'What you do speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you say.'
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sunday 5 February 2012

I did get to play a little with my acrylic blocks but have been struggling to get decent photos.  Decided to blog them anyway, despite the fact that the variations in shade and colour are just not showing up – grrr!

No problems with this one because it’s just black and white.


mono bw
I used Versafine for that one, then embossed it.  Dunno why my ‘Smile’ stamp is a bit ‘iffy’.  I have to watch because there are always strands of hair around (from my head) and I’d just washed my hair when I did this, so perhaps I missed one.  The poppies were stamped on the block.

The following three were stamped with two shades of distress inks but instead of spraying with water, I used gold mica (homemade), which doesn’t show up very well.
free as a bird

<KENOX S1050  / Samsung S1050>

umbrella girl

<KENOX S1050  / Samsung S1050>

This one was pigment inks, mainly pinks and reds, with a touch of brown, all embossed after stamping.

(I forgot to mention that I took some colour off in 2 of the corners with a swirl stamp and with a small bottle top before stamping it – doesn’t show up very clearly but it does a bit. Unfortunately, words are one thing you can’t stamp onto your block, unless you don’t mind them being mirror images and illegible!)

<KENOX S1050  / Samsung S1050>

This one’s in similar shades, but uses distress inks and mica again.

a little birdie
I’ve done more but I’ll save them for another time.  I did one on my trusty old large Hero Arts shadow stamp and I quite like that one.  Takes me back to when we had the little Stamp Club in the shop.  We did quite a lot of mono stamping then – probably around 5 or 6 years ago - and it was so much fun.
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Edited:  INSTRUCTIONS
I thought I’d posted instructions but I obviously didn’t – sorry.  If you want to try this, just scribble over an acrylic block with felt tip pens or inks (water based) and spray with water or mica spray, then use the block to stamp with, giving it time to transfer.  You can take colour off with some bubble wrap or other textured item before you stamp it but if you do, don’t spray it or you’ll lose the pattern.  If you want to use Copics or Promarkers, spray with alcohol.  You can use the whole block or just the edges to create a border – up to you.

If you use pigment inks, you can stamp the images over the inks onto the block before stamping it onto the card.  With these, you can take off colour with an uninked stamp, to add pattern before stamping your main image and you can stamp over it in any colour to create the background.  One of the good things about this is that you get a reverse (shadow) image, so you can use it to create a reflection.  It works much better on a solid stamp, though., instead of a block, if you have one.  Solid images also work better than fine lines, which don't show up quite so well.

Chalk inks also work really well.  Haven’t done any samples but that’s what we used years ago, when they first appeared on the market.
It’s not my technique – it’s a standard printing technique which has been used for eons but it’s great for experimenting with.  Just wish I had more time to play.  Any more questions, please do ask.

For more information on monoprinting the printer’s and artist’s way, see here.

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The ice has almost melted and the sun is shining, so I may just venture out for a bit of fresh air.  No snow here, though.  Hope you’re all staying warm x

26 very kind comments from lovely people:

Sandy said...

So many new creations Ctah.
Fantastic stamping art. Love them all.

Have a lovely sunday. xoxo

Tessa said...

Gorgeous Cards!
Have a nice sunday.

xx Tessa

Dotpat said...

They are lovely Cath, you are enjoying doing theses aren't you

Anne Jagger said...

Beautiful cards

Lorraine said...

hi huni these are all so beautiful i am loving the bird card its stunning all your others are too but i love those colours xx

Gery said...

Can't make a choise. Love them all.
Each card has its own beauty.
To enjoy the making of it is more important, I think.
Like the words on the Umbrellagirl card!
Love Gery

Sally H said...

Beautiful cards, Cath. I love them all, particularly your raven. Great colours too

sam21ski said...

What gorgeous cards, are you going to share how you made them with the acrylic block? I'm guessing you stamp onto the block and use the block as your stamp, but I don't know?

Whatever, the effect is fabulous.

Sam xxx

Cath Wilson said...

Oops, sorry, Sam. Thought I'd said. You just add inks to the block, spritz with water (or spray of some kind) then stamp it - as you said. You can also stamp onto the block or stamp over the imprint. My apologies. I'll update it x

Karen Petitt said...

These are stunning. I hope you don't mind me asking but did you add and mix colour to your acrylic blocks and then 'stamp' that colour onto your card before stamping? I would love to try this technique, if that's okay with you, which is why I'm asking hugs Karen x

Jeany said...

I don' t see something wrong with the photos, i love all your cards, they are so great, what a great stamps too. I'll take my hat off for you ;)))) ( saying in germany when you admire somebody) ;)))) have a great week

Brenda Brown said...

Cath these are all absolutely gorgeous, just love the style and colours.
hugs {brenda} xox

JoZart Designs said...

You are really making lots of lovelies! Thanks so much for your message re Dave... he's doing great, thank goodness, and as a result I'll be able to leave him and get to Germany on Wednesday!!
Jo x

Lynn Stevens said...

Such a cool technique, Thanks for the how to. Beautiful results.It sounds really fun!
Hugs Lynn

Hermine said...

They all look great

Anonymous said...

These are great. And thanks for the instructions. I must have been having a 'duh!' moment because I couldn't work out how to stamp the image if you spray the inks with water. I have been playing with shadow stamps lately but just using them for blocks of colours. Now, of course, you've given me a load more ideas! xx

Vicky Hayes said...

My goodness Cath - these are a real feast for the eyes!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

A fabulous card, love this technique. The images are perfect for the background.

Karen said...

Thank you so much for the instructions Cath. I'm hoping to be able to play this week and try this technique hugs Karen x

france papillon said...

wow, those are great little pieces! love every single one of them, especially the umbrella lady ;)

Mag said...

Such beautiful inky job !!

G Peplow said...

Fabulous cards Cath, thank you for sharing this technique, so well explained too:0) Gay xxx

Susie Jefferson said...

I particularly like 'It's Spring' - great colours too.

I've been using this technique with Twinkling H20s and Cosmic Shimmers - stamping the block and then giving it a slight twist before lifting it. Gives a really interesting 'sucky' sort of texture, and of course there's enough ink to repeat a time or two.

Great minds, etc... lol

Petra Tillmann said...

You made great cards, Cath! Love them all!

hazel said...

Fabulous cards Cath. I've enjoyed having a go at this technique and will definately be using it again.
xxx Hazel.

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Love the acrylic technique too. All your creations are really fabulous!