Today's post is brough to you by awesome DT member Vivian Keh
On the Hampton Art blog today, I'd love to share with you the regular exercise I've recently incorporated into my crafting practice. When I reach for an item in my craft room, I'll give a go at exhausting that tools creative potential. OK, "exhaust" might be an exaggeration - just three projects (or more if you're on a roll) that explore a variety of styles. It's a challenge! It's fun! It helps you step outside your crafty comfort zone. And the best part - it helps you grow your craft! Everytime I try this exercise, my crafting perspective widens, I take one step further on this never-ending journey of self-discovery, I dance around my craft room when I come up with something that pleases me, and at the end of some crafting sessions, I am also humbled by my limitations.
This time, I made three cards with one stamp set - Hampton Art/Art Warehouse "Blooming Memories" (SC0038) This stamp set contains a nice selection of graphic florals, damasks, scroll designs, and birds, as well as sentiments that could be used for a variety of occasions.
I'm in love with stamps that have a lot of solid, inked areas with designs that move - this set soooo works that quality! Work it, Danelle Johnson (the designer)! I mean, look at the larger blooms with the white lines radiating out from the center and leaves which extend that feeling of movement - just gorgeous!
In the first card, I used kraft paper to keep it very casual, laid-back feeling. The delicate floral pattern stamp was used with a dark brown dye ink to created a pretty custom background.
Casual "Bloom" Card
On one of my walks with the pooches I found this beautiful PINK leaf! I'm always on the lookout for ways to incorporate nature! Walking the dogs with my eyes peeled in this way, the chore magically transforms into a crafting extravaganza - a haul as large as what can fit into my tiny hands!
The leaf is a simple feature which adds a nice does of texture and warmth to the card front! After adhering the sentiment with dimensionals, I nestled both the leaf and the rolled bloom alongside, affixing with glue dots.
For my second effort, I went for a card suitable for more formal, ceremonious occasions, weddings, quinceneria, for example. I stuck with a black and white palette and stamped the damask image across the bottom.
Am I alone here, or is repeat stamping the most fun? This detailed, well-balanced stamp is going to get a ton of use over here to create elegant custom backgrounds!
I stamped the sentiment as show and edge punched a black scallop strip to break up the white space. I finally punctuated the white space with one of the beautiful birds that comes in the set.
Formal "Many Blessings" Card
For my last card, I used some coordinating patterned papers, punching the upper edge of the bottom piece with a notebook edger punch. I stamped the sentiment, and underneath it, I used one of the scroll shapes that comes in the stamp set to further the old world feeling that I was going for.
I then distressed the edges, wrapped the card front with grey satin ribbon, and adhered the piece to a base, which neatuly hid the cut edges of the ribbon. I also rounded the top corners.
Shabby "Seek Joy" Card
Great pieces of bark have been falling off our local trees, and so of course, I've been harvesting them on our walks. I'm sure the kids walking to the bus stop in the morning think I look really cool in my coke bottle glasses, squatting in the grass, tethered to two howling, maladjusted dogs. One of the bark shards made it into this card.
I hot-glued the bark and used glue dots for the rest of the focal image. I punched soem flowers, and for a funky touch, added metal snaps in the centers. A leaf was inserted to finish it off.
The projects amassed...
Folks, I had so much fun sharing this little adventure with you! I'm thinking about one more project with these stamps - a funkadelic grungy project, heat embossing the larger blooms to preserve the image, and then messily spreading some bright colors onto the unmasked areas. If it turns out well, you'll see it on my blog!
Supply Lists:
Casual "Bloom" Card
Cardstock - dark brown, vintage cream
Patterned paper for rosette
Stamp set - Blooming Memories (SC0038) Hampton Art
Ink - rich cocoa
Tools - Flowers 3-D Bigs die, Sizzix
Leaf - found
Formal "Many Blessings" Card
Cardstock - Black and white
Stamp set - Blooming Memories (SC0038) Hampton Art
Ink - Black
Tools - Scalloped Edger Punch, Fiskars
Shabby "Seek Joy" Card
Card base - Recollections
Patterned paper - Fairy Belle, Prima
Stamp set - "Blooming Memories" (SC0038) Hampton Art
Ink - Rich cocoa, Tea Dye Distress Ink
Embellishments - Grey ribbon, metal snaps, from the fashion district (downtown Los Angeles)
Tools - Flower punch, corner comper, Notebook edger punch
Leaves and bark - found