Paper Stitching with Rubber Stamps

I have a friend that makes a lot of beautiful cards with paper stitching techniques. As a result I have fiddled with it a little. Recently I decided to make up one of my own designs using one of my favorite clear stamps the Sympathy Rose.

Here is how it turned out.If you are unfamiliar with paper stitching, it is really quite simple. It is similar to the string art we used to do in the 70’s.

First punch the holes with a needle or pin along your design. Using an image, I simply punched holes along the edges of the design at evenly spaced intervals. Be careful not to get them too close together or they will merge together when you are stitching.

Next choose a colored thread. If you have metallic threads they are really pretty to use. Thread a small needle and insert it into the first hole on the back side of the design. Secure the end of the string with a small piece of tape.

If you were working a circle, you would next choose how many holes to skip, for example 10. Now put your threaded needle through the tenth hole from where you came up. Keep working around the circle always working 10 spaces apart until you have completed the design. You should end up with something like the circles in this design:

Here is another design I worked from a stamp image from the All Year Clear Stamp Set.

When your thread runs out simply tape the end down on the back and start a new strand. It’s fun and easy. Try a few of your own designs and see how you like it.

Happy Stamping & Stitching!

Making the Bee Pop Card!

This is a fun card to make with the tree trunk popping out as you open the card. Additional bees and flowers are the finishing touch.

1. Cut card from ivory cardstock so that the finished card is 4″ x 4″. Cut your yellow pattern paper to the same size.
2. Fold ivory cardstock in half. Fold yellow pattern paper in half with the pattern on the outside.
3. Decorate the outside of your card as desired.
4. Cut from the woodgrain paper a 2″ width that is 4″ long. Fold this paper in half the long way with the wood grain to the outside.
5. Place the woodgrain on the fold of the yellow pattern paper. Fold the yellow pattern paper back over the woodgrain paper on both sides. This creates the pop-out section of your card.
6. Glue the yellow patter paper in place on the inside of your card. Do not apply adhesive to the fold out in the center.
7. Cut a branch from brown cardstock. Cut a slit in the fold of the wood grain paper and insert the end of the branch. On the back of the paper secure the branch with a piece of tape.
8. Glue the wood grain paper to the yellow pattern paper where it folds out.
9. Using the Mini Bee clear rubber stamps, stamp a couple of bees inside your card. Stamp a few flowers onto cardstock, cut them out and adhere to the branch on the tree. Add a few leaves made the same as the flowers and adhere as desired.

Gateway Cards

I discovered the fun of making what I call Gateway Cards recently. These cards are so easy to make and they look fantastic to. A Gateway Card is easily described as a card that is hinged on both sides rather than just one. It opens from the middle instead of from the side or bottom of the hand made card.

These cards are easily embellished with rubber stamping techniques using your clear hobby rubber stamps. In the card above I used some of my own carved rubber stamp designs as well as a ‘Happy Birthday‘ sentiment from one of my clear stamp sets.

The funnest part of making a gateway card is placing the stamped image on the center of the card. This image can be matted or made into a 3 dimensional element. Shadow stamping techniques would also serve as a striking element. In the card below the flower is made using paper casting methods. The raised parts are highlighted with an ink pad and the center is enhanced with glitter.

The creative possibilities are endless. Enjoy making your own unique and stunning Gateway cards. You can find more information on making gateway cards by clicking here.

Moonlit Palm – Rubber Stamped Card Making Tutorial

This is a fun tropical themed card making craft that is designed primarily with one clear rubber stamp – Tropical. The steps to this design are simple and easy and with a little practice, anyone can do them. I love the limitlessness to stamping creativity that this techniques provides in my card making hobby. Here is how I did it.

STEP ONE – The Moon and Sky

Simply cut a small circle and lightly adhere it to the top portion of a piece of white cardstock. I inked the edges of the circle only so that it would show up in the picture. Now with a medium to dark blue begin sponging ink onto the top of the page above and around the circle.

STEP TWO – The Horizon and water

Next turn your page over so the sky is on the bottom. Cover it with a straight edged scrap paper and begin inking in the water. This will create your horizon. Remember as you do this to ink around where the reflection of the moon in the water will be in an arc spreading color to the sides of the paper.

Remove the circle from the sky leaving a white moon over the water.

STEP THREE – The Island and the Palm Tree

Place a paper with a straight edge under the area where you want your island. Sticky notes work great for this as they will not move while you sponge color onto the paper.

Using a dark color begin sponging in your island. With a medium green ink sponge in a lighter patch to create the look of light hitting the foliage.

Using the trunk from the Tropical Clear Hobby Rubber Stamp Set, place it on your acrylic block with a slight bend in it. Be sure to turn it over and check that you don’t have too much or too little of a curve. Ink the trunk and stamp it onto the island.

Ink the top part of the palm tree with the same color you used for the trunk. Before stamping ink the edges of foliage with the lighter green to create the illusion of light hitting the palm fronds. Stamp in some dark foliage at the bottom of the tree if you desire.

STEP FOUR – The Reflection & Finishing

Stamp a second generation image of the trunk in the water below the island. Be sure to bend it in the other direction to give you a true reflection. Using your sponge drag some really dry ink below the island to create a shadow in the water as well.

This picture is finished with a leafy border using the same color of ink as the trunk of the tree. The Tropical Clear Stamps will create a border that surrounds your picture if you like. For my project I just put it down one side. Next I inked the edges in the same dark color and made it into the Moonlit Palm Card idea that is pictured at the top.

For the actual card I used the hibiscus flower design to pattern the card stock. Then after matting my inked art design I placed it on the card and embellished with ribbon and an embossed sentiment on a metal tag.

If you love nature you will find yourself delighted with the results of sponged ink backgrounds and rubber stamping natures details. Use your imagination to create your own unique stamped art ideas. You may even adapt them to some of your scrapbook pages…

Make Your Own Rubber Stamped Cheerful Mist Card

I saw this rubber stamping and inking technique and absolutely loved it! It is easy to do and only takes a few minutes  to design your stamped eye catcher. Completed with a corner rounder, embellishments  and the Basic Card Making Layout, making this card is a delightful and refreshing take on rubber stamping.

You will only need one stamp – a tree such as one found in Winter Trees. This set of clear stamps hosts four different tree designs ranging in size and fullness giving you lots of choices for your desired effects. You will also need some pigment ink, clear embossing powder, a heat gun, and an array of regular inks used for rubber stamping. You will also need a dry makeup sponge or a brayer to apply color.

STEP ONE – The Tree

Stamp your Tree in a dark color such as brown. Be sure to position the tree slightly to one side of your paper. Clean your stamp and then stamp a second time – directly over the first impression – with embossing ink. Clear rubber stamps are ideas for this as you can see exactly where you are placing your embossing ink. Emboss your tree with clear embossing powder.

STEP TWO – The Sky

Choose a tool to apply ink – either a dry sponge or a brayer – and load it with your pigment stamping ink. Start at the top of the design using blue and draw the ink across the paper so that it begins to fade the closer you come to your horizon. If you are using a sponge simply sponge the top first and work you way downward so the color fades away.

STEP THREE – The Hills

Tear a piece of scrap paper unevenly to create your hills. (Scrap paper used in the photo’s is green)  Place over your design so the area just above your horizon shows. Begin with a dark color of ink such as a gray blue or gray green. Using your dry sponge (be sure to use a clean corner or a new sponge) press color onto the design starting from the edge of the torn paper and upward toward the sky. This will give the appearance of a mist in the background. Do not go all the way across the design. Do three layers of hills using consecutively lighter colors the closer you come to the foreground.

STEP FOUR – The Golden Path

Create the path using a honey yellow or light brown and ink – using the sponge – along the base of the card. Finish the path using a darker color of ink to fill in the bottom corner.

STEP FIVE – Finishing the card

Embellish your design as you desire. You may wish to stamp a saying in an open area of your newly created misty landscape or embellish with ribbons, tags or even buttons. Mat the design and mount onto your card using the Basic Card Making Template.

With 5 easy steps you have designed the eye catching design for one of your most fabulous rubber stamping project – a Cheerful Mist Card Making Craft!

For more tips on constructing this card click ‘Cheerful Mist‘

The Scalloped Edge

Try this simply way to dress up a card or scrapbook page. First select a card making template or scrapbook page layout that has horizontal elements. Next, cut a scallop along the top edge of your main element. Embellish the scallops with beads, sequins, brads, ribbon or anything crafty and unique. Complete the card or scrapbook page with your clear rubber stamps and enjoy the results of your hobby.

Making Christmas Cards with Rubber Stamps

With December only a few days away, it is time to get those Christmas Cards ready to go. Rubber stamping is an easy way to make your own Christmas cards and send a little of your own personality along with them. To make a basic Christmas Card use an outline like this one.

Basic Card Making Outline

1. Use your rubber stamps to create a focal point such as a poinsettia or nativity. This is C. Mat it with D.

2. Design B on the outline. You may choose a Christmas print that you enjoy, or stamp one of your own with a corresponding stamp. For exampe, if you are using poinsettia’s on C, stamp the same image on B allowing it to overlap. Second generation stamping (stamping more than one image before re-inking) will add depth to the pattern as well. Add some greenery and ribbon images as well for more color and interest.

3. Once you have B place it on your card anywhere. You can put it horizontally across the top, middle or bottom of the card or your can place it vertically on the left, right or the middle. Once you are happy with where B is placed, decided where you want to place C. Again, it can be anywhere on the card.

4. You may wish to leave a little room to stamp a Christmas wish on the front of your card. Use dimensional sticky foam to pop out C for a little extra emphasis on your focal. At this point you may add a Christmas ribbon or tag if desired. Embellishing will add your own personality to the project – but it also the time consuming part. Embellish as much as you have time for.

Now you have designed and made your Christmas cards, you are ready to post them. Your friends and family will love and treasure them each time they look at them. For more card ideas and layouts visit our card gallery.

Basic Card Making Outline

Christmas Angels & your Stamping Hobby

With Christmas fast approaching, this is a great time to start making your Christmas cards. This week, we offer a discount on all our clear angel hobby rubber stamps. Angels become an extra special part of Christmas as we consider the many angels in our lives. These are people like a special friend, parent, child or anyone you have special feelings for. Craft a card or scrapbook page with angel themes and ideas. Don’t hesitate to acknowledge the angels in your lives, check out the angelic clear stamps today!

See Through Stamping – A great way to add texture to stamped creations!

Mesh!  Tulle!  Fibre!  String!  The list goes on.  Each of these elements have tiny holes or spaces in them.  See through Stamping is basically choosing one see through element, securing it to your page or stamping surface and then stamping over it.  Be sure to apply even pressure so the ink will spread evenly through the holes and spaces.  When you are done stamping your design, simply remove the see through element and you will be left with little lines, circles, spaces etc in your stamped design.  See through stamping – a great way to add texture to stamped creations!

 http://www.clearlyrubberstamping.com/tulle-tool

 

See Through Element – Tulle

See Through Element – Drywall Mesh