Hugs & Kisses ATC's - Ankarika Craft - Mood Board inspiration

 Hi there! 

Today I'm leaving you an entry about ATC - Artist Trading Card. A quick reminder of what it is: it's a fairly small form of handicraft, which I personally call the artist's personal business card. Following this path, I always do my best to make ATCs that reflect my style, my characteristic artistic preferences and I think that I managed to capture 90% of these features here. The only thing missing is the sewing on the machine.

As every month, I encourage everyone to take part in our challenge. All you have to do is add your art work to the comments section of the Dusty FANattics Facebook group for a chance to win one of two amazing prizes of $50 (AUD) on purchases from their store. I can't wait to see your work on the Dusty FANAttics group.

I recorded the entire creative process and I successively publish it on my IG Stories, I cordially invite you to subscribe to my account to receive up-to-date notifications about what is going on. My ATC are three in the set, they have standard dimensions of 2.5 inch x 3.5 inch. They are kept in the theme of an enchanted garden and a fairy-tale world of gnomes. The dominant color is green in various shades, with the addition of orange-apricot, brown and white.

The background is a scrapbooking paper from the "Breeze of dreams" collection by Margaret Paper Design. I used the leftovers from my previous projects. Paper is embossed with a 3D embossing folder from Sizzix with a leaf motif, highlighted with different shades of Finnabair waxes. The edges of the ATC, as well as the edges of the cardboard in places, are highlighted with brick orange wax and thanks to this, when looking at them from the side, they are beautifully exposed, adding special character to the project. On the prepared base, I applied a stencil pattern with wild flowers. However, it disappeared under the composition as more layers were added. You can only see it partially at the edges here and there. Sometimes it happens... ;)

The main accent are brilliant chipboard gnomes holding cute hearts in front of them. Their beards are shiny white thanks to the flecks that imitate snow. The caps, shoes and hearts are colored with a marker pen, and all contours are highlighted with a black felt-tip pen. At the bottom I put the words "xoxoxoxo" and "hugs & kisses". And.. cute dragonfly flies above.

The composition mainly consists of paper cut-outs  from the "Breeze" collection. There are white doors, three different tags, and a whole bunch of leaves. All these elements are stained with vintage paste. In addition, I added some dried, tiny flowers, green moss, a tiny bow, a few larger, white pebbles and sprinkled green mini-balls. ATC's have white splashes.

How do you like my fairy-tale form of  artist trading card? I'm very curious if you do ATC and under what circumstances you hand it over to someone. Share your answers with me in the comments section.

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Thank you for visiting and feel free to come back to read and see another project - for children.

Ankarika Craft (Fb)        Ankarika Craft (IG)

You're the best card set - Ankarika Craft

 Hi there!

Today I present you twin cards made according to the same outline, mirror image with few major differences. I did them both for the 52 cards per year challenge in the Cudna Paczka group. My card in shades of blue contains the obligatory element - tracing paper - which I used to make the leaves. A piece of paper in shades of gray is my own idea for a card no. 21 with corrugated cardboard as an obligatory element. I made it during a live stream on the mentioned group and thus I encourage you to see this recording in your free time. Both cards were created with the use of the coolest chipboads that I have ever used in my crafty life - Dusty Attic! :) Who visits me here on a regular basis knows that hardly any art work is created without these wonderful cardboard shapes - cards fly as an inspiration to a chipboard manufacturer from Australia.

This time scrapbooking paper from the "Love me tender" collection by Margaret Paper Design went only to the inner part, as a base for wishes. Outside, I arranged spatially three layers of corrugated cardboard, glued with white paper to obtain an aesthetic frame. After cutting the corrugated cardboard to the appropriate pieces, I secured it with a black/white gesso (each card with a different color), and then the spines of the cardboard were drawn with white/blue acrylic paint. Then I embossed the corrugated cardboard using 3D folders from Sizzix. I used different folders and you can see the difference in embossing.

On top I put a piece of white/blue lace, torn white/gray gauze under flower arrangements, beautiful bows made from vintage style and satin ribbons sticking out on the side and a string. Big white flowers, smaller black ones, small white and tiny blue flowers - I made myself from dies. Among the flowers you can see delicate blue tracing paper leaves, a larger cardboard one and a few smaller ones from the set. On both cards, I placed mini dragonflies secured with black/white gesso, and then delicately highlighted them with Prima waxes.

Around the flowers, the composition is complemented by single bricks creating an imitation of a gray/beige wall. I used the skeleton of this structure in my earlier projects and I have such bricks left - they fit perfectly here. The gray card is a gift for a young girl on the occasion of passing her final exams in the field of construction. For this reason, there was a pile of books, a construction helmet, screws and the words "You're the best 2022" on the job. In the nooks and crannies you can see light grey tiny balls.

