Making the Coolest Postage Stamps with Carabelle Studios

Hello stamping fans, I am here with my Topflight Stamps Mix Media Monday!! This week the Design Team are playing with the Carabelle Studios "My Stamp". This is such a great idea!!!! It allows you to make your own postage stamps. 

SO 1st off I flipping love this system. I was literally in the process of making my own stamps when this came out. I made 3 stamps for this post & will show ideas on how to use them. They were made with the same technique just slight variations. Yet the results are subtly different. 

Let me explain the "My Stamp" system. Start with the base which is called "My Stamp". I stamped the full image but you also have the option to make much larger stamps using the frame edge, & repeating it. I so can't wait to play with that one!

Next there are many strips of stamps that will make the middle of the stamp for you. Not going to lie I squealed like a little girl when I saw these. I got "Fantasy", they come with 8 stamps that can be used as the main image. Don't forget you can also use them as stand alone stamps!  You can check out a few of the options here.

   

I started by stamping the images on card stock paper with archival ink, then cutting it out. For Tuba Playing Card lady I colored her in with colored pencils.  Next the edges were distressed with Prism Ink in Roasted Coffee. 

Stamp 2 was stamped in multiple colors of archival ink using a Stamp Press. I started the  bunny fur in brown- simply mask off the face & stamp the rest in black. 

Next color in with watercolor paint & when dry outline the bunny head in black to make it pop.  

I cut out this frame with normal scissors & then cut it out again using postage edged scissors. Which edge do you like best? I really hope Carabelle Studios come out with a die cut that will cut the image out.

Now for the magic. Simply cover the stamp image with Embossing Ink & cover in Vintage Beeswax embossing powder. Shake off the extra & put back into the jar & heat. You will get this lovely vintage faux encaustic shiny look.

The 3rd stamp was made by stamping on book paper. The background of this stamp already has the music notes on it so I ended up with it looking like it was on music paper- kinda fun! It was painted with water color also & then embossed with the Vintage Beeswax emboss. 

Now how to use them, 1st: The butterfly man I used as a closure for an envelope. Simply put tape along the bottom of the stamp & line it up on your envelope so the flap tucks inside the stamp & holds it shut.

2nd:  Tuba playing card lady I added glue on 3 sides & made a small pocket to put a tag in. This would be great to use in a mini art journal or scrap book.  You can also of course use them as an image for a card or art journal page. I hope you enjoy this little postage stamp tutorial & you get a chance to play with this system. Remember if you use my name karenbearse code you save $$$! Have an inky great day.

Supply List:

Carabelle Studios: My Stamp, Fantasy Labels

Prism Ink Roasted Coffee

Seth Apter Vintage Beeswax emboss by Emerald Creek 

Digital tag image by Love Junk Journals Fox Creative

New Years Eve Ball Drop Card

Hello Fans of Topflight Stamps & Happy New Year!!! To get things going in 2020 I am once again working on my #the100dayproject. I have been making mini art journal pages for this book. I wanted to do something New Year-ish as I start working on the last 50 pages of this project. 

Here is my page, I used the stamp set as being more of the New Years Times Square Ball then an ornament. I feel like all the bling can be used on this one for what represents.  Can you see where I made quite the mistake? I decided to leave it. One, it was really stuck down! Two, to remind myself it is OK if things are not perfect. If we push outside our box we will find imperfection & that is the way to growth- perfect for the New Year.

Let's see how I made my page. Step 1: stamp in multiple colors on book paper. I used both Prism Ink in Ocean Spray & Hero Arts Ombre Ink in Pool to Navy, Plus a little purple like Black Current Jam. 

Step 2: Spritz background through a stencil with Hunkydory Shimmer Mist. This mist packs a wallop of shimmer! Make sure you shake gently side to side allowing the ball in the bottle to mix the shimmer in. If you shake up & down the mica powder may get stuck in the lid jamming the spritz. This can be fixed by cleaning the spritzer lid. 

