Playing with Stampbord

I've done 2 days of Stampbord Shows on Hochanda TV now which have been fun if a little last minute! I remember buying Stampbord years ago, having a play with it and then tucking it away until I had some really special project to do as I didn't want to waste such a precious resource. I'm so pleased that now, 7 years later, Stampbord has made it back to these shores and at almost half the price it used to be!

I've not had a lot of time to renew my acquaintance with Stampbord yet but what little time I have had has reminded me what a fabulous product it is. Developed by Ampersand Art Supply this incredible art and craft surface allows clean, perfect rubber stamp impressions every time and is correctable and erasable. It has so many uses including jewellery, customising boxes, magnets, altered art, ornaments, card toppers, embellishments and even scrapbooking as it is acid free. The ultra-smooth clay finish accepts all types of inks and no matter how wet you get it it will never warp or buckle. The clay surface also allows you to scratch back into your designs to create highlights and texture which is something you can't do on ordinary cardstock.

So here's the first new project using Stampbord... 

Stampbord Pot

Materials needed:
3 x ATC Stampbord
2 x 2" Stampbord Squares
Memento Black Inkpad
Flower Stamp
Acrylic Block
Graph'It Alcohol Pens
Stampbord Scraper Tools
Gold Graph'It Shake Pen
Silver Glitter Graph'It Shake Pen
White 12 x 12 Scrapbook Card
Acid free glue & Super Glue
Fine Embossing Tool
Craft Knife, Ruler & Cutting Mat

Step 1. Ink up the stamp with black Memento ink and stamp it on a square piece of Stampboard. Not all the image will fit on the board so allow the bottom and sides of the stamp to go off the edges.

Step 2. Colour in the stamped image using the Graph'It alcohol ink pens. Use the blender pen to create soft highlights & blend colours.

Step 3. Use the scraper tools to scratch some of the inks away creating brighter highlights on the flowers and leaves.

Step 4. Colour the dots of the stamped image with the gold Shake Graph'It pen.

Step 5. Add dots of silver glitter to the centres of the stars.

Top Tip: If your stamp smudges or your ink bleeds over a line when colouring you can always scratch away imperfections with the scraper tools.

Step 6. Repeat Steps 1-5 for another square piece of Stampbord and two ATC pieces. nb. You will have to stamp the image twice on the larger pieces of Stampbord.

At this point you can take the easy option of covering all the Stampbord elements with separate pieces of card or alternatively you could paint them with acrylic paint before you glue them together using Super Glue.

Alternatively, you can use one piece of card to join all the sides together before sticking them to the base...

Step 7. Stick a Stampbord square in the corner of the card, making sure that the base of the stamped image is at the edge of the card. Cut the card along the top of the Stampbord piece & score down the side. Fold the card along the score line & stick an ATC Stampbord piece aligned with the front edge of the square.

Step 8. Move the pieces to the edge of your table so you can lay the ATC flat on your cutting mat. Lay another square beside the ATC and cut around the exposed areas of card around the ATC piece.

Step 9. Lay the ATC face down and, using a square piece as a guide, cut along the top edge and score the card down the inside edge.

Step 10. Fold the card along the scoreline. Stick the square Stampbord along the scoreline level with the end of the ATC piece.

Step 11. Again wrap the pieces around the edge of the table so that you can cut along the top of the square piece and score down the side. Stick the last ATC piece in position using a ruler to help line it up along the bottom edge. Cut around it to remove the excess card.

Step 12. Lay the last ATC piece face down and position the first square level with the end. Cut the card on the back of the ATC piece around the top and inside edge of the square.

Step 13. Carefully remove the excess strip of card on the back of the ATC piece.

Step 14. Use Super Glue to stick the edges of the Stampbord together.

Step 15. Use more Super Glue to stick the sides of the pot to the ATC base.


There's lots more inspiration for working with Stampbord available all over the worldwide web including YouTube and Pinterest. Here are a few links to get you started...

The Stampbord website has inspiration and how-to features:
http://www.stampbord.com/idea-gallery.html

The official Facebook page for Stampbord:
https://www.facebook.com/stampbordfans/info/

The Projects4Crafters Stampbord Pinterest board:
https://www.pinterest.com/projects4craft/stampbord/

Stampscapes Stampbord YouTube Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=stampscapes+stampbord

Christmas Advent Calendar 2015

Well, it may be a week later than expected due to a last minute request to do some Stampbord shows for Hochanda TV but there is still time if you fancy creating your own advent calendar...

You may remember last year's was a felt wall hanging calendar which I created for my youngest nephew Ben (and which I have been asked for again this year...what a surprise, not!) It seems that although he's now football crazy he still has a little time left for Lego, lol!

Well this year I've decided to go for something a little different...

