New Darkroom Door Stamps and Stencils!

 

 

 

Hello everyone!  I'm delighted to be sharing a few new cards with you featuring the AMAZING new release of stamps by Darkroom Door.  I have to say I had the MOST fun I've had in ages playing with these stamps.  The first set I used for this collage style card is called Pen & Ink.  This set is really special to me because of my love for journaling, sharing my creations on IG at @letterpaperpen. 

 

Because I was going for a collage look, I first stamped the entire sheet of rubber (before cutting the stamps apart) to make a background.  Then I added layers with the also new Distress Diamonds abstract stamp, the Diamonds small stencil and the Lots of Labels stamp set.  Then I decided to add in a feather pen using the Feathers stamp set.  In retrospect, I wish I had stamped it in black & brown, but I still really like the vibe.  I finished this card with a label tape sentiment.  Below are all of the new stamp sets.  I can't wait to get my hands on the Library Books set!  There are loads of gorgeous samples by the talented designers on the Darkroom Door blog, so make sure to visit HERE.

 

 

 

My next card features a gorgeous stamp/stencil combo and reminds me of why I fell in love with rubber stamping, over 20 years ago.  I had such a blast detailing the Arty Squares collage stamp!   This stamp comes with a coordinating stencil to help you add color directly to the individual tiles.  I decided to use the stamp in landscape and then use the Arty Squares stencil to sponge the area surrounding the stamped and embossed tiles.  This way the pattern seems to extend.  I fussy cut one tile and popped it up and added an embossed sentiment from the You Are Everything set (an all time favorite!) and layered with some messy string. 

 

Next time I'm going to try and stamp onto multicolored papers and add some embossing glaze over the tiles.  Would you check out the Arty Scales stamp & stencil?!  Oh my gosh I love it and will have to add it to my collection.  

 

 

The Layered Handwriting background stamp is the perfect accompaniment to the Pen & Ink set.  For my next collage style card, I partially stamped it to make my background, then added stamping from the Distressed Diamonds abstract stamp and the coffee "ink" stains from the Coffee Time stamp set.  I added the same sentiment from the You Are Everything set to finish it off.  For all you fountain pen lovers, these stamps are MUST HAVES!  :)

 

 

I love the size of these background stamps.  The Maple Leaves stamp will be a fall favorite and those Scales are rockin'! 

 

 

 

All of the new abstract stamps are really amazing and unique!  For this card I paired the Geometric Ovals with the Faded Circles abstract stamp.  I added  the Dreams quote stamp for my sentiment. 

 

These little uneven circles will be making many appearances in my future work.  I just love this subtle stamp for backgrounds.  Here I used it repeatedly to fill the card, but it will be awesome partially stamped to fill in spaces.  I hope these cards have made you want to get inky!  Make sure to stop by the Darkroom Door blog for more inspiration.  xx, Autumn

 

Collage Pocket File Folder Folio Video Tutorial

Hello dear friends!  I've been diving back into collage again and am excited to share a new video tutorial with you on a fun fold file folio, with loads of pockets to fill 'til your heart is content!  

Find the video HERE

I used a few digitals I had on hand, the main elements were a freebie from the JJ with Joy FB group, given by Junk With Steph.  I bought a set of background papers just to make the process quicker.  All of the background pages were from the My Porch Prints Basic Journal kit from Etsy.  I printed them as is and just cut them to the size of my finished folio.

Here I used an exacto to trace and cut a circle die to make a window, then cut the same circle with the next larger circle to make the frame, which shows the bee on the tag and then the bird on the page beneath.  :)

I embellished the finished journal with lots of stitching, washi stickers and Tim Holtz washi tape. 

I also added several of Tim's sentiment stickers, all creating motivational quotes throughout. 

I used Darkroom Door Postmarks stamps over the images on most pages.

And how about that gorgeous feather?  My daughter found it on a trail this fall.  It's at least a foot long, such a treasure!

This tag may be my favorite because of the sheep image.  I am always drawn to them. 

And the back cover...  I will share lots of closeups and details on my collage/journaling Instagram page @letterpaperpen, so make sure to follow.  And I'd love for you to become a subscriber to my YouTube page and pin this post for later reference.  If you'd like to see my other File Folder Folio tutorials click HERE.  And make sure to check out THIS one from my LPP blog.  Thanks friends and happy collaging!  xx, Autumn

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Graphic 45 12 Days of Christmas Cards

 

Happy Christmas friends!  I hope you are having a beautiful season of warmth and love.  Today I have some cards to share with you featuring the beloved 12 Days of Christmas paper by Graphic 45.  I try not to share too many "throwbacks" with you, but my mom and dear friend bought this paper years ago and never quite found time to make cards together.  With last year's rerelease of some Graphic 45 collections from "the vault" I thought some of you might have this paper now and appreciate these cards.  We had a delightful day of making and ended up with all of these cards from one day together! 

 

We did A LOT of fussy cutting to maximize the paper, as it was all we had (no chipboard, cutouts, etc.) and I think the results are really beautiful.  I also think I need to ask dear old Santa for a Scan 'N Cut for Christmas!  Whew!  LOL!

 

 

 

 

 

We feed off of each other's ideas.  This gorgeous maids a-milking card and the beautiful calling birds were designed by my friend, Barbara.  She has such an elegant style!

I hope you've enjoyed these and are inspired to do a little paperwork of your own.  Merry Christmas, Autumn

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Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps Woodland Christmas Cards

 

 

Hello friends and happy December!  I'm delighted to be joining Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps as a guest designer in December.  I've had such fun playing with these stamps for some simple Christmas cards.  First, I used the Scene Silhouettes: Woodland set to stamp in white on a black cardstock panel, then rubbed over it with chalk for a chalkboard stamping effect.  I know there are other ways, but I find it easy just to use white EP and chalk, easy peasy.  I stamped the Texture Tiles plaid background set in black onto red cardstock for a bold look and added a sentiment from the Christmas Wordfetti set.  I ADORE this sentiment set and stamped the whole panel at once to have a stash of sentiments ready for my next project. 

 

 

I think I had the most fun stamping this background.  I've been drooling over the Pinecone Background stamp since it was first released.  It's a perfect 6x6 size.  I added it to my stamp platform and used Distress Ink Pads to stamp different colors at a time with a light spritz of water between stamping.  This way I was able to build up various shades of greens and browns.  When I was happy with the panel, I added some loose watercolor to the pine cones themselves for a richer look.  I paired with a sentiment from the Best Gift Ever set, I just love that phrase!

 

I'm so into plaids, y'all just don't know.  So I had to make one more buffalo check project.  I used the above mentioned Texture Tiles stamp set for my background.   I used a sentiment from the O Holy Night set and added some twine, and punched spray. 

 

 

For my final project I had fun with ink sponging to make a wintry nighttime scene.  I used torn paper as a mask to sponge the snowy hills I then gave everything a generous splash of water and blotted the droplets to remove some of the Distress Ink.  I stamped the images from the Scene Silhouettes: Woodland set and doodled in the branch with a "flowy" black ink pen.  I added a little shading beneath the creatures with watery black.  Then I went in with a white Posca paint pen and added highlights to the hills, snowy piles to the branch and dots of falling snow randomly across the entire panel.  I finished with one of my leftover stamped sentiments from the Christmas Wordfetti set.  I could sit all day and stamp these types of scenes.  It's really enjoyable!  I've been completely inspired by the work of Lisa Taggart on YouTube.  If you're interested, make sure to check her out.  And please take a moment to visit the Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps website to view the entire line of gorgeous stamps!  xx, Autumn