A blue and beige card is a wedding gift for a couple who like forget-me-nots. The focal point is a cast frame with a photo, and the whole is gracefully complemented by the inscription "all you need is love". At the top and bottom, as well as on the circle that says "Be happy", I put on small 3D droplets from Nuvo. Here and there small pearl additions stick out, and in the gaps there are small silver balls. Both cards are fitted with a string for hanging. I believe that corrugated cardboard gives a lot of creative possibilities in scrapbooking, you can create nice combinations with it, and besides, it is easy to obtain, because probably everyone has a box at home. I am very curious about your interpretations of the use of corrugated cardboard in projects. Thank you for your visit!

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I'm in the process of writing an entry about interesting scrapbooking groups on Fb, I'm collecting opinions to cover the topic as fully as possible. If you want to share any thoughts on this topic with me - please do not hesitate to contact me. Have a nice week.

Ankarika Craft (Fb)        Ankarika Craft (IG)

There is only one happiness... - Ankarika Craft

Hi there!

You can see my totally unrestrained artistic soul, today. This is one of the few projects that I have done in my life completely without the interference of other people. Projects made to order have their charm, meeting the expectations of the client is a fascinating challenge, but free artistic space is just something huge! Okay, come read what I did.

I'm presenting a wall decor in A5 size covered with canvas on a wooden frame. I changed the concept for this project several times. Initially, it was supposed to be upright and without flowers. I prepared round moulds and... I changed the idea.. This project is my subjective vision of the coexistence of two people. It doesn't matter if they are a couple, whether they love each other, what gender they are or what age they are... It is about two people, each of whom presents different values, dispositions and life priorities. 

Note that among the elements I use on the design, you will find those that are associated with delicacy: lace, glitter, flower buds, butterflies, gauze, mini beads... But next to it, in complete harmony, there are slightly bolder elements, such as: torns, dirt, cracks, stains, dragonflies with cog wings. Some of the elements have dirty edges and some are spotlessly clean - this is a deliberate procedure. In this way, I would like to show the possibility of two completely different personalities coexisting side by side. They complement each other and add to each other's charm, complement the "other side", properly eliminating imperfections. It is possible - you just have to want it.

I prepared long strips of irregularly torn corrugated cardboard and glued it in several places, also wrapping it around the edges - the effect delighted me very much and I hope you too. The corrugated cardboard is covered in few places with a stretched and stained brown gauze - I also wrapped it around the edges of the design. Then I cut paper from the "Love me tender" collection - I teared it fancifully in places and also wrapped it around the edges of the design.

The whole thing is secured with a clear gesso, and along the connection of the corrugated cardboard with the canvas and with the paper, I applied a fairly thick layer of paste with a cracking effect. The cardboard rims protruding upwards, I sniffed the white gesso and then topically sprayed it with a turquoise and brown mist, creating a fantastic streak at the bottom of the project. A delicate pattern from the mask protrudes from under the composition. The next layer is white decorative lace, tinted with turquoise and brown mist, and on top of it is another - blue, whitewashed with gesso. The "wall" chipboard shape was next in motion - but I used it here horizontally, which made it lose its resemblance to the wall and became an interesting diversification of the background of the composition. It is secured with a white gesso and slightly tinted with turquoise wax.

I glued decorative cornices cut out of paper on the prepared base - in the final project you have to try hard to see them, protruding out from under the composition. At this point, I added three more lengths of gray and white string and brilliant chipboard patterns resembling barbed wire - in the end - intercourse with another human being is not easy - such a reference came to my mind. I secured them with a black gesso and subtly smeared it with the same wax. At this stage of work, I decided to cover the project generously with turquoise and green mini beads. There are a lot of them there. 

The main compotion are flowers, flowers and even more flowers. I made all the rolled up roses myself, so I also did the teeny tiny flowers which stuffing up the holes. Whereas turquoise, blue and beige flowers are by 49 and Market, which are available also at the Dusty Attic store. I love these flowers, and choosing chipboard shapes, as part of the DT package, I have also acquired a fairly wide colour palette. So you will see them on a few more projects. I composed all these flowers, added leaves, gauze, sisal, wire curls, whitewashed roots, even more leaves and white mini pebbles from Finnabair.

At the end I left what is most important - the dragonflies. I ordered them a long time ago and I was still waiting for this unique project on which I would like to use them. After almost a year, the right moment has finally come and here they are: beautiful, dignified dragonflies, in my understanding, symbolizing a harmonious and respectful two people.

I secured the dragonflies with a white gesso, then treated them with a paste with a cracking effect, and finally coloured them with brown and turquoise wax. The wax penetrated the cracks which gave a great finish. The butterflies and the swirls sticking out at the top are prepared exactly the same way.

In the lower part I put the inscription "There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved", as a complement to my message through this project. In several places I glued transparent cabochons imitating dew drops - I love this embellishment and I discovered its existence relatively recently. On the left side, at the last minute, I attached a white string and a beige ribbon bow. The decor shimmers with glitter.

Dusty Attic's products used:

 

Thank you for your attention, presence and time. This is a difficult moment and it is worth stopping for a moment and reflecting on where we are going and what we are leaving behind. Best wishes!

Ankarika Craft (Fb)        Ankarika Craft (IG)