Trena's Creative Space

#100daysofStencilGirl - ATCs with Fun Backgrounds and Painted Flowers

Hello Beautiful!

Today I'm sharing my art piece for another #100daysofStencilGirl day.

This was an easy and fun way to mass-produce ATCs. Stencils are so much fun to work with!

To see many ideas for using stencils, check out the hashtag #100daysofstencilgirl. 

I used a Tulip sponge to apply acrylic paint and inks through the stencil Couture ATC Patterns L916 for the background,  designed by me. If you want a sharp image, sponge off excess paint for a dry brush technique. If you want a painterly/blurry image, do not sponge off. The harder you press, the more the paint will spread under the stencil.  You may want to practice a few times to find the balance of paint and pressure. 

After the background dried, I painted flowers on each card. 

After the flowers dried, I added black outlines and dots in the centers to make the flower colors pop.

I used one of the ATCs to make a greeting card.

 

#trenabrannonart #stencilgirl  #stencils #myfavoritethings #mft #cardstock #goldendpaints #cremcoat  #paperartsy #decoart  #jacquard #scribbles #acrylicpaint #rangerink #judikins  #sakura #uniball #paperartsy #acrylicpaints #woke #atc #greetingcard #art 

Take Care and Stay Positive!

Row House ATCs

It's been a while since I got to hang out with my ATC Sisters and I love the theme this month!  For December, our theme is Row Houses.    We were given some guidelines to get us started. As Artists do, we added some of our own style to create a unique and colorful neighborhood. :o)

To make my row houses, I started with a stamped image. It took me three minutes to stamp 26 houses, and hours to color them all. :o)  For the base I used a variety of techniques - coloring direct with markers, indirect with markers and color sprays, as well as a few twinkling H20 colors.  I didn't worry too much about going outside the lines, as I knew I was going to cut them out. 

 

To add some detail, I used markers and metallic pens around the windows and doors. 

 Sharing a photo of all our neighborhood:

 

I mounted them on a board (from my ATC sister Sandy) covered in design paper (from my ATC Sister Cindy) and hung in my creative space.

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!!

InLinkz.com

April ATCs - Journaling

It's been a while since I've participated in my ATC Live Trade Group.  I did get to see a few of my ATC sisters a couple weeks ago at Shelly's place.  I was also pleasantly surprised to meet in person one of my yahoo group sisters from the enjoyMichaelStrong group - Laura!  I also meet a new stampin sister Lynette, Laura's sister.  What a fabulous afternoon of coloring and chatting - creative juices everywhere! The next day, I saw a couple more of my ATC sisters at the Creative Cards and Cuts. It was their grand opening week and they had some great deals.

Our theme this month is journaling. There's so many possibilities! For the background I used Dylusions ink sprays -  love the vibrant colors.  I was inspired by to get out my spray inks by some lovely pieces my ATC sister Cindy shared at our get together. I spritzed a sheet of Cryogen with water, then spritzed color with  ink sprays. I laid a second piece of cardstock over the sprayed piece and pressed it light with my fingers. When I pulled it apart I had a mirror image of vivid colors.

 

Next, I cut up the cardstock into ATC size pieces, laid a stencil (The Crafters Workshop) over them and sprayed with white ink.  I flipped the stencil over onto more ATCs.

 

I chose a variety of stamps to add different images to each ATC. I combined drawing and coloring tools - markers, paints, pens, color pencils - to create a journaling buffet. 

I wrote a special phrase or word on each one.

Thanks for visiting!!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!!

Poinsettias and Weigh In Day

Sharing a couple designs I did over at my Stampin' Headquarters.  Please click on the photo to see the details of how I made them.

   

   

 

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

ATCs for December

Sharing ATC designs I did over at my Stampin' Headquarters.  Please click on the photo to see the details of how I made them.

  

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Sharing Designs From Trena's Stampin' HQ

 Wow! I did not realize how busy I've been at my Heaquarters!  I'm sharing some designs I created over there. Please click on the photo to see the details of how I made it.

        

       

      

       

         

    

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

August ATCs I received

Had a great time with my ATC sisters, as usual! Sharing the lovely Artist Trading Cards I received.

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

ATCs for August

Our theme this month is watercolor - one of my favorite ways to color!!   I wanted to make each one a little different and then we  always have one special ATC for the grab bag. 

