There's something incredibly satisfying about turning a simple idea into a finished project. These Artist Trading Cards began with a colour palette I couldn't stop thinking about after discovering a beautiful vintage-inspired paper pack on AliExpress. The soft turquoise, aged cream and warm copper immediately reminded me of old clipboards filled with handwritten notes, sketches and little reminders. That single thought became the inspiration for this trio of floral ATCs.
How They Came Together
The starting point for these cards was one of my favourite craft purchases this year, a 100-piece vintage paper pack from AliExpress. Rather than choosing inks first, I let the papers guide the entire colour palette, which isn't something I do very often. Once I'd settled on the papers, everything else naturally fell into place.
To create the layered background, I cut two coordinating papers for each ATC, trimming the top layer slightly smaller than the base layer. Before adhering them together, I distressed the edges using a simple pair of scissors, gently scraping along the paper edge to expose the fibres and give each panel a well-loved vintage appearance.
I inked all the edges with Distress Ink in Frayed Burlap, adding warmth and definition without overpowering the delicate papers.
The floral focal point was inspired by the idea of notes clipped to an old-fashioned clipboard. That concept had been sitting in the back of my mind for quite some time, and these little ATCs finally gave me the perfect opportunity to bring it to life.
The large flower and stem were cut from separate die sets, while the clipboard tops came from another die set, all sourced from AliExpress. I loved combining them into something that looked as though a pressed flower had been clipped onto a collection of vintage memos.
For the leaves I used Distress Ink in Peeled Paint, which complements the turquoise flowers beautifully without stealing the spotlight.
To add a little softness behind the flowers, I tucked in delicate white die-cut foliage before raising the flowers on foam strips to create subtle dimension.
The finishing touch was the splatter. Instead of reaching for my usual white watercolour ink, I experimented with diluted white gesso. I'm so pleased I did because it created a much cleaner, crisper splatter that really stands out against the vintage backgrounds. I'll definitely be using this technique again.
Finally, I stamped the labels using an old typewriter-style alphabet stamp set with VersaFine Clair Nocturne, choosing the words "Memos," "Notes," and "Thoughts" to complete the clipboard theme. I deliberately distressed the labels slightly so they felt like well-used stationery rather than perfectly printed labels.
Supplies Used
Papers
- 100-piece Vintage Background Paper Pack (AliExpress)
- Smooth white cardstock
- Turquoise cardstock
- Olive green cardstock
- Cream cardstock
- Book paper for flower centres
Inks & Mediums
- Distress Ink - Frayed Burlap
- Distress Ink - Peeled Paint
- VersaFine Clair - Nocturne
- Diluted White Gesso (for splatter)
Dies & Stamps
- Clipboard Top Die (AliExpress)
- Large Flower Die (AliExpress)
- Stem & Leaf Die (AliExpress)
- White foliage die
- Marianne Design ATC Die & Coordinating Stamp Set (available from Buddly Crafts)
- Old Typewriter Alphabet Stamp Set
Adhesives & Tools
- Foam strips
- Thin Easy Tear Double-Sided Tape
- Wet glue for detailed die cuts
- Scissors (for distressing paper edges)
- Die-cutting machine
Working with a paper collection as the starting point rather than choosing colours afterwards was a refreshing change, and I think it helped create a more cohesive collection. The soft vintage palette, layered textures and little clipboard details came together just as I'd imagined, and these have become some of my favourite Artist Trading Cards to date. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the ones that quietly wait until the right project comes along.
Disclaimer
All products featured on this blog were purchased by me unless otherwise stated. I am not sponsored by any company, brand, or artist mentioned in this post, and all opinions shared are entirely my own.
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