A Christmas Wish Advent Calendar

I don't think the photo really does it justice but hopefully you'll get the idea. I've created it using Efco's Star box which comes full of 24 mini star boxes - just perfect for decorating as your own personalised advent calendar. Advent calendars in my day only ever had 24 windows to open as Christmas Day was when you got all your wonderful pressies but these days so many of them seem to have 25. So, if you wanted, you could always use the large box as number 25!

Materials needed:
Papp Art Star Box Set (Efco Art no: 26 346 16)
Light Relief Paste (Efco Art no: 93 162 21)
White Decoupaint (Efco Art no: 93 164 01)
White Rose Napkins (Efco Art no: 16 608 45)
Matt Mod Podge (Efco Art no: 62 113 05)
Yellow & Gold Acrylic Paint
Brushes & Palette Knife 
Baby wipes & Soft Brush e.g. old blusher brush
Craft Knife & PVA Glue
Ultra fine Mother of Pearl Glitter (Efco Art no: 91 101 01)
Advent Numbers - I used my Silhouette to cut letters from gold foil and chipboard but you can use whatever you like
Words for the lid - Again I used my Silhouette to cut letters out of chipboard.

Step 1. Remove the back two layers from some napkins and place on one side.

Step 2. Decoupage the sides of a small star box with the top layer of a napkin. Align the edge of the napkin with the top edge of the box and use mat Mod Podge to stick in place.

Step 3. Use a wet brush to create a torn edge, removing the excess napkin from the side and bottom. But do leave a little excess to overlap on the side of the box and wrap around the base.

Step 4. Cover the napkin with a layer of mat Mod Podge to seal it and make sure that all the edges are stuck down. Leave to dry.

Repeat Steps 2-4 for all the other small boxes.

Step 5. Mix Light Relief Paste with some white Decoupaint (2:1).

Step 6. Use a palette knife to roughly spread the mixed paste over the box lids. You want to use just enough paste to block out the brown of the papier maché. Whilst it's still wet sprinkle a little ultra fine glitter in patches over the top and embed a number in the middle. (I cut numbers from thin chipboard and sticky backed gold foil using my latest toy...my Silhouette cutter.) :) Leave to dry.

Step 7. Mix up more paste if necessary and then cover the large star box lid in the same way. Do the edges first so that you can sprinkle a little ultra fine glitter over them before covering the top. Leave to dry.

Step 8. You can decorate the top however you wish. I chose to cut 'When you wish upon a star...' from some more thin chipboard using my Silhouette cutter which I then covered with some more paste and glitter and left to dry.

Step 9. Cut another napkin in strips and use them to cover the edges of the big star box base.

Step 10. When the big box lid is dry (you can speed this up with a hairdryer) use a baby wipe to apply some yellow acrylic in swirly patterns. It will dry very quickly as it is such a thin layer of paint. When dry, use another baby wipe to apply some gold paint over the top. Leave to dry.

Step 11. I used PVA glue to stick the decorated chipboard letters in position on the box lid. I added a little more sparkle by applying more PVA glue in a swirl, following the line of the words, and then covering it with more ultra fine glitter.

When everything is dry brush off the excess glitter from all the boxes using a soft brush e.g. an old blusher brush.

Then all that's left is to fill the little boxes with sweeties, chocolates or little gifts...

I had planned to publish this post this morning but my day went a little haywire with builders, deliveries, a skip removal, and tree surgeons who came to prune our poor neglected apple tree. Anyway I got there in the end and I hope you like this year's advent calendar!

Happy Crafting!

More Efcolor Ideas

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe bonfire's night with spectacular fireworks! 

This week I've decided to share some more Efcolor ideas with everyone...

Firstly, I discovered some colour combinations live on air on Hochanda tv that I have never tried before:

Mixing coloured transparent Efcolor powders

The photo's not great but hopefully it shows that you can get a rather gorgeous purple by mixing blue and red transparent.

Mixing clear transparent with opaque black powder

I have covered glitter powders with coloured transparent before to achieve a subtle 'bling' but covering turquoise glitter with clear transparent and random 'splodges' of opaque black gave a star-like or universe effect. (Again the photo doesn't show it's true glory sorry!)

Coloured Transparent combined with Rubber Stamping

I have always covered rubber stamped images with clear transparent but have never thought to use some of the coloured transparent instead. btw Efco's texture mats are ideal for creating stamped images on pendants too. (Image: Paisley texture mat stamped with black Staz-on covered with red transparent.)

Secondly, you can enamel papier maché as Efco's Efcolor powders only need 150ºC to melt which is cool enough for both Efco's Papp Art and also thin layers of acrylic paint whether they are painted straight onto the papier maché or onto basecoats of enamel.

Paris Papier Maché

Materials needed:
Efco Paris Papp Art
Black acrylic paint
Black & Gold Efcolor Powders
Clear Flat-backed Swarovski Crystals (3, 4 & 5 mm)
Tweezers & Paint Brush
Efcolor Stove or Kitchen Oven
Optional: Varnish
(The Papp Art is a little too big for the stove but it can still be heated on it without the lid being used, it just takes a little longer.)

