The Frugal Crafter is back with a tip that some of you may already know about but i only recently discovered. We all love our rubber and clear stamps, but it's nice to find cheaper ways to make a consistent impression. Today i'd like to share with you a way to use fun foam to make stamps. i'd heard about this a few months ago but wasn't sure about the details until i found a great book at my local library. It's a huge volume simply called Stamp!; the authors are listed on the back page as Sharilyn Miller and Becky Auth and it was published by Quarry. i might have the second author's name wrong, and the book's at home (and i'm not) so i can't sneak a peek to verify. i've looked online and can't find this book, though there's one called Stamp Art that looks like it has some of the same projects...hmm. Anyway, the one i have is HUGE and filled with awesome ideas on how to make impressions aside from the usual stamps, as well as techniques and projects. It's like a stamper's bible! i highly reccomend it! So, on to the fun foam stamps. First, find something to make an impression with, something textured. Leaves and branches can work as long as they're thick and defined. i tried a fern and it just wasn't thick enough for the foam to mold around it. i'm still playing with this, so i can let you know more results later, but i've had success with 2 items so far - a fat little sun bead and a piece of drywall tape (mesh screen might work even better!). Have your item at the ready as you heat a piece of fun foam with your heat (embossing) tool for 30-45 seconds. Then, quickly press the foam onto the item and hold it there for a bit, smushing all over. Sometimes, depending on the item you're using, you might have better results pushing the item onto the foam instead. If you don't like how it turned out, just reheat the foam and try again. You can even use rubber stamps to make a negative of your original rubber stamp.
Here's the sun bead, the foam stamps i made using it and the impressions they left when inked up. They're by no means perfect, but hey, i love the distressed look! To stamp, i just use masking tape to temporarily adhere the foam to an acrylic block. If you find a better way, please let me know!
Here's the drywall tape stamp with the tape and the image. i redid this one 3-4 times, reheating and repressing and this was the best i could do. i think if the item you use has good, deep impressions you'll have much better luck. Also, i think thicker foam might work better, but i used what i had, which was just the stuff you buy in sheets at Wal-mart or any craft store.So, there you have it! Try it out, see what works for you and let me know your own results! i'd love to see what you guys can come up with!Thanks, as always, for visiting, and have an artful day!
Just a piece of a recent page from my AJ. The photo is of my son when he was very young, maybe about 2. i always loved that picture.
Thanks for looking! Have a great day!
...so i started making cards about a month ago. i hope i can afford the postage this year! Might have to scale back my list...This card was a lot of fun to make. i started with navy blue CS and stamped the branches with white pigment ink. Then i splattered some white paint on top. i punched the edge, added the ribbon and then added the main image on top. i love this little tree stamp!Ingredients: CS-stash; stamps-can't remember the set name, but it's by Inkadinkado, the branch is from Leafy Silhouettes by...? oops, can't remember...; ink-Colorbox chalk, Pallette Hybrid, Colorbox pigment, Ranger Archival; ribbon-Michael's; Sharpie; star brad-Jo-Ann's; white acrylic paint.
Thanks for stopping by everyone!
Another Halloween card! Amazing, considering i used to never make them. i also never use glitter on a card (i like glitter glue more) because it's so messy, but i had this black glitter and just went for it. It's a chunky glitter, not fine enough, so it didn't work as well as i'd hoped. Still, i think it came out ok. i might give this one to my son. The background was made using one of my favorite techniques. It's normally something you'd do using watercolors or watered-down acrylics, but i used Distress Inks - i rubbed them on the paper and then sprayed it with water. No matter the medium, make sure it's wet on the paper and then sprinkle salt over it. i find kosher salt and rock salt work best, but try table salt, too. What happens is the salt absorbs some of the color and leaves some neat effects. Try it! Just wait until it's completely dry before you rub the salt way. Ingredients: CS-stash; stamps-Autumn Foliage by Inkadinkado, grass from Tree Time (?) by Inkadinkado, alphas by Studio G; ink-Ranger Distress, Ranger Archival, Colorbox pigment (white); Elmer's glue; black glitter; dimensional adhesive; Stickles; pop-dots; orange marker.Thanks for visiting! Hope you all have a wonderful day!
