Little Things

Hello! Welcome to my blog! I must tell you I have a special place in my heart for little things. Baby bunnehs, little piglets, baby alligators - and not just animals! I also love small-format works of art!

I fell in love with artist trading cards (ATCs) years ago, but somewhere I lost the desire to create them. I think I was busy falling in love with the next new thing. I moved from scrapbooking to card making, but all things old are new again!

Small formats still tell stories!

ATCs were a way to create one of a kind art. They were used to trade with other artists - sharing personal style, techniques, or serving as business cards! These were usually created in small quantities earning collection numbers (i.e. #3 of 14). Some were one-offs - only 1 in a series, thus coveted.

The latest phenom stirring the crafty waters are Artist Trading Coins (ATCoins or just Coins). These are the same principle, just abbreviated. The ATCs were 3.5 x 2.5 inches (same size as baseball trading cards and most business cards). ATCoins are 2.5 inch circles. I don't know why, but these are so addictive!

My friends and I just finished our first Coin exchange. There were 2 options - create 18 similar coins (it's hard to make them perfect copies) to exchange with 17 others, and a one-to-one exchange. So satisfying, invigorating, muse-shaking fun! I'll share those once everyone has received theirs in the swap - no spoilers!

I started with a Gel Press printed sheet and punched 2.5 inch circles. I colored some medical gauze with Daley Rowney FW light green acrylic ink. Then I embeded it by stitching it into the gel print and covering bits with modeling paste. I added circles of acrylic paint, added some green glitter washii from Tim Holtz and Nuvo crystal drops. The fish is a Beautiful Betta from The Ton. I love this set so much!!

Here's the one-on-one swap. I made this adorable undersea coin using alcohol inks and foil on Yupo paper. The stamps are Inkon3's My Little Catfish.

I put these cute little merkittehs and sea horse on a fluid alcohol ink circle of Yupo paper. Did I mention these little coins are addictive?!

Here's the one I received from my partner, Rebecca Roh. Isn't it gorgeous? Every kitteh needs toys and leaves pawprints on your heart. I love it!!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm hosting the Mix-Ability challenge on Splitcoast this week. Swing on by and join us!

Ta for now,
~ky

Fighting Fish

Hello! Welcome back to my little blog. I've got a simple project for you today. I was recently introduced to stamps by The Ton. Of course I had to have a lovely set perfect for my MISTI addiction. I was so excited that I made a mistake in the order, but the owner, Effie Cho, was quick to get it corrected for me! I cannot love great customer service more!

Aren't these Beautiful Bettas absolutely gorgeous?? And they have matching dies. This set is incredible. I can't wait to make a color combo swatch with them to choose fin fashions! Until then, I jumped right into the fish bowl!

A gorgeous betta deserves beautiful water to make his colors leap from the page. I used Yupo paper, 4 colors of Adirondack alcohol ink, some alcohol blending solution, and a can of compressed air. I used the compressed air to move the inks into one another, letting them pool and dry however they would. I love the hard edges - it's just my thing. Before the ink is completely dry, it is very sticky. I pressed bits of Nuvo sunkissed copper gilding flakes, popping them on different spots and rubbing off what wouldn't stick. Isn't this gorgeous on it's own?

Well. It can't stay pretty just looking at me. It had to become something I could share with others. I die cut this piece (sob!) with a large Spellbinder's circle die. 

My tears were still drying, so I turned to the betta to distract myself with something beautiful. I wasn't even sad for the Yupo after this. These layering stamps are so easy to line up. I put them in my MISTI to get them just perfect.

I used Mustard Seed, Orange Marmalade, Barn Door, and Aged Mahogany Distress Inks to get this beauty. On the first layer - the large solid fish, I tapped on Marmalade with my finger, then added Mustard Seed in the same way. The second layer was Barn Door which I double-stamped. I love the mix! It's a color riot! Then the Aged Mahogany pulled it all together. 

He is so handsome!! I added two bits of sea grass to hang out with him. The sentiment is white embossed on black cardstock with a little Glittered Enamel Dot perfectly matching the grass. How happy that makes me! I also added Morning Dew Nuvo Crystal Drops in a couple of places.

I added it to a Whisper White base embossed with a Sizzix folder. What do you think? I think I'm in love!!

Thanks for stopping by today - it's nice to see you! Please feel free to leave a comment, I always love hearing from you.

Ta for now!
~ky