Magic Stamp: Hiding in Plain Sight By Judi Kauffman for The Queen's Ink

This tutorial combines two of my favorite things: Magic Stamp blocks and finding unexpected images! Before you say you can't do this, take a deep breath and replace that mind-set with a new one: Pretend you're eight and go for it!

1. Find something low-relief that has a strange shape, like the plastic piece that held a pair of beach shoes shown in the photo above. Then heat the Magic Stamp block per Clearsnap's instructions and press the block against the found object to create a stamp.

2. Using dye inks and a multi-color ink pad, stamp lots of times onto white or any color cardstock. 

3. Turn the stamped pieces around until something pops out at you. When you see an animal or a person, a vase or a plant or a robot, or something totally imaginary, start doodling with pens of varying nib widths (black and white and gold as shown, or as you choose!)

4. Keep doodling. (Notice that I call it doodling, not drawing, so you wont even realize that's what you're doing...) When satisfied, trim the rectangle or fussy-cut around your creation.

5. Adhere fussy cut shapes to a solid color rectangle and then to a folded card base. Adhere rectangles onto a folded card base.

6. Add stickers with a single word or a longer saying.

7. Keep going. Add more gold around the rectangle, do more doodling, accent with embellishments or collage elements.

Options: Work directly into an art journal.  Stamp and doodle onto ATCs or Artist Trading Coins. Get the kids in on the act! Their free spirit will be contagious.

SUPPLIES:

• Magic Stamp blocks
• Heat tool
• Inks
• Pens (Sakura Pigma Micron, Gelly Roll White, Pen-touch Gold)
• Cardstock
• Tim Holtz stickers
• Glue/adhesive
• Patterned cardstock for card bases

Bats, Barbed Wire Branches and Brushstroke Backgrounds By Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

I’m totally batty over Andy Skinner’s stamps! The new set called Handle With Care includes the bat and branch I used for my cards, along with ‘Fragile Handle With Care’ and a spooky, drippy heart that I’ll be featuring in upcoming projects. (I love Halloween…a holiday that’s all about costumes and candy and card making is right up my alley.)

The cards couldn’t be easier. They incorporate the ‘Brushstroke Backgrounds’ I’ve done many times on this blog:

1. Use a wide, stiff, almost-dry brush to randomly add swooshes of teal and dark gray/purple acrylic paint onto 4” x 5.25” rectangles cut from dark red cardstock. Allow to dry. Option: Start with a 12 x 12 or 8.5 x 11 sheet of cardstock and cut into pieces after painting. One 8.5 x 11 sheet yields four card fronts.

2.  Using black slow-drying (pigment) ink, stamp a bat at an angle on each rectangle, taking advantages of the random paint strokes to help position the bat. Also stamp two or more branches. Heat-emboss using clear detail embossing powder.

3.  Adhere each rectangle to an A2 side- or top-fold card base (ombre or patterned cardstock).

SUPPLIES

• Handle With Care cling foam stamps by Andy Skinner (Stampendous)
• Black pigment ink
• Acrylic blocks for temporarily mounting stamps
• Deep red cardstock
• Patterned cardstock
• Teal and dark gray/purple acrylic paints
• Wide stiff paintbrush
• Double-sided adhesive tape

September Art du Jour

Yesterday was my last Art du Jour at Queen's Ink for this year. I'm away next month and the store has a different format for this event in November and December. So I wanted to take time today share the details on yesterday's cards.

For my first card, I used the Skeleton Lady stamp by Stampendous. Unfortunately, it's a retired image, but it's an oldy but goody that's perfect for a Halloween card. The stamp includes the entire scene so you can pull the card top together with just a little stamping and coloring. Initially, I stamped the image with Memento but the result wasn't as crisp as I wanted. For my second attempt, I stamped with Versafine. Since Versafine is not Copic safe, I quickly covered the wet ink with clear embossing powder and heat set it. This gave a glossy appearance that enhanced the overall appearance. I scribbled (literally!) some color on the image with my markers as a color wash. I used the Antique Frames die set from Penny Black to create the deckled appearance on the edges and paired it with a paper from Authentique.

For my second card, I used the simple, but lovely Grateful stamp set by Avery Elle. The sentiment was stamped with Versafine and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The acorns were stamped with Memento. Of course, even though there were only two acorns to color, I still managed to use six markers. The E markers were used for the acorn cap; the Y markers for the body.

Hope you enjoyed these projects. Thank you to everyone who joined me for Art du Jour this year. It's been fun getting to know everyone and I've learned a lot from each and every one of you!

Although I won't be participating in Art du Jour until January, I will still be offering monthly Copic classes at Queen's Ink. Be sure to check my teaching schedule as well as The Queen's Ink class schedule to stay informed on upcoming classes.

	Paper: Neenah Solar White 110#; Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth Cardstock; Nightfall Five by Authentique Stamp: Skeleton Lady by Stampendous Ink: Versafine in Onyx Black Die: Antique Frames by Penny Black Embellishments: Ranger Embossing Powder in Clear Copics: RV63, RV66, B63, B66, Y35, E30, E33, BG000, BG01
	Paper: Neenah Solar White 110#; Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth Cardstock; Penny's Paper Doll Family by Graphic 45 Stamp: Grateful by Avery Elle Ink: Memento in Tuxedo Black; Versafine in Onyx Black Die: Zig Zag Rectangle Stackables by Lawn Fawn Embellishments: Ranger Embossing Powder in Clear Copics: Y21, Y26, Y28, E33, E35, E39

New class! Hello Autumn - Tuesday, September 18th at 1:00 PM

Join me at the The Queen’s Ink on Tuesday, September 18th for a new Copic marker class featuring autumn themed stamps from Penny Black. We'll make two cards in this class, with emphasis on coloring skin tones. Details are below. This is an intermediate level class. Experience with basic Copic ink blending is required. Other techniques taught in class. Seats are limited, so sign up today! CLASS FEE: $25

Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Register online or call the Queen’s Ink at (301) 497-9449

BRING TO CLASS: The list below reflects the Copic markers that I will use in class. You can follow along using the same colors OR substitute colors based upon your personal Copic collection. Please bring all your markers to class and make sure your Copics are marked with Washi tape or some other means of identification. Markers are available for purchase at The Queen’s Ink. Students will receive a 10% discount on Copic markers. I will be available prior to class to help with selection.

PLEASE NOTE: You must bring your own markers to participate in class. If you need markers, please contact The Queen’s Ink in advance of class. If you wait until class time, you may not be able to purchase the markers you need.

• BV23: Grayish Lavendar
• V20: Wisteria
• YR12: Loquat
• YR15: Pumpkin Yellow
• YR21: Cream
• YR68: Orange
• Y21: Buttercup Yellow
• G20: Wax White
• G21: Lime Green
• G46: Mistletoe
• B0000: Pale Celestine
• B63: Light Hydrangea
• B66: Clematis
• E000: Pale Fruit Pink
• E00: Cotton Pearl
• E11: Barley Beige
• E15: Dark Suntan
• E21: Soft Sun
• E29: Burnt Umber
• E93: Tea Rose

OTHER SUPPLIES: Please bring:

• Scissors suitable for fussy cutting
• Foam adhesive squares
• Tape runner adhesive or double-sided tape