now own a set of the hexagon slatted dies and my first card design is, I suppose, quite predictable in that I've chosen to use a bee die although there are many other ways in which these could be used - they come in varying sizes too which makes them very versatile..  I opted for a CAS style here, cutting the hexagon shape using all three dies taped together.  This was then backed with a yellow layer and adhered to a white card blank.  The bee was cut from yellow and black card, layered up and given some shine using Wink of Stella.  I deliberately used the slats on the diagonal as a change from either vertical or horizontal.  A simple computer generated sentiment has been added.

Hexagon Slatted Dies - Craft Addiction UK
Bee - Sizzix Bee #663852 (2 sizes)
Sentiment - produced using MS Word

Tag-Along Challenge

 A new challenge started yesterday and you can read all about it HERE.  This gives us an opportunity to make either Tags, AT Cards or AT Coins - all great ways of making Art, a change from greeting cards and, particularly in the case of the ATCs to work on a somewhat smaller scale.  Tags of course come in various sizes so plenty of scope there too.  

My share today is an ATC (measuring 3.5 x 2.5 inches) which I started by trimming a Gelli print to the correct size and adhering to the card blank to form the 'sky'.  A recent tidy-up and rummage amongst my pot(s) of useful bits and bobs came up with this city skyline just calling out to be brought into play.  I'd been racking my brains recently for ways of using the die cut drummer and the idea of a traditional marching band popped into my head.  This small die came along with a random selection of others when I purchased a 'mixed bag' of miscellaneous small dies with no idea of the contents.  I think I mentioned that I like the odd surprise even if it does tax my brain occasionally 🤣.  I simply stamped a few musical notes and added a 'sticker' phrase which I'd produced on the computer.  Time now methinks to work on some ideas for tags .

Cityscape - from a magazine give-away set ( from way back in 2018)
Drummers - mixed bag of small dies (unbranded)
'Sticker' - hand made by me using MS Word

Snippets Challenge #505

 I'm popping along to the Snippets Playground with the card made using the dies from Day 8 of the Gummiapan Easter calendar (the final instalment).  This was such a fun set of dies including a cat, a Vespa style scooter and a cloud.  Added to this there was a scarf and a really dinky crash helmet.  I delved into some of my older magazine give-away dies for a couple of bushes and a sun.  Also I remembered as I was stamping the sentiment that sometime in the past I'd received a mini scooter die as a gift from Gummiapan so brought that into play at the last minute.  Everything on this card came from my Snippets mountain and I must apologise for not thinking about saving the small remnants to take a photo before sweeping them into the bin.

Ovals - dies from Tonic which I use quite regularly
Sentiment - came with the magazine give away dies (bushes and sun)