Making Fun Foam Stamps with Embossed Images

 I'm the demonstrator for one of my stamp clubs. I decided we would have a play day, have members bring their dies, embossing folders and die cutting images. I made a few samples.
Cut adhesive back fun foam with a heart die. Then embossed the heart with a matching embossing folder.



I embossed two fun foam hearts, one each way in the same embossing folder. Here are the inked images:

 Decided to try using other embossing folders on more heart shaped adhesive backed fun foam. I like how these turned out.

To make the "stamps" more stable, adhered the stamps to cut out plastic packaging. Adhered the matching stamp images to the top of the plastic and used clear packing tape over the paper for protection. Also made a couple of butterfly foam stamps.

We should have lots fun today, can't wait to see what we all come up with.

Let it Snow Card

Used a foam stamp ( fun foam was cut using a die) and stamped with light blue ink on the top of a card.

Used a dark blue ink to stamp "Let it snow" over the previously stamped snowflakes. Used same ink to stan a snowman image on another piece of white card stock.

Also stamped a snow background image with the light blue ink, cut it out and layered it on the card. Used frosted lace Distress Stickles on the snowflake in the word "snow" and above the snowman.

Finished front:

Inside of card, stamped bottom edge with the foam snowflake stamp and a poem with the dark blue ink.

Lace Covered Altered Notebook

I was given a notebook, with the challenge to alter the cover.

I started by adhering an old piece of sheet music to the front cover. To help keep the paper from continuing to rip, I covered it with matte gel.





















While the gel was still wet, added 2 laces and and a lace ribbon over the paper.

To finish the front cover, added an angel image over script paper done as a tap transfer. Then wrapped a ribbon lace around the cover near the left edge. Added a large floral embellishment I received in a swap and added a "A" typeset brad to the center. Added a small angel embellishment on the lace ribbon to the left. Then made a leafy cluster to the bottom of the image out of metal leaves, lace leaves and gold paper leaves, with a "1" typeset brad to the center:

For the inside cover (to hide all the paper and lace edges), I used a piece of paper that was gold perfect pearls (or maybe Twinkling H2Os or other gold mica powder) washed over black paper. Used embossing folder on both the top and bottom of the paper to create relief design.

Also added a beeswax collage I made some time ago. Thought this was a good use for it.

 a fun project on a cold, wet day!

Brown Color Perception ATC

 Brown is the color in December for the Color Perceptions ATC Swap on the ArtVentures Group. The ATC is to be predominately brown and be how the color brown makes us feel. Brown is a warm color and makes me think of my home with wood floors and furniture, wood burning in the fireplace, chocolate and hot cocoa. Brown makes me Comfortable.

I started the ATC by using precut Birch Wood ATCs. Added some tea dye Distress ink over the surface and then gathered twigs Distress ink over a tape measure stencil.

Used frayed burlap Distress Ink to color some old music sheets, which I cut out to make the roof and windows for a house. Also cut out textured brown papers to be the base of the house and the door, and brick paper to be the chimney.

Stamped some small hearts on the ATC with aged mahogany Distress ink, and outlined these hearts with a black pigment pen.

 Cut out some decorative paper that I colored dark brown to make a mug, cut heart shape out of a textured reddish brown paper and added frayed burlap Distress stickles to make the steam.

My finished ATC:

Quilts for Comfort Quilters

Finding time to finish some quilts for Comfort Quilters:

Mono Printing with the Gelli Plate

Had another play with the Gelli Plate today. Brayered orange acrylic paint on to the Gelli Plate and removed some of the paint with a flourish stencil.

 Sponged on some Lumiere paints on top of each other.

 Used a cap to add some copper Lumiere paint.

Let all the paint dry, then brayered on red acrylic paint, laid down printer paper and pressed down then lifted off the paper.

 result:

I think I brayered on too thick a layer of acrylic paint above.

Variation of above. Brayered on red acrylic paint and lifted off some of the paint with a large flourish stamp.

 Sponged on some metallic russet Lumiere and used a small lid to add copper Lumiere paint.

 Let paint completely dry, then brayer on a thin layer of red orange acrylic paint. Quickly lay down printer paper, burnish and lifted up paper.

Result:

Monoprinting with Gelliplate

I wanted to use my Gelli Plate today, so I watched this tutorial on the Gelli Arts blog called Printing Dark Over Light. Great demo and shows how to make diy paint dabbers out of cosmetic sponges and masking tape great idea!
For my play, I choose a variety of light colors of acrylic and Lumiere paints

Used the paint dabbers to add circles of color, lightening the purple by adding white over the purple. Used shimmering Lumiere over stencil waste.

Cut a larger circle out of card stock to use as a stencil, and sponged on mixture of blue, purple and gold Lumiere paint.

  Used a qtip to add small dots of gold Lumiere paint.
Then waited until the paint had completely dried………...

 Used a brayer to cover the paint and Gelli plate with purple acrylic paint and quickly covered with printing paper and rubbed thoroughly before lifting off the paper.

Result: