Use the same color ink to stamp the lovely Miss Annie into the shoe. Peek under the stamp to line up the rubber. Mask Annie.

Using "Crimson Lake" ink, stamp the Antique Rose repeatedly over the open background to cover. Mask each rose until the background is complete.

Using the Color Duster, and the same "Crimson" ink, color the rose background. Color the centers of the roses first to give the shaded areas more dimension.

Remove the mask over Miss Annie and using colored pencils, color in her hair, lips, the dress and her eye shadow. I used my "Mulberry" color Prisma pencil for most of it and added some "Burnt Ochre" on her hair.

Materials used:

Antique Rose 2511-26

Eclipse Tape Large Roll and Eclipse Twins 2 roll pack

Marvy Black and Crimson Rose pads

I could see using this design for a New Years Eve invite or greeting.

This is a very simple and very dramatic card. It has a formal quality so I call it - TUXEDO ROSE

First:
Cut three masks of the Antique Rose from Eclipse tape. Layer three pieces of Eclipse over each other and stamp the top layer. Always cut your mask just a bit smaller than the design. Cut inside the lines. Save the part of the tapes that were around the rose mask. These are your reverse masks. Stamp the first rose in the center of the card and mask it. Then stamp one more rose on each side and mask each rose using the small mask.

Second:

Apply Eclipse tape over the Rose in stripes. Angle the stripes in the opposite direction of the rose stripe. To keep the stripes even use the tape as a measuring device…starting at the center angled tape, put three tapes side by side and remove the center one. Do the same on the other side. You now have three tapes evenly spaced.

Using the black Marvy stamp pad, tap and drag the pad over the exposed areas of the card. It helps to have a very juicy pad for this.

Third:
Place the reverse mask over the stamped rose for coloring. This will help keep your edges sharp. Use additional tapes around the mask to keep your stripes black. Using a Color Duster and Crimson Red stamp pad, dust into the shaded areas of the card first. Then dust over the rest of the rose. This color gradation will add dimension to the rose. Remove all the tapes. Using a fine marker and a ruler draw a line along the edges of the black stripes to make a crisp edge. Voila!

This is a quick and easy holiday card – useful for last minute messages.

Start with the message, “Peace”, stamped in the center of the card. Make a mask for the words from “Eclipse” tape and cut into square. Don’t cut the shape of the words. You want a kind of boxy shape around the words. Mask the words. I used Marvy “Pine Green” ink.

Mask the words and stamp the 3 Branch Pine around the outside edge. Face the branches out from the words.

Dust over all with Marvy “Caribbean Blue”.

I used gloss stock for this card. Also on this card I did all the things I tell you not to do….use a mask on gloss, mask the words. But in this case going against the rules –works.

If you have ever seen my demo at shows around the country you have probably seen me make this card. I have been creating the leaf lady for years. It is one of the simplest cards and one of the most impressive.

It is especially effective during this fall season.

I use the Large oak Leaf 2206-38 on page 18 of the online catalog and the medium Venus face 4250-26 on page 2.
I also add “No Spring or Summer…” 9061-12 from page 56.

The entire card is done using the Memories Autumn Rainbow pad and the Marvy Ochre ink pad. I think Ochre is a color that should be in every pad inventory. It is a good blending color, a tint for aging white paper and a great allover background color. I have tired other rainbow pads but the arrangement of colors on the Memories seems to work best for this card.
Of course you can also use assorted solid color pads direct to rubber to color the stamp.

I am working on our gloss postcard for this card. It also works on matte but the gloss really makes the colors vibrant and bright.

To begin ink the oak leaf with the rainbow. It is too big to be colored completely so I twist the pad and color the top. Don’t be afraid to move the pad around. It is better to avoid a striped look and you can always clean the pad surface to return it to true rainbow.

To get a good impression every time with this big stamp follow the Big Stamping Tips in our techniques section of the website.

Next ink the Venus face. Move the face across the pad from left to right keeping the lips on the second to the last section of the pad, the red stripe. Stamp the inked stamp over the center of the leaf. The result should give the face green eyes and red lips.

Use the leaf stamp again and ink the edge of the stamp with the rainbow pad. Stamp over the leaf, slightly overlapping, to create a frame around the Venus face.

At this point you can add words to the base of the card. I like the saying- “No spring or summer has such grace as I have found on autumn’s face.”
It is also a good saying for birthday cards.

Now for “ochre-izing”. Take the ochre pad and with a Color Duster, lightly color over the whole card, adding deepest color to the outside edges. Tap in bits of orange and red where you think it needs color.
I always like to give her cheeks some blush.

You can also use the leaf to create a border. Use it on the envelope to match the card. Very easy.

This one of the easiest masked cards to do.
First stamp the world and mask it with a mask cut much smaller than the design.

Then stamp the starry night over the masked image.
Use Big Stamping Technique Tips as listed in the techniques section on our website.

Lift the mask and stamp the face over the world. No masking.
Color dust over all with the same blue used to stamp.
I used Marvy Prussian Blue #29.

Use this same technique to apply a starry background to other designs ……. as shown below this project.

 Materials:
Rubber Stamps - All from Stampland

Aspen Leaf 2208-26
Fragile Fern 2216-12
Tender Eyes 4251-14
Marvy ink pad - Jungle Green #96
Eclipse Strips - (Medium size)

 Technique:

This card uses simple masking techniques to create a complex look with very little effort. My specialty!

First make a mask of the leaf stamp. I use Eclipse Tape to create my mask. It is so easy to work with. It is low tack, repositionable and reusable. Stamp onto the tape and cut out your mask. Remember that your mask should be smaller than the image. With this leaf and the jagged edges…..CUT IT OUT! Cut a smooth edge just inside the leaf.

Here is another trick. When you have your image stamped onto the Eclipse tape, put one or two more pieces of Eclipse cut to fit, behind the stamped piece. Now cut and separate. One stamping, one cutting, multiple masks! I keep my masks on the back of my mounted stamps. You can store them in the binder with your unmounted rubber.

Then take a strip of the middle width ECLIPSE strip and block out a frame by lining the outside edge of the tape with the outside edge of the card.

Tear your tape pieces a little longer than the card width to help anchor it to the paper while you dust.

Using the widest of the ECLIPSE STRIPS create the background. Block off a corner of the card with the tape and using a Jungle Green stamp pad and the Color duster, dust into the open corner. Dust lightly to create a soft shadow of color.

Lift and move the tape in another direction and apply color again in the same manner to the open area. Cross over the previous colors and you will see shadows and gradations of color. Continue to color the background until you like what you see. Keep your dusting light and create deeper colors by overlaying color. (You can create many shades of color from one stamp pad by using the dusters this way.)

Now that the background is complete, consider where to place the first leaf. This will be the focal point. Stamp and mask the image. Place a mask over the leaf and then stamp two more leaves behind it and mask them. You should be able to see just a bit of the edge of the stamp image when you have the mask in place. Stamp the fern into the background over the masked leaves. Use the secondary impression to create additional shadows. You can do this with the frame on or off.

Now remove all the tapes and the masks and stamp the lady face onto the front leaf. Peek under the edge of the stamp to position her lips over the middle vein. Use the duster to blend the green over the edges and add a little more color to the darkest side of the leaf.

This is a great card using only one color and three stamps!

(for those of you who noticed that the design of the final card is slightly different than the samples in the steps….yes…I got right to the end and messed up the face and had to do it all over again…and it is even better this time. So don’t get discouraged or impatient with mistakes…we all do it from time to time…..or, if you’re me…..most of the time. The important thing is to keep on STAMPING!

This beautiful image is almost haunting. What is he asking? Why is she so pensive? It seems he ready to leave for a battle or a quest. She seems unhappy and unwilling to meet his gaze. Perhaps he is asking for
something she is unable to offer. Or does she not want him to see her tears?

Coloring this image is best done with pencils. I like to just fall into the picture and begin coloring similar themes, like the design on the shield and then see where it leads me. I layered this onto colored papers and was happy with result.

I only wish I could make them happier.

During the month of November 2006 this image is available at a 25% discount to members of the AMRSC, “A Monthly Rubber Stamp Club”.

To create this card I stamped the flower stripes first. I reverse the stamp and peek under as I stamp to slightly intertwine the trailing ribbons.  I used Marvy stamp pad color #61 Deep Lilac.

