#131 Stamping 101/lo - RSMadness - the original stamping ...

Stamping 101 by Angela Schwindt

Stamping on

Magazines & Calendars

A recycling technique with amazing possibilities

Now here’s a great technique for Choose a stamp, then look through a have a lot of dark areas or high con-
beginners: Stamping on magazines and magazine or old calendar for a picture trast, as the stamped image will get lost
calendars. with a background that will compliment in the background.
the image. Do not look at the images in
This technique also challenges the picture, but rather at the color, tex- Stamps that work especially well
veteran stampers. It offers a new look ture and patterns on the page. Water, include landscapes and images that are
for old stamps, and encourages creativi- skies and subtle or faded backgrounds designed to blend into the background.
ty when matching backgrounds to im- make great stamping material. Artwork
ages. Cards are simple and quick to from Impressionists offer interesting I’ve tried this technique with sev-
make, yet classy and impressive. qualities. Look for patterns that do not eral inks and encourage experimenting.
Permanent ink, such as STAZ-ON,
The basic idea is very simple: seems to work best—it dries quickly

SUNSET ON THE COAST
The Yaquina Bay lighthouse in Newport, Oregon was stamped on a magazine page “sky” background and torn out,

then layered on a complimentary colored background. The black layer brings out the details.
(Stamp credit: Lighthouse—Peddler’s Pack. Card by Angela Schwindt, Corvallis, Oregon.)

NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS and positions the image for the best re-
Image was stamped on a calendar page, cut with straight edges, then layered sults. (Be sure to use non-permanent
ink on your acrylic positioners!) Or,
onto two green background sheets before mounting on the cardstock. just stamp your image with permanent
(Stamp credit: Stampendous! Art by Angela Schwindt, Corvallis, Oregon.) ink onto a clear surface (acrylic, ac-
etate, laminate scraps, or clear contact
and generally produces a dark, crisp time, but at nominal expense. Try paper doubled over) and place it over
image. The main drawback for STAZ- working with what you have before the area you are considering stamping
ON is that, as a permanent ink, it tends shopping. on—what you see will be a “preview”
to stain rubber stamps and is more dif- of how the final image will look. Quite
ficult to clean. Pigment inks work if A stamp positioner can help to different results can be obtained by
you emboss. Some fast-drying and per- determine if a background will work, using the same stamp on various back-
manent inks, such as Ancient Page, grounds.
work only when heat-set. Be careful Materials
with the heat source—the paper may Once the image is stamped, either
wrinkle. Dye based inks generally do Rubber stamps cut or tear it out. To tear, hold the paper
not work (the ink beads on glossy sur- Permanent ink (or pigment ink, in one hand; with the other hand, tear
faces and will not dry). Other types around the image. Tearing up leaves a
may fade and get lost in the back- embossing powder and white edge (see the lighthouse example
ground. Papers have different qualities embossing tool) on page the facing page). Tearºing
as well. down shows no white edge.
Old magazines or calendars with
Calendars generally provide a low contrast areas for stamping While many backgrounds offer
better stamping surface than magazines. Cardstock or background papers great texture or patterns, don’t overlook
High-gloss papers are more difficult to solid color areas. The next time you are
work with and some magazine pages for layering searching for colored paper and can’t
don’t take ink well at all. Finding the Stamp positioner and find the shade you want to stamp on,
right combination may take a little dye-based ink (optional) instead of rushing to the store for spe-
Adhesive for layering cialty papers, flip through a magazine.
Scissors or cutting tool Chances are, you’ll find great alterna-
tives. Just look at the example on the
Stamp cleaner next page from Susan Johnson, who
stamped on a poppy seed muffin ad.

Once you try this technique and
discover the possibilities, you’ll want to
share the idea with your stamping
friends. It’s always nice to discover a
new way to use stamps without having
to purchase a lot of supplies.

Instructions

1. Choose a stamp with this tech-
nique in mind.

2. Find a calendar picture or
magazine page with a suitable area for
stamping.

3. Use a stamp positioner if
you’d like a “preview.”

4. Stamp the image directly onto
the page. Depending on the ink, heat-
set or emboss if needed. Clean stamp.

5. Tear or cut image out.
6. Layer with other papers (if de-
sired) and mount on cardstock.

Tips

• For an extra challenge, find the
background first, then choose a stamp

to use with it.
• Stamp away . . . just toss the

rejects!
• Try a variety of backgrounds

for striking differences using the same
stamp.

Angela Schwindt lives in Corval-
lis, Oregon, with her husband and
three children. She tends to collect rel-
atives and friends much as she does
rubber stamps, and considers both
hobbies to be creative and enjoyable.

MUFFIN MADNESS Recycled Ideas
This muffin ad was torn out of an old magazine. The image was stamped directly on
The stamping-on-magazine
the ad using pigment ink and embossed in black. The images were then cut out. technique can be used on a multi-
(Stamp credits: Leaf—Stamp Francisco, vase—Peddlers Pack. tude of recycled materials such as
Art by Susan Johnson, Portland, Oregon.) wallpaper, maps, newspaper,
manila folders, acetate, candy
wrappers, wrapping paper, sand-
paper, store bags, junk mail.