Digi Choosday Project | Sparkly Summer Mermaid ATCs featuring Polkadoodles Winnie Mermaid Mermazing

Hi Crafty Friends!

Welcome back to another Digi Choosday project! For this week, the Design Team was given the prompt “Hot Hot Hot” to celebrate summer.

Now… summer here in Saudi Arabia can go as high as 50°C, so there’s really not much to celebrate. Haha!

But I know summer in many other parts of the world means sunshine, beach days, ocean adventures, and all things bright and fun. So for today’s project, I decided to create something inspired by magical summer under-the-sea vibes... these sparkly Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) featuring Polkadoodles’ adorable Winnie Mermaid Mermazing.

I wanted this project to feel fun, bright, and magical, so I combined coloring, mixed media, shimmer sprays, stenciling, and heat embossing to create dreamy ocean-inspired backgrounds.

I ended up making not just one, but two ATCs because I had so much fun playing with the sprays and colors!

About Today’s Project

For this project, I used Polkadoodles’ Winnie Mermaid Mermazing – Kisses digi stamp and colored her with Ohuhu Alcohol Markers. To make her extra magical, I added sparkly highlights using Ohuhu Glitter Pens.

Since this is a mermaid project, I wanted the background to have lots of shimmer and ocean-inspired colors. I used Lindy’s Gang Starburst Sprays in Mermaid Seashells, layered different colors, and added texture with stencils and embossing powder.

If you’ve been following my blog, you probably already know how much I love mixed media. I find it so fun and actually therapeutic about getting in the zone and just spraying, layering, drying, embossing, and seeing the background come together. 

Materials Used

• White Cardstock
• Digi Stamp – Polkadoodles Winnie Mermaid Mermazing – Kisses
• Mermaid Coral Sentiments from Polkadoodles
• Foam Tape
• Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue
• Tim Holtz Guillotine
• Scissors
• Lindy’s Gang Starburst Ink Sprays – Mermaid Seashells
• Ohuhu Alcohol Markers
• Ohuhu Glitter Pens
• Stencils (I used a Tim Holtz stencil and a Ciao Bella Paper stencil)
• Versamark Watermark Stamp Pad
• Gold Tinsel Embossing Powder
• Blending Brush
• We R Memory Keepers Heat Gun

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Color Your Digi Stamp

Start by printing and coloring your mermaid digi stamp.

I used Ohuhu Alcohol Markers to color Winnie Mermaid and added glitter details using Ohuhu Glitter Pens for extra sparkle.

This step is perfect for adding your own color palette and personality to the project.

Step 2: Cut Your ATC Base

Trim white cardstock to 2 3/8” x 3 3/8”.

This will be your main ATC panel.

Step 3: Create the Mixed Media Background

Spray your first Lindy’s Starburst Spray color onto the ATC panel.

Let it dry completely before adding the next color.

I recommend building the colors slowly in layers to achieve more depth and avoid muddy colors.

ATC1

ATC2

Step 4: Add More Layers

Continue layering more spray colors until you achieve your desired look.

This is the fun part... there’s no right or wrong here.

Just play with the colors and enjoy the process!

ATC1

ATC1

ATC1

ATC2

Step 5: Add Texture with Stencils

Choose your stencil and apply Versamark Watermark Ink through the stencil onto selected areas of your ATC.

ATC1

ATC2

You don’t need to cover everything. Partial stenciling adds beautiful visual interest.

Step 6: Heat Emboss

Sprinkle Gold Tinsel Embossing Powder over the stenciled areas.

ATC1

Use your heat gun to melt the powder until smooth and shiny.

ATC1

ATC2

This adds gorgeous texture and shimmer.

Step 7: Add a Border

Trim white cardstock to 2.5” x 3.5”.

Adhere your finished ATC onto this layer to create a clean bordered finish.

Step 7: Assemble Your ATC

Once your background is dry and finished, adhere your colored mermaid image to the center of the card.

I used foam tape to add dimension.

Step 8: Add Sentiments

Choose a sentiment and attach it to the ATC.

This helps complete the design.

Step 10: Finish the Back

Don’t forget to add your ATC details at the back - artist name, date, title, or project information.

And tadaaaa!!!

I absolutely loved making these mermaid ATCs.

It was one of those projects where I got fully immersed in the creative process—spraying, drying, embossing, layering, and simply having fun.

I made a second ATC using a different combination of sprays and stencil patterns so I could explore more colors from the Mermaid Seashells set.

That’s one of my favorite things about mixed media projects, no two backgrounds ever turn out exactly the same.

I hope this project inspires you to pull out your sprays, stencils, and favorite Polkadoodles digis to create your own magical summer-themed ATCs.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Be sure to check out the Digi Choosday challenge and the rest of the Design Team’s amazing creations for more inspiration.

Until next time! Stay crafty and keep creating!