Can you believe it is already Fall again? This is my favorite time of year; the pumpkins/jack-o-lanterns, not so scary scarecrows, spectacular mums and Halloween trick-or-treaters. And the foods, oh the foods; delicious stews and soups, pumpkin pie and cinnamon rolls baking in the oven.

It's also such a fun time of year for crafting! The fall colors and so inviting and Christmas is just around the corner!

Today I am sharing my little Fall/Halloween ATC created using DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics and other Media line products.

Items Needed:

• DecoArt Media Mediums and Specialty Products - Clear Matte Medium (DMM20-71)
• ATC (artist Trading Card) - This Was Cut Out Of Heavy Whiteboard
• Various Paintbrushes
• Pencil
• Halloween Or Fall Napkin
• Fine Permanent Black Ink Pen

Instructions:

Step 1: Start with a simple ATC cut out of a heavy whiteboard. Using a Halloween napkin I had in my stash, I determined the section of the napkin I wanted to use on my ATC. Remove the paper backing of the napkin (usually two layers removed) so that there only the thin upper layer with the design is left. Then brush DecoArt Media Matte Medium over the entire surface of the ATC and lay the napkin over the ATC where you want it. Gently smooth out any wrinkles and brush over the napkin with another coat of the Matte Medium.

Step 2: I did not want the "Trick or Treat" lettering to show so I brushed over it using DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titan Buff. This color also blended in with the color of the napkin background well enough so that the scarecrow that I would be painting over it would hide all of the lettering.

Step 3: Now to further blend the background, I brushed light coats of a combination of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Cobalt Teal Hue and Titanium White mixed with a little water over the surface of the ATC. Then using a small brush, I painted over the bats again using DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Carbon Black. I also squeezed out a little of the black paint onto my work surface and using my finger, I wiped the black paint around the edges of the ATC to frame my design.

Step 4: I lightly penciled the scarecrow and pumpkin in place on the ATC and painted them using the following DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics colors:

-Yellow Oxide: face and sunflower on the hat, shading in leaves
-Vermillion: scarecrow's hat and pumpkin, shading in leaves
-Primary Cyan: scarcrow's shirt and hatband, scarecrow eyes
-Titanium White: lines on the scarecrow's shirt, scarecrow eyes, also used in highlighting on the scarecrow, pumpkin
-Raw Umber and Burnt Umber: pumpkin stem used in shading on the pumpkin and scarecrow. Also used to outline the scarecrow
-Phthalo Green-Blue: shading on leaves

I also used a fine permanent black ink pen to outline the objects and give them even more definition.

Step 5: For a little more shimmer on the ATC, I added some DecoArt Craft Twinkles Writer in Gold. I squirted a little onto my work surface and using a small paint brush, I brushed over the bats and pumpkin. It added just the right amount of sparkle when the light hits the ATC card.

Step 6: I decided to add a little blush to my scarecrow's cheeks. So I mixed a little bit of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Quinacridone Red and Titan Buff. I mixed that with a tiny bit of water and gingerly brushed a little of the pink onto the cheeks of the scarecrow. Perfect touch! Then I added little sewing lines to the scarecrow's face using the fine black permanent ink pen. Finally, I added the lettering "Happy Fall Y'all" and my ATC is finished!

Such a simple and fun little ATC. If you're into swapping ATCs or making cute little inserts for cards or gift tags, these will work perfectly!