WOYWW - TAKING CONTROL OF ALPHA STAMPS

I have pushed aside everything on my workspace today because it looked like a mountain and I needed to get organised. I am starting to run Book Making classes this week and after making an example I discovered a re-love for those little wooden alpha stamps.  You know the ones?  They come in a box (usually without a lid) and they have a nasty habit of falling out all too easily!  But having decided I want to use them more often something needed to be done to contain them, so I simply cut strips of thick card and folded it over the stamps, held in place by an elastic band.  So that I can identify
the stamps I took a photo of each set and resized it to fit the lid of the box.  I then printed them out and glued them in place. 

I now have neat looking boxes and hopefully no more escaping stamps!I am ready to add to my collection so I printed an extra copy of the stamp sets to put in my purse, that way I might avoid buying
duplicates. 

It's been ages since I last visited so off now for a browse at other workspaces and to see what others have been up to!     

This post is part of Julia's weekly sharing of 'What's On Your Work Desk?' To see what others have been up to why not pop over and see.

EXCITED TO BE PART OF PAPERARTSY 3UP!

Recently Leandra over at PaperArtsy invited posts for 3UP and I was so excited to be chosen!
I received a set of the new Hot Picks stamp range to make my project and I was itching to share this news with friends. But I was sworn to secrecy.  And so, I kept quiet. 
Not a whisper or clue has been given.
Until now.... 

Because today, over at PaperArtsy, my project is shown a long with 2 others! This is the first time I have taken part and I was asked to keep my post for the 3UP brief, and so I am including more information here about my project and how I made it. 

Over the past week there have been daily posts on PaperArtsy showing more 3UP's and I have loved seeing the way everyone has used their stamps. I have admired and been inspired by all the projects created and it is well worth checking these out if you have time.   

But first, back to my project. What to make with my stamps? 

HP1306EZ

I loved the quote: "BEGIN AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW"
It felt quite timely too....
The urge to make books and share what I do gets stronger, and this seemed the perfect title for a notebook to jot down ideas as they come. 
 
So this is how I made the notebook using the stamp set supplied:
 
I hand tore thick paper to the size I wanted and folded this to
make 12 double pages.
(You can use ready cut paper but I like the effect of torn edges).

8 sheets were put aside to be used as inside pages.

I painted the other 4 sheets using PaperArtsy Pumpkin Soup, Guacamole, and Mermaid Fresco Finish chalk acrylic paints. 
 

This is the technique I used:

Put a small drop of your chosen paints onto a waterproof surface.

Wet the paper liberally with water or soak in a shallow tray while you work on each sheet. Then with a wet brush apply the paints across both sides of each sheet until you have the density of colour you would like. It should still be quite wet and don't think about design - just add colour at this stage! 

As you complete each sheet randomly lay each on top of each other onto a waterproof surface. Leave to dry but separate the sheets while still damp, to stop them sticking to each other. Lay them out to dry completely. You should discover patterns and marks that result from the layering and each page will be completely unique. 

Choose one sheet for the cover of your book. The rest can be used for other projects or as additional pages. Because the painted surface of my pages was a little rough I used an abrasive sponge to smooth it – this might not be necessary on other types of paper.   

To finish I masked off the nautical design and stamped text across the back and front cover using PaperArtsy Honey Dew Fresco Finish chalk acrylic paint.

 

On the front I stamped a design from PaperArtsy Tops & Tails 1, highlighting the eyes and flower in white pen.

 

Then I stamped the quote ‘BEGIN AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW’ on to white card, cut each line into a strip and backed it onto black card.  I attached them with foam pads to add definition. Top tip: to give a bit more white space around the text I masked around each line before inking and stamping.  

I added more stamping on the back page and completed the project by inserting the pages and sewing together with ribbon.  The notebook fits perfectly into my pocket and I loved finding ways to use these new stamps. 

 

 Thank you so much to Leandra and everyone on the PaperArtsy team for inviting me to take part and for organising this weeks event. It's been huge fun and I loved the stamps I received and making this project. Since making this notebook I have been invited to run a bookmaking class in Brentwood (home of PaperArtsy)!   

Perhaps a good title for this post would have been

"BEGIN AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW"

but I'll stick with 'excited to be part of PaperArtsy 3UP' !!

 

If you didn't see my recent post you may be interested in how I mounted PaperArtsy Tops & Tails 1 rubber stamps and braved cutting the design instead of using a mask.  

Your comments or feedback are always appreciated.
Thank you for popping by.... I'm off now to see how the other 3UPs have used their stamps!

HOW TO MOUNT STAMPS - MY WAY

Saturday saw me at Alexander Palace for the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show. As always I came home with bags bulging and some lovely new rubber stamps.  One of my favourites was from PaperArtsy, Tops & Tails 1.  This stamp needed mounting to use with an acrylic block and I thought I would share the technique that I use:

 

As I don't like waste I always cut my design from the rubber sheet first taking care to keep my scissors straight.  This ensures the edge of the stamp is supported by the rubber and not overhanging as this would spoil the print.

 

Next I lay each stamp onto the adhesive side of Repositionable Cushioning, such as Kling-On.  I fit them fairly close with enough space to cut around neatly - this saves wasting the cushion backing where there are gaps in between each stamp on a sheet.  I then cut off the unused backing and replace the waxed sheet to protect the adhesive.

 

Before cutting each stamp out I cover the backing sheet with talc.  This stops the blades of the scissors becoming covered with adhesive and allows a neat and easy cut.   I have discovered this after many clumsy attempts of peeling the sheet from my blades and having to keep cleaning them! 

 

 

Once you have cut the stamps from the adhesive backing sheet, simply wipe the rubber with a wet-wipe. 

 

 

When using this stamp I decided I wanted to mask the face from the bottom part of the design.  After one or two attempts I decided to cut it carefully to make 2 separate stamps.  Once done the bottom part reminded me of a dragonfly and with a couple of antennae added it looked the part.  Don't you love it when  things work out even better than you planned!  I'll be back soon to show how I used this stamp. 

 

Meanwhile, it felt brave to cut the stamp as it was finely detailed.  But the risk was worth it and I plan to revisit some of my other stamps and do the same. 

How about you? 

What risks have you taken with your stamps and stash?

 

Have a good Easter and thank you for popping by.  Any comments or ideas to add are greatly appreciated.