I striped the background using the “Eclipse strip” – widest width – and colored between the tapes with Marvy stamp color #61 Deep Lilac. I made the stripes widely spaced and just beside and slightly overlapping the flower stripes.

I stamped Ms. Annie using #29 Prussian Blue Marvy. I masked her with the “Eclipse Tape”. (Stamped her onto the tape and cut out the image from the tape and used that to mask her.) I cut my mask just inside the line…slightly smaller than the image in order to avoid the “halo” effect.

I then stamped the dark butterfly over Annie…placing the wings just behind her shoulders. I used the same color dark blue ink. I masked the wings using the same technique with the “Eclipse” tape.

I stamped the “Amore” in the same dark blue right over the stripe and flowers. Using the “Color Dusters” and Marvy “Rosemarie Pink” #59, I lightly colored the wings and dusted over the flowers. A little pencil work on the leaves and her hair for contrast, a bit of color in the dress….and of course…lipstick … and that’s it.

Part of the appeal of this card is the soft blending of the colors…almost a watercolor effect, and the light pastel colors contrasting with the dark blue. And like all my cards….less than 15 minutes start to finish. I mounted this with photo corners onto deep blue suede paper and then soft ash rose paper for contrast.

Stamps used in this card:
Anxious Annie #4246-28 page 6
Dark Butterfly 3606-28 page 17
Amore 9309-18 page 39
Wild Rose Bouquet 2404-16 page 2

During the month of June 2006, the first two stamps listed are available at a 25% discount to members of the AMRSC,
“A Monthly Rubber Stamp Club”. Information about the club is linked from our site.

HOW TO CREATE THE GLITTERING GALAXY GODDESS


Stamp the goddess with black ink onto white cardstock.

Stamp the goddess with black ink onto "Eclipse" tape.

1. First things first. Make sure the stamp is very thoroughly inked. Use a brayer or raised pad direct to rubber and ink generously. I often say that when evenly inked the stamp surface should look like etched glass.
2. Work on a padded surface. A few sheets of paper do not a padded surface make. Try an inexpensive newsprint tablet or a magazine or folded newspaper. Padding of 1/8 to 1/4-inch thickness works well.
3. Now the hard part. Stand up. Think of this as your mini exercise moment. It is not only good for your circulation but also allows you to place the stamp carefully on the surface to be stamped.
4. IMPORTANT!  THIS IS THE MAJOR TIP!  IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
   Take another large block, (another stamp or a piece of wood or acrylic), and place it on top of the stamp on the paper. Simply lean forward and press on the block as you slowly move it up and down over the surface of the stamp. This distributes the pressure evenly over the block and eliminates those annoying blank areas or blurry borders.
5. Let the stamp rest for a few moments before pulling up from the paper. The rubber is pressed tight to the paper, let it release naturally. This will help avoid "sucker" marks that can distort the lines. Count to 10 and pull up slowly on the stamp to reveal your perfect impression.

Remember that the kind of paper used makes a big difference. Stamping works best on the smoothest papers. Working on gloss paper stock results in the most detailed impression. Uncoated stocks offer a softer look.

The kind of ink used also can influence the final result. Dye based pads capture detail very well, as do some of the new "skin" pads. Some pigment pads can be too juicy and blur details.

Experiment and try out different combinations. The breathtaking results are well worth the effort. Happy stamping.

• Coloring with the new "Color Dusters" from Judi Kins is one of the easiest and most effective new ways to apply color. And it is easy to do.
• First, do not use the dusters the way you would use a stipple brush. Using a back and forth motion, (not pouncing), stroke the duster across a stamp pad to load the brush with the color. Press down and load the brush with color high up the sides. I recommend dye-based pads for this because they dry quickly
  and give a wide range of color depth. But the color dusters will work with any stamp pad, chalks, or paints.
• Using the same motion with the duster, a back and forth sweeping motion, apply color to the paper. Use a gentler touch to control the color. You should see a soft, air brushed effect develop on the paper. It is similar to sponging but much easier. Continue to dust until you reach the color intensity you prefer.
• The choice of paper you use will influence the results. My favorite paper for dusting is uncoated paper or cardstock. This gives the softest, most even coverage. Gloss stock is a sticky paper that will show the brush marks more sharply and requires more dusting to make the color even. The effect on handmade paper is more textured and subtle. Try dusting on rough paper for unusual
  effects.
• It is best to assign one duster to each color stamp pad. You can wash the dusters by swishing them in a cup of soapy water, rinsing and squeezing them dry. Allow them to finish drying by lying flat, to avoid water soaking into the glue. Do not wash too often. They get "bad hair day". With proper care they will last a long time and serve you well.

