Mixed Media : Altered Stamp Blocks

3 Houses
Last post I shared with you that I remove the rubber images from the wooden stamp blocks and remount them on cling so I can organize all my stamps in notebooks by catagory.  Well over the years I have saved up various sizes of the wooden blocks with the plan to re-purpose them into little works of art.  This is my fourth altered stamp block project.  There is a link at the bottom of the post, if you would like to check out the other 3.

I started with 6 rectangular stamp blocks.  3 for the bases and 3 for the roofs.  I had my husband cut 3 of the rectangular blocks into triangles to create my roofs.  Next I  spray painted the blocks.  I adhered the roofs on with Aleene's Tachy Glue.  The flower centers were made with clay and tissue paper.  I shaped a round disc with a dip in the middle from air-dry paper clay.  After dried, I wrapped it with tissue paper.

If you are interested in buying a set like this, email me.  (luv_2_stamp@yahoo.com) .

I couldn't find enough coordinating pattern paper in my stash, so I decided to create my own "text" patterned paper using a font that looks like it came from a typewriter.  Read more about how I created my "text" patterned paper below.  I used a free download from dafont.com called "Mom's Typewriter".

Creating your own text patterned paper
I had saved a list of quotes I found here and there that I thought would look good on ATC's or other Mixed Media projects and I just typed those up and then repeated them.  After printing my "text" patterned paper, I sprayed it with Krylon's Matte Finish "Workable Fixative".  Not sure I even needed it.  Heat setting with my heat tool may have been enough, but I was in a hurry and didn't want to risk the ink smearing.  I use Epson ink.    I used as little water as possible to add color.  I used Neocolor Watercolor Crayons for the pink and blue, and some Loew-Cornell watercolor paint for the yellow.  Doesn't matter what you use, those just happened to be the water color mediums that coordinated with the other ink / patterned paper colors I was using.  After the paper was dry, I cut pieces to fit my roofs.  I punched some circles from a sheet that was not colored, positioning the punch to focus on specific words.  Then I colored around the words and doodled.

You can view all of my Altered Projects HERE.

You can check out all of my Altered Stamp Block projects HERE.

You can check out all my Mixed Media style projects HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you are inspired to alter some stamp blocks of your own!

hugs, Melisa

This project was select as a trigger target over at Moxie Fab!!



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CHALLENGES

Moxie Fab - Hope this one is ok Cath.  I used a typewriter font to create my own patterned paper.





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Stamp Credits

House #1
Doily's - My Mind's Eyes
Butterflies on roof  - Hampton Arts
2 blue butterflies - Cornish Heritage Farms

House #2
Collage with butterfly - Hampton Arts
Key - Lost Coast Designs
Measuring Tape - Paper Artsy

House #3
Lock - Lost Coast Designs
Butterfly - Layers of Color

Altered Stamp Blocks !

Good Morning.

I'm in a really chipper mood because I FINALLY finished 19 projects for 33 Dare to Get Dirty Challenges over at SCS!  This was a huge accomplishment for me because I'm so slow.  But I learned how to pick up speed and throw things pretty quick thanks to these challenges.

One of the challenges was to re-purpose.  So I did something I've done before and didn't have to put alot of thought into.  I remove all my stamps from wooden blocks, put them on cling mount, and store them by catagory in notebooks.  I have saved ALOT of the larger blocks to turn into mini pieces of art that I can sit around the house.  The original idea was to do a set for each holiday.  I'm still working on that, teehee. 

I started by selecting blocks that were different sizes and tried to figure out which 3 complimented each other.  I think these 3 worked out great.  Then I went through all my chipboard letters.  I knew I wanted each font to be different as well as a different size, so it was a matter of playing around with them to I got the combo I liked.  I have TONS of these all filed by letter, so it's not to difficult of a process.  Next I spray painted the backs and sides with black paint. 

I picked out some 7 Gypsies paper (their paper makes everything look good, right!) and trimmed it down for each block for a background.  I stamped alot of the images from this set and originally started out trying to color them with my copics, but it just wasn't working with the muted colors of this paper.  So I went with paper piecing using papers from the same paper pad.  I covered my chipboard letters with papers from the pad as well.  Just a reminder ...  the way you get the edges so smooth when altering the letters is to use Basic Grey file set along the edges.  The set comes with different shaped files for getting in small area's, holes, etc.

Once I planned out each of the layouts with the letters and paper pieced images.  I realized that I needed some more in the background.  So stamped some of the images from this set and  from the Flourishes set in the background and around the edges and that kinda brought it together.  I never know what I'm gonna end up with.  I just had a general idea of a look I wanted and started playing.

