Thursday, June 23, 2011

Theme Thursday, Stamping With Stain, and a Tiny Pillow

Today's Theme Thursday challenge is borders - this chunky tag's border might be tiny, but it adds a subtle little touch that I love. Another thing I love?  Both the London Underground and Loverly London stamp plates from Artistic Outpost (as if you couldn't tell). My favorite stamp of them all is the grungy Union Jack. I have been dreaming of this stamp for ages and am so thrilled to finally have one! Below is a quick tutorial showing how I created the border on my tag using the Union Jack stamp and Tim Holtz Distress Stains - another thing I am crazy for right now!

Supplies: Fired Brick and Faded Jeans Distress Stains, Inkssentials Mini Mister, plain white typing/computer paper, Union Jack rubber stamp from Artistic Outpost.

Begin by inking the red stripes with the Fired Brick Distress Stain. Don't worry if you get a bit on the area that will be blue; it gives it a nice blurred look. If it bothers you, carefully wipe it off with your finger.

Next, do the same thing with the Faded Denim Distress Stain.

To reactivate the ink (in case it dried a bit) spritz lightly with a water-filled Mini Mister -  three squirts is about right, depending on how 'watercolor-y' you want it to look. Side note: while I was doing this I wondered what it would look like if you spritzed it with some homemade glimmer mist. Hmmmm....need to try that!

Align your stamp with the bottom edge of your paper and press down. Oooooh! Very cool!! This is the best stamp in the world, is it not?

Now, you're going to repeat the process until you have a nice border. Don't worry about cleaning the stamp in between impressions. 

At this point you can cut your strips in half and you have a cute border to use in your projects. I also used a strip to cut a rosette using Tim Holtz's Paper Rosette Die. VERY cool! (Not shown 'cause I used it in the collage I posted a couple days ago!)

If you like a more vintage feel, ink it up with a little Brushed Corduroy or Vintage Photo Distress ink.
Guess what? You can do the same technique on fabric! Is this the most adorable pillow you've ever seen? I love it so much! It is tiny...like a baby kitten would use it for a pillow, tiny. Too, too cute. I told you, I'm obsessed!

Have I convinced you that you need these stamps? If so, you can use this coupon code: stamptramp and get 10% off your order at Artistic Outpost. Sweet!

If you're looking for the rest of the supplies, be sure and check out Inspiration Emporium!

Supplies for tag:


One more thing - the red ribbon is from the batch I dyed awhile back and wrote about here. I love that I can easily make coordinating ribbon for my projects. I forgot to mention it in my earlier post, but the ribbon I used is actually seam binding that can be purchased very inexpensively here. Be careful, you might end up like my friend Bonnie! Now, that is a party I would love to go to. :-)

23 comments:

  1. Ohhh, I love this tag and that union jack flag and the guy on the tag. Love it all!

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  2. This is an awesome tag. I really have to get my order in for this set!

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  3. Never thought of using the stains. Was coloring away with my marker (Lot's more work) Beautiful tag. Love this one too!

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  4. Love the tag, love the pillow and Shelly, you're going to have EVERYONE buying the Snug Hug now....lol! Soooo much fun. Have a great weekend;)
    - Debbie Kaste

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  5. Great tag, Shelly! Clever use of the stamp that way to make the border.

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  6. I totally LOVE this tag, Shelly!

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  7. That looks like a vintage flag, Shelly! Fabulous work again....still!

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  8. OMgosh - I just love this and everything you do. Something else to try!!

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  9. WOW... This is super FANTASTIC Shelly.... I love it.. Obsessed??? Are you accusing me of being obsessed???? Well I am and I love every single minute of it... and love your obsessions too... LOL... GREAT obsessions we have... and if you came to crash our 'party' it would not be crashing but JOINING in on the FUN... hey... what is more precious than sharing creative moments and days in our lives...
    Have a lot more... and then some... Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie

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  10. thanks for showing how you used the stains

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  11. Brilliant, Shelly! This project and so many of yours are incredibly inspiring. Thanks!

    And thanks for making your blog mobile-friendly. It's such s pleasure to view on my phone!

    Cheers,
    Susan

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  12. Wonderful tag, and great use of the stains! Will have to try that technique, and on the ribbons too, love that!!
    Pam

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  13. Thank you! I love the idea of the stains to color that flag stamp. I'm not a marker person and this is a super easy way to "ink" it up.
    Love the way you created that flag border with the film strip.

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  14. Wow! Everything you do with this set just gets better and better! I love your tutorial with the distress stains. And the pillow is just too cute!

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  15. Sorry I don't get around as much as I'd like. Your tags are always so artistic. Love this one as well.

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  16. Luv, luv, luv that tag. Great embellishment on a travel themed scrap page.

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  17. Oh how cool! I never thought of that! Of course I don't know if any of the stores around here carry that, Michael's doesn't.

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  18. Such wonderful tag, love the elements and colors.
    Thanks for the little tutorial, I think I'll put Distress Stains on my wish list ;)

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  19. Super tag!! and that little pillow...toooo cute!

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  20. I have found great ideas for your blog. It's really a source of inspiration. I congratulate you and send my greatest congratulations. It's a real pleasure to read you

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Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate your comments so much!