HEAT FOAM STAMPS

STAMP FROM EMBOSSING FOLDER

I've had a heat foam stamp for ages and was sad to find that they were no longer being made (at least the sort I had).  I was instantly happy again when I read on the back of the new Rub-it Scrub-it packet, that the reverse side of the Rub-it-Scrub-it pad could be used in the same way i.e. you heat it with your craft heat gun and then press something with a texture into it.   After that you use it as you would a normal stamp until you want a change, then just heat it and re-use.

The example on the left was done with the Rub-it Scrub-it and an embossing folder.  The example below was made with my old heat-foam stamp with the imprint of a crystal dish.

STAMP FROM CRYSTAL DISH

TEALIGHT CANDLE HOLDER

TEALIGHT CANDLE HOLDER

We've been playing with our new(ish) forstner drill bits.  Marvin (the pseudonym preferred by my husband for the purposes of this blog....."dreadful, isn't it") made this tealight holder with cut-outs for the candles and for glass cabochons  We put some lovely blue-green paper with silver detail underneath the glass.  The photos don't really do it justice but the metallic pattern glints beautifully when the candles are lit.

FLAG CARD

FRONT OF FLAG CARD

 A flag card is easy to construct and has high impact "looks".  All I did to make this one was to make an accordion fold spine and sandwich it between the covers (using double sided tape to secure).  Stick one lot of "flags"to the top and bottom of one side of each fold and the other to the rear between them.  When you open the card up they pop out in different directions.  You can vary the size of the "flags" and the number etc.
Because I was making this one as a sample, I cheated and used some paper sample swatches for the "flags" and just popped on a punched shape to decorate.  In other words I wouldn't actually plan to give this to anyone, although I do prefer to keep the cover plain when there is an interesting middle.

As I was making it, it did occur to me that a slightly larger version of the flag card would make a great little mini album.

INSIDE OF FLAG CARD

BRUSH MARKERS AND STAMPS

BRUSH MARKERS AND STAMPS - EXAMPLES

I'm still making myself explore different ways of adding colour to images.....who knows it might grow on me.

I have used my new set of Art Stamps Australia brush markers for these images.  These pens are water based (i.e. not alcohol based like the new Kaiser pens or Copics).

They are suitable for colouring straight onto stamps before stamping BUT they work best on rubber rather than acrylic.

The solid "LIFE" (Kaiser) stamp was the worst result - the colour beaded and went distinctly splotchy.....I guess if you're after a distressed result it might have applications.  The butterfly outline stamp (also Kaiser) was a bit patchy but worked OK.

I wasn't overly keen on the results on the rubber (Rubbadubbadoo) trees either - once again the ink seemed to bead.  this might have been my fault, however, as I think I might have used too much ink.  A lighter touch on the strawberry (also Rubbadubbadoo) worked much better.  Finally the result I was seeking!!!!

The best outcome though was actually colouring in a prestamped image (Judikins).  I just put a tiny bit of colour on each petal of the flower and dragged it using a damp paint brush and "ta da"...instant shading!  I think this is how I'll be using the markers from now on.