Hello ladies! Did anyone get to enjoy the sunshine on their face like I did this weekend? The vitamin D does a girl good I tell ya. ;^)
I put together two projects for you that flow out of Bek's AWESOME collage article that was featured in the In Touch newsletter last week. First up is a collaged Artist Trading Card using only stamps and featuring none other than the Mona Lisa. I want to share a few tips that I find helpful when creating collages:
The very first order of business is to stamp all of the images I want to work with. Why do I do this, especially since I have a index on the storage sheet? Even though I am a visual person, there is something organic about the stamped image. I suppose I am getting to know my images better. I began my stamping all of the images from the Mini Classics set (Stamper's Anonymous) on Classic Cream Cardstock (Neenah).
The first step helped me to decide which images I wanted to use. Stamp the flourish image in a random pattern using Mountain Rose Adirondack Ink (Ranger). I also have to give a shout out to the round acrylic blocks holding the stamp - they make positioning my images so much easier! They come in three sizes: 2.5 inches, 3.5 inches and 4.25 inches.
The flourishes are pretty, but a little bit to stark against the cream paper so I sponged the same color ink over the entire surface using Cut 'n Dry Foam in a circular motion. Now it's soft and pretty!
Next up is stamping the Mona Lisa in Coffee Archival Ink (Ranger). I chose and dark and bold ink so that Mona did not get lost against the background of flourishes.
I finished the collage as follows: stamp the Imagine sentiment from Just Word Art Studio 490 (Stamper's Anon) in Stream Adirondack Ink; stamp the same flourish again but this time in Pool Adirondack Ink (which is a tone lighter than Stream), stamp the distressed checker pattern from the Ultimate Grunge stamp set in Terra Cotta Adirondack Ink. Finally, frame the ATC by sponging Pool ink around the image and then a frame closer to the edge with Stream ink.
The second project features Graphic 45 paper and more Stamper's Anonymous images. I created a special gift for someone that comes in it's very own coordinating box.
Apply Copper Adirondack Paintusing the dabber top to this ginormous flourish stamp from the Fabulous Flourishesset. It measures 4x7 inches so chances are that you don't have a block and in this case that is just fine!
I wanted to share a tip about cling mount stamps that you might not have considered. There are occasions where I do not put my stamps on a block at all. In this case, I was stamping on a very uneven surface and the flexibility of the rubber allowed me to press the stamp unevenly, there by getting in all of the nooks and crannies where the chipboard is scored between the pages.
Details and Product Info:
-background paper on the left is the reverse side of Around the World(Transatlantique) and was applied to the chipboard with Matte Multi Medium (Ranger); the right side is painted with Traditional Tan Studio Line Paint (Ranger)
-the image of the two women is from the Haute Couturepaper (Fashionista)
-stamps include Fabulous Flourishes as mentioned above, sentiment is from the Paisley Prints stamp set stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink, and the pen nibs from the Mini Classics stamped in Cranberry Adirondack Paint
-Black Banner ribbon lace(Prima), Cosmos flower punch (Martha Stewart) sponged with Caramel and Jet Black ink, black brad from the Eerie Collection (Basic Grey)
-backgrounds prepared the same as above
-image of the woman from the Fashionista Tags Sheet
-stamps include sentiment from the Mona's Sketchbook set and Fabulous Flourishes again - this time stamped in Denim Adirondack Paint Dabber
-Metallic Copper Crochet Ribbon (May Arts), Donegal Lace(Prima), black jewels (Hero Arts)
Last but not least this cute little oval box was decorated with Globe Trotter and Around the Worldpapers (Transatlantique).
I hope you inspired to try a collage project this week!
Cheers, Lisa
