Moikka everyone! It's Riikka here with you today and I'll be using Minis to make layered artist trading cards with a vintage flair. I'm mainly playing with warm autumn tones, but shall add some teal feathers to bring contrast to my cards.
Please, don't get alarmed by the amount of stamps used in this make! They are Minis after all, but pack a powerful punch with the designs.
I used seven stamps all together in my cards. For my focal point I chose a dashing young gent (MN07) and framed him using a filmstrip (MN87). To embellish the cards I used two detailed feathers (MN97 and MN99) and a stamp with a ruler (MN48). The two remaining Minis to be mentioned I used to add visual texture to my background. Those were a number stamp (MN22) and a sentiment stamp (MN49). The latter especially seemed fitting for a collage background!
Color-wise I went with warm autumn tones and vintage inspired hues, but added some weathered copper -styled contrast by adding a teal to the mix. For the background I chose Fresco Finish Mud Splat (FF61), Autumn Fire (FF34) and Buff (FF96) and in a later stage added some Deep Sea (FF198) in there. Fresco Tints Mattint Nutty (MT02) acted both as a tint and a collage medium.
In addition to the materials already listed, I also used PaperArtsy's Medium Oak Leaf cutting die together with printed tissue paper Script (PT12). From other brands I used stamping inks, water-soluble crayons and embellishments.
If the list of materials seems excessive and discouraging, here's my tip, should you want to replicate my make. Focal elements are the key, so pick a vintage photo stamp, the filmstrip and one of the feathers. Paint-wise you can get away with just two Fresco Finish colors and a Mattint (MN02). I'd suggest you go with Autumn Fire (FF34) and Buff (FF96) as you can mix in the Mattint in the first stage to tweak the colors.
You've already seen hints to what I used this array of materials, so let's get going!
As so often, I started with my background and created a master sheet. I slapped three colors of Fresco Finish to a piece of cream colored cardstock and mixed them haphazardly. As you can see from the photo below, I let the colors mix a bit in places, while keeping other segments more true to one color. I used Mud Splat (FF61), Autumn Fire (FF34) and Buff (FF96).
Next, I cut some oak leaves out of tissue paper using the PaperArtsy die. I chose the Script printed tissue paper (PT12) as I've always found that a script design suits every project. It's especially nice in vintage themed pieces.
If you don't have a ready printed tissue paper at hand, naturally you can create your own by using PaperArtsy stamps on plain tissue paper! Just remember to use a permanent ink, if you want to collage the elements later.
After cutting the leaves I then adhered them to my master sheet using Mattint Nutty (MT02). I love how the tint-soaked leaves pop out of the background, but yet the overall combo is delicate.
While I could have stopped after collaging the leaves in place, I wanted a bit more visual texture for my background. I also desired to build a bridge between some of the leaves, so the design would not be so scattered. For both purposes stamps worked great!
I picked two stamps and two stamping inks. Somehow black always seems to be the color for script or text styled stamps, so I used black with a sentiment styled Mini (MN49). The numbers of another Mini (MN22), however, seemed so bold compared to the vintage text leaves, that I was afraid using black with them would be too overpowering. So, I chose a fiery red instead. I used oil-based inks as I wasn't sure if I would be using wet mediums on top. By playing it safe, I could then collage or color without any worry.
I now had my master sheet for the card bases done. Next, I turned my attention to the focal elements before combining the two to make the cards!
Here's two things you could try to make to be used either as focal points to a smaller make or as interesting embellishments for a larger project. I'm referring to the vintage "negative" and colorful feathers. If you'd like to create an actual negative looking piece, you should reverse the colors - stamp with a light ink onto a dark surface.
I started my little vintage photos by stamping the focal image (MN07) several times as well as the film strips (MN87). I stamped the gentleman using a black pigment ink on top of cream cardstock. The film, on the other hand, I stamped on top of a transparency using a solvent based ink.
If you don't have solvent based ink nor transparency, you can stamp the film strip to a piece of cardstock as well. However, I felt that using a transparent plastic made the little film piece look more genuine. It also reduces the amount of cutting!
I think I have mentioned before, that I'm not a master stamper. When I'm in the creative zone, I tend to go forward like a freight train and stamp on top of a flexible surface, for example. In this case it caused a smudge in the middle of the frame.
First I thought not to share this, as I'm writing for a stamp company's blog, but then pondered again. Why not share that I made a mistake and then fixed it? Someone else might be experiencing just the same and I could then help out! So, if you end up with a smudge on top of your transparency, not to worry. Just dip a Q-tip in nail polish remover and gently rub the stain away! I guess the solvent-based ink's cleaning solution would do the trick as well.
Of course, if you're working on top of paper, the smudge is not as easy to remove. My suggestion then would be cutting or coverage, depending what you're doing. Either cut the inside away or adhere a stamped photo on top to make the smudge disappear.
After getting the filmstrips clean, I then measured the piece needed to cover the frame and cut the vintage photos in correct size. While you can just measure the opening with a ruler, I used a strip stamped on top of cardstock as my guide. I stamped the strip, cut the opening and then placed the piece on top of my stamped vintage photos. I felt, that this way I had better grasp of the area showing in the film frame.
