Envelopes or Card Fronts? By Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

Do I need more envelopes? NO! And yet...whenever I get a new set of stamps it’s the first thing I do. I experiment on a batch of envelopes, testing and puttering. The envelopes shown above are the ones that I feel are a success. The combination of iridescent sprays, inks, embossing powder and markers is one I will return to for card fronts. And I might just cut or tear up these envelopes and use the pieces for collage cards.

The envelopes that follow are, to my eye, absolute DUDS! And yet even though I don’t like them, I had fun and learned a lot. For example: An opaque copper pen over embossed outlines looks pretty terrific, and markers over iridescent sprays produce some really great effects.

I’m definitely going to tear up all six envelopes and see if I can come up with something interesting that uses the bits and pieces!

What do you like or dislike? Do you agree with my assessment? (I don’t usually show projects that I think are unsuccessful, but I’ve noticed that many blogs include designers’ rejects as a way of exploring alternatives, so I’m giving it a try!)

YOUR TURN

1. Start with cardstock or pre-folded card bases instead of envelopes
2. Instead of only one stamp, mix and match several.
3. Instead of iridescent sprays go for splattered paint or use stencils to create backgrounds.

SUPPLIES:

• Stamps from the Elizabeth St. Hilaire “Fronds & Florals” collection - RubberMoon: es7623h Cosmic Mum;  es7621g Among the Clover; es7620i Aloha
• Iridescent spray mists (2 coordinating colors)
• Alcohol markers
• Metallic paint pens
• Embossing powders in colors to coordinate with mists
• Embossing ink
• Heat tool
• Envelopes or cardstock

Circles and Squares Card Quartet by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Inkling

While I was making the pumpkin cards (already published here on the blog) I used the same collections of RubberMoon rubber stamps and the same inks to stamp four extra 4” square pieces of copper pearlized metallic cardstock. 

Next, I used circle dies to cut into each pair, switching around the pieces in the same way that I’ve done for some mixed media tags (also published on this blog - scroll back if you missed them!). For two of the squares I added extra black ink along most of the edges.

Here are photos of the fronts and backs of the pairs, showing how I taped the pieces in place:

And here are the 5”x5” side-fold cards I made with the revised squares:

To finish things off I added Tim Holtz word stickers, angled so they radiate outward from one of the circles.

YOUR TURN

1. Stamp abstract patterns onto cardstock.
2. Cut the pieces into matching size shapes (squares, rectangles, tags, banners).
3. Die cut the pieces in pairs using circles or ovals.
4. Switch the shapes from one square to the other, tape from the back. Die cut again one or more additional times. Tape from the back after each cut. (Optional: Add ink to edges of shapes.)
5. Make cards or tags or adhere the pieces into an art journal and keep going: Use paint, stencils, colored pencils, add more layers with torn or cut collage elements.

Welcome Fall - Copic Coloring with Nancy Sheads

Join Nancy Sheads for a new Copic markers class featuring Oddball and Tiny Townie stamps from Stamping Bella. In this class, you will make two cards featuring stamps from Stamping Bella with emphasis on basic Copic techniques. All necessary techniques are taught in class. Seats are limited, so sign up today! CLASS FEE $25

Wednesday, November 13, 2019 - 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM

To register, call the Queen’s Ink at (301) 497-9449

BRING TO CLASS: The list below reflects the Copic markers that Nancy will use in class. You can follow along using the same colors OR substitute colors based upon your personal Copic collection. Please 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. Nancy 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.

• BV20: Dull Lavender
• BV23: Grayish Lavender
• BV25: Grayish Violet
• R24: Prawn
• YR21: Cream
• YR23: Yellow Ochre
• YR27: Tuscan Orange
• YG03: Yellow Green
• YG17: Grass Green
• YG67: Moss
• BG000: Pale Aqua
• BG70: Ocean Mist
• BG72: Ice Ocean
• BG75: Abyss Green
• E04: Lipstick Natural
• E11: Barley Beige
• E25: Caribe Cocoa
• E50: Egg Shell
• E51: Milky White
• 0: Colorless Blender

OTHER SUPPLIES: Please bring

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

Build a Pumpkin by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

Need to whip up some fall cards in a jiffy? These are easy, easy, easy:

1. Punch, die- or hand-cut five ovals.

2. Add texture with an embossing folder plus paint or use rubber stamps. If stamping, allow inks to blend here and there. Optional: Edge each oval with a dark ink. (Shown - Black and white inks for orange pumpkin, copper paint for black pumpkin.)

