May 2011: Jan C.

Jan’s Dragon Card

How long have you been stamping?

5 years. After retirement, I progressed from digital photography to making my ‘Jan’s Joy’ note cards with the photos. Walked into ‘Stampin’ Cat Studios’ in Salem, OR and was hooked – big time. For the past 3 years have entered the county and state fairs with hand-made cards, winning, and then was asked to teach. Have really enjoyed teaching several techniques in classes every few months.

What is your favorite technique?

Iris folding, Medallions, cut work, embossing, Copics, Faux Quilting, and the list goes on…

Favorite stamp company?

Earth Art International, Michael Strong Rubber Stamps, Magenta, Lockhart Stamps, Great Impressions, and whatever strikes my fancy at the moment.

Favorite Asian stamps?

Flowers, Great Impressions Geishas

Favorite stamping accessory?

Weller Heat Gun

Favorite colors?

This year it’s Aqua, Greens

Your favorite embellishment to finish a card?

Mini Rhinestones

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

My Big Shot

Any helpful tips for the group?

Attention to detail…finish all edges of a cut piece lightly with a black chisel point pen…seeing the white edge of the paper ruins a beautiful piece of artwork.

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

Asian is my favorite theme – graceful and elegant.

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

CHA – that would be a real treat!

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

OSA, Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps; Die Cuts All; Ink’ll Do

What favorite stamping magazines would you recommend?

Vamp Stamp News  – the only one I subscribe to

Published in any magazines? If yes please list.

VSN, Faux Quilting with step by step picture instructions

Any other hobbies, talents or craft interests?

Singing and Photography

What inspires you to be creative?

All of God’s creation…there are small parks all over the city and flowers everywhere, as well as many gardens/growers of iris, daffodils, tulips, peonies, rhodies, lilies, roses, and dahlias around Salem – a photo paradise! I follow a number of blogs and inspiration is just a click away!

Art background?

Nothing formal…did win a ‘Dopey Duck’ coloring contest in elementary school – don’t think that counts – lol!

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

An embossing plate that I stamped with VersaMark, ran through my Big Shot to emboss, and then dusted with mica powder (saw the technique on OSA!!!)

Any favorite websites you would recommend for inspiration?

A Touch of Grace, Amazing Paper Grace, Today’s Creation, Splitcoast Stampers, Creations by Patti

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

Retired as an Administrative Assistant to the Associate Superintendent of Calaveras County in Angels Camp, CA. in 1995 (yes, the ‘Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Mark Twain fame) frog jumping contests at the county fair every year!  Now I sell my ‘Jan’s Joy’ photo note cards…helps a bit to fund my stamping passion!

Tell us about your family and where you live.

Jim and I have been married 25 years, moved to Salem, OR 11 years ago. Have a grown son, John,  living in Stockton, CA, as well as a step-daughter, Denice (her husband, John, and their son, Cody) living in Ocala, FL. We live 5 miles from downtown Salem on our 5½ acre Douglas Fir tree farm. Love Salem…a little-big town and the state capitol. We have mild winters and summers and everything grows here except citrus.

Thank you for this opportunity to share with you…very exciting for me!!!

Jan’s Dragon Card

Materials:
Stamps: Earth Art International Dragon stamp; Inkadinkado #96653  ‘I Love You’
Paper: Neenah Solar White cardstock; Malmero Black Perle 92# cover weight cardstock (has a sparkle fleck in it) cut to 5 3/4″ x 4 1/4″; Malmero Red Perle 92# cover weight cardstock (also has a sparkle fleck in it) cut to 9 1/4″ x 6 1/4″ and folded in half (A-6)
Ink: VersaFine Black ink pad; VersaMark ink pad
Embossing powder: Clear; Chinese Red
Calligraphy Pen or chisel tip pen: black
Copic Markers: various greens, R29 Lipstick Red, and FY1 Fluorescent Yellow Orange
Rhinestone: mini red
Punch: Southwest
String: gold
Pop Dots
Scotch Tape

Instructions:

I stamped the dragon on ‘Neenah Solar White’ paper using ‘VersaFine’ black ink, embossed with clear embossing powder. Colored with various green ‘Copic’ markers, R29 Lipstick Red, and FY1 Fluorescent Yellow Orange. Cut out the dragon; used my black calligraphy pen to finish the white edges of the paper; and embellished the dragon eye with a mini red rhinestone.

Stamped my ‘I Love You’ saying with ‘VersaMark’ and embossed with Chinese Red embossing powder on ‘Black Perle’ cardstock. Punched all four corners of the Black Perle cardstock with a ‘Southwest’ punch; knotted and scotch taped one end of gold string to the back side of the black cardstock; wound the string around all four corners so the solid line of string shows on the front side, then knotted and scotch taped the end of the string on the back side of the black cardstock. Using double sided tape, mounted the black layer to the ‘Red Perle’ A-6 card. Used pop dots to mount the dragon on the black perle layer.

He’s a real lover and breathing fire…so look out!