In the Works...

Same Mask - Different Use

Here I used the same mortise mask from my previous post, but instead of placing it around a stamped image, placed it over blank paper.  This created a stencil. 

After daubering in the dye inks (same brands/colors as before), I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig for positioning where to stamp stems, then spattered raw umber acrylic ink across the panel.  Raw umber, by the way, is a nice color for spattering becuase it's not as stark as black, but packs more of a punch than brown. 

After the paint dried, I stamped and embossed the saying, and layered the panel to an A-2 card.

Stamps used on this card are from the FL-30 Leaves #1, WD-43 Life's Donation stamp sets.

Should you want to get really fancy with masking, make sure to check out Dina's tutorial at smARTworks.

Have a great weekend,

Susan T.

Single Layer Card

I'm always intrigued by well designed, single layer cards, and as of late, have also been inspired by the clean, simple card ideas I've been seeing at Wiggy's World (Donelda's blog)... Hence, this card.

Here's a visual 'How To':

Other Card Details --
Stamps: FL-30 Leaves #1, WD-51 Lovely Smile - Inks:Versafine Toffee, Memories (Honey, Apple), Adirondack (Red Pepper, Cranberry) - Other: Fabriano Medieovalis square note card, Transcendence embossing powder.  All dye inks applied with sponge daubers.

Notes:
-- The Frisket film used for masking, was just something I happened to have on hand.  Eclipse tape works just as well.  While thin text weight paper can also work, both the Frisket and the Eclipse are sticky-backed which creates a nice, 'tight' fit around images. Frisket and Eclipse masks are also durable and reusable -- Plus, their 'sticky' will not damage paper surfaces.

-- When applying ink along the seam line where mask and image meet, try to use either a pouncing motion, or inward brushing motion.  Brushing outward, from image to mask, may push ink under the mask, and outside the image.

Hope you give it a try,

Susan T.

Oldie, but Goodie

There's a real possibility that my best stamping bud in all the world will be vacationing in Maine next month.  Health issues have prevented visiting for quite some time, so I'm ecstatic on many counts.  Of course, I want Liz to remain holding her own physically, but very selfishly, I also want a chance to see her, talk stamping, families, etc, and be blessed by her sense of humor.  I have missed her so much, and am praying that God won't let anything stand in the way.

Over the years, regardless of seeing, or not seeing each other, Liz and I have maintained our friendship via snail mail.  In fact, before I got 'busier and busier' with smARTworks, I used to be a little more attentive to my end of the correspondence, and would try to get at least a card out every week to ten days, or so...Now once a month is more like it... ~sigh!

Anyway, what I really want to share is the pretty much impromptu card I put together to go with the 'can't wait to see you' (and other stuff)  letter I sent out this week.

 
I used an oldie, but goodie technique I've always called 'Watercolor Restamp'.  I think I first stumbled over some version of it on the Paper Inspirations (?) website long before the Trask house even had a computer.  I remember skimming over the directions while online at my mother-in-law's house, and thinking, "I'll remember that..." 

When I got home, however, I realized I was lacking a few essential details (and name), so did a lot of experimenting with the basics I could remember, and came up with the following.  To this day, it remains one of my all-time favorite techniques.

Materials Needed:
Smooth, but not glossy, white or ivory cardstock*
Water-based Markers in 2 shades of each color -- a light and dark version**
Water-filled Mister
Stamp Positioner (VERY necessary!)
Botanical Stamp with limited details

*  The reason you want to work on smooth stock is because you don't want the ink/water to be absorbed too quickly -- You might still like the outcome if done say, on watercolor paper, but it won't be the same.
 
** You can also choose 2 contrasting, but compatible colors (ones that look good when blended).

Process:

1.  Prepare the stamp positioner's imaging sheet by aligning it with the positioner, and stamping it with the image you are using.  Set aside.  Clean stamp.

2.  Using only the lighter markers, color your chosen image.

3.  Now lightly mist the image, and stamp.
Note -- Even though the photo shows me spraying the stamp, best results are achieved by orienting oneself away from the work area, spraying the the water into the air, and 'catching the mist'.  I usually 'catch' three mistings before stamping.

4.  Using the darker markers, recolor the image, but this time only in spots -- concentrate on the outer edges, and any inner niches.

5.  Mist as before, but set aside while you place the stamp postioner's guide directly over the previously stamped image.

6.  Guided by the positioner, stamp the image with the dark highlights.
Note -- Best results will be achieved by refraining from pushing down too hard on the stamp... A lighter touch allows the wet ink to 'move & mingle' before being absorbed into the first image.

