ATC Tutorial - Hello Sunshine

Here's a tutorial for you with a few different techniques to create dimension and texture for all sorts of projects.

This was made for an ATC swap with the theme 'Here Comes Summer'.

I used 'Fields of Sky' stamp from Stamp Addicts (loads of different sized dots) and 'Rays' from Stampers Anonymous 'Bitty Grunge CMS089' set, along with yellow (Mustard Seed), orange (Spiced Marmalade) and red (Fired Brick) Distress Inks.

Starting with the yellow ink, stamp the Rays on a blank white ATC near the top of the card.  Repeat this, with yellow again.  Don't try and line it up with the first one.

Stamp the image again, this time with orange and red ink.  With these colours, randomly ink up the stamp so it doesn't stamp even.  Add further stamped images with the orange and red colours, until less of the white card is showing through.

Using a foam applicator, apply yellow to the edges of the card, followed by some orange.

Eventually you should have your background, without any harsh white areas.

To add a little more texture, stamp 'Fields of Sky' in red and orange ink around the edges of the card.

Once the stamped background is complete, place the card in Sizzix 'Rays' embossing folder and run through and embossing machine.

Highlight some of the edges of the embossed areas with a Quickie glue pen and wait for the blue glue to go clear.

Press foil into the areas where glue was applied and peel away.  Repeat until all the glued areas are foiled.  Alternatively you could use gilding flakes - rub them in and brush away any excess with a stiff brush.

Prepare the banner, running the Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Banners die from Sizzix, through the Big Shot with an extender platform and cutting plates along with some white cardstock.  Apply yellow Distress Ink to the body of the banner with a foam applicator, followed by red ink around the edges of the die cut.  

Using the waste from the die I had a practice run at the spacing of the letters on the actual banner.  Fix to scrap paper with tape and stamp 'Hello Sunshine'.  Once you are happy with how to space the letters, stamp onto the actual banner, using the practice stamp layout as a guide.

Use a small alphabet set to stamp the words in red ink - this time I used Momento in Lady Bug as it isn't as wet as Distress Ink.  This set is from Studio G by Hampton Art.

Stamp the lettering randomly to avoid having to line everything up perfectly.

Trim the banner to the size of the ATC then edge the banner, along with the ATC with a gold Krylon leafing pen.

Fix a number of foam pads to the back of the banner and then stick to the bottom of the card, lining up the edges.

A final addition of some stickles gold glitter glue to some of the embossed areas and the card is finished.