Ink It Up - ATCs for UIT Reveal

Time for challenge number 50 over at Use It Tuesday!  That means UIT has been around for over two years, and we are celebrating!  The challenge this time is to use uninked stamps.  And a bonus challenge - use gold for our 50th challenge!

I pulled out my Stampin Up stamp set I got last year when I ordered some water color pencils.  I hadn't touched the stamp set since I got it (other than to look at them and then put them back).  I thought this flower would make a beautiful simple ATC for a swap coming up.  I stamped it with brown Stampin Up ink on white cardstock.  Then I colored them with different yellow and orange water color pencils.  I matted them on some golden cardstock I have had for over a year.  To finish them off, I wrapped the bottom with gold Sew Easy thread and put a button to finish them off.

I asked some friends which color button they liked - white or yellow - and I got a mix of answers.  So, my finished set will have some yellow, some white, and some brown.  I have 17 to make, so a mix is kind of fun anyways :)

In other UIT news, we have a Facebook page now!  Come over and like it so you can get even more inspiration, reminders, and other fun posts from us! 

Now get creating with those uninked stamps.  Make sure to mention your hoarded item(s) and UIT when you post your project, and then link up with us for a chance to be spotlighted and to be a guest designer!  Projects are due Thursday, March 7.

Fall ATCs - Use It Tuesday!

Ready to use your stash?  Ready to dig into your hoarded things?  Well, dive in and join us for the new Use It Tuesday challenge.  Between now and Thursday, October 18, use some hoarded items and make something Fall related.  Then link up with UIT!

I have to admit I have had this challenge done for a few weeks already.  I decided to use my stash to make my Fall ATC (artist trading cards).  I group of friends exchange them, and they were "due" a few weeks ago.  My friends already have theirs in their little hands thanks to a very efficient organizer for our swap!

For these, I made the white and brown background.  I took printer paper and wrinkled it all up.  Then I flattened it out some and inked it with Tim Holtz distress ink.  Then I sprayed it with water and ironed it flat.  I then cut them to into 2x3 pieces (ATCs are 2.5x3.5).  Next I found some hoarded ribbon and some scraps of kraft cardstock.  I had just enough scrap kraft for the 17 ATCs I needed - no need to cut into my full sheets (which I hoard as well - kraft is just so yummy!).  The ribbon is all reclaimed from presents, name tags, and other random things.

Then I got to work cutting the squares.  Again I dug into my scrap bin and found enough maroon, golden yellow, and green to use.  I wrinkled these up as well to give them some depth.  Then I dug through my stash of random papers and found this cream color for the leaves.  It is actually dark green on the back, and I have no idea where it came from - which is probably a sign that I have had it for a very long time!  I had my Silhouette SD cut out the leaves, and then I added little vein lines with a Martha Stewart pen.  I ran then through my Xyron X and stuck them to the colored squared.  Some of the squares I got lined up perfectly and others are a little wonky.  I think both ways look good - a little character to this cards!

Don't forget to link up to Use It Tuesday with your projects!  One lucky person will get to be a guest designer!  And two lucky ladies (or gents) will have their projects featured as well!

Spring 2012 ATCs

So, my scrapping friends (including the ladies at The Paper Girls Challenge Blog) and I are about to trade another set of ATCs.  This time, the theme is "Spring."  And the idea for these took a lot longer than my others!  I thought of doing a two sided card with "April showers" and an umbrella on one side and "Bring May Flowers" on the other side.  But, my trial for those didn't turn out great.  Then I thought about a rainbow of flowers.  And again the trial wasn't what I wanted.  Then I had an image of butterflies and flowers in my head.  But, the thought of stamping and cutting a bunch of butterflies didn't sound like fun.  So, I decided to turn to another ScrapbookSteals MCM sketch.  I decided to use some random paper my MIL had given me with a bunch of punch outs.  I had more than enough flowers from the punch outs to use (inspired by Use It Tuesday), so I looked for a sketch with a large flower spot and then a sentiment spot for the Spring stamp I knew I wanted to use.  MCM #47 turned out to be the answer.  From there, it was easy!  I added some green ribbon I had and ink, and it came together quickly.  Here are all 28 cards plus two of my favorites:

 

 

 

 

ATCs

A group I am in on Facebook has done two ATC trades that I have taken part in - a fall and a spring theme. ATCs are artist trading cards - 2.5x3.5in cards - that you decorate as you see fit.  Here is a sample of my winter cards:

I used solid grey cardstock as the background, kraft paper, and then scraps of random patterned paper.  I cut snowflakes out of the kraft paper using my Silhouette.  I hand-cut "skis" out of the patterned paper, and then I tied them with some twine (Twinery).  It was pretty simple and easy, but I like how it turned out.  Skiing is one of my favorite things about winter (anything to deal with snow), so I thought it would be fun to make cards about that.