November 2013: Thrifty Stamper

How long have you been stamping?
I started stamping about 5 years ago. I was invited to a stamping party at my daughter’s house and got hooked!

What is your favorite technique?
My favorite technique right now is bleach stamping.

What are your favorite colors to work with?
I like yellow and green.

What are your favorite Asian stamp images?
I like the stamps of people and animals. Right now I use some stamps from Mark’s Finest Papers a Heinrich Co called Asian Delights and Big Cats. I love that tiger!

Favorite stamping accessory? (such as scissors, etc.)
I swore I wouldn’t get a crimper. I even made fun of my daughter for buying one. But you know what? I traded for one and it is the best darn thing since sliced bread!

What is the one tool you couldn’t live without?
I can’t live without my cutter. I am very thrifty minded. If I can get it used or very cheap, then I buy something. Not with my cutter. I bought that sucker full price and don’t regret it at all. It’s a 12” x 12” Tonic guillotine.

Any helpful tips for the group?
Get a group of friends together, (church, lodge, family, etc) who all craft. Hold a monthly Craft Supply Swap and trade your gently used items. You wouldn’t believe what people think is trash! I’ve gotten some great things! I got a DRILL one month! Now I can put holes in thick Cork that won’t fit in a Crop-o-Dile!

As a member of OSA, why do you like stamping in the Oriental theme?
I like the feel of oriental art. There is something that sooths and excites me when I see something with an oriental theme.

What favorite stamping magazines would you recommend and why do you like them?
I am partial to Rubber Stamp Madness. I love scenic cards. I don’t make many, but I sure like to look at cards other stampers have made!

Published in any magazines?  If yes, please list.
Yeah, right! Hee hee. Nope, never been published.

Any other hobbies, talents or craft interests?
I love to save money. I also like to knit.

What inspires you to be creative?
I like to walk my dog. We go different places every day. You don’t know what you will find that will inspire you. Just today I saw a man with an odd color combo and thought, “hmmm… that could work for a card!

Art background?
Nope.

Any favorite websites you would recommend for inspiration?
I go to MFPSpeedyTV.ning.com to get ideas for stamping. I also go to Rubber Stamp Madness’s website.

Do you have a day job when you’re not stamping?
I am 71 years old! My job is to stay alive! Hee hee

Tell us about your family and where you live.
I am a widow. I moved to Florida a few months ago to be near my daughter and grandchildren. I live in a guest house that I built on my daughter and her husband’s property. I bought the property, put up a fence and put in a pool. Now it’s mine and I can do what I please. I have a nice size craft room and spend most afternoons and early evenings doing crafts.

Bleach Stamping Project

For this project you will need:
•Stamps (Be Virtuous and Mother’s Magnolia from
  Mark’s Finest Papers a Heinrich Co. were  used here.)
•Ink-Versa Mark
•Markers-Red, hot pink, yellow, lime green, dark green
•White Embossing powder
•Concentrated Clorox Bleach
•Paint brush
•Red ink
•Acrylic block to mount the clear stamps
•Heat tool
•Adhesive to stick layers together.

Card Stock: 
•White base — 4 ¼” x 11 folded in half
•Black layers — 3 ½” x 4 ¾” and 3 ¼” x 3 ¼”
•Fabric Covered Card Stock — 3 ¼” x 4 ½”

Directions:
You will stamp on the 3 ¼” x 3 ¼” black square.
1. Mount the image on the acrylic block.
2. Ink with Versa Mark.
3. Stamp image into corner of the card stock.
4. Cover inked black card stock with the white embossing powder.

5. Gently tap the excess embossing powder from the card stock.
    Put excess into the container.
6. Heat emboss with Heat tool.
7. Make sure the entire image is embossed before going on to the
    next step.  

8. Pour a small amount of the Concentrated Clorox Bleach into the cap
    of the bleach bottle.
9. Dip the tips of the paint brush into the bleach.  

10. Brush the bleach into the image. Try not to get bleach outside
of the image area.  Work quickly.  

11.  You can leave some areas inside the image untouched by the bleach.
*If you go outside the image lines you can cover it later with
a black marker.

12.  Let image dry. You can use a heat tool to speed up the process.
13.  The image will dry and you will see where you added more or less
bleach to areas.
14.  This variance in color gives the image depth.

15.  Color in the image. I use yellow for the inside of flowers.  I add in pinks and reds to give the image depth.

16.  For leaves I use lime and dark green as shadow.

17.  I used the sentiment from Be Virtuous on this card.  Ink image in VersaMark.

18.  Cover stamped sentiment in white embossing powder.
19.  Gently tap off excess embossing powder and return it to the container.
20.  Heat emboss the sentiment with Heat too.

21.  Now you will move to the base of the card.

22.  I inked the small chop from Be Virtuous ink red and stamped it in the bottom right corner of the card base.

23.  Assemble your card.

Finished project