Sunset Fairy ATC Tutorial

Are you familiar with an Artist Trading Card (ATC)? It is a small original piece of artwork created on a standard trading card size (2.5 x 3.5-inch) with the intention of swapping or trading it with another person/artist.

Every Monday at 8 pm Central, my talented mixed media friend, Rita Barakat, hosts a FaceBook Live called Mixed Media Monday. This week she inspired me with her ATC creations so I made one with some of her products.

**I receive products from Rita Barakat Designs, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®, and Mudd Puddle for use in my projects. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience and doing so I can share what I personally love to use.**

Sunset Fairy ATC Background

I had this not so pretty pink shipping tag so I cut it down to 2.5 x 3.5-inches to create an ATC shape.

I painted three coats of white acrylic paint (let dry between coats) on the front and the back.

Then I used three Gelatos colors (Tangerine, Melon, and Bubble Gum) and later a fourth color (Limoncello) to create a pink-ish sunset background. I used wipes to blend the colors. Set aside to dry.

Embellishment and Texture

Grab the smallest star from the Canvas Die Cuts Mini Stars Set and color with Limoncello Gelatos. For sparkle, I used the FolkArt® Glitterific™ Acrylic Paint in Clear Hologram with a palette knife.

For the textured ground, I applied a strip of Extreme Double-Sided Tape 1/2-inch on the bottom edge. Then covered with Bermuda Dry Sand...perfect for the sunset background! Make sure to press the sand with your fingertips to secure before tapping off the excess.

Finishing the ATC

The pink fairy shape from the Veil of the Fairies Paper Ephemera Pack was used. I lifted her up with a combination of 3D Foam Squares White Regular and 3D Foam Squares White Small.

The colored smallest star from the Canvas Die Cuts Mini Stars Set was placed on the ATC with an Adhesive Dots Medium.

I hope you enjoyed the ATC process. Have you made one before? Show me by linking in the comments on this post!

Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH

Materials Needed:
Rita Barakat Designs
Veil of the Fairies Paper Ephemera Pack
Canvas Die Cuts Mini Stars Set

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®
Extreme Double-Sided Tape 1/2-inch
3D Foam Squares White Regular
3D Foam Squares White Small
Adhesive Dots Medium

Mudd Puddles
Bermuda Dry Sand

Other
Color Medium: Faber-Castell (Gelatos in Limoncello, Tangerine, Melon and Bubble Gum); Paints: Plaid® (FolkArt® Glitterific™ Acrylic Paint in Clear Hologram and Apple Barrel® Acrylic Color in White); Pink Shipping Tag; Paint Brush; Wipes

Save It to Pinterest!

Rita Barakat Designs: Altered Mermaid Paint Brush and Tag

I am excited to participate in a unique swap with my fellow Rita Barakat designer peeps! The challenge was to alter a paintbrush using Rita Barakat products and her partners' products in creating something FUN! Of course, I had to go with MERMAID!! The colors I had were perfect in making that happen :)

Did we mention a giveaway? Check out Rita Barakat Instagram for more details. In the meantime, I'd like to walk through how I altered my brushes.

**I receive products from Rita Barakat Designs, Plaid, Aladine, Spellbinders Paper Arts and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® for use in my projects. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience and doing so I can share what I personally love to use.**

Mermaid Altered Paint Brush Step Outs

I had these paint brushes for at least a couple of years and they were collecting dust. Each one had a rubber grip and a bar code sticker. It was easy to take off both (PHEW!) so I decided to give them a try. Before applying the gesso, I sanded the entire area with the exception of the bristles.

Next, I applied a thick coat of FolkArt® Color Shift™ Acrylic Paint in Aqua Flash. Note: I wanted texture so I tap the paint on. Let dry and then tap on another heavy coat of paint. Let dry. This would become the mermaid tail.

For the skin tone, I mixed Ceramcoat® Acrylic Paint in Spice Tan and FolkArt® Acrylic Color Wicker White Paint until I got my desired color. I applied two heavy coats (dry in between coats) over the area where the rubber grip was. This will be the mermaid's torso.

After the torso color dried, I used a palette knife and edge the top and bottom of the mermaid tail with Glitterific™ in Clear Hologram. Note: make sure to use a heavy coat. Let dry. It will take time to let this dry.