3. Stamp squares and rectangles, sized in the appropriate scale in proportion fo the ovals, to use for the background pieces. Use the same inks as for the ovals. Allow the inks to blend. (Shown - squares, rectangles). Stamp with a mix of patterns, large and small sizes. Optional: Edge the background pieces with a dark ink.

4. Glue the background layers to a top-fold card base or add an easel.

5. Adhere the ovals, overlapping as shown to create a pumpkin. Add foam squares beneath the center-front oval for a bit of dimension.

6. Add a stem made from tree bark. (Substitute a flat hand-cut stem to mail for standard postage.)

Options:

• Make a 2-sided pumpkin and hang as an ornament.
• Frame in a shadow box.
• For a more realistic pumpkin, hand-cut misshapen ovals instead of using dies; blend and shade instead of stamping or embossing.

Supplies:

• Ink pad - RubberMoon Moonlight White and Eclipse Black
• Stamps - kp7612h Imperfect Wheels by Kae Pea (RubberMoon); Es7633k Eccentric Concentric by Elizabeth St. Hilaire (RubberMoon)
• Other - Adhesives of choice, Oval dies or punches, Acrylic paint in copper metallic, Embossing folder with allover pattern, Cardstock or heavyweight paper in black, orange, copper, mustard, or color(s) of choice

Fun with Acorn Caps by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

I filled my jacket pocket with acorn caps the other day, thinking it would be fun to use them for who-knows-what! I do know what...but I’m not going to show how the projects came together for a few days. That will give those of you who live near an oak tree time to gather your own assortment!

Tune in later this week for some fun surprises. I wonder if you could guess what I decided to do. And I am curious to hear how YOU would put acorn caps to use, too. Leave a comment if you’d like to speculate here on the blog.

Stamp Scraps, Part II by Judi Kauffman

Here’s an Artist Trading Card, another project featuring scraps from a sheet of Forever stamps. (FYI: The scraps bordered a sheet honoring first responders.) Just like the previously published collage cards from Stamp Scraps, Part I, this ATC is a good way to use the zig zag-edged adhesive-backed bits that surround and/or separate postage stamps.

The photo above shows the finished ATC embellished with Tim Holtz words and a vintage photo of a dog, also from Tim. The photo below shows the ATC base created with solid color cardstock, topped with painted corrugated cardboard, wood grain patterned paper, and the scraps from the postage stamp sheet.

YOUR TURN
Have you used any scraps from sheets of postage stamps yet? If not, give it a try! You’ll certainly be surprised at what you create.

Supplies:

• Adhesives of choice
• Tim Holtz word stickers, die cut vintage photos
• Scraps from sheets of postage stamps
• Cardstock, corrugated board, patterned paper
• Paints or inks (optional)

More Found Poetry: Artist Trading Cards by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

Cardstock plus paint strokes; words plus phrases cut from cast-off, damaged books, magazines, or mailers; gold and black pens - these are the ingredients for Found Poetry ATCs.

YOUR TURN
Backgrounds could be much more complex, layered with collage, stenciled, stamped, and more. Or keep it simple like these! Tip: Be sure to sign and date the back of your creations.

Supplies:

• Pen-touch in gold (Sakura)
• Pigma Micron in black (Sakura)
• Adhesive of choice
• Cardstock
• Finetec pearlescent watercolors
• Black acrylic paint
• Paint brushes

Stamp Scraps by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

The leftovers from sheets of stamps are sometimes so interesting, zig zag lines with adhesive backing, way too nice to toss in the trash!

Here’s what one sheet yielded:

The card at the start of the tutorial and the two others, shown below, offer a peek at how I used these colorful scraps to create super simple cards, but there are may other possibilities: Add inks, stenciled designs, use some embossing folders for more texture. Instead of vintage photos, go for collage cut from magazines!

Supplies:

• Leftovers from postage stamp sheets
• Cardstock, patterned papers
• Adhesives of choice
• Vintage photos (Tim Holtz)
• Collage papers, paper scraps

Cutting up Magic Stamp: Zig Zags, Part I By Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

Yes, I’m still cutting up blocks! It’s so easy, so fast, and so much fun. (I have a class in the planning stages so be on the lookout for details!) A single Magic Stamp block gave me two arrows, two big zig zag stamps, one small zig zag corner and a corner with petals.