7.  Allow finished result to dry, then use as desired.

Other Details for the card sent to Liz --
* Memories Mists in Magarita was lightly sprayed across circle, and allowed to dry before any other stamping was done.
* Stamps Used: Botanical image from SBO-Cookie Plate #1, Sentiment from WD-218 Prayer.  
* Bottom lines of saying were covered with masking tape, then the first line was inked, and tape removed before inked portion was stamped in black and clear embossed on front circle.  Stamp was cleaned, then process reversed to place the rest of the sentiment inside the card.

If you've never tried this technique before, the results can be quite stunning, so give it a go.  If you have tried it before, but not in awhile, why not play with it again?  It's an oldie, but always fast, fun, and fabulous!

Happy Stamping,

Susan T.

P.S. Image used in sample hails from the SBO-Big 'n Bold stamp set.

'New' News

I have a whole lot of 'new' to share with you today...

First up is the next Tea Party Challenge scheduled to post next Wednesday (Mar, 25).  Donelda will be our hostess, and she wants us to include an inchie.  As Donelda puts it,

Use at least one 1" x 1" piece of cardstock on your card.  It can have stamping on it, or you can stamp the base of the card and have the inchie(s) be solid cardstock, designer paper, etc.  Whatever strikes your fancy!!!

Should be fun!  Remember, if you decide to play along with us, leave a link to your card either here, or at one of the other Cookie blogs.

Next, I want to let you know that before smART Cookie, Donna Duquette, headed off to San Diego on vacation (BTW, Donna has some nice San Diego Zoo pics on her blog), she mailed a packet of smART cards out to me.

This was one of the cards in her packet using the WD-230 Frog Hoppin'  stamp set, and I think it's 'toad-ally' cool!  For the background Donna used a Technique Junkies technique called Tapped Brayer.  Reminds me of a tie-dyed T-shirt!  Also, notice how the dots of the embossed strip mimic the dots of the print paper?  And  how about Mr. Froggie?!?  He was stamped on green cardstock, then accented with colored pencils.  Yup, everything about this card...'toad-ally' cool!  But then, Donna's work is always fun to look at!  You can see all the 'new' cards in her updated smART gallery.

Lastly, another new tutorial at the smART website!  This one's by Dina, and I've called it Marvelous Masking  because it combines both regular and mortise masking to create some marvelous artwork...  I know if you take a peek, and see how easy it can be, you'll just HAVE to try it for yourself!

Happy Stamping,

Susan T.

Mini Recipe Book Tutorial

Awhile ago I told you that smART Cookie, Peggy Lamb, had created a fabulous little recipe book using the What's Cookin'? stamp set, and that as soon as I figured out how best to display it, I'd be sharing...

Well, the more I looked this mini book over, and flipped through its pages, the more well suited it seemed to become for sharing as a tutorial... so that's what I've done. 

The full materials list, 'how to' instructions, and individual pages can all be seen in a tutorial at the official smART website.

From a stamper's point of view, my opinion of Peggy's book (other than I really love it),  just happens to be that it's one of those 'easier than it looks' projects... Why, even the most difficult part of sizing the papers, isn't really difficult at all, just a bit time consuming.  After that, the rest of it's a cut, stamp, and paste breeze! 

In fact, I'm actually giving serious consideration as to making one of these for Mr. Eli, who calls himself Chef Fillet  whenever we cook.  I think it's time for him to 'own' some of his favorite Mom recipes.  Hmmmm... what papers should I choose?

Thanks, Peggy, for such a fun and useful project,

Susan T.

 

Santa's Workshop

Long ago and faraway there was a little dark-haired girl in Maine who just couldn't wait to see what "special" artsy-craftsy activity her classroom teacher had planned for the Christmas season. 

You see, the little girl lived in a very isolated area, and had almost no spending money of her own, so these handmade treasures created at school meant the world to her, for they allowed her to place at least one gift for "Mama and Daddy" under the family Christmas tree.

Eventually the little girl grew up and married a fourth grade teacher.  Imagine how horrified and heartsick she felt the first year she asked him, "So what are you having your kids make for Christmas this year?" and he replied, "Oh, I usually just put out some drawing paper, and tell them they can make cards."

Well, I'll spare you the "You gotta be kidding!" tirade, but that was the LAST year the poor, now enlightened teacher ever said that!  It was also the first year Little Susie T. started "Santa's Workshop" out of gratitude for what different teachers had done for her, and a sincere belief that it might still mean the world to someone else...

For quite a few years, until things got super busy, I used to schlep Eli and all the necessary supplies out to Mark's school, and lead the activities myself, but for the past few years, we've had to make some changes... Now I simplify a proposed activity, make a sample, prepare the "kits," and type up directions so Mark can execute the activity, solo.

