This week's Artist Trading Cards were all about soft vintage botanicals, layered textures and making better use of the tools I already own. I've had my Cricut Joy sitting in a drawer for far too long, and I decided it was time to put it to work by cutting the delicate butterfly embellishments for this set. It may be a small machine, but it's perfect for little projects like these, and I'm hoping this is just the beginning before I move on to creating larger projects with my Silhouette Cameo.
How I Created These ATCs
I started with a selection of beautiful vintage-inspired papers from an AliExpress paper pack, choosing coordinating patterns in soft greens, florals and muted neutrals to create a cohesive trio. Each ATC was layered with rounded kraft card bases and finished with a decorative kraft border to tie the designs together.
The focal point on each card is a simple kraft tag, which I deliberately left blank. I briefly considered adding a sentiment, but the more I looked at the finished cards, the more I realised the plain kraft tags provided a welcome area of calm amongst all the beautiful layering. Sometimes knowing when to stop adding is just as important as knowing what to include.
The delicate butterflies and tags were cut using my Cricut Joy, layered from kraft card and patterned paper before being finished with tiny flower centres. They add just enough detail without overwhelming the design.
The white floral sprays and leaves create plenty of dimension while keeping the overall colour palette soft and elegant. To finish everything off, I made my own pearls using Nuvo Crystal Drops in Ivory Seashell, placing them in small clusters to balance each composition.
One of my goals over the coming months is to make much more use of my Cricut Joy. It's such a capable little machine, and it deserves to spend more time on my craft desk than tucked away in a drawer. Small projects like these feel like the perfect place to build my confidence before tackling more ambitious designs with my Silhouette Cameo.
Supplies Used
- Kraft cardstock
- Vintage botanical paper pack (AliExpress)
- Cricut Joy
- Butterfly and cutting file
- Decorative border die
- Floral die cuts from my existing stash
- Thick vellum
- Nuvo Crystal Drops – Ivory Seashell
- Double-sided tape
- Wet glue
Final Thoughts
I'm really pleased with how these turned out. The soft botanical palette, layered textures and blank kraft tags create a calm vintage feel that I love, and they reminded me that sometimes less really is more. I also enjoyed giving my Cricut Joy a proper outing, and I'm looking forward to finding even more ways to incorporate it into future projects.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by. I hope these little ATCs inspire you to dust off a forgotten tool in your own craft room and see what you can create with it!
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.
