simple Analogy

I'm an Indian Giver

I made a baby gift set for a friend a couple months ago.  A flannel blanket with bias binding around the edge and a diaper clutch. (Clutch pattern in the works!)  I had planned on adding the baby's name to the gift for her shower, but they were having an extremely hard time deciding on a boy's name.  I gave her the gift with the stipulation that they would give it back to me when the name was set in stone so that I could personalize it.

Well, the baby came and the name is set in stone on the birth certificate, so I guess it's ok to go ahead and put AIDEN's name on everything!  I used a permanent ink pad to stamp the name and ferris wheel onto the fabric.  Before you try this, I'd suggest doing a test run on your fabric with your ink pad.  A few of my stamp pads washed out even though they said they were permanent.

To test:  stamp on fabric, heat set, then hand wash with a bit of dish soap.  

I hear Hobby Lobby is now selling fabric ink stamp pads...  Have to check them out!

Balloon Postcards

Carving:  Balloon

Stamping:  Watercolor paper

Punching:  Heart     Rounding:  Edges

Sending: Postcards

Falling Leaves Stamp

The leaves aren't changing or falling yet around here, so I made some of my own.  I love having erasers around the house!

Just Listed

Hope everyone is having as glorious weather as we are for our spring break, though sadly the break is almost over.  Just a quick post to let you know that I am now selling sets of my ferris wheel postcards in the shop.  Trying something new! 

Have a great weekend!

Stampin'

This cold is dragging on and on.  I've been cooped up all week with a box of kleenex as my best friend.  Today I had to get out of the house for a few minutes if only to run through the drive through at Chick-fil-A.  Even though I don't feel like doing much of anything, I have been stamping.  It's something I can do while sitting on the couch watching a movie.  "Mother even crafts when she's sick!" was the comment the boys made.  Yes, they are still in the "Mother" mode.

I like to send birthday cards to all of the children in the nursery.  I usually come up with a different birthday card idea each year.  This year's feature - the ferris wheel postcard.  I made up thirty of them, so I have plenty for the whole year.  I used watercolor paper to stamp on.  It's nice and thick and I like the texture.  It kind of gives the stamped image a distressed look.  I LOVE THIS STAMP!!!

You Don't Need a Ticket to Ride This Ferris Wheel

My ferris wheel.  The complete image was carved on an actual carving block.  Why a ferris wheel?  Alicia Bock kind of got me started on them.  She sent a 5 x 5 ferris wheel print as a thank you along with the art I purchased for my bedroom and I love it.  Since spring is just around the corner, I thought I'd incorporate some ferris wheels into a few projects.  This is just the first installment.  You can bet you'll be seeing lots of wheels around here in the next few months.

*  I'll have to try out some different carving blocks.  This one from Hobby Lobby was a little bit crumbly.  Geninne suggested these and I'm hoping my local art store will have them. 

Positive Image

 My second carving attempt was to try a positive image.  I drew a ferris wheel and used a portion of the complete image to try out the gouging technique, again on an eraser.  I thought this practice run would be a throw away, but when I turned it upside down, I really liked the image.  Flower, windmill, whatever I want it to be!

Negative Image - New Hobby

I've been playing hard this week, which is why there hasn't been much blogging.  I took up a new hobby.  Yes, yet another to add to all the other fun I have around here.  Stamp carving!  Ok, I fooled around a little with it back here, but this time it's the real thing:  lino cutters, carving block, and everything.  Instructions and a video here. 

For my first attempt, I used a white hi-polymer eraser, which I snatched from the school supply drawer.  I thought I'd try a negative image (recessed image) first as they seemed the easiest.  I now have a logo!