Why, just the other day someone was praising him (especially as a man) for doing such crafty things with his students... Hubby told them (and notice he made sure to tell me he told them ~wink, wink), "The credit all goes to my wife.  I just follow instructions that are written so even a monkey can do them."  Hmmmm.... Is that a compliment??? or did I marry a monkey???

Anywho, on to one of this year's projects:

Bet you can't find the stamping on this card, but it's there... UNDER all the punchies!

It's the circle frame from this set.  In fact, this is one of the reasons I designed FRM-02 Trio -- Use the images as guides for punch placement, or even stamping placement, and you'll get perfect wreaths every time.

Here's how to use it with punchies:

Choose a very light color of ink, and stamp the circle onto the base of the card.  This top-folded white base is a 5.25" x 5.25".
Notes:  Versamark ink is probably the best to use, but for kids, it needed to be more visible, so this one was done in Memories Soft Leaf. 
           I always use my Stamp-a-ma-jig for exact placement, but if well-trimmed, this stamp is also fairly easy to eyeball.

Prepare some punchies.  For this particular card, I used an oak leaf punch by McGill -- (8) punchies with stems snipped off, but for something Christmasy, almost any leaf punch will do.  You can also use flowers, or snowflakes, or stars, etc.  Just keep in mind the size of the punch will dictate how many punchies you need.

Now adhere the punchies around the circle like this (I use small dots of tacky glue applied with a toothpick):

Add a few punchie flowers - this card uses the Kikyou flower by Carl ... Glitter glue the centers... Add a bow of choice, and voila!

For hubby's students, this card became a customized gift for treasure when they adhered final copies of individually composed Christmas poems inside. 

And yes, Mark tells me, as always, there was at least one little girl for whom doing the activity meant the world... Who knows, maybe someday she'll "remember," don an elf hat, and pay it forward.

Off to stock up on bananas,

Susan T.

P.S.  To use this frame as a guide for a stamped wreath- Stamp image on scrap in black, and place a light-colored card stock base over image.  Image will show through the paper.  If difficult to see, a lightbox will help.  You can also use removable tape to temporarily adhere the image behind the base.

The Striper Technique

It looks as if it's going to be a VERY busy week, so in case I don't get to post again until the weekend, I'm going to leave you with something to try:

This is a thank you card I made using stamps from the BF-04 Sm. Trio & Middie Messages #1 sets, an embossed background panel (Cuttlebug's Stylized Flowers), the Striper Technique, and my favorite way to create butterfly antennae...

The Striper Technique is one I devised specifically as a quick and easy way to color butterfly images.  Here is how it's done: 

Materials:
*  Butterfly stamp (open or semi-open image)
*  3-5 Markers in complimentary colors (any brand/kind of marker will work, but those with broad tips are super)
*  Strip of white/ivory cardstock slightly (1/8" or so) wider than the height of the chosen image
   Note: Instead of taking the time to measure my stamp, I guesstimated, so the strip used in the tutorial photos is a bit wider than it should be.
*  Ruler with a clean, ink-free edge
*  Damp Paper Towel
*  Black Ink (of course, you CAN use other colors, but I'm partial to black butterfly bodies)
*  Clear Embossing Powder & Heat Tool
    Note: Embossing is optional, but for this technique, the embossing really makes the image "pop."

Instructions:
1)   Mentally divide the width of the cardstock strip by the number of markers you will be using... (3 markers = thirds, 4 markers = fourths, 5 markers = fifths, etc.)
2)   Place the edge of the ruler along the first, imaginary dividing line.
3)   Choosing one of the markers, and the ruler's edge as a guide, draw the first stripe -- Make this  a continuous line as wide as the division dictates... It does NOT need to be perfect so once you put your marker to the paper, try not hesitate, stop 'n go, or "touch up."  Believe me, in this case, the harder you chase perfection, worse the outcome will look.

4)   Pick up the ruler and using the damp paper towel, clean any excess marker off the ruler's edge.

5)   Turn the paper strip 180' -- The colored stripe should now be on the opposite side.

6)   Place the edge of the ruler along the inside edge of the colored stripe -- the ruler itself will cover the stripe you just made.
7)   Repeat Step #3 with your second color -- As much as possible try NOT to overlap with first stripe.

8)   Repeat Step #4. (Clean ruler's edge.)
9)   Using the remaining markers, continue repeating Steps #6 and #4 until the paper strip is fully colored or striped.
10)  Stamp the butterfly image over horizontally oriented stripes, and clear emboss.

