June 2011: Wendy McG.

Wendy McG.
“Monkey Card”

How long have you been stamping?

For well over 15 years – I first “found” the world of artistic rubber stamps when my mom’s best friend invited us to attend a meeting of a local rubber stamp club at the home of Catherine Mace, the late founder of Catherine’s Papers. I took one look at her room of rubber stamps and gorgeous papers and was completely hooked!

What is your favorite technique?

Oh, that’s a tough one – I like so many aspects of stamping. I don’t know if you would call it a technique, but I love to create mechanical/popup cards. I’m a software engineer by day, so I tend to be more analytical in my crafting (sometimes too much). I love the
challenge of determining the correct measurements for a popup to work, or for a card to fold and unfold correctly.

Favorite stamp company?

I have to pick one??? Nope, sorry, can’t do that – I have too many that I love! Oxford Impressions, Stonehouse, Art Neko, OnyxXpressions, Hero Arts …

Favorite Asian stamps?

Animals, especially birds – I really love the brushstroke style.

Favorite stamping accessory?

My rotary cutter, ruler, and mat – the only way I can get a straight cut (of course, it’s also the most dangerous – I’ve already taken one trip to the ER because I wasn’t careful with it. Those rotary blades are sharp!).

Favorite colors?

Blues, although when crafting Asian themed cards I tend towards black, white, and red.

Your favorite embellishment to finish a card?

Ribbon, but I just discovered “bling” in the form of teeny tiny fingernail rhinestones (thanks to someone on the OSA list).

What is the one tool you couldn’t live without?

Well, with those teen tiny rhinestones the one tool I cannot function without right now would have to be my tweezers. Those little buggers are hard to place otherwise. Besides that, my computer – I spend a lot of time surfing for ideas and inspiration.

Any helpful tips for the group?

Don’t be afraid to experiment and try something new – it’s only paper! Join swaps – there are so many to choose from on the OSA list.

As a member of OSA why do you like stamping in the Oriental theme?

I’ve been enamored of all things Japanese for a very long time (my life-long dream is to visit there someday). It started with origami at a very young age, and when I discovered rubber stamping it was a natural direction for my artwork to take. Being a member of OSA gives me a chance to share my work with others who also love and appreciate Oriental art.

Is there any one place or city you’d like to visit to find rubber stamps?

Japan, hands down! I’d also look for Japanese craft books, masking tape, gorgeous washi papers, … I’d need another large suitcase just to bring everything home.

What other stamping lists or local clubs do you belong to?

Lots of Yahoo groups (OSA is the one I’m most active with), no local clubs (sadly all the small local stores have closed.

What favorite stamping magazines would you recommend?

There are so many magazines – anything Stampington, of course, the classic Rubber Stamp Madness, and Paper Crafts. Oh, and I’ve found that some of the British stamping magazines (while hard to find) are fab – Craft Stamper is my favorite.

Published in any magazines?

If yes please list. Take Ten and Stamper’s Sampler, several times. Once in an issue of Somerset Studio.

Any other hobbies, talents or craft interests?

I dabble in lots of hobbies – jewelry making, quilting, cross stitch, knitting (still learning!) to name a few. But I’m only truly serious about rubber stamping and art journaling.

What inspires you to be creative?

It’s an escape from what I do during the day – my job is very stressful, as I’m a principal engineer and primary support contact at a small start-up software company. Although I still tend to be somewhat of an engineer with many of my stamping projects, the creative outlet that stamping provides gives me a sense of peace that I need at the end of the day.

Art background?

No formal training.

Have you used any unusual item in your stamping that wasn’t necessarily meant for stamping?

Years ago I stamped with my son’s Legos and toy cars (wheels make great patterns) and I’ve used computer parts as embellishments.

Any favorite websites you would recommend for inspiration?

OSA, of course – it’s a fantastic resource. I also like splitcoaststampers.com – lots of techniques and fabulous eye-candy.

Do you have a day job when you’re not stamping?

Software engineer.

Tell us about your family and where you live.

I’ve been married to my wonderful husband Mike for over 20 years. We have one son who is graduating from high school this year and is off to college way-far-away in New York this fall. We live in Spring, TX (hence the “way-far-away” <sigh>). We have an Australian Shepherd named Sammi that we adopted from a local rescue about 10 years ago.

Wendy McG.
“Monkey Card”

Start with a 9×5” piece of cardstock. Fold and cut according to the diagram. You are creating a gate-fold card with folded gate panels (does that make sense?). It’s a little tricky to cut the tabs, but because you will be layering a matted image on top they don’t have to be perfect, they just have to
line up with the fold across the way.

For the tab images you need 3 1” square images, matted on 1 ¼” sq. cardstock. I adhered my images with dimensional tape just to give them a little extra pop. I stamped my main image and punched out portions of it for 2 of the tabs, and added a third image that was related to theme for the last tab.

For the main panel/central image – choose an image that will fit nicely in the space and mat it to fit. The monkey reaching for the moon reflection worked perfectly for the card dimensions that I used.

For the belly-band – the dimensions are general; I just used a scrap of black cardstock that happened to fit around my card. The cloud mon stamp was matted like the other pieces and attached with a small piece of foam tape. Fold the belly band around the card so it fits somewhat loosely (you want to be able to slide it off over the tabbed images – secure in the front (where you will attach the matted image) with double sided tape.