After cutting both pieces in correct size, I then adhered the photos in place using Mattint Nutty (MT02). That way I could kill two birds with one stone (although I dislike the idea of killing birds) and get a vintage tone together with collaging. I then let the strips dry, as sandwiched between a non-absorbing surface and a cardstock, the Mattint required a tad of drying time.
While my focal points were drying, I stamped a plethora of feathers. I used two stamps (MN97 and MN99) together with water-soluble crayons. I first added a delicate mist of water to the stamp and started coloring with the crayons. I mixed browns, a black and teal tones in the feathers. Then, before stamping, I added another mist of water and pressed the stamp onto the cardstock.
The key element here is the amount of water. If you add more, the image will blur and be more watercolor-like, if less, the image will be crisper. Although, too little moisture then ends up with a ghost print without all the details. Honestly, I think it's a trial and error -type of thing. You just need to practice to find out the perfect amount for the look you're after.
After letting the stamped feathers dry, I then cut them loose and inked the edges with a brown ink.
Ok, let's see where we are at. Master sheet - done, focal point - done, main embellishments - done. Now it's just putting them all together!
I wanted the card background to echo the film strip with a defined frame. To achieve this, I cut ATC-sized pieces from black cardstock and smaller pieces from my master sheet. The black cards measure 2½" x 3½", while the center piece measures 2 1/4" x 3 1/4". Before adhering the layers together, I inked the edges of the center piece using brown ink.
I felt that the background and the feather embellishments needed to be tied together. For that I used splashes. In order to dull the teal a little, as well as get it diluted, I mixed some Mattint Nutty (MT02) to the Fresco Finish teal shade I used, Deep Sea (FF198). The contrast between a warm, reddish brown tones and the teal reminded me of weathered copper.
Layers upon layers! After the splashes were dry, I started making the main composition. First, I stapled the two feathers in place and then added the filmstrip on top with an eyelet.
I like when the layers are a bit loose, especially if that fits to the aesthetic and the element. I mean, for example, to me adhering something as airy and light as feathers down completely felt counterintuitive. So, instead I secured them in place with just some staples and a little drop of glue.
For choosing an eyelet for the photo, however, was a different story. I remember my mother's old driving licence when I was a child. It was made of pink cardboard, typed details and the black and white photo was attached in place with small eyelets. I loved the look of that card! So, I imitated the look here with the fastening method.
Now I had my main elements in place, so it was time to add the smaller details. I stamped the ruler and sentiment of Minis (MN48) onto the same cardstock I had been using throughout. I inked the cardstock slightly with the brown ink and then cut a circle out of it showing a number. I was thinking of possible ages, when choosing the numbers.
In addition to the feathers and the number now embellishing the card, I added a little word sticker to each card, as well as a piece of vintage-colored tape. I used a ready product here, but there's a segment in an old process video of mine (link), if you want to make your own vintage "sellotape".
The smaller details added to each card also allowed me to make each one unique. While all the cards have same elements, the placement of the text sticker and vintage tapes vary.
Here they all are, all the brothers collectively! The youngest one of the trio is the serious one, while the middle one is yet to find himself, labelled just as "brother". The oldest one is a bit cocky and refers himself as the original one, trying to create the impression that the younger ones are just copies of him.
As you may guess, I love to add little stories to my artist trading cards! To me, they are a form of storytelling. The card just needs a few items, two in this case, for a story to start. Even though each photo is the same, by adding a number and a word next to them, makes your curiosity tingle and think about what those mean.
I mentioned in the step by step section the eyelets I used to secure the film strips in place. Underneath you can see that a bit better. I chose to use quite a neutral tone, so the detail wouldn't draw too much attention away from the main thing.
In addition to the eyelet, I added a drop of craft glue underneath the photo to secure the placement.
Here's a closer detail of the stamped number. While I turned the numbers into ages of the brothers in my head, my first idea was "specimen". The like there's in vintage biology books with flora and fauna. The circular shape together with the numbers makes me think about bingo, too!
Here's a closer look to the little vintage tape piece. Like I wrote earlier, this is a store-bought item, but you can easily create similar effect if you own some alcohol inks or alcohol markers. Just color a piece of basic clear tape with those! The little tape piece acts as an embellishment here, but also secures the element in place a bit better.
Another point I want to draw your attention to with this photo is the placement of the bigger elements. All of the cards have the feathers on the right side of the photo. Why? I mean, placing the feathers in different places might have made the set more varied. It's because of the gaze of the boy. By placing the contrasting plumage in front of him, I blocked his gaze and made him look cornered! So, better to place the feather behind him, giving him more space. Although, you could use that walled in -effect as a way to change the feel of the composition!
You already saw this photo underneath earlier, but did you notice, how crisp the stamped feathers looked and how the colors blend to each other? I just love how that bigger feather underneath the smaller one looks! The way turquoise and teal blend and yet you can see the tiny dot details of the stamp!
To be honest, I needed three of each feather for my cards, but I stamped at least ten trying to get the look just right. Of course, none of those go into waste, though. They can find their ways to other projects.
Here's another shot of the three brothers! Can you spot the tiny differences in each card?
If you're not into cardmaking or ATC's, you can use the same steps to create an art journal page or spread as well. Maybe make a story of a whole family, each family member in their own little film frame?
Thank you for visiting today! Wishing you all the best!
Xoxo Riikka
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