11)  Following embossed outline, cut out image.

12)  Use as desired.

Additional tips:
*  If using brush type markers to draw stripes, use the side of the nib instead of its tip. 
*  If stamping more than one butterfly, and you want them to look "identical," make sure to use a stamp positioner.
*  If water-based markers are used to make stripes, make sure your hands are nice and dry while cutting out images.  If not, the moisture might re-activate the ink and transfer one color into another via fingerprints.

Now for the antennae
My favorite way to create antennae for butterfly cut-outs is to remove the stamped antennae, and replace them with carpet thread.  Carpet thread?!?  Yes, indeed.  Much thicker than regular thread, it's quite stiff,and very durable but less rigid than wire, so better for mailing. Also, a single spool lasts f-o-r-e-v-e-r.

Here's How:
1)  Cut a 2-4 inch length of thread. (Length is determined by size of image -- a larger butterfly requires a longer length of thread.)
2)   Loop or fold the thread in half.
3)  Using tacky glue, adhere the loop, or the narrow end of the "V" to the back of the cut-out.

4)  Trim ends to size.

 

Blowing you butterfly kisses, and striped ones at that,

Susan T.

Scrap Happy

Last evening I taught a class entitled Scrap Happy.  Not scrap as in "scrapbooking," but scrap as in "something leftover." You know, all those excess bits 'n pieces we stampers have left after working on other projects, then save because they're too good to throw away -- paper (all kinds)... ribbon (3-inch lengths or less)... punch shapes & other embellishments (one of this, two of that, etc.)

All three cards for the class were specifically designed to offer participants a variety of ideas/ways for diminishing the "scrap heaps" they have at home.  Here's a sample:

For this card, I threw a few curves into an old technique... a technique I initially tried several years ago using glossy cardstock.  Beyond that, I'm sort of fuzzy on the details, can't give it a name, or even credit the original source because I was absolutely positive it came from Suze Weinberg's book, The Art of Rubber Stamping, but when I went to double check, no could find...

Anywho, I call my version the Print-Patch Mosaic Technique.  Materials list, and instructions are as follows:

Materials List
5-6 Assorted Print Paper Scraps (these do NOT have to be very large, be uniform, or match in any way)
5-6 Rubber Stamps - all types - one needs to be a focal image, but the others just add interest
Sticker Paper OR Label Paper OR Double-sided Adhesive Sheet
Black Dye Ink
Embossing Powder - any color
Heat Tool
Large, Soft-bristled Brush - I use a make-up brush from the dollar store
Paper Cutter OR Scissors & Ruler

Instructions
1)  Size sticker paper -- for a standard A-2 card, 3.5 inches x 4.75 inches makes a nice card front. Set aside.
2)  Without leaving a lot of empty spaces, randomly stamp a different image across all but one of the print scraps. NOTE: The largest scrap shown here measures 2 x 3 inches, but even half this size is more than adequate.

3)  Keeping width of shapes to 1-inch or less, cut stamped scraps into various sized squares and rectangles.

4)  On the remaining scrap, stamp a single image. This is the focal image.  Size as desired.
NOTE: The image panel needs to be lager than any of the previously cut shapes.  It also needs to fit on the sticker paper with enough room for a margin all the way around.

5)  Peel backing off sticker paper, and keeping sticky side up, lay paper flat on work area.  NOTE: Once adhesive is exposed, avoid touching the "sticky" with your fingers.
6)  Leaving a margin around all its edges, adhere focal image to sticker paper.

7)  Working outward from image, and leaving approximately 1/8" between pieces, cover remaining, exposed adhesive with previously cut shapes -- it's okay for pieces to hang over the edges.

8)  Trim overhang flush with edges of sticker paper.

9)  Cover trimmed mosaic with embossing powder.

10)  Rub embossing powder "grout" into all the "cracks".

11)  Tap off, then brush off excess powder.

12)  Heat emboss.

13)  Layering as desired, mount card-ready mosaic to card.
14)  Embellish. (optional)

Finished card pictured at the beginning of post has been embellished with mini punch flowers (younger girl's garland), and diamond glitter glue (older girl's crown).  The focal image is from a section of Sisterhood Collage.  Other images come from various stamp sets. The "grout" is Antiquities Ochre embossing powder. 

ON A PERSONAL NOTE: I like the Antiquities line of powders for this technique because it gives a grainy, matte finish, very much like that of real grout.  Another great choice is metallic gold... it turns out very snazzy... 

Additionally, Print-Patch Mosaic cards make great showcases for single charms or decorative buttons.

So dig out some scraps, give it a try, and let me know what you think. 

Susan T.