A blog devoted to the cards I make in my tiny upstairs space. When my sister stays there, she calls it an "artist's garret". I'm not an artist, but am an enthusiastic cardmaker - hence the title "Cardmaker's Garret".
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, 20 March 2025

Collage Stamps - One Stamp Only

I really like single stamps that have more than just one thing in them - they are what I call "collage stamps".  I've got two cards using them today.

The Paper Players want a CAS card using just a single stamped image.  By using one of my "collage stamps", I can get a lot of interest in a CAS card.  And since I've never used the stamp before, I'm also entering it over at NBUS.

I created a bit of a smooshed background with Distress Old Paper and Pumice Stone to give my focal image piece an aged vintage look. Then put it and the stamp in my MISTI and stamped with a light grey ink (Archival Hickory Smoke). I then coloured the branch and berries with watercolour pencils. I lost too much detail with my colouring so overstamped with black ink.  Then bordered with red, added it to an off-white card base, and put Glossy Accents on the berries.

With another "collage stamp", I made this card for 52 Christmas Card Countdown "Reindeer" and Sparkles Christmas Challenge "Christmas Critters". 

 
 
I made the background panel using various blue Distress inks and an embossing folder for the embossing folder stamping technique (see this tutorial for instructions).  
 
For the focal panel, I created a background by experimenting with using some photo paper with Oxide inks and a baby wipe. I smooshed with various shades of blue and mauve Oxide inks, drying between layers. When I was finished and the piece was completely dry, I wiped off the chalkiness of the Oxide inks and was left with a lovely glossy background.  I put it in my Misti and stamped the reindeer collage stamp with black StazOn.
 
 
Please take a copy of our badge  Grab our badge to display on your blog.
 




Supplies for card:
Stamps - Tim Holtz Festive Collage
Ink - Versafine Clair Nocturne, Archival Hickory Smoke, Distress Old Paper and Pumice Stone
Paper - watercolour paper, red and off-white cs
Size - A2
Accessories - Tim Holtz watercolour pencils, Glossy Accents

Supplies for card 2:
Stamps - Studio Light
Ink - various blue and mauve Distress and Distress Oxide inks, black StazOn
Paper - cream shimmer cs, watercolour paper, photo paper
Size - A2
Accessories - baby wipe, snowflake embossing folder


Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , ,

9 comments:

  1. Pat20 March 2025 at 16:26

    These collage stamps are great and I love the style and interesting detail on both, and the smooshed backgrounds look great, also the the watercoloured look of the snowflakes by inking and spritzing the EF gives a brilliant effect Susan. x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jan Clothier20 March 2025 at 18:02

    The collage stamp does add a lot of interest by giving the illusion of being several stamps. The smooshy background is nice too. Thanks for joining in our CAS challenge at The Paper Players.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Christine Alexander20 March 2025 at 19:53

    I love collage stamps they are so much fun to use. Two beautiful examples, I especially love the holly one ♥

    ReplyDelete
  4. Darnell20 March 2025 at 21:39

    You got a lotta bang for your buck with your single collage stamps to make both these pretty Christmas designs, Susan! I love the pretty backgrounds on both and thank you for the reminder about over-stamping! It's a little distressing how much I've forgotten from my early days with this craft, but thankfully I have friends to remind me! Thank you, too, for inspiring everyone to use their NBUS! Hugs, Darnell

    ReplyDelete
  5. LeAnne21 March 2025 at 04:06

    I love collage images too and I love both of these! The background you created for your first one really does look vintage! Great job! Thanks for playing with our challenge this week at the Players!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Valentina B23 March 2025 at 10:23

    Very pretty Christmas card and I love the idea with collage images. The background is amazing. And just adding the reindeer it looks perfect and send me directly to the North Pole. Thank you for playing along with us at 52CCT. Valentina DT

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bonnie23 March 2025 at 16:41

    I love collage stamps and both of these are exceptional, Susan! I love how you've colored the pine branch on the first and that awesome reindeer on the second!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Majda24 March 2025 at 10:59

    This is a beautiful creation with stunning details. Thank you for joining the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown
    Hope to see you again in our new challenge as well :-)
    Majda DT

    ReplyDelete
  9. Goga25 March 2025 at 08:16

    Fantastic Christmas card with raindeer. Thank you for joining us at 52CCT, Goga

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for leaving me a message! I love hearing from you.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)