This is my favorite time of year, and has been for as long as i can remember. i made this card a week or so ago and i like the artsy, rustic feel of it. i used UTEE, and in some places the UTEE spread and stuck and caused a sort of splatter pattern. i didn't intend it, but i like the outcome!
i started by sponging Distress Ink on white cardstock, then embossing with UTEE. Next, i sponged on Versafine Onyx Black and Distress Broken China, with the UTEE acting as a resist.
i used pop-dots to adhere this panel to a background stamped with bleach first, then Versamark, and added Pearl-Ex powder in Antique Gold. Pretty basic, but as colorful as Autumn in all its glory!Ingredients: CS-stash; stamps-Leafy Silhouettes by...?, words by Studio G; ink-Ranger Distress, Versafine, Versamark; Pearl-Ex; bleach; UTEE; pop-dots.Thanks for stopping by! Have a lovely day!
This is a collage i did recently. i started by painting 140 lb. watercolor paper with antique white acrylic paint. Then i masked off certain areas - the birdcage and the swirls at the bottom - using artists' masking fluid. The next step was to rub on some Distress Ink and add some stamping (flowers, dots, leaves). i then removed some of the masking fluid and stamped the birds flying out of the cage; i wanted some to remain in the cage and some outside. i next removed all the masking fluid, added more stamping, rubbed on a light coat of antique white acrylic paint, added some Stickles to the birds and called it done. Oh, and i outlined the birdcage with a Sharpie. i think that's it... :) Sounds like it all happened quickly but it was actually a process that took a few days and i stumbled a bit along the way. The flowers i was unhappy with, but after buffing a little with acrylic paint that seemed to help. Thanks so much to anyone who stops by. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think! i can accept criticism. ;)
Happy Saturday! Hope everyone has a great weekend. Here's another of my attempts at a Halloween card. i liked this card up until i added the birds at the end. Ofcourse i once again used Distress Inks in the background. i really love all that those inks can accomplish. Thanks for looking! Ingredients: CS-stash, glossy cardstock by Ranger; stamps-Winter Trees (i think), can't remember who makes it, Rummage Alphabet by Making Memories, bird from Maison Frames by Inkadinkado, french script from Travel Time by Inkadinkado; ink-Ranger Distress, Ranger Archival; brads-Jo-Ann's; Stickles; pop-dots.
Hi, everyone! Hope you're all having a good day. Just one card to share; i made it a few months ago. The first photo shows it with the envelope.This is a pretty basic card, using glossy paper and alcohol inks as a background, but i like how it came out. You can almost never go wrong with AI's. Ingredients: CS-Bazzill, stash; stamps-Cosmos Collage (i think that's the name) by Lost Coast Designs; ink-Ranger Alcohol Inks, Ranger Archival; copper acrylic paint; eyelets-American Crafts, MM; star embellishment-unknown.
...another page from my art journal.
i think maybe i have an obsession with Distress Inks, but hey, there could be worse things. For this card i did a resist with clear embossing powder before adding my ink. A basic layout and a quick card to put together, but fun nonetheless. 
Ingredients: CS-Colorbok, stash; stamps-clock Tim Holtz Life's Possibilities Stamper's Anonymous, bird Studio G, square bird Inkadinkado, sentiment Papertrey Ink; ink-Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Colorbox, Ranger Archival; embossing powder-Stampendous; brad-MM; ribbon-Offray; Stickles; pop-dots.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Here's the sun bead, the foam stamps i made using it and the impressions they left when inked up. They're by no means perfect, but hey, i love the distressed look! To stamp, i just use masking tape to temporarily adhere the foam to an acrylic block. If you find a better way, please let me know!
Here's the drywall tape stamp with the tape and the image. i redid this one 3-4 times, reheating and repressing and this was the best i could do. i think if the item you use has good, deep impressions you'll have much better luck. Also, i think thicker foam might work better, but i used what i had, which was just the stuff you buy in sheets at Wal-mart or any craft store.
