Black Magic

Well every now and then I like to try a new technique. Sometimes I try it without knowing what I am going to do with the artwork. This was such an excursion. So a couple of months ago - yes I did this that long ago, I decided to try black magic. It's really cool. Basically you stamp your image in Kraft White Ink on black cardstock. And then when the ink is dry you colour it using your watercolour pencils.

Now please take know that you MUST let your ink dry before handling and as it is pigment ink, it will take a little longer than usual. In the card above I was a tad impatient and ended up with a smudge on it. Hence the ribbon across the top to try and hide it. This ribbon was white. I used some Sage Shadow ink to take the starkness of it!

I used the reverse masking technique to create the moon in the card above. The oval in the card below was made using the normal masking technique.

So I actually made the stamped images a couple of months ago and they have been sitting patiently on my desk for me to mount and make them into cards. I will give you the ingredients for both cards at once as they are very similar.

Card: Whisper White, Sage Shadow, Soft Sky (retired), Night of Navy, Ballet Blue
Ink: Kraft White, Night of Navy
Ribbon: Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta
Punches: 1" Circle, Small Oval, Large Oval, Scallop Oval
Stamp sets:Lovely As A Tree, Warm Words

Till next time, happy stamping...

Getting ready for Christmas - already!

Well hello again. Bubs asleep and the big girl is off with Daddy, so I had a couple of free minutes - couldn't possibly clean as it would be too noisy - lol. So I have got a head start on Christmas. I saw these Christmas cards on my upline, Vicky Dean's, blog and had to case them.



These cards were created using the masking technique. I just punched a couple of 1" circles out of my masking sheet and then held these over my card, while I stamped and sponged.


I love this idea as you don't have to have a heap of Christmas stamps. In fact, aside from the greeting the rest of the card is made using non christmas stamps.

I used my co-ordinating markers to draw the strings for them to hang on. Quite simple!

I'll include all the ingredients together as it would get awfully long to write each one out.

Card: Whisper White, Very Vanilla
Ink: Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Kiwi Kiss, Taken With Teal, Apricot Appeal
Punch: 1" Circle
Stamp sets: Snow Swirled, Priceless, Rustic Rooster, Circle Circus, Always in Bloom Wheel

Till next time, happy stamping...

Waiting for Christmas

I came across this little beauty on Leonie Schroder's blog and just had to give it a try. Unfortunately I had to wait until I got my Stamp-a-ma-jig, so I could get the placement perfect. I had heard great things about the Stamp-a-ma-jig, but never seen it in action. I was a wee sceptical, but I am hooked. You can even stamp your image onto the image sheet and move it around on your artwork to find the best place for it. Also helps with all those stamps that I have put together, just that little bit off centre. My work is going to be taken to the next level with this new tool.

Card: Whisper White, Real Red
DSP: Haiku
Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Wild Wasabi (retired)
Stampin Pastels: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Sage Shadow
Ribbon: 3/8" Riding Hood Red Taffeta
Punch: Large Oval
Stamp Sets: Window Dressing (hostess set), Lovely as a Tree, Best Yet (hostess set)