ATC's, Using Water with Distress Inks - by Dot

Hi everyone,
I hope that all is well where ever you are in the world.

Today I've put together a ATC tutorial for you using the Merry Magpie and Round in Circles stamp sets.  It was inspired by my football team (the Magpies) making it to the footy finals this year.

You can see more examples of projects made with the Merry Magpie set here, here and here.

Although Oxides seem to be popular at the moment, Distress Inks are still heaps of fun when using them with water.  This tutorial shows a few different ways that water can be used with these inks.

Step 1:

Swipe some distress inks onto your craft sheet, spritz with a little water until it beads up, and swipe your card through it. Dry. This is the 1st water effect.

I used Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed and Vintage Photo as they fit this month's challenge colours.

Step 2:

Touch up the card by blending the same colours that were on your sheet. I always start on the craft sheet and blend on to the card in a circular motion.

Step 3:

For my 2nd water effect I've spritzed a little water onto my fingers and flicked it onto the ATC's.  Let it sit for roughly 10 secs (until you see the colour 'thickening' around the edge of the drop) and then blot and dry with a heat tool.

Step 4:

For the 3rd water effect - spray a fine mist of water over the 'Grungy Swirls' stamp and place onto your ATC.  This stamp is especially designed to use on ATC's.  After a few seconds lift the stamp. Let the water sit for a little bit (until it starts to leave an edge, like before), blot and dry.

Step 5:

I've stamped the Merry Magpie onto some scrap card using my stamping platform. Then cut him out.  He is an easy bird to cut out. My footy team is black and white, so that is why I've gone for a black and white magpie.

Step 6:

Stamp the mapie onto your ATC.  It doesn't need to be perfect stamping because we only need the feet really.  These were cut off, deliberately, so that when the bird's body is glued on later the feet will look good.

 These are the finished ATC's

.

To finish them off add some background stamping. For this I've used some of the extra little bits that come in the Merry Magpie and Round in Circles sets. Stamping with the matching colours in oxides. There are brilliant for stamping with.

Stick the magpie onto one of the ATC's.

A little white gel pen here and there. Just play to your heart's content.

Sketch a quite border around each ATC.

I added some water-colour pencils to the outside of the grungy swirl so that it would pop a little more. The swirls started to get lost a little as I was having fun with the stamping. Problem fixed!

I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and decide to give it a go.

Even though these are ATC's, these techniques work equally well with cards and art journals.

Stamps Played With Were:

Round In Circles

Merry Magpie

Grungy Swirls ATC Size

Other Products Used Were:

Various colours of Distress Inks

A quick reminder that we have a new facebook page called Rubber Dance Stamping Lounge.
You will see our latest challenge on the fb page with great prizes are up for grabs.

We hope to see you over there.

Happy Stamping!

Dot x

(Go the 'Pies!!!)