Backgrounds are like Supporting Actors...
Without them, the Lead Actor can't shine!
I have been an Ink Road fan for a minute now and what Ink Road does best is produce some badass Lead Actors! The snark, the sass, the daring and long-awaited inclusive and bold statements...BUT...what I have been wanting more of are those Supporting Actors like a cute background stamp! Well here we go! This Little Wavy babe made one little dream come true (I am holding out for some more of course!). I got to play with it for my
Fuckunicorn design last month and I get to do so again. And I love her
So I decided to try something different. I figure we all know how to dab a stamp on an ink pad and stamp it down and color it in (or not) and I figure it will be deliciously displayed by my fellow amazing artist friends on the Ink Road Design Team... So, I tried something different. I dipped it in some watercolor paint to see what would happen!
I didn't have a plan. I simply just started. I started with an idea to make a card for my husband's birthday using some photos of us as well. I painted a generic blue background and then got to work "stamping" the watercolor soaked stamp onto my little paper. Immediately I knew it was a hit! It was subtle and wavy and so cute.
I used a stamp backing (acetate film) to place the wet paint on and then took the loose stamp in my hand and gave it a light dab around the paint until most of the corner of the stamp had paint on it. I then simply, lightly, dabbed the corner of it around until most of the space was filled with wavy watery lines.
I decided to use a layered look like I usually do so I recreated this again on a separate non painted paper and then got to work cutting some circles and puzzle piecing it together.
At this point I still don't have a plan but I am not worried (ok maybe slightly worried) because what I do have is turning out so cute!
Eventually I realize I have more materials to work with than I need so I decide I'm getting a card AND a little mixed media art collage!
Score! Win Win Win. For my card I decided to stamp the wavy background onto my card front in a sort of matching color so it would be subtle. I then began layering and piecing together the focal point. I KNEW I wanted to use a sentiment from
Ann & Leslie stamp set but wasn't sure where to put it with my round focal point I felt it would look clunky under or over it, so I decided to stamp it on acetate film and lay it over the whole thing.
I mean, COME ON! It looks so great with that clear overlay!
I can't even get over how great they look together!
Ill probably frame the collage alongside a similar large one I have.
Waving goodbye now!
Let's end with what we learned:
* Experimentation leads us to very unlikely and exciting places. If we only ever create what has already been created before then is it really creative? Yes! But we can take it a step further and feel even more fulfilled and thrilled by the process of trying something we haven't tried before and getting new results. It stretches us creatively and will likely give us a whole new perspective.
* Personalized photo cards are so much fun to make and give people. Including a photo in your creations can elevate a simple card (something that many people toss out after reading) and make it into a gift in itself.
* Washi Tape and Gelly Roll pens are my love language (but we knew that).
Ok my lovely friends,
We love you! Create something everyday!
xoxo,
Steph Low