1. Ink up Lockhart images with gold ink pad and stamp onto water color paper.  Sprinkle gold  embossing power and heat set.  
2. Repeat with black ink and black embossing powder for the Crackerbox Palace image
3. Add color to the images with markers. Start with lightest shades and cover the largest area within an embossed area,  then spread with water brush. Allow to dry. Color the next shade covering less area, then spread with water brush. Allow to dry. Repeat for all the areas.
4. Cut out images with scissors or die cut.
5. For each ATC background, ink up large flower and leaf images with gold ink and stamp.  Use gray and Judi-kins image for the Crackerbox Palace back ground.
6. Add color to the backgrounds with markers using light shades  or a small amount of dark shade, then spread with water brush. Allow to dry.
7. Give each Lockhart image a border with a gold leafing pen.  Allow to dry.
8. Spritz the flower background ATCs with a mini mister filled with water and one little scoop Perfect Pearls for a touch of bling. Allow to dry.
9. Add a border to all the backgrounds with a gold leafing pen.  Use a fine tip gold pen to add color to Crackerbox Palace woman's bracelet.
10. Adhere images to background ATCs.   You'll notice one of the ATCs has two little gold elements - they are from The Robin's Nest. That because I was speeding with the gold leafing pen and made a le boo boo. They are covering up a gold blob. :o)

Stamps: Lockhart, Stacy Stamps , Judi-Kins, Crackerbox Palace
Paper:  Canson XL watercolor 140lb cold press
Ink: Encore Ultimate Metallic gold ink pad, StazOn stone gray ink pad, Stampin' Up! basic black craft,  Tombow Dual Brush Pens
Accessories: heat tool, Stampin' Up! black & gold detail embossing powder,  water brush,  Spellbinders Nestabilities, Sakura gold metallic pen, Krylon gold leafing pen

NOTE: Lockhart rubber stamps come mounted on wood. I unmounted all my Lockhart images as part of my journey to save space.

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

ATCs for June Received

   

OOps.  I noticed I posted my June ATCs as July. I'm moving quickly through the summer in mind. :o)  Now that I have corrected the month, I'm sharing the ATCs I received at our ATC Live Trade on Saturday.  I really enjoy my time with this group of lovely, talented woman!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

ATCs for June

This month our theme is weaving - something I have never done. :o)  So..... as I thought about my project and looked at my supplies, I decided to use yarn. As I learned, not a good weaving material - too many fibers. ::o)  I had fun. I just hope they stay together long enough for me to trade.

1. Used my new favorite medium of wax to create bright backgrounds, ironing on 8 1/2 x 11 pieces of card stock.
2. Cut them into slightly smaller ATC sizes  and adhered them to black background layers. 
3.  After I viewed a couple Youtube videos, I was ready to weave. I laid out several pieces of yarn horizontally on my desk and then taped them at both ends.
4. I then cut several layers of yarn and started weaving it through. Oops, that cute strawberry paper is in the photo accidentally. It's from Papertrey Ink and will be used on a project I'll be posting in a few days featuring a new Hambo Stamps digi image.
5. I used my Xyron to create a double sided adhesive piece of card stock.  I peeled back one side and laid a sticky side onto my long weaved piece.  I trimmed the extra card stock away.  I cut up the weaved yarn into small pieces and set aside.
6. Inked up basket of yard image and stamped onto card stock. Repeated for several images.
7. Used 2 or 3 markers from the same color family to add color to the image. Cut out each image and ran through Xyron.
8. Assembled each ATC.  Used glitter pen to add a little bling.

Stamps: Lockhart  
Paper:  Cryogen White,  Sunday International ATC cards, Peddler's Den Glossy
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
Accessories: Copic Markers, Xyron machine, Sakura gold metallic & clear glitter pens, tape, Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares,  Crayola Metallic FX Crayons, yarn

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

ATCs for May - Featuring a Cool Background

I learned this background technique from Dee Gruenig. She did it on a cigar box on the Carol Duvall Show years ago. Remember that show!! I miss Carol and all her guests...

I used Dee's technique on glossy paper as a colorful background for my May ATCs.  The technique is similar to the polished stone technique, but using the sea sponge and metallic inks give a nice textured look. This month, we are featuring hand drawn art - one of my favorite things to do!! For my drawings I chose the words  hope, love, joy displayed in American Sign Language.

