Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Word Art Wednesday, a New Anything Goes Challenge, Engravings and a Freebie

 It is Wonderful Word Art Wednesday! I hope you take the time to click over to Word Art Wednesday and check out Karen Letchworth's beautiful devotion along with  Karen Murphy's Digital Caligraphy featuring this week's verse: Psalm 139:23-24. For inspiration, we have the Design Teams' beautiful card examples.

Why not make a card and enter the challenge.  You just might win a lovely Avery Elle $25.00 gift certificate! Mail the card and you will definitely make someone's day.


I've actually made two samples for this verse.  The first is a lovely vintage engraved image.  This image reminds me of happy hours working in a letterpress shop.  I did not do letterpress, a lovely albeit expensive and consuming hobby - I worked with type and selling it to the printers amongst many duties.  Learning the art of letterpress is an amazing lifetime pursuit - personally, I am happy to stick with my printer and rubber stamps, you can't beat the economy of time, craft space, and money with our hobby!

Here is my first card:




My second card is much more  Clean and Simple:


Both of these images are printed on 130# watercolor paper, it is cold pressed from believe it or not the store Five Below.  36 sheets for $4.99 130# cold pressed paper.  I love it, my printer, my stamps love it and I can use it for bases or stamping/printing. 

This week's beautiful and versatile verse:


I love this verse, it has helped to keep me on the Narrow Path for 42+ years. I Love the Christian life the Lord has blessed me with and I always want to honor Him.  In every way possible and this verse helps me to keep my eyes on Him.  He is always quick to answer this prayer.  Try praying it for yourself and see!

My freebie for you:

Try coloring in soft pastels


Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will share your beautiful artwork on Word Art Wednesday - you don't have to use this scripture, but we love it when you do!
Have a great week,
Ginny M













Friday, January 6, 2023

1 million views! Card making, Magenta Stamps, Alcohol Marker Painting, Sharing my Faith

 Hello Everyone, thank you for taking a few minutes out of your day to stop over to my blog.  I continue to be surprised by the number of visits I have had.  I have been blogging for over 10 years now, and my "stats tell me that there have been over 1 million visits to 1200+ posts.  That to me is astounding.  Honestly I'm not that interesting and I know my  "stamping" is a little old school, and even older my main subject,  my true love, the Word of God. If you are reading this, you most likely know It is the one thing in this world that will stand forever as the truth. Making sure our life is lived according to its plan is the only thing that matters - we too are eternal beings, and what we do now or I should say give now, determines how our personal "rest of the story" plays out.  

I love card making to share the Word, and I love helping you in your crafty world to do the same.   

Today I have a wonderful verse made with a delightful vintage Magenta Stamp This is considered a bookmark stamp and I have made a lot of bookmarks with it!  It heat embosses beautifully! 

I originally made the card for a  challenge at Christian Card Makers that I hosted using one of your oldest stamps.  This one was from I think 1992.  Magenta Company is my long-standing favorite stamp maker.  They are a family-owned business that began back in the 1980s.  I've worked on their design team and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.   Magenta has stood the test of time and weathered the storms that most companies from their start era have sadly not. 

A newer stamp company that I also really love is located a mere 35 minutes from my home in NY- Altenew.  They are pretty awesome at innovating new techniques and of course, flower designs - never too many beautiful flowers!

Beeswax Rubber Stamps,  is a  Husband - Wife owned business out of California that is fun and funky, like Magenta, it offers its stamps in 3 forms - naked rubber, cling mount, and wood mount.


My Card:



I've alcohol marker colored this, with a slightly different method.






I stamped the image using a  Maker Forte's Eclipse black.  This is a super crisp black made for alcohol marker coloring.. I have found that using this ink and Magenta stamps, Hammermill super smooth white, 100# 271 gsm paper works really well. It also makes a good card base.  I have learned the hard way about the super heavy card stocks and postage costs. My cards tend to have a lot of layers - I don't mind paying for 2-ounce postage, but if the card does not have enough flexibility, it will have to go as a parcel and that will be almost $4.00!

Another trick with Magenta wood mounted stamps: because many of them are finely detailed, to get a super image you do need to pay attention to the paper and ink you are using and give the paper time to absorb the ink.  I have other posts in my blog about using these art stamps - but the quick trick: super smooth paper, good ink, and a  weight.  I have a little antique iron I keep on my desk that weighs 2lbs, I stamp, leave the stamp on the paper, and put the weight (iron) on it for a minute. 



It works, using a speedball lino press works well too, But they are harder to find and pricer.  I have also used a fabric-wrapped brick.


I stamped my image, let it dry and then painted it with denatured alcohol, you can also use 90% rubbing alcohol.  I then added color with a marker a little at a time. 


It gives the coloring a more painterly look.  Of course, you could use watercolor too - but then there is the paper issue, watercolor paper is textured and not as user-friendly with engraving style detailed stamps.  I also used a stump, to blend my Prisma colored pencils with the alcohol 
 It is so fun to try this!!







I mounted this on two layers, Gold foil, and a Black mat

added to the card from, printed out my verse - a wonderful verse for times like these and found on    Word Art Wednesday





Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your time here - if you go over to Word Art Wednesday, why not join the Challenge?  You might win a very nice prize!!

Have a great day!
Ginny M








Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Word Art Wednesday's New Challenge, Public Domain Art and a Freebie

 

 It is Wonderful Word Art Wednesday! I hope you take the time to click over to Word Art Wednesday and check out Karen's beautiful devotion along with  Karen Murphy's Digital Caligraphy featuring this week's verse: Titus 3:5. We also have the inspiring art using the Scripture by the design team! 

   I would also like to announce the winner from my page in the blog hop: Drum roll, please!

                                    Becca Sadler And  Pamela Duncan Vansant!

Pamela  Check the WAW Blog for the Details on how to claim your stamp set, Becca I will be mailing yours.  Congratulations!


Make a card and enter the challenge and maybe you will win a prize, this challenge's sponsor is  Seth Apter Designs with a $25  shop card. Make your card, post it at Word  Art Wednesday and you may win!  If you mail the card and you will make someone's day!!


I've chosen a  "Pubic Domain" image to accompany this week's card.  Public Domain is free of copywriting restraints.  you can use it too!



This card is made with a copy of a painting by Adolphe Theodone Jules Potemont.          Born 1828 and Died 1883.  This painting was untitled and undated.  I loved this image for this verse. 


                                         Karen Murphy's Digital Calligraphy:









My free image for you, Also Public Domain Art:





Thank you for stopping by and I wish you a very happy and healthy New Year!
Ginny M








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