For the rest of the handle, I covered with Adhesive Sheet 4 x 6-inch and burnished it well with your fingernail to transfer the adhesive to the handle. You may need to do re-apply in missed areas.

Next, cover the handle with Kiss of the Fairy Embossing Powder and use a heat gun to melt.

Note the plastic handle does melt and bend. That was done on purpose. I'm thinking her "hair" is pink and wavy. Remember she's a mermaid so she's underwater and her hair is flowing up. #DesignMethodToMyMadness LOL!

For her top, I wanted something sparkly so I added two self-adhesive pink rhinestones. It works well with the FolkArt® Glitterific™ Acrylic Paint in Clear Hologram!

Since she has this glorious hair, she needs a headband. I created one with Extreme Double-Sided Tape 1/8-inch by wrapping it around where the hair meets the head. Remove the red liner and pour over Tropical Teal Sand. Press to secure and if I missed a spot, I reapply.

Lastly, I die cut a circle in white cardstock and stamped Sea Grass Cling Rubber Stamp with Izink Pigment Metal Ink in Silver. It's highly pigmented and stays wet longer so I poured Midnight Magic Embossing Powder on top of the image. Tap off excess and melt with a heating tool.

Punch a hole each on the top and bottom center. Thread the paintbrush handle to create a background for the project. DONE!

Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH

Creative Time: 120 minutes
Skill Level: Intermediate

Materials Needed
Rita Barakat Designs
Kiss of the Fairy Embossing Powder
Midnight Magic Embossing Powder
Sea Grass Cling Rubber Stamp


Plaid®
FolkArt® Color Shift™ Acrylic Paint in Aqua Flash
FolkArt® Glitterific™ Acrylic Paint in Clear Hologram
Delta Ceramcoat® Acrylic Paint in Spice Tan
FolkArt® Acrylic Color Wicker White Paint

Aladine Creations
Izink Pigment Metal Ink in Silver

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®
Adhesive Sheets 4 x 6-inch
Extreme Double-Sided Tape 1/8-inch

Other
Sand: Mudd Puddles (Tropical Teal Sand); Self-Adhesive Pink Rhinestones: Asuka Studio (MP-59129 Rhinestone Light Pink); Heating Tool; Paint Brushes; White Gesso; Hole Punch; White Cardstock

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CONNECT WITH US!

Rita Barakat Designs Website, Blog and Store

Rita Barakat FaceBook Page + Mixed Media Monday

Rise and Shine with Rita Barakat FaceBook Inspiration Page

Rita Barakat Art Instagram

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft: Beachy Glass Bead Glitter Gel Glass Jar

Hi, everyone! I'm featured on Faber Castell Design Memory Craft Blog today!! It's a beach themed project, using the Glass Bead Glitter Gel. I used the white mini glass jar from my 4th of July Gel & Gelatos Glass Jar project and kicked it up a notch!

Some sneak peeks to entice to go visit Beachy Glass Bead Glitter Gel Glass Jar post :)

BEFORE!!

Are you interested in FULL TUTORIAL & SUPPLIES LIST?!
Come check it out and comment!
Visit Beachy Glass Bead Glitter Gel Glass Jar post!!

Thanks!!
MargieH

Happy Birthday Emi and Summer CHA or BUST~!!

Today is my friend, Emi's birthday...she tries to sneak past the day but I'm on to her - HA! On this occasion, I thought I would try my hand at Spellbinders® Creative Arts' newest Media Mixáge™ product - Oval Hatpins! So I created a little gift for my sweet friend on her 29½ year birthday (wink wink!!)!!!

I first filled the oval bezel cup with light pink self-adhesive Sea Glass created by the wonderful folks from Mudd Puddles. Love their stuff!! I used an idea my talented friend, Judy Hayes did on her recent sneak peek project - stuck a jump ring at the bottom of the cup (it's supposed to be closed which I did afterwards ;0P). Set aside to dry.

Next I cut Media Mixáge Birds One blank dies and S4-378 Cherry Blossoms, dies with shrink plastic, colored with Copic markers and heat to shrink. When cooled, I coated them with Matte Medium to prevent the color from running in the dimensional finish at the end.

I poured dimensional finish into the bezel cup. After an hour into the curing process, I added the Sakura blossom, bird (added a pearl for its eye) and branch, covered them with a little dimensional finish and let dry overnight.