1. Wet the sponge and wring it out well. Put a small amount of ink on plastic sheet. Dip the sponge into ink and dab on glossy paper, leaving space for other colors and for the base color to show through.
2. Repeat for remaining colors.   Dab until you like the results.
3. Allow to dry. If your card stock curls, after it dries lay several books on top over night.
4. Cut sheets into ATC size, 3 1/2 x 2 1/2".
5. Cut out circles for the focal point of your ATCs.
6. Draw lightly with a pencil, or stamp images. Complete the detail with a pen and erase pencil lines.
   
7. Adhere layers and images.
   

Images: hand drawn
Paper: black card stock, Stampin' Up! white glossy,  black glossy paper
Inks: Posh Rainbow metalic inks pink,  silver, violet, teal
Accessories: Stampin' Up! 1 3/8"  circle punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities classic circle die cut, sea sponge, plastic sheet, pencil, Sakura Micron .005 pen, eraser

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Shimmering Background for ATCs

For this months ATC trade our theme is architecture.  I wanted to do a shimmering background and use supplies I bought but had not used yet. :o)

1. Spritz watercolor paper with water.  Use paint brush to spread Shimmerz paints around in random fashion. Dip the brush in water to help spread color smoothly.  Use a variety of colors to fill sheet of paper.
2. While paper is still wet, spritz  with Tim Holtz recipe for  Perfect Pearl mist recipe. I used gold Perfect Pearls  and yellow ink  mixture. Dab randomly with a paper towel.
3. Allow paper to dry. TIP: If your paper is curled when it dries, set heavy books on top over night to flatten.
4. Cut into ATC size - 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches.
5. In up images with black ink and stamp on individual ATCs.
6. Ink up images with gold  ink and  stamp on individual ATCs, sprinkle with embossing powder and heat set.

Stamps:  Club Scrap, Sunday International Art-Kure (retired)
Inks:  StazOn jet black, Encore Ultimate Metallic gold ink pad
Paper: Canson XL Watercolor 140 lb cold press
Accessories: Shimmerz pink, sky blue, ultra marine, celery, lilac, Perfect Pearls Mist, Stampin' Up! gold detail emboss powder, heat gun

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena           

ATCs Received in January

Here are the fabulous ATCs I traded for this past weekend!  We have such a talented group!  I was so excited to see my friend Susan who I hung out with in November  when I visited my daughter in California.  See here and here to see how much fun we had.

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena  

Background Technique for ATCs

For my ATC live trade this month I decided to use a technique I learned from MaryJo Mcgraw at the Carson City Rubberstamp Convention.  I pulled out previously stamped and colored images for this project. To create the background:

1. Tear strips of Eclipse tape of different widths and lay down on full sheet of cardstock.
2. Use direct to paper technique to lay down color - slide your ink pad across the paper. I used a variety of ink pads and got various results. I suggest you use what you have to find what you like.
3. After laying down the first color, move the strips and lay down the second color. Repeat until you get the results you want.  I created four different backgrounds with variations of ink pads.
4. For one of the sheets, I added glitter, using the Pearl's Mist Tim Holtz recipe.
5. Cut card stock to ATC size pieces. I like a boarder around my designs, so I trim a slightly smaller. 
6. Lay cut out images over ATCs to find the combinations you like.
7. Stamp a black image as part of the background.
8. Adhere cutout images on top.
9. Adhere background layer to an ATC size (2.5" x 3.5") base card. 
10. Use glitter and glitter pens to add a little bling and highlights.

       

  

For background papers I used:

Stamps: Judikins, Club Scrap
Inks: various as shown in photos, StazOn jet black
Paper: Stampin' Up! whisper white, Georgia Pacific
Accessories: heat gun, Sakura glitter pens, glitter, Eclipse tape

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena            

ATC Vase on Inked Background

I needed one "beautiful" ATC this month for our grab bag.  I believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and is not just how something looks. I do enjoy vivid colors and in an effort to create something beautiful, I chose to use bright colors with gold. I used one of the inked backgrounds from the technique I did a for my ATC trade last month. To see directions for the background, click here. For the rest of the card:

1. Rub watercolor paper with anti-static bag.
2. Ink up vase image with gold ink.
3. Stamp vase onto watercolor paper. Sprinkle embossing power and heat set.
4. Add color to the vase sections with markers by adding small dots of color in a corner of the area and then spread the color with the water brush.
5. Cut out image.
6. Ink up the distress image with gold ink.
7. Stamp onto background on an angel in one corner. Sprinkle embossing power and heat set.
8. Cut a tiny strip off the bottom and one side of the ATC.
9. Adhere to a black layer that is cut ATC size (2.5" x 3.5").  Adhere vase image in corner.
10. Be sure to sign the back of your little art piece!

