Saturday, September 17, 2011

Some Halloween Fun is Brewing

I have two fun Halloweeny projects to share with you today, both that use the Gourmet Rubber Stamps October stamp set, Tart and Spice. I also used the bat from Spooked! on the candle below...



Check out this candle. Have you ever tried to do this before? It's easy! Just stamp on tissue paper, wrap it around a candle, and then tightly cover it with another layer of wax paper. Use an embossing gun (I've heard a hair dryer will work too) and melt the tissue into your candle. The wax paper ads another layer of wax on top. The tissue melts right into the candle and makes it look like you've stamped on the candle! Everyone asks me "how did you do that?!"

Here are some pointers when making this project:
-Not all tissue papers work. I have another kind that isn't as transparent when it melts. I have no idea why. The good stuff I bought from Target in the wrapping supplies area, so maybe the stuff I had tried before was the cheap stuff you get for free when they wrap up breakable items for you at stores, etc.
-Ligher-colored candles work best. I usually do this on white or cream, but I really wanted an orange, pumpkin-scented candle for Halloween. It still worked pretty well!
-This candle is one of those flameless, battery-operated candles, which I highly recommend. This one is super-cool because it also flickers! I picked this candle up at my local IGA/grocery store, oddly enough. They are everywhere right now.
-Coloring on tissue paper is hard because it bleeds. I just added a smidge of color to the candy corns, and used a white gel pen. In general I try not to color at all. If you do color, just expect that it won't look perfect. It's okay! :)

This is a card I made with the witches boots from this set, my fav image! The paper is from Cosmo Cricket - Matilda. Perfect!



This is my favorite stamping season, so you can expect to see more from me in the very near future. ;) (Plus the kids are back in school, yippee!)

Friday, September 16, 2011

lizzie and anne :: stamp designers (again!)

Today the Gourmet Rubber Stamps website launched... along with the Lizzie Anne Designs stamp line! (If this website looks a lot like something Lizzie and Anne would design to you... well, it is. We were hired to design the new GRS website, and we have to say, it turned out pretty darn cute. ;) We are so excited that we get to continue being a part of this industry doing what we're good at... making art for you. We are turning Lizzie Anne Designs into an illustration and graphic design company and hope to be designing lots and lots more!

GRS is licensing all our past stamp designs, so if there was something you wanted (and I get asked this all the time!) you can now go over there and find what you're looking for. They are also going to have a monthly stamp club and have hired us to design the set each month! Super fun. The first set is called Tart and Spice. It's a set with some fun Fall images mixed with some classics.

Here is a card I designed with the thank you banner. This is an image I've been wanting to add my collection for a long time. I love the banner-trend.



I used a little diamond effects on the very center circle on each banner flap. It gave the card some fun dimension. Here's a closeup so you can see it better...



Tomorrow I am going to be posting some Halloween projects designed with this set. Stay tuned...