Lastly, I added on a metal "e" monogram charm and a couple of clear crystals on the jump ring at the bottom of the bezel cup. Insert into the card that I have created earlier in JR: JUNE 2013 Release - Day 1 post - it was perfect for this project! I took out the existing sentiment and stamped another sentiment on the card front. Then I added a Sakura blossom at the bottom (folded five die cuts in half and adhered to each side to form a dimensional flower), inserted the pins and added pearls to finish.

Here's another look...

Project Supplies:
JustRite Papercraft Stamps - Let Your Soul Sing
Spellbinders® Creative Arts - S5-161 Radiant Rectangles, S6-001 5 x 7 Matting Basics A, S6-002 5 x 7 Matting Basics B, S4-378 Cherry Blossoms, EL-020 Awesome Blossoms, MB3-002 Ovals Hatpin and MD2-011 Birds One
Inks – IMAGINE Craft®/TSUKINEKO® (Memento - Rich Cocoa, Rose Bud)
Dimensional Texture - Liquid Pearl (Petal Pink)
Markers - Copic
Sea Glass - Mudd Puddles
Medium - Golden (Matte Medium)
Dimensional Finish - Mod Podge (Dimensional Magic)
Cardstock and Card Base - Darice and Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock®/David Tutera™ Celebrate Cardmaking System
Ribbon - Basic Grey and Creative Impression
Pearls - Want2Scrap
Trinket Pins - Maya Road
Adhesives - ScraPerfect (Best Glue Ever) and SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L® (3D Foam Squares)
Other: Metal Charm; Crystal Beads

CHA or BUST~!!

If you or your retailers are attending the Create-n-Connect Conference & Trade Show 2013 (formerly known as CHA) please have them stop by at Spellbinders Creative Arts in Booth #1247! We are offering workshops on Education Day (day before the show starts) on the 22nd - if they're not sold out, come sign up!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Birthday, Emi!! xo
MargieH

TaDa Creative Studios: Beach Buddies

I am posting on TaDa Creative Studios' FaceBook Page today. Using 6 x 6" Sunny Skies Mini (laser cut cardstock) from the Poolside Collection, I made a frame from scratch.

Beach Buddies Frame by Margie Higuchi
Supplies - Cardstock: American Craft; LaserCut Cardstock, Patterned Papers, Stamp: TaDa Creative Studios (Poolside and Sizzlin' Summer Collections); Mesh Ribbon: Creative Impression; Ink: Ranger (Distress Ink/Tim Holtz) and Clearsnap; Marker: KURETAKE ZIG; Sand Paste and Shells: Mudd Puddles; Dies: Spellbinder Paper Arts (S5-029 Nested Lacey Pennants and S4-273 From The  Sea) and Sizzix (Easel/Tim Holtz); Stencil: Crafter's Workshop (Clouds); Texture Paste: Golden (Light Molding Paste); Ink Mist: Tattered Angels (Glimmer Mist Bronze); Adhesives: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever); Other: Crab Eyelet, Decorative Tape, White Paint

These are the materials I used to make the frame base...6 x6" cereal thin cardboard, 3 1/2 x 6" patterned paper (Poolside Snippets & Clippets Side B) adhered on the top and Sunny Skies Mini Paper is placed last. I forgot to add in the easel die cut that I cut from Tim Holtz Collection.

Then put the cloud stencil on top and add molding paste as shown - let dry. It will dry translucent so I add a little white paint. Let dry I sprayed Glimmer Mist on top half of the frame. A happy accident! The paper popped up especially around the sun to give it dimension! COOL! LOL! I stamped Beach Buddies (Sizzlin' Summer Acrylic Stamp Set = SOLD OUT, sorry!) on the pennant tail and placed it on the top right corner.

After placing the matted picture on the frame, I cut and embossed the fish. I stenciled with a rainbow chalk ink through the die template and touched up the colors when I popped the die cut out of the die template. I adhered the mesh ribbon and the fish on top - added bling as its eye :0)

What's a beach scene without sand?! Mudd Puddles is a great place to purchase sand paste - love their stuff!! Those mini shells also came from them too. Aren't they a wonderful addition?! Then I had this crab eyelet for years and finally has a home on this project! LOL!!

I hope you enjoyed all the details on this homemade frame!
Thanks for stopping by :0)
MargieH