Revamp a lamp - a One stamp Challenge Project

Hi it's Diane from "just add glue to" blog again joining Lynnda in her quest to showcase numerous of ways of using stamps and support her with her One Stamp challenge.

After having a lovely messy time recycling a broken mirror using Lynnda's fabulous Clematis stamp, I decided to make a matching lampshade....which was a bargain £1 buy from a charity shop. 

During my experimenting for the mirror project I dug out some Mulberry paper (something I hadn't used for a long time). it has a lovely fabric quality to it and I loved the effect of stamping on it, I also discovered that Promarkers bled and blended on it beautifully, so this was going to be how I decorated it.

But on reflection as the stamped feature on the mirror was white I decided to keep to just the blue and white theme.

Like the Mirror I was conscious of safety and was careful with not having the paper in contact with the bulb or using flammable glue - I used Pinflair Book Binding glue- although modern energy saving bulbs don't tend to give off the heat of older style bulbs...better to be safe than sorry!

I randomly stuck the cut out stamped images round the shade and further adorned (hid dirty marks!!!) with some punched vellum butterflies and some 3d paint.......why oh why did I just not sit back and think "job done!!!"?

It dawned on me that often the most visible bit of  a lampshade is the inside.... I know.... I will stamp a matching design inside....

....like the mirror project I found that I could use the stamp independently of a block (particularly useful for stamping on a curved surface), but this time I added a little card handle for ease of placement, but I kept the handle thin so that I could still lay it flat and apply the ink.
I used a Whispers Ink pad which is a permanent ink but I found that rather than let it dry I could wipe it away and it left a subtle image....but me being me carried on and decide to ink over it to add a subtle colour...quite honestly...a bit of dogs dinner!! but surprisingly my daughter still liked it and says she's going to use it (in the spare room!!!)

I am really looking forward to seeing what Lynnda is going to do, as I am sure I could have done this project better... so really hoping for some inspiration and if anyone has any suggestions (putting it in the bin and starting again is a possibility!) or ideas I would love to hear from you.

Stamping and beyond - a One Stamp challenge Project

Hi I am Diane from “just add glue to” blog, I am a slightly obsessive  crafter (if you’re reading this I guess you are bitten by the bug too!). One of my main passions is budget crafting and for my blog I try and make projects without any specially bought crafting material…just paper, card and glue!
But of course I have bought rather a lot of crafting gizmos and gadgets along the way and I love collecting stamps, which I think are the best investment of all, this is my main reason for supporting Lynnda with her exciting 24hr stamp challenge. She is spot on with her passion for showcasing the many ways that stamps can be used and with that in mind I have created a couple of projects which are not actually paper based.

At the  moment my time has been totally absorbed by helping my daughter and her partner renovate a cottage to live in, and like all young couples the budget is very slim, so we are also looking for ways to furnish and decorate the cottage on a shoestring and the charity shop is our main source for interesting and unique items….all crying out to be brought back to life

First was  a little broken mirror (which had actually been thrown out). A bit of glue soon sorted out the broken frame, then out came the old tester pots of emulsion to give it a new look.

Then came the fun bit…how to decorate it and the Clematis stamp  couldn’t be more perfect for home decor projects. Lynnda inspired me to have a root through my crafting stash to use something I hadn’t used for a while and I spent a happy afternoon testing papers, powders, pens, inks and paints

and I gave the poor stamp quite a hard time…..

but a testament to its quality is it’s still standing and stamping as perfectly as when I started!! In the end I bit the bullet and decided to stamp and emboss directly on the glass…..never tried this before and I held my breath as the powder began to melt
             

 ….but I loved the result (and so does my daughter).

I used Versamark and Oak House Studio white embossing powder and again a testament to the unique property of Oak House Studio stamps, is that they are so rigid it was possible to stamp without fixing it to a block, which enabled me to position it right into the corner.
WARNING! if you do try this … do not apply the heat too closely and leave the glass to cool as soon as the powder has melted.  I certainly wouldn't try this with anything precious and safety is  paramount when dealing with glass and heat!!  The embossing is quite durable but can be cleaned off with a bit of elbow grease and polish!

To finish the mirror (and cover the broken corner) I made a couple of paper flowers decorated with beads and nail varnish!! I have more details on my blog on how to create paper flowers.
I have had amazing fun using the stamp and still have many ideas that I want to use the stamp for (and have completed one other project, a matching lampshade).

Thank you so much Lynnda for inviting me to share your Stamp challenge…..I only wish I could join you in your studio I am sure you have many great ideas to try!!!!!!!

DT Projects For The One Stamp Challenge Brought To You By Oak House Studio

The One Stamp Challenge is using the Clematis Tower stamp available from Oak House Studio.See here for all the details   One Stamp

For my first project I have used  a wooden plaque which i have added a coat of Gesso to.I have blended a selection of Panpastel to create a background.I have stamped and coloured the Clematis Tower and mini flower stamp also available from Oak House Studio the sentiment is from my own stash

For this card I have decoupaged the Clematis Stamp and have added some embossing powder and coloured is using Promarkers.The ribbon and sentiment are from my own stash.

