I Can Make Clouds

Today is the last day of the retreat and we all have to go home to our normal lives.  Sigh!  This retreat has been such a fantastic experience and I have learned so much that I hope to share with you all over time.  In this post I do want to share with you more pictures of the retreat and more tips.

Melanie and Marge are getting advice on a project.

My most favorite technique that I learned this week was from Lynette on how to make the most amazing clouds on a scene.  In this picture, you can see the finished clouds.  The upper two rows are tapped in place with the edge of a felt pad and for the lower row I streaked the clouds and then tapped on top.  How did I accomplish this you ask?

Pat A.

We used Dr PH Martin Bleed Proof Opaque White Paint.  I think you can use any water based acrylic opaque white paint from art stores.  We applied the paint using cotton balls, que tips and Ranger felt pads. First lay down a coating of color and then tap in very small amounts of the paint with your chosen applicator.  Keep tapping or streaking until you have the desired effect.

Another technique that is new to me is the use of a hot iron and colored wax. The colors you use and the method of holding the iron in certain directions and applying pressure in just the right way will result in the most amazing looking scenes.  I learned this one from Barb.

This scene was made by stamping the dolphins on glossy paper and then working magic with the wax and iron.

Bev T.

Finally, I have a scene from Bev T (who taught me how to use the brayer this week) to enter into the Silhouette challenge.  Normally we only accept finished projects that have been made into a card or other type of project, but Bev is here with me at the retreat and won't be able to finish the card until she gets home and then it will be too late.  So she has promised to finish it this weekend.

The background was created with alcohol inks

Tanya from Peddlers Den

That's all for today.  I'll be back tomorrow with our Silhouette challenge winner and top 3 pics.

Happy Stamping!

New Tips From The Stamping Retreat

I am back this evening with some tips that I learned at the Stamping Retreat here in Savanna.  This picture shows a few of the scenes we have created in just two days.

I am sure that each one of these beautiful creations will appear on blogs and Stampscapes II Yahoo Group very soon.

Barb

Barb suggests trying out your scene on colored paper.  The purpose of trying it out on scratch paper is to get the perspective and layout right before you waste your good paper.  The reason for using colored paper is to be able to tell it apart from the real scene paper.


Karen suggests using Cryogen white cardstock.  It has little sparkles and is a very nice weight of paper.  Copics blend well and the stamped image is crisp.  

Marge, Mirjam, Trena

Trish told us about a great tip for helping the cling stamps keep their cling.  Take a dollar store clear plastic table cloth (just $1) and cut a piece to fit your clear acrylic block.  When you stick it to the block it will stay put.  Then whenever you put your cling stamp on the block it will stay even if the cling has diminished over time.

Lynette showing us her amazing scrapbook pages full of Stampscapes images.

We are having a great time sharing ideas and techniques. Each evening we have been eating in different places around town.  Tonight we had a wonderful dinner at a cute little Bed and Breakfast - Granny O'Neil's.  If you are ever in this part of the world you might want to visit them for a wonderful friendly stay and great food.  Bill says "come as a stranger and leave as family." 

Kevin arrived and has been talking with everyone as he walks around the room looking at what we are creating.  Then he sat and worked on a scene while we all watched.




I'll be back tomorrow with more tips and pictures.  Thanks for checking in to see what I am up to.


NancyD