Step 3: Using a water brush I edged the circle & carefully tore the edges. To give my circle extra pop a layer of Glistening Glass emboss was added. Then Diamond Sparkles were adhered to finish off my ornament/ball. I framed the edges with a pen & added my sentiment & voila. Until next time! I hope you get a chance to get inky in the New Year- lots & lots of ink!! 

Supplies:

For the Love of Stamps: Beautiful Bauble

Darkroom Door Stencil- Polka Dots

Prism Inks in Ocean Spray & Blackcurrent Jam 

Glimmer Mist in Apple Green, & Glamour Gold.

Glistening Glass Emboss by Emerald Creek 

Quote by Donna Gray for That's Crafty

Dots to Diamonds Pearls in Purple Passion & Glittering Gemstones in Green Sparkles.

*Affiliate- some of these companies have given me product to use, play & experiment with. The ideas are my own but I tend to work with companies whose products I like so enjoy the inspiration. 

**some of these links are affiliate, I receive a small percentage from the company at no cost to you. This may help me continue to bring you techniques & more inspiration.

New Eileen Hull Display Stand Release!!!

Happy New Year & with it brings new Eileen Hull die cuts by Sizzix! This whole month the team will be showing the newest dies with brilliant ways to use them! First up is the Display Stand. This is an XL die that works in the Big Shot, Vagabond... It cuts in one piece & can be flattened to send in the mail or for easy transport.

I really wanted a stand that could have multiple functions as the winter months go by. This way I can change what it is holding to fit either a calendar, photo, canvas or even decorative tags & projects. 

Let's go!!! The stand cuts & scors and makes for pretty easy assembly. I ran mat board through 1st. Then I added adhesive to the part that will be the back stop & the ledge using double sided adhesive & foil.

I ran this through a snow embossing folder. This folder is discontinued but you may already have it or could use the newer 3-D version for a similar look. 

Whatever you decide to cover you stand in, paper, ink or foil remember that the edges will show unless the edges are wrapped, colored or inked. I did a bit of both. Some of the edges had foil wrapped around the edges, some were inked with a silver paint pen. 

This was my 1st time playing with the Display Stand, so I have some tips for you. The front of the stand is a bit smaller than the back so you will need something to cover the mat board or your stand will have a white edge. I added glitter washi tape. This made the perfect edging for my project.  

I loved the color of the foils I choose but decided to add some purple to the Lapis Watercolor foil. This is also a great way to cover any mistakes that may have occurred along the way.  

If you would like to see the basics of playing with foil & adhesive you can check out my video here. 

To assemble the stand simply bend at the scored areas. Take the w shaped flap & bend it then push it through the gap. 

Keep pushing the piece through sliding the "W" portion pushing the stand piece back, 

until the middle of the W clips into the tabbed hole. 

Then simply bend over the flap front bringing it down toward that same gap. It will clip into the base quite nicely.

I added a lip to the edge of the stand so any paper or tags would easily stay put. This also gave me a place to add my flocked snowflake. It was made with layers of card stock, adhesive & flocking then simply die cut. The layers were too thick to cut through but made for a very cool embossed look. I didn't use the flock the way it is intended as I thought the die too delicate to mess with.  

I hope you get a chance to check what my teammates have come up with & be sure to check back this month as it is reveal month! Creativation is mid January so we will be up to all sorts of crafty shenanigans. Until next time- spend some time getting inky!

Supplies:

Eileen Hull Display Stand 

               - Double Sided Adhesive

Snowflake embossing folder

or 3-D Textured Impression

Foil Transfer Sheets in Lapis Watercolor & Rainbow Shattered Glass. 

Flock Transfer Sheets in Blue Sky
Stamps by Darkroom Door
Embossing by Emerald Creek 

 *Affiliate- some of these companies have given me product to use, play & experiment with. The ideas are my own but I tend to work with companies whose products I like so enjoy the inspiration.