1. Paint the edges of the Papp Art with black acrylic paint and leave to dry.

2. Cover the papp art with black Efcolor powder and heat until it is melted.

3. When cool, cover the papp art with another layer of black Efcolor powder and patches of gold. Position crystals in the powder before placing it back on the heat to melt.

4. When cool, paint the back of the papp art with more black acrylic. 

If desired, you can coat the edges and back with varnish to protect the painted areas. Et voila! A quick and easy project.

Happy crafting!

Hochanda Efcolor One Day Special

Well I've just about recovered, unpacked and tidied up the mess I had left behind me in the studio after last week's Hochanda tv one day special and all the prep beforehand. :)

I had planned to start posting on WOYWW before the show (as I have realised that accountability is good thing when it comes to making sure I post each week) but sadly there wasn't enough time. So I've decided to post my photos from the last two Wednesdays anyway. Here's what my desk looked like the Wednesday before the show...

As you can see I was busy making new samples for the show whilst watching Hochanda tv online... (Efco's Paris papp art is in the middle of being enamelled here).

And here's what it looked like the Wednesday after the show before I had a chance to tidy up (lol)...

All the last minute panic stations stuff left out where I had suddenly realised I'd forgotten to make some new jewellery to wear on the show and the mdf JOY that I ran out of time to enamel. :(

However I had a great time and everyone at the studios was really welcoming. The shows did well too as we sold out of the one day special and had to beg Germany for some more stock to last out the day!

Here's one of the new samples I created for the show...

Butterfly Easel Card

You will need: 
80 x 80 mm collage blank
Black and Clear Transparent Efcolor powder
Efco's A5 butterfly stencil
Iridescent acrylic paint (Jo Sonja's used here)
Flat-backed Swarovski Crystal
Sponge, Masking tape, Sanding pad & Tweezers
Peel off stickers, Card & Double-sided tape
Tea light stove

1. Lightly sand the collage blank to help key the Efcolor enamel. Wipe any grit from the surface.
2. Cover the blank with a layer of black powder and heat until it has melted.
3. If necessary apply another layer of black powder and reheat to achieve a smooth glossy surface.

4. When cool, lay the stencil over the top (secure with a piece of masking tape if needed) and use a sponge to apply a thin layer of iridescent acrylic over the design. Remove the stencil and leave to dry.
5. Cover with a thin layer of transparent powder before placing the blank back on the stove to heat.

6. As the powder melts you will be able to see the design again. Whilst still on the stove use tweezers to drop a crystal on the painted butterfly wing.
7. When the powder has completely melted and gone glossy remove the blank from the stove.
8. When cool, stick a sentiment on top of the enamel.
9. Take a 160 x 80 mm piece of card and fold it in two. Fold one half back on itself.
10. Use double-sided tape to stick the top half of the blank to the folded front of the card.

As ever, I wish you all happy crafting!

Trick or Treat Sweetie Jar

Oh boy, am I overdue a blog post or what!?! It's been 3 months since my last one! Wow, where has the summer gone?! It will be Halloween before you know it! So in honour of the 31st October here's a project to create a spooky Glow-in-the-Dark Trick or Treat Sweetie Jar...

Materials:

Glow-in-the-Dark Cernit

Cernit Roller

Cernit Flexible Blade

Cernit Tools

Efco Roller Set

Glass Jar

Ceramic Tile for baking

Oven & Oven Thermometer

Optional: Ghost Template & Scissors

Step 1. Print out the template and cut out the ghosts. Enlarge or reduce it as necessary. Alternatively, you can draw your own ghosts on a piece of paper or even cut your ghosts out freehand.

Step 2. Take 2-3 strips of Glow-in-the-Dark Cernit and condition it. You can use a roller to do this to make it easier on your hands.

Step 3. Roll out the conditioned clay on a tile using the thicker pair of depth guides from the Efco Roller Set.

Step 4. Lay one of the ghost templates on top of the clay sheet and use the flexible blade to cut it out.

Step 5. Use the small spatula tool to remove the clay for the eyes and mouth.

Step 6. Remove the template and clean up any edges with the Cernit tools as necessary.

Step 7. Carefully lift the ghost off the tile so as not to distort it too much.

Step 8. Lay the ghost on the glass jar, gently pressing it to adhere it. 

Step 9. Use the Cernit tools to smooth and clean the edges as necessary.

Step 10. Cut out more ghosts, one at a time, adding them to the jar, making sure they all connect at various points.

Step 11. When you have a connected ring of ghosts around your jar you can bake it according to the manufacturer's instructions.

(Don't forget to pre-heat your oven & always use an oven thermometer.)

And this is what the jar looks like when the lights go out...

You can download a project sheet with the template from the Special Occasions section of Projects4Crafters.com