The photo above shows the six stamps as well as what each one looks like when printed. I did a bit of fussy cutting and pleating to figure out ways to add dimension. There are so many possibilities for repeat patterns, scenes, flowers, and more. And I will be mixing and matching these stamps with others I’ve cut, along with rubber and clear stamps, stencils, and collage.

Zig Zags, Part II will follow as soon as I go from puttering to projects. Yes, I’ll be experimenting on envelopes and making cards, but I think I want to work on some gift wrap as well!

YOUR TURN
Cut up a Magic Stamp block (or several!) using a craft knife, scissors, or both. Keep it to simple shapes. Optional: Add fine details with cut lines and incised marks made with a fingernail, stylus, pencil or pen.

Supplies:

• Magic Stamp block(s)
• Craft knife
• Scissors
• Inks
• Cardstock

Tags, Part III by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

In the second installment of this tag tutorial I added stamping and heat embossing to tags that were already altered with inks and paints. I’d planned on doing some layering and collage, but decided instead to keep it simple and do some die cutting. That way I don’t lose the fan patterns from the stamps and the beautiful texture created by the embossing powders.

I die cut the blue/teal/gold tags as a pair, switching the die cut partial circle pieces from one to the other. I liked that effect so much that I repeated it with the red/cranberry tags. That left the black/gold tag. I cut a 2.5” circle and a partial circle at the corner, used StazOn ink to age the edges of the cut pieces. For all tags, the pieces got taped in position.

But it wasn’t quite enough so I used metallic braid to add some touches of embroidery here and there - straight stitches and French knots.

To finish, each tag got some coordinating yarn or braid for a hanging loop and a solid color cardstock rectangle on the back on which to write a title, date, and my name. This covers the tape as well as the lumps and knots from the stitching.

Here’s a photo gallery for inspiration:

Supplies:

• Tags (previously altered - see Tags, Part I and II)
• Circle dies
• Metallic braid
• Yarn to coordinate with tags
• StazOn ink in Black
• Tape

Tags, Part II by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Inkling

As promised, I’ve continued to work on the tags I started a couple of weeks ago. Round two includes stamped and heat-embossed fans, sometimes arranged in a pattern and sometimes in a random manner. I chose gold and verdigris embossing powders. All but one tag is either-or. The tag at the lower left in the photo above incorporates both!

These still aren’t finished and I’m not sure what I’ll be adding: Paint, maybe a few gems, some doodling, stitching, layered-on collage (torn, cut)? More stamping (something tiny, one large abstract image?) And some sort of cord, twine, yarn or thread, of course.

This same process would be fun for art journal pages, Artist Trading Cards or Coins, card fronts, bookmarks. It’s now YOUR TURN!

Supplies:

• Tags (pre-altered - see Tags, Part I)
• Pigment ink
• Embossing powders
• Heat tool
• Fan stamps by Nathalie Kalbach

TAGS, PART I By Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

It was my fault. As I was edging some tags with a gold Pen-touch paint pen preparing them for a round of Found Poetry, I pressed too hard to get the paint flowing. A blob of gold appeared on a tag where it wasn’t supposed to be! Rather than toss that tag, I pressed it against another tag to see what would happen and I liked the effect so I added even more gold and kept going with more tags to create a series of random shapes that looked like the continents viewed from outer space. After the gold dried, I got out the Finetec pearlescent watercolors and added random strokes and splotches.

What’s next? I’m not sure. I’m thinking that some stenciling is in order and perhaps these tags will end up as backgrounds for Found Poetry after all.

YOUR TURN
Get out those tags you know you have around somewhere, or make a few!
Start with blobs of metallic gold paint (or copper or whatever color you prefer). Smoosh tags together to spread the paint. When the metallic paint is dry, keep going - add pearlescent paint, do some stamping or stenciling or gel printing or... What’s next for YOU?

Instead of tags, work on larger pieces of cardstock or in your art journal. Alternatively, work on small pieces (ATC-size, inchies, twinchies).

TAGS, PART II
I’ll be revealing the next incarnation of my tags in Tags, Part II, coming soon to a theater near you. Just kidding. They’ll be right here on The Queen’s Inkling.

SUPPLIES

• Tags
• Gold paint pen (Pen-touch, Sakura of America)
• Pearlescent watercolors (FInetec)
• Paintbrush
• Anything else you want!