This is a quick and easy way to create wonderful collage cards.

Supplies: Stamps, Dye based stamp pads, dusters, 1 inch Post-it tape, cardstock, pen and ruler.

1. Take a plain white postcard. Tear off a good-sized piece of Post-it tape- about 6 inches - and block out a corner of the card. I usually start at the upper right hand corner.
2. Select a color stamp pad and a matching duster. Using a back and forth motion, (not pouncing), stroke the duster across the pad to load the brush with the color.
3. Using the same motion with the duster, back and forth, color the corner of the card. Continue to dust until you reach the color intensity you prefer. Dye based pads are best for this because they dry quickly and give a wide range of color depth.
4. Select stamps and stamp the pattern you like into the corner.
5. IMPORTANT! LIFT THE TAPE AND COVER THE CORNER COLOR- RIGHT TO THE EDGE.
   You will not affect the stamping at all. Do it immediately, before you forget. (There is a one inch strip of white card under that tape.)
6. Tear off another piece of tape and create your next section. You can use angles, or keep it square, as large or small as you like.
7. Select another color to coordinate or contrast and dust the color into this new section.
8. Stamp another pattern into this area.
9. Lift the tape and cover this section. Using another piece of tape,
   create the next section.
10. Repeat the procedure until you have completed the collage.
11. Lift all the tape and SAVE it. You can use the tape again and again. Do not discard.
12. Using a marker in a color to coordinate or contrast with your images, draw a line between the sections.
13. You can corner trim the card at this point.
14. Sit back and collect compliments on your artwork.
15. Start another card!

Fear no faces. You will be coloring the lovely ladies of Stampland using color dusters and colored pencils. You can do any face in five minutes or less using this technique. Promise!

To get a perfect impression every time with the big stamps, follow these Big Stamp Stamping Tips. Now that you have a perfect image, follow these steps.

1. Using the Color Duster and the Memories pad in Soft Peach or the Marvy pale orange, stroke the duster across the pad to load the brush using a back and forth motion, (not pouncing).
2. Gently dust the color across the face. To color over the brow line and the nose, palm the brush and pinch it for a thinner line of brush.
3. Using the Memories Soft Rose, gently dust a touch of blush over the cheeks. Remember that a light touch works best. The ladies should blush, not become suntanned.
4. Rule to remember when coloring the faces: Stop BEFORE you think you’re done. The color is supposed to be soft and subtle.
   It takes your eye a while to learn when to stop. Be patient with yourself.
5. Color the hair and clothing details using the same technique. Pinch the brush between your fingers to create a finer edge.
6. Color pencils can be used to highlight the lips, eyes and mouth. When you are working on gloss paper try using watercolor pencils on the coated paper. Moisten the pencils with a wet paper towel to avoid melting the tips.

• For Blonde hair: Start with Yellow. Dust over lightly with Ochre to tone down the Yellow.
• For Red hair: Start with Ochre, dust over with Orange and tone it down with Brown.
• For Auburn hair: Start with Ochre, dust over with Orange, lightly, and then finish with Brown.
• For Brunette hair: Start with Brown, dust over with Dark Brown.
• For Black hair: Start with Black and dust very lightly over the highlights with Dark Blue.
  
• For White skin tones: use Soft Peach Memories or Pale Orange Marvy with Soft Rose blush.
• For Golden skin tones: use Soft Peach Memories or Pale Orange Marvy and dust over lightly with Ochre. Use Soft Rose for Blush.
• For Brown skin tones: use Soft Peach Memories or Pale Orange Marvy and dust over lightly with Brown. For Blush use Rosemarie Pink.
• For Black skin tones: start with Brown, dust over with Ochre, and then with Soft Rose. Use Red or English Red for Blush.