Held Together by Small Things

There is something quietly powerful about working with the same materials and letting them speak in different ways.

This set of ATCs began exactly like the previous ones — 300gsm white cardstock, cut down to size, no pressure, no expectations… just a willingness to see what would happen.

The backgrounds were built in soft layers using Distress Inks in Prize Ribbon, Wilted Violet and Picked Raspberry, blending and moving colour until it felt right rather than perfect. I used stencils to introduce pattern and movement, allowing some areas to stay light and others to build intensity. The aim was not control, but balance — something expressive, a little chaotic, but still gentle.

To add dimension, I worked with texture paste through a stencil, creating small clusters rather than covering the surface. These raised areas catch the light in a way that shifts as you move the card, adding another quiet layer of interest.

 

The Focal Point

The butterflies were stamped onto white cardstock using VersaFine Clair in Nocturne, then die cut and layered for depth. I chose to keep them monochrome, allowing the detail of the stamping to do the work rather than introducing more colour.

At first, I tried them in plain white… but something felt disconnected. The stamped detail changed everything. Suddenly, they belonged to the background instead of sitting on top of it.

Each butterfly was paired with a small metal key — simple, slightly imperfect, and completely unplanned when I started. But once placed, they stayed.

There is something about that combination that feels… right.

The Details That Hold It Together

The sentiments were created using simple black label strips:

• BEST FRIEND
• SMILE
• INSPIRE

Short. Direct. Almost understated.

They don’t overpower the design — they anchor it.

The Finished Set

 Each card shares the same foundation, but none of them feel identical. That is something I am learning to appreciate — letting variation happen instead of forcing uniformity.

A Quiet Thought

This set ended up feeling like more than just a technique exercise.

Soft backgrounds. Structured keys. Delicate wings.

Messy. Controlled. Fragile. Strong.

Held together by small things.

So far, I created a card and three different ATC sets, each with its own mood and voice. And for the first time in a while, it didn’t feel rushed or overwhelming.

Just… steady.

And that is enough.

— Bon 

Sunflower Series – Holding on to Light 🌻

 

Some days call for drama and depth…
and some days quietly ask for warmth, softness, and a little hope.

Today was the latter.

After the intensity of my recent dark romance pieces, I felt drawn to something lighter—something that still tells a story, but with sunlight instead of shadow. And so this little sunflower trio was born.

🌿 The Process

As always, I started with 300gsm white cardstock, cut down to ATC size—my favourite little canvas.

The images were stamped onto white card using VersaFine Clair in Nocturne, giving me those crisp, rich outlines I love working with using using stamps from the Papercraft Society Box 22 by Ruth Mackie-McCartan.  From there, I coloured everything using my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers:

• BG2 & BG7
• AG4 & LG4
• CT2 & CT4
• IB1

I kept the colouring fairly natural and soft, letting the yellows stay bright but not overpowering, and adding gentle depth into the greens so the leaves didn’t get lost.

🌾 Backgrounds

For the backgrounds, I stayed deliberately muted and warm:

• Antique Linen
• Tea Dye
• Old Paper

Blended softly to create that slightly vintage, sun-washed feel.

I wanted the backgrounds to feel like late afternoon light—textured, warm, but never competing with the focal images. A few stamped details were added to give interest, but always with a light hand so the sunflowers could remain the stars.

🐝 The Story in Three Cards

Each ATC carries its own little message:

• “Keep a little sunshine”
  A soft, almost nostalgic piece with bees captured inside a jar—like holding onto small moments of light.
• “In a world of roses, be a sunflower”
  The bold centrepiece. A reminder to stand out, turn towards the light, and be unapologetically yourself.
• “Still reaching for the sun”
  A quieter ending. Gentle strength. Growth, even when it’s not loud or perfect.

Together, they form a simple story:

hold onto the light, choose your own path, and keep growing.

🌻 Final Thoughts

What I loved most about this set was the balance.

Not too busy.
Not too bold.
Just enough detail to support the feeling without overwhelming it.

After working with darker tones and heavier emotion, this felt like a breath of fresh air—proof that crafting doesn’t always have to shout to be meaningful.

Sometimes… it just needs to glow quietly.

More to come soon…
Bon 🖤