This I think really shows just how versatile this Clematis Stamp really is !!! I have created the background with a selection of PanPastel's the basket style stamp around the edge of the page is another fabby little stamp from Oak House Studio.The script stamp and flower are from my own stash.The Clematis has been stamped twice I have then used an eraser to take some of the colour away from the stamped image.I have added some Perfect Pearls to the centre of the Stamped Flowers

Nearly There

Yesterday I went out to buy "Supplies" for the weekend, not food that is on today's to do list. I went out to buy odd bits I needed to get on with project a bit further out of my comfort zone. I had a list and only managed to get ONE thing off my list so some projects may not get completed this weekend, which just makes me cross I hadn't sourced things earlier but to be honest I was confident I could just go pick these things up and didn't realise how hard it might be. The good news is I did find others things that I want to work with, so I am sure I have more project than I can possibly finish in 24 hours. Today my list has important but not crafty jobs, like food shopping and getting my hair cut!
Anyway as I dropped off my acquisitions at the studio yesterday I suddenly realised that one of my signs was already a great example of using the clematis tower stamp off the page. This is an old roof slate salvaged whilst stay at a friends house, the words have been added by hand with a white paint marker, probably a Pilot one and 3 decoupaged Clematis flowers added with some silicon glue...pretty simple really!
If you would like to call in this weekend to see what I am up  to and offer your support then email lynndaw@gmail.com I am there 8am to 8pm Saturday and Sunday.
http://www.oakhousestudio.com/page_2658878.html

Getting going with the ONE STAMP project

My son will be finishing his first year at University in the next day or so, I have no idea where the the time goes, it doesn't seem that long since the summer holidays meant getting new school shoes and uniforms. I am really proud of how he has grown up, his sense of humour and just how good he is at know just the right thing to say etc.
But with his imminent return and the ONE STAMP project this weekend I thought I better got on an use the Mother's Day Present he bought me! Not a brilliant photo so in case you can't work it out this is a watch, a paper watch, just ripe for decorating or at this house stamping on. Ben has got used to me looking at stuff in shops and trying to decide if I could stamp on it. The "paper" has some plastic content so embossing was out, I used Silver Staz On to stamp the clematis tower stamp on to the paper strap and then coloured with Pro markers.
I hope to have more ONE STAMP projects to show as we get closer to the weekend and then hopefully lots to post on facebook during the weekend, as I wont be able to get on the blog so easily at the farm. Pop over and like the facebook page to keep up with the news http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Stamp/283938454992714.

ONE STAMP project

This project has been a long time coming to fruition and now it is coming up fast I am beginning to panic a little! At every studio open day, show or demo I get frustrated at the way some people think a stamp is JUST for adding Happy Birthday to the front of a card, and how dismissive they are about the techniques involved,  I have a wonderful selection of items in my studio all beautifully decorated with stamps, but this project is about taking ONE STAMP with all the inks and paint I possess and maybe the odd complimentary stamp and creating a display of such items. I have roped in friends and in fact some folks I have just met the once (well everyone is a friend in the crafting world aren't they?) and at this point I am asking you to help too.
If you are close enough to my studio to pop in over 9th and 10th June pop and cheer me on or do a bit of cutting out or make a brew, bring your own projects so we can photograph them.
If you live further away, send photos, email them or post them on the facebook page.http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Stamp/283938454992714

Pop by the facebook page and show some encourgement there too. Watch the blog for guest designers will be posting as well as myself. If you want to post your project on your blog you could leave a comment and a link to your blog on here or facebook....any other ideas I am listening.

Education

Whilst on a recent demo I was asked if I was self taught or if I had been on a course. Not a simple answer to this one. I haven't been on "a course" although I did study Printmaking whilst at Leeds Met Uni in the 70's ( it was Leeds Poly in those days) but too be honest it was something I did as a break to the science heavy part of my course, I did really enjoy it and it was probably when I first made cards to send to friends, hard up student and all that. I had wonderful tutor who helped me overcome my fear of drawing and I can't even remember her name how bad is that!
On the subject of making my own cards to give, for that I was inspired by the great Dave Moutrey who sent me the most lovely etched Christmas card in 1976. I still have it somewhere.
Did do some projects over the years, most of which I would not want to see now, but I started to get more involved again, when I started working full time with Martin after I left teaching, since then I have been the proverbial sponge, you soak up things here and there. I have done workshops that last 30 minutes and three day escapes and treats. I have watched TV and you tube too.

The scientist in me makes me think, what will happen if, as a scientist you use your present knowledge to predict the outcome and then you test that theory.
I did a short workshop with Leandra Franich at a recent trade fair where she suggested a different way of doing Crackle Effect, also done something different with Jo Channon 12 months earlier, so recently sat down with a dozen or so pieces of mount board and trailed variations of their ideas and the method I had been using for about 10 years and worked out the factors that worked for me with the material I use.
I think that is a good illustration of how I work.

I would suggest that is how you all craft, you listen to what others have to say, to try things out and you work out what works for you.