Organizing Your Rubber Stamps

 

 

I know there must be a million ways to organize stamps so that putting your

hand on the right stamp right away saves time and frustration. Initially it does take some time to do what I am about to describe but the benefits are well worth the effort.

I had all my miscellaneous stamps in loose categories in plastic storage cart drawers that I would have to dig through to find the right one. I took them all out onto a long trestle table to sort them.

I didn't want to spend a lot so I sorted them into shirt box lids that I could layer them two deep in a drawer. To view the whole contents of the drawer I can just lift out the cardboard trays (carefully as they can collapse,) and then I can see at a glance all I have in that category. I also took photographs of each tray to store on my computer. Now I can sit at my computer and browse through all my stamps without even opening a a drawer.

This step saved me hours of stamping each one onto pages for a three ring binder. I decided it would also use too much printing ink to print out the photos so that’s the reason that I just view them on the computer When I find the one I want I can just go to the labeled drawer. Yes ,the small label printer from Office Supply got all my drawers organized with easy to view content labels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For my Stampin Up Sets I did make a three ring binder by photo copying the front index pictures of my clear mount stamps and for the wooden sets it is easy to download an index image from Splitcoaststampers.com They have every StampinUp set with an index card and ideas gallery. You look them up by Alphabet. I also made an alphabetic Index of all the sets I own for the front of this 3 ring binder and also a section for all the word stamps for every set. Now I can browse through this album for the right image or quote without having to open stamp sets to see what they contain.

I have all the clear boxes stored in Alphabetical order on my bookshelf. My girlfriend and I have been to a lot of used stamps sales in the last couple of years so my collection has grown exponentially. I think we fit the definition of "she that dies with the most stamps wins.

 

 

Have fun re-organizing and let me know if you have a similar system or a better one.

Aloha.

Suzanne

Autumn is Here

Thinking ahead to Thanksgiving, I was inspired to make this cute pumpkin
using a  scalloped oval punch. The background Swirls are from a retired Stampin' Up Set called Baroque Motifs. I added some punched leaves and curled
paper tendrils.  Hope it inspires you.

Die-Cut Scraps Add Drama

I always keep my paper scraps even those off-cuts left over after I do die-cuts or punching.
Some of the interesting shapes can be used to embellish projects such as altered books, tags, collage or even your regular sized cards.

For example I noticed the left-over pieces I had after cutting some of these Tim Holtz Flourishes.....

looked like the oriental dragons you see on Kimonos.

With that in mind I put my scraps to use to make this pretty kimono card.

See how dramatic it is now, decorated with off-cuts.

 

 

 

 

Inspiration is a Curious Thing

Most of you know that I am torn between many passions and poetry is one of them.
Imagine my delight when I discovered that Walt Whitman was into paper butterflies.
Here is a picture of the famous poet posing with his paper butterfly and a close-up of the butterfly with the message it carries.   I love to combine words with my art and especially affirmative words.

When I work I have the whole room strewn with all the bits and pieces I never take the time to put away and suddenly my eye will be caught by a very unexpected 'marrying' of two elements that I would never of thought of, unless like in this situation of random chaos, I see them side by side.

It is almost like an intuitive leap of faith which is really what art and discovery is all about.
Please enjoy these pictures of Walt Whiman and one of my affirmation collages.

Using Elements Outside your Theme.

I have been busy with Christmas cards and while making one last night in a Vintage theme I decided I was going to use my new  die-cuts not related to Christmas in the traditional sense but because we live in Hawaii I wondered if a little palm tree would add an exotic touch.    I also wanted to use a little bird and cherry branch so I added some music notes to have him appear  to be singing a Christmas carol.

 

Experiment with your die cuts and  by using silver or Christmas print papers  you will have them fitting into a holiday theme that you didn’t dream possible.

 

 

Tissue Batik using Re-Inkers

I felt like getting inky fingers today and here are the resuts.

It is drying now as I type but I took some progress shots.

This is a simple technique using ordinary tissue paper, a stamp with solid areas, Versamark ink and clear embossing powder and a couple of colors of re-inkers.

You'll also need a flat plastic tray or cookie sheet to protect your work area

once you start with the coloring step.

First up, stamp your image randomly on the tissue paper with Versamark and then sprinkle with clear embossing powder and heat. I chose the sun stamp.

Next drop on two colors of re-inkers.  I chose yellow and orchid. You can wait for them to spread or lift the tissue and re-position to absorb color from the plastic underneath.

If you would like a negative effect sandwich the wet sheet between two dry sheets of tissue and run the brayer across. Lift off carefully to sepearate the pieces.

You can now hang your batik up to dry and feel like you are on a beach in Bali.

Have fun playing, and if you like, you can post a link to your results on my Blogspot.

Here is an ATC  Background I made with some of the scraps. 

Fan-Fold Pop-Out Book

http://orientalstampart.wordpress.com/stamp-artist-of-the-month/

Supplies:
Credits.
Papers: The Far East Stack from DCWV
Stamps:  Some Unknown- Wiki C.A.P.S  Asian Dragon Clear Stamp
www.wikicaps.com
All Night Media, Chinese Calligraphy,  All Night Media Chinese  Dragon,  Kodomo Inc, Chinese coin, Great Impressions, #B125
Inks:  Versamark Clear, VersaMagic Cornucopia, Brilliance Pearlescent Beige, Adirondack Dye inks, Cranberry and Caramel, Stampin’ Up Whisper White.

2  sheets- 12X12 matched scrapbooking pages
2 sheets, more of co-ordinating  scrapbook paper.
or you can use matching papers from any source.
Cut as described in steps below.
2 - 5 ½ X  5 ½  pieces book end thickness cardboard (I used packaging scraps)

Book Covers:
Cardboard, as above.
From the matching scrapbooking paper cut:
 2- 6½" square pieces with a  motif or feature for the covers.  I featured dragons from the print for mine.
2X 6" squares plain paper or cardstock for inside covers.
1X 8" square with print on one side and plain on the back side for fan pop-out.

Glue the cardboard onto the  6½" front and back cover pieces,  leaving an even margin around them.  I use Fabritac glue as it gives more room for re-positioning and it dries clear and will not buckle the paper. Trim across the corners (as shown) and fold in the edges.

Cover the inside and hide the edges  with the  6" sq. plainer matching paper or cardstock. Book covers finished.  Set aside for now.

Now the fun part of decorating the fan-fold.

 On the white side of the 8" piece of co-ordinating paper, stamp your theme ( I used dragons, calligraphy and oriental coin stamps) in Versamark ink and emboss with clear powder for the  images you wish to appear as distressed .  Stamp calligraphy and coins in Caramel and Cranberry. You can add more dragons in a white ink, if desired.

For brayering  the background, choose inks that will match your paper as closely as possible.  I chose dye inks Cornucopia, Cranberry and Caramel and gave a final coat of Brilliance Pearlescent Beige. My brayered and stamped piece is on the left and the design paper I matched is on the right.

 Using  the  brayer start with a light yellow and brayer the entire sheet.  Roll off the brayer between colors. Make the final layer a Brilliance Ink for a pearly finish. Let the sheet dry well then fold per folding instruction sheet.

Orient the design so that it appears right side up when the fan unfolds and slit to the center on line indicated.  Fold,  valley, mountain until it forms a small triangle.  Attach front and back covers evenly as per fold sheet.

Embellish with quotes printed on tissue and torn,  or stamped quotes.

Tie yarns around with beads attached and embellish with crimped cardboard, fiber and a brass coin or figure.

I'll look forward to hearing your comments and seeing your creations.  Please post a link to your creations...I would love to see them.