I hope this inspires you to do some playing of your own today!  Creating ART makes me so happy!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

You can view all of my Altered Projects HERE

First Annual "March of the Snowmen" Blog Hop

Hi everyone!  I'm so excited to introduce to you the first annual "March of the Snowmen" Blog Hop!  I love snowmen images and so do all the other designers participating in this blog hop.  This talented group of ladies has planned some sensational snow flurried projects for you.  So before I list my own mini march of snowmen projects let me introduce you to our designers!  Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom of my post before you start hopping though, because I'm giving away TWO blog candy packages!!  And check out each designers blogs carefully for MORE blog candy announcements!

Angella Crockett

Barb Foster

Deb Felts

Jen Carter

JenMarie Taylor

Jodi Heuser

Kelly Landers

Latisha Yoast

Laurie Unger

Laurie Willison

Linda Duke

Melisa Waldorf - You are here now

Michelle Bartnett

Mona Pendleton

Pam Imholz

Stacy Rogers

Snowman Project #1 was designed using a vintage FREE digi download from a challenge blog : Digital for Tuesday Challenge Blog.  They post a FREE vintage digi image each tuesday for you to design with.  The blog is sponsored by Clearly Vintage.  The owner sales vintage stamp sets that are wonderful.  So I wanted to take a minute to share this wonderful find with all my vintage lovin' friends.  I also designed this project for another challenge blog : Sunday Postcard Art.  When I can I have been playing along with challenge blogs for inchies, ATC's, collage, mixed media recently.

A postcard is 4" x 6".  I started with a piece of cardboard, tore away some of the surface to reveal the "ripples".  I layered on Weathered Wood Crackle Paint, then Sky Making Memories Acrylic Paint and lastly Picket Fence Crackle Paint.  I colored my image with Prismacolor pencils and OMS.  I add Shimmerz.  My "snow" is liquid applique.  I love that stuff!  I add a little white fun flock around the brim of the girls hat and Stampendous Prisma glitter to feather and ball on tip of girls hat.  All the other embellishments are things I picked up in the Christmas section of a local arts and crafts store. 

Snowman Project #2 was created using a wonderful vintage cut out by Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage line of products.  I'm gonna be giving this one away at a Cookie Swap tomorrow night that is held annually by some of my Scrapbooking buddies here in town.

Snowman Project #3 was created using "Gifts of Love" by FireCracker Designs by Pamela.  You can check this set out HERE.  I love Martha Stewarts Snowflake border punch!  Perfect for you winter cards.

Snowman Project #4 features "Snowman Nativity" by The Angel Company.  I created my own watercolor background for this one, then stamped and embossed the snowflakes creating my own DP.  This is a Score-pal card, Cami card.  You can find the directions on the Scor-pal site.  If you are interested in ordering this set online from a TAC demo, let me know.  I can hook you up!  I'm hoping one of the designers in the hop show cases "Merriest Wishes".  It is one of the cutest snowman sets I have EVER seen!

The window creates a great card!

Here is another project using "Snowman Nativity" for Project #5.  I loved these little guys soooo much, I couldn't help creating a home decor project so I could sit them out on a table and enjoy them.  I used old wood stamp blocks as my base.

Blog Candy Packages for 2 Lucky Winners!

 

To qualify for blog candy all you have to do is leave me a comment with your email address included.  You have until 8pm EST Sunday December 6th.  At that time I will draw 2 names to win the above blog candy.  I will post the winners by 9pm EST.  Good Luck ladies!!

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you enjoy the hop and are inspired to create your own snowmen projects to bring some winter cheer to your home or to someone else's mailbox this year!

Impression Obsession - Fall Challenge

I can't wait til "Fall is in the air". It's soooo hot here is Jacksonville.
I love fall. And I love decorating the house for fall. So when Impression Obsession posted a "Fall Challenge" I decided I would create another Fall Home Decor project I could set out when that time of year does arrive.

The Impression Obsession Design Team had a Fall Blog Hop you might want to check out HERE.

For my project I grabbed an old stamp block (I have a pile of them since I converted my rubber stamps to EZ Mount), painted it, coated it with shimmerz, and started altering.
Stamps : 3 Pumpkins and Autumn is ... by Impression Obsession.
Leaves are Technique Tuesday.
Patterened Paper : DCWV
Label Die : Spellbinders
Ribbon : Bobbin Ribbon from Joann's
Colorization : Pumpkins - Prismacolor with OMS and shimmerz

Thanks for looking and I hope you have an awesome weekend!