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I have several stamps like the ones in the pictures. I have no idea how to use them! They aren’t suited for coloring. I’ve seen them used with sepia tones, like an old picture, but I am hoping you have other ideas!
Do you have white or different colored embossing powders? I could see some of them embossed in white (like the zodiak one) and then colored over with stamp ink, like an Emboss Resist technique.
You could also stamp them in black or a solid color, and use colored ribbon, colored ink splatters, a colored sentiment die to add color to the card. A lot of people like to make cards without having to color.
Although, I think the sun and moon ones would be pretty colored. I also like using my blending chalks to fill in background color; just a plain cotton ball or blending brush works great to get a smooth chalk background. I like to spray over the chalk background with some glimmer spray; makes it sparkle and not as dull looking.
I have seen some gorgeous backgrounds made with stamp ink, so the focus is not just on the stamp. And you can use all kinds of inks to do that. I've made backgrounds with watercolor, and I even watched a video where a lady mixed a tiny bit of water with acrylic paint to do backgrounds. I've also seen beautiful alcohol ink backgrounds I don't have alcohol inks, except for the sprays I made myself, but lots of things would work well!
I could also see them paired wtih patterned papers.
I hope that helps. Can't wait to hear what others come up with!
Last edited by hoptownracer1; 08-26-2022 at 01:40 PM..
The following 6 users liked this post by hoptownracer1:
I love the 3rd set. I would stamp in black, brown or gray tone and just color bits of the image. The first stamp of this set - color only the umbrellas and awning and maybe color the "glow" in the lamp post. The second stamp - color the butterfly etc.
the second stamp set I have seen it colored very lovely with yellow moon or sun and a blue for the sky.
The first stamp - just color parts as well. The little pops of color with make these stamps come alive and give more distinction.
I have had Thomas Kinkade stamps that were similar and I just colored them the same way. You can use the watercolor pencils and a blender pen (it has a fine tip) to keep the color inside the lines or use the fine point on markers.
Stamp with versamark onto colored card stock for a tone-on-tone look.
heat embossed onto white or any colored card
included in a collage
over gel press backgrounds
Sometimes I like images like this on a simple color wash BG and then just stamped in black over it.
I saw an interesting card to me the other day when she shaded out a corner that was in the lower 2/3 of the card and then popped an image over it by Gina Thorton, ...I am wondering if you could reverse that and do the corner from say a top corner downwards towards the moon in a blue or a deep yellow for the sun..
Or you could go CAS and just stamp it in black, die cut it out on a small square, thin layer black frame, pop it up and do a simple sentiment line or leave it blank...make a set of stationary like that. Such pretty images can stand on their own.
The beach hotel with the lamp in the front...I might try a diagonal wash of a bright blue ....or sunset colors.
I agree...trying googling them w the word card at the end...I do this often when I want to see how people used a stamp.
__________________ Margot
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The following 2 users liked this post by wavejumper:
There are some terrific ideas. You could also search for it on Pinterest.
Have fun!
Thanks for that ID, Diane. I knew it must be in the gallery, being 2006. Some of the earlier index cards didn't get the stamp details listed in the write-up, so it was t coming up when I searched with galleryindex as the user and Venice or follow your bliss as search terms. Fixed that.
If it hadn't been late last night when I saw this, I would have gone with the suggestion of stamping on a gel print - or any other fun background technique. If you had an acrylic block the right size, those sketchbook ones might look great stamped over an acrylic block background.
Another classic layout I like for detailed images I don't intend to color is to:
Stamp in color (like navy blue) on a white paper
Trim kind of close to the image and layer on colored paper that matches your ink
Layer again with white and the same colored paper, this time close to card-front size.
For the Zodiac stamp, I would stamp light, multicolored circles on a white piece of cardstock, then stamp the Zodiac in black all over it. You could put a 'Happy Birthday' diecut on it in whatever color you choose to match.
For the record, I'm in love with that stamp!!
__________________ "I have cats, but they don't smoke or associate with dogs...."
For the Zodiac stamp, I would stamp light, multicolored circles on a white piece of cardstock, then stamp the Zodiac in black all over it. You could put a 'Happy Birthday' diecut on it in whatever color you choose to match.
For the record, I'm in love with that stamp!!
I love this stamp too! It's by Inkadinkadoo. I googled "inkadinkadoo horoscope stamp" and found one for sale on Poshmark if you really really love it!
The following 2 users liked this post by 2Tibetans:
For a zodiac birthday card, stamp in black on a white or color panel, and then color in (or paper piece) JUST the wedge of the zodiac sign of the birthday recipient! Then add a color banner with Happy Birthday stamped in black or embossed with white ink. That’s really a cool stamp.
There's a technique called cloisonne that would work well. Michael Strong made stamps especially for the technique, so you could look at his work for a better understanding, but basically you take colorful all over print ads and pages from magazines and stamp the image in versamark and then heat emboss, particularly in gold.
How can I use these stamps?
