Another from the Vault

Who knew cleaning could be such fun? Here are some more cards made years ago, when I first started stamping:

When shadow stamping first came into fashion, I thought it was the greatest technique because it was so quick and easy. I first learned the technique through Hero Arts when the company introduced solid stamps in various sizes and shapes, and also ink that was soft and mat and perfect as a base. (I’ll be blogging soon about the newest Hero Arts stamps that harken back to shadow stamping! Or check out the Hero Arts Web site and look at Shari Carroll’s video.)

The shadow stamps are definitely Hero Arts, as are the inks. The fish is from Maryse Carrier, who once designed for Magenta. I was thrilled to find out that her designs are now being carried at Stampotique! Do check them out. I had forgotten how fun and whimsical her designs are, so I’ll be digging out more of those oldies from my collection.

This one is all Judikins (except the sentiment, which I believe is Hero Arts.) The background is a fun retro block with four images on one block; the abstract was black embossed and colored with watercolors.

More From The Vault

Last week I shared some cards I made a megatrillion years ago … here are a few more:

How’s that for heavy masking? Back in the day, “postal” images were all the rage. And obviously, I had just learned how to mask! (Masking is a technique used to put one image behind another. You stamp your foreground image, then stamp it again on scrap paper. Cut out the scrap paper image, cutting a little inside the line. Use that to cover or “mask” the foreground image, then stamp another image over it. The second image will appear behind the first. Make sense? If you stamp your mask on a sticky note or use repositionable glue, then it won’t shift when you stamp over it. Tip o’ day!) (Most of those postal images are from Rubber Stamp Avenue, which is still around and still has fun stuff. The ink is Kaleidacolor from Tsukineko — a fast way to add color.)

Here’s when I learned how to stamp a scene:

I haven’t stamped a scene in ages! I should dig out those old stamps and try again.

And my early infatuation with heat embossing (a life-changing event!):

(Images from Judikins.)

Thanks for stopping by!

Cards from the Vault

Yes, once again I am in cleaning mode. (This is a life-long project.)

This time, I cleaned out an old box of cards. Many of these were made when I first started stamping, back in the day when dinosaurs walked the earth.

Let’s open the vault and take a look. See if you remember any of these techniques:

Remember old school dry embossing on metal? I think the process I used here involved stamping the image (Lucy’s stamps) on the back of a foil sheet then going over the lines using a stylus. I can’t remember what I used to color the flowers, but it must have been paint or markers because alcohol ink and Distress markers were not around then!

And remember when dark cardstock was all the rage? (Oy, I still have a ton of it….)

Oh, how I adored (wait…I still adore this image!) this Haiku Bunny from Hero Arts! In fact, I may pull it out and use it on something today!

Then there was the stipple background technique:

The “Uncle Enos” image (from River City Rubberworks — they have some hilarious stamps, check them out) was stamped in black then masked using a torn piece of paper. The background stamp (A Stamp In the Hand) was stamped, then the mask removed and I stippled on various colors (I think from a Tsukineko Autumn Kaleidacolor ink pad). The fine bristles of a stipple brush leave a cool textured look.

Hope you had fun with this stroll down memory lane. My next peek into the vault will feature “shadow” stamping — when it was first introduced.
Thanks for stopping by!