Distress Ink ATC Tutorial

New Info on ATCs:

Check out my online mixed media art workshop called All About Artist Trading Cards & Artist Trading Coins (All About ATCs for short!) All the details are right here.

Welcome! I'm celebrating National Craft Month today with a tutorial on making some colorful artist trading cards (ATCs) :

I went with my “go to” favorite products: Distress Inks, Stamps, and Stencils. I colored the cards using Ink Blending tools, and then stenciled and stamped on them with the same colors.

Next I stamped my focal images with Distress Ink and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder. My last step was to ink around the edges of each card with the Black Soot Distress Ink and then repeat the embossing process on the edges. I keep my embossing powder in a Tupperware container so I can dip the card straight in and have space to tap the excess powder off without wasting any of it.

Here's a shot of the finished cards as well as the supplies used. The focal image stamps are all from Paper Artsy.

I've created a Distress Ink Blending Checklist for newsletter subscribers. I'd love to send it to you. Click here to get your copy!

And here are the individual artist trading cards:

If you'd like to see more of what I do with Distress Inks, check out my Craftsy class, Inventive Ink: Colorful Mixed Media Effects. The class has lifetime access and you can watch it as many times as you like, whenever and wherever you like. You can see a 2-minute preview video below:

Thanks so much for the visit. If we're not already connected, let's connect via newsletter or on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.

Marjie

19 Comments

Judith Strausbaugh on March 25, 2016 at 12:31 am

Love the look and I, too love Paper Artsy stamps. Would love to win a spot in your class.
Carmen Lucero on March 11, 2016 at 3:38 am

Awesome ATCs, Marjie! Thanks for the chance!
P Hoffmann on March 10, 2016 at 7:10 pm

I love mixed media! Your projects are phenomenal.
Colorful Crafts Ideas - 100 Directions on March 10, 2016 at 3:14 pm

[…] Art Trading Cards from MK Designs […]
Anusha on March 9, 2016 at 9:06 pm

Wow..Absolutely fantastic..
Loved the embossing n d colours..
Craftissima Origamissima on March 9, 2016 at 3:58 am

A beautiful giveaway to have great fun! :)
Linda edkins wyatt on March 8, 2016 at 1:31 pm

Gorgeous cards, and two great tips about the tupperware and black ink w clear embossing powder. I always make a yucky mess during embossing. Would looove to win!
nathwest on March 8, 2016 at 3:04 am

very nice and simple.
butterfly on March 7, 2016 at 11:19 pm

Terrific ATCs, Marjie – wow! The LP images look amazing over the vivid layers of colour.
Alison x
JULIE STEED on March 7, 2016 at 5:24 pm

Yep. After I took your Inventive Ink class I had a blast making the prettiest ATC backgrounds. Somebody is going to be so happy to win your class. Two big thumbs up! BTW, received an envie with your return address on it today. LOVE the brushes! Thank you, thank you!!
Sandra on March 7, 2016 at 3:59 pm

So pretty, Marjie. Love your color palette, it goes so well with the contrasting black touches! Hugs, Sandra
Jessica Sporn on March 7, 2016 at 3:12 pm

gorgeous tute Marjie!
Carla Hundley on March 7, 2016 at 3:04 pm

Beautiful work,
Love the colors
with the stenciling
on top.
Carla from Utah
Denise Bryant on March 7, 2016 at 1:08 pm

Love the backgrounds with the pretty color combo!
Corrine on March 7, 2016 at 10:38 am

So much fun and those hot hot colors are amazing. xox
Julie Tucker-Wolek on March 7, 2016 at 8:54 am

Wowwwwwwwww! These are just gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tanya on March 7, 2016 at 8:49 am

Love those Atc’s!
Barbara M on March 7, 2016 at 7:07 am

Paper Artsy stamps are my absolute favorite. I always enjoy seeing your colorful art work using this distress ink technique.
susan on March 7, 2016 at 12:06 am

Beautiful.love them.love Lynne Perella.