Technique of the Week: Stamp Kissing

In keeping with the approaching Valentine's Day holiday, I decided to pull out the old "stamp kissing" technique.  This post is in conjunction with the Art 'n Soul weekly Technique of the Week newsletter article.  The steps for this technique are very easy, and the results are stunning.  I experimented with this a lot, and found some things that made it work better for me.

1. First, find a solid rubber stamp to use as your main image.  In this case, I chose a heart from JudiKins.

2. Next, select a second stamp with some pattern to it.  I wanted to use something floral in this case, but you can use any patterned stamp you like.  In my experiments, I found that if the patterned stamp has some solid surface, it will work better, because it will lift more ink.  After playing with several different ones, I chose Magenta May Flowers Bold Silhouette 5979.L

3.  Ink up your solid stamp.  I experimented with pigment ink and dye ink, and settled on Memento Love Letter dye ink.  I found it made a darker, more solid image.  As with most dye based inks, the stamping looked splotchy at first, but as the ink absorbed into the paper, the color smoothed out.  I wanted a color that would be very red, rather than pink-ish, and I find that dye inks are often more vibrant.

3.  Press your patterned stamp onto your inked solid stamp.  This is called "kissing" your stamps.

4. When you pull the patterned stamp off, you will see the pattern in your solid stamp, where the ink was lifted off.

5. Turn your solid stamp over and stamp it onto card stock.

I experimented with  number of patterned stamps - all Magenta, and all beautiful!

I cut out my favorite heart and made this card with it.

I hope you try or re-try this technique.  Playing with this was so much fun, and the results are fabulous!  Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Magenta Stamps Used

0579.L May Flowers - Bold Silhouette

Thanks for touching my heart 07.731.I

Other Materials Used:

JudiKins Stamp:  Fab Heart 2746F

Memory Box Die 99074 Surely Stitched Circle

Memento Love Letter ink

Versamark ink

JudiKins White Diamond embossing powder

Stardream Jupiter paper

Hero Arts Blush Mixed Accents 

Pico Embellisher Inlay

In conjunction with the Art 'n Soul Newsletter Technique of the week, here is a step by step tutorial of this fun technique called Pico Embellisher Inlay.  

I am definitely a fan of the Irresistible Pico Embellishers.  This product is a water-based pigment in a fine line applicator, that when dry, acts as a dimensional resist.  The applicator bottles come with a wire that fits into the tiny metal dispensing tube, and keeps the tube from clogging.  When using this product, it's a good idea to keep a piece of scrap paper on hand.  Shake the bottles well to be sure that the pigment is well mixed.  When you first start to dispense the product, do it onto the scrap paper, so that you can get out any air bubbles that result from shaking the product.  When the product starts through the tube, it should go smoothly.  If you stop and then start again, always start on the scrap paper first.

For this inlay project, I wanted to apply the Irresistible product into the open places in a die cut.  I chose a Memory Box Die, the Floral Heart (98776), and the Neon colors of Pico Embellishers:  Electric Pink, Electric Blue, Electric Purple, and also the metallic Gold.

1.  I took a pre-made A2 card made from a red shimmer cardstock, and cut the die out of the top center of the card.

2.  I covered the back of some white cardstock with Stick-It double sided adhesive, and cut the heart out of this as well.

3.  I set aside the red die cut, and lined the insides of the red card with white cardstock, cut slightly smaller than the card.  The white covered the opening left by die cutting the heart out of the red card.

4.  I took the release paper off of the white die cut, 

and pieced it into the opening that was left in the red card, 

burnishing it down well onto the white piece that covered the opening.  

5.  Working with one color at a time, I filled each open space in the die cut with the Pico product.  It really did not take very long to fill all the spaces.

Testing the product on a scrap piece of paper to be sure the air bubbles were out

6.  One of my favorite Magenta sentiments "Thanks for Touching My Heart" (07.731.I) was added at the bottom in Versamark, and embossed with White Diamond. 

This particular die cut had a lot of open spaces to fill, but you may have other dies that have less.  The Pico Embellishers work well at dressing up die cuts.  I hope you give this technique a try!

Magenta Stamp Used:  07.731.I  Thanks for Touching My Heart

Memory Box Die Floral Heart 98776

Pico Embellishers Used:

Electric Pink, Electric Blue, Electric Purple, and also the metallic Gold

Other Materials Used:

White Diamond Embossing Powder by Judikins

Stick It double Sided Adhesive