Stamps: Mini Cloisonné Containers MS334EZ , Texturizing Stamp Set MS332EZ
Inks: Encore Ultimate Metallic gold ink pad
Paper: Fabriano Artistico Bright White Watercolor Paper Block 140lb, Stampin' Up! basic black
Accessories: Tombow Markers N15, 055, 535, 905, 925, Stampin' Up! gold detail powder & embossing buddy, heat gun, water brush

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Today is ATC Trade Day!

For my ATCs this month, I used the background ink techniques I learned in Peggy's class. Note: Be careful with the inks, they will stain. I worked in the kitchen close to the sink. :o)

1. Run water over watercolor paper, shake off excess and then lay on paper towels to dry. If the paper is curled after it dries, place heavy books on it overnight to flatten.
2. In an aluminum pan, spritz water onto watercolor paper. Squeeze a few drops of color. The color will spread in the water. Tilt paper around to allow color to spread over paper. Once you see how the color spreads, you can decide if you want to spritz more water. NOTE: You can also start with dry paper and then spritz.
3. Add second color. Tilt paper around to allow colors to mix and spread over paper.
4. Repeat for third color.  For the red background, I started with yellow, then orange and then red. For the blue background, I started with blue, then violet, then yellow. Be careful not to over mix or you will have all one color. If you miss an area, use your finger or a paint brush to move color to that area. You can also leave areas untouched. The fun in this technique is that it is different every time it looks really cool!
5. Allow to completely dry. If the paper is curled after it dries,  place heavy  books on it overnight to flatten.
6. Cut to ATC size - 2.5" x 3.5". 
7. Use quill pen and black ink to draw images.  Allow to dry.
8. Use white pen to add highlights.

Paper:   Watercolor Paper 140lb hot press
Inks: India Inks  blue, violet, yellow, orange, red, and black
Accessories:  quill pen (the kind without a refill), Sharpie white paint pen

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

June ATC Live Trade

Yesterday was our June meeting for my ATC Live Trade group.  We spent time trading, sharing ideas, and making a folded ATC.  This month's theme was wedding/romance.  We make one special ATC with the theme to put in our grab bag.  The rest of the cards can be along the line of the theme or what ever your creative heart desires.   Someone also shares technique or demos an idea.  This month we did folded ATCs.

    

Here is my grab bag ATC for this month.

       

 

ATCs I collected

What a great group of talented and nice artists!!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

ATCs for February

Here are some ATCs I prepared our February trade. I've been hooked on photo stamping and I printed small  photos for ATCs. We have a grab bag trade each month. This month it was a itty bitty card. I printed an itty bitty photo and put a light house and sail boat in it (Alextamping). Unfortunately, I missed our meeting, insert sad face... Oh well, more ATCs to trade for next time!

All the photos are of the sky - photos that Sandy H shared with the group for a swap.

 
      
        

Stamps: Stampscapes and Alexamping
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cottage Ivy, Summer Sky, Stampin' Up! white craft
Paper: Stampin' Up! whisper white & assorted colors
Accessories:  Judi-Kins opaque white embossing powder, white gel pen, small stipple brush

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena  

January ATC Group Gathering

Hello Everyone!!! I have missed posting. I hope everyone is having a lovely year so far - I am!!!

I'm sharing my ATCs I made and also the wonderful ATCs I've received at the last few meetings. I  realized I had not been sharing - oh!  We moved our meeting place to The Atlanta Bread Company in Winfield, IL. If you live in the area and would like to join us, we'd love to have you!!  We meet on the first Saturday of the month at 3:30. We eat, we laugh, we share, we laugh, we hug, and sometimes we create in real time.  This month, I did a Copic demo and we colored - one of my favorite things to do!! Next month, we're going to learn about felting. The group members do a variety of arts & crafts and someone always brings great projects and tips to share.

       

Supplies: All the images are from Close to My Heart. I colored the images using Copics markers. On the penguin cards I sponged the snow lines in and created the smooth skies using the airbrush system. I invested in a mini air compressor.   I absolutely dig it!!   Where you see the snowflake embellishment - that's where I made a "le boo boo." :o)  I edged the cards with a silver or gold Krylon pen.

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

September ATC Group

Sharing the ATC's I made for the September trade.

 

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena