One Stamp Challenge… With Two Stamps

Hello, Crafty Friends! I am a sucker for classes, stitch-alongs, challenges, etc. I love learning new things, and I really like being part of a group (online, please), and seeing how everyone else is interpreting the instructions/pattern. If you are following me on Instagram you’ll probably have noticed that I’ve joined a one stamp challenge hosted by Nicole Watt of Bloom Crafters.

The idea behind the challenge is to explore several different mixed media techniques (my new favourite crafty thing) and apply them to a single stamp. Nicole is using the awesome Converse-inspired stamp set Walk, Crawl, or Run from Picket Fence Studios. (I totally want this set since I live in Converse. I think I have ten different pairs, including ones with skulls and ones with Hello Kitty, of course.) Me being me, and being totally indecisive, I’ve decided to try two different stamp sets.

Inky backgrounds just waiting to be made into something.

First, these are the panels I’m working with. These were made using several different Tim Holtz Distress spray inks and a cool smooshing technique. I then added a bit more colour for some layering, and so the panels looked a little bit different to each other and more suited to the stamp I want to use on each one.

Lotus Bouquet on one of my inky backgrounds. (I love lotus flowers.)

For my first card, I used the Lotus Bouquet stamp from Paper Rose Studio. I also used Nicole’s technique of curving a sentiment to fit “Birthday Wishes” around the flowers. The large leaf and a few other areas of the flowers are also slightly white-washed, which gives them a milky look that sets them off from the rest of the card.

Poor suit! There is something wrong with your collar. Maybe I can fix it?

My second card didn’t work out. I used the Suit Up stamp from Maymay Made It. Like my first card, I embossed it in white using white pigment ink first. But, unlike the first card, I didn’t make sure that all of the embossing powder was melted. So, when I went to add the whitewash, I ended up blurring the lines up near the collar. Oh well. Maybe I can use the panel to do some die-cutting.

Fellow card makers, what is one of your favourite techniques? I’m always looking to add more tools to my toolbox!

Check out Bloom Crafters for more info on the challenge.