October 2013: Bonnie Ratzloff

How long have you been stamping? 
I’ve been stamping about 18 yrs.
 
What is your favorite technique? 
I have several techniques I like to work with: stippling, sponging and scenic stamping.  My overall favorite though is definitely stippling since you can get so many different looks using the stipple brush.
 
What are your favorite colors to work with? 
It pretty much depends on what images I’m working with, however, I do love black/red or black/anything combinations; earth tones for scenic stamping; and soft spring colors when working with florals.  I am usually challenged using bright colors for some reason.
 
What are your favorite Asian stamp images? 
Florals, scenic images, geisha’s, bonsai tree’s and pandas (because they are just too cute & cuddly)
 
Favorite stamping accessory? (Such as scissors, etc.)
Love my stipple brushes, sponges, brads, small hole punch for faux brads, 2-way glue pen (also for faux brads), ice stickles, pop dots, glue dots, bling, primas
 
What is the one tool you couldn’t live without?
Take my stipple brush away and I will be lost!
 
Any helpful tips for the group?
If you want to be published, submit submit submit.  Also don’t ever think you’ve already learned everything there is to stamping, scrapbooking, cardmaking, crafting, etc because there is always something new to learn.
 
As a member of OSA, why do you like stamping in the Oriental theme?
I’ve always loved oriental themes & images.  I seem to find a lot of beauty and tranquility in them.  Also when it comes to coloring oriental images, it always seems easy to color them or find a way to just leave them stamped as is.  Lately, I’ve started trying my hand at mixing/matching oriental images with non-traditional oriental images to see what I can do with them.  Some of the results I have liked and some have ended up in my recycle bin.
 
What favorite stamping magazines would you recommend and why do you like them? 
RubberStampMadness (RSM), Take Ten, Paper Crafts because of the different stamping styles I’ve seen in them.  Occasionally I’ll pick up one of the British stamping magazines to see some of the different styles from across the pond and what I can learn from them.

Published in any magazines?  If yes, please list.
These are all non oriental themes, however: RSM – Fall 2013, RSM – Spring 2013, RSM – Holidays 2012, RubberStamper July/Aug 2004, RubberStamper Oct 2003, Stampers Sampler 3-4yrs ago (can’t remember exactly or find issue), RSM – Aug 2013 Facebook page, RSM – notified of future publication in Holiday 2013 edition.
 
Any other hobbies, talents or craft interests?
I also scrapbook which has been sorely lacking lately and make some home decor items for gifts (birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries) for my family.
 
What inspires you to be creative?
For my scenic stamping, I’m inspired by Thomas Kincade paintings and I’m fortunate to have a friend who sent me a book of them before Mr. Kincade passed away.  Also, I live only 2hrs west of Yosemite National Park and have been fortunate enough to be able to visit there many times (pictures of course) over the years as well as Yosemite’s famous Tioga Pass.  As far as oriental stamping inspiration is concerned, I am also fortunate to live only 2.5 hrs south of San Francisco’s famous China Town and have been there a couple of times – my son and his girlfriend have been there as well as Japan Town more.  However, since I am so close to San Francisco, whenever there is a big celebration and the ornate dragons are pulled out for parades, etc, the news here carries parts of the parade with pics later posted online so I can see the colors, and hear, the sounds of the parade.
 
Art background?
I wish I could say I have some sort of art background, but nope, not at all unless you count watching/learning from my very talented mother.  She not only decorated cakes, but did all of the silk floral arrangements for my wedding and taught me to paint as well.  We used to work on ceramics together years ago before she passed away from breast cancer.  In fact, I still have the ceramic nativity set she inspired me to paint after she made one for our church complete with hand made wooden stable.
 
Any favorite websites you would recommend for inspiration?
SplitcoastStampers, SpeedyTV, and I do get some inspiration from Pinterest
 
Do you have a day job when you’re not stamping?
Unfortunately I am not working anymore due to my chronic migraines.  Before I had to stop working, I used to be a radiology scheduler for the local hospital here in town.  Translation: I scheduled outpatient X-ray exams, inpatient xray exams, and biopsies/angiograms/heart caths as well as tracked down any comparison films for the radiologists or any necessary blood work for the special procedures.  It was a high stress job and my stamping was my way to relax at the end of a long, long day.  In fact, everyone who’s ever had my job has also had migraines.
 
Tell us about your family and where you live.
I am married to my husband of 23 yrs as of Dec 29th, Ken, and we have 2 children; John (21) in college and Sarah (16) a senior in high school this year.  We also have several 4-legged fur babies (dog & cats) that try to help mommy stamp, or at least look over my shoulder, from time to time.  The only fur baby that doesn’t want to be bothered with stamping is the dog, Bella, who just plops down by my feet sleeping so I trip on her whenever I get up.  All of us currently live in Merced right in the middle of California’s fertile Central Valley.

Vellum Candle Project:

Materials Needed:
•Stamps – Koi Fish, Dragonflies by Mark’s Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company
•Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
•Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass Distress Ink
•Stipple Brush
•Vellum Card Stock
•Glue Dots
•Black Marker
•Candle
•Battery Operated Votive
•Googlie Eyes
•Rose Art Colored Pencils
•Drill Press (or other means to hollow out candle)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Using drill press, or other means, hollow out the center of the candle deep enough for a battery operated votive to be placed inside just below the rim.

2. Take vellum card stock and wrap it around the candle.  Then place a tic with a pencil just below the top of the rim.

3.  Next, cut the vellum card stock down to size length wise.

4. Stamp images in memento tuxedo black ink, allow to dry –  overnight is best.  You may speed up the drying time by using an embossing gun, just make sure not to burn the vellum.

5. Flip stamped vellum image over, and on backside color using varying shades of Rose Art colored pencils as desired.

6.  Once coloring is finished, add in dragonfly flight lines using a black marker and allow to dry.

7.  Stipple Tim Holtz tumbled glass distress ink for the “pond” and allow to dry.

8.  Wrap around candle and attach using glue dots.  Add googlie eyes to koi fish using micro glue dots then ice stickles to lotus flowers and lily pads – allowing to dry.  Place battery operated votive inside.