A Touch Of Magic

This week the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge would like you to put a touch of magic in your design. Will you have a magician's trick, want to show us a card trick, have a magical product you cannot work without, or perhaps are inspired by a story or movie that has magical elements, we cannot wait to see how you are inspired.

When I think of magic, I always think of card tricks and I also think of the boxes they use in their magic ticks where the doves fly out or the rabbit appears! This lead me to create an Artist Trading Block using Eileen Hull's Block/Cube die, which I feel in itself holds a little magic as you never know what’s inside, all part of the suprise. Tim Holtz Valentine Blueprint stamp came to my rescue for the playing card image and the Queen of Hearts takes centre stage on my Artist Trading Block. The Queen of Hearts  inspired me to use red in my design using Fired Brick Distress Paint combined with touches of Walnut Stain. I love the hidden surprises a box can give!

I die cut the ATB from mountboard and also cut coordinated square pieces to fit.

I began by colouring my square pieces with Fired Brick and Walnut Stain Distress Paint, applying the paint to a non-stick craft sheet and spritzing with water.

Pick up the paint with the square pieces of card. At this stage I also spritzed the  paint a little more to lighten the colour and I then heat set with a heat tool.

I painted the inside with Fired Brick Distress Paint.

I used the Hearts Layering Stencil to add hearts to the inside of my block and the hearts also coordinate with the Queen of Hearts image.

I used Fired Brick Distress Ink to add the hearts for a tone on tone effect.

To add a further layer of interest I applied Black Archival Ink through the Numbered Layering Stencil. 

The Queen of Hearts image has been stamped onto each of the coloured square pieces.

Next stage was to add dimensional hearts to my design using Black Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel . I inked the background stamp from Tim Holtz Mixed Media Stamp Set with VersaMark Ink and then I placed heart cookie cutters onto the background stamp.

I poured hot Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel into each cookie cutter and then set aside to cool.

From this picture you can see the wonderful texture the background stamp gives to the UTEE hearts. I applied Treasure Gold Olive Bronze Wax to highlight the texture and dimension. I also added 'magic' using a Chitchat Sticker.

I added three playing cards to the top of my Artist Trading Block, coloured each with Fired Brick Distress Ink and flicked the background with water. Again I added UTEE hearts and a 'magic' Chitchat Sticker.

I have also added some blank playing cards to the inside which I thought a fellow crafter could decorate and I thought this would make a lovely surprise gift!

I love decorating the inside as this gives a further surprise element to the design.

Each side has been decorated with the Queen of Hearts image.

I may add some little embellishments to the inside of this gift too.

I also added two further dimensional UTEE hearts to the opposite side.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog and take a look at my fellow team members artwork, they have created some inspirational projects. Remember there is also the chance to win a $50 prize from Simon Says Stamp.  I always look forward to seeing your creations each week.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment, much appreciated. Tracy x x

Products Used:

Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Valentine Blueprint Stamp Set

Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Mixed Media Stamp Set

Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Hearts, Numbered

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Chitchat Stickers

Distress Paints - Fired Brick, Walnut Stain 

Distress Ink - Fired Brick

Black Archival Ink

VersaMark Stamp Pad

Non-stick Craft Sheet

Heat Tool

Melt Pot

Black Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel

PaperArtsy Treasure Gold Olive Bronze