Darkroom Door

Photobooth Swap

The last parcels arrived today for the Photobooth swap and I was keen to lay them all out and sort them! It took me a couple of hours, but worth every minute - the artwork is just amazing!!!! I have created a gallery, but be warned... there's over 60 ATC's to look through so grab yourself a cuppa, get comfy and enjoy!

But firstly, I'm a huge fan of Photobooth images (no kidding). They always have so much character, and there's usually a story behind the photo, their expression, who they're with, what they're wearing etc.  What I loved about this swap was how the personalities were brought out in the images by the artists. From words they used, quotes, colours, textures... everything helped interpret the story. If you look closely, there are so many layers to many of the ATC's. Backgrounds created with Darkroom Door stamps, textured Cuttlebug embossing, crackle paint, papers, flowers, metal embellishments... the list goes on.

I love everyone's creations. If you have ever wondered how you could incorporate Photobooth images into your own artworks... wonder no more!

Click here to enjoy the Photobooth gallery!

Thank you to all of the participants! Between us we used every single lady from the Ladies Photobooth sheet and over half of the guys from the Gentlemen Photobooth sheet. They're all there in the gallery :)

Ho Ho Ho Christmas Competition!

The festive season is fast approaching and to get into the spirit of things we'd like to see what you have created with our Christmas Reindeer stamp set! To make it even more festive... there's FREE STAMPS to be won!

Here's the plan...

1. Create something with our Christmas Reindeer stamp set. It can be anything - cards, artist trading cards, scrapbook layouts, mini books, ornaments, gifts, tags, wrapping paper, gift bags, bon bons, invitations, decorations... whatever you like! We'd like to show an assortment of things, so feel free to unlock the artist within! (ha, had to put that in somewhere ;)

2. Photograph or scan your creation. Save as 700 pixels on the longest side, 72 dpi. Use as many images as you like to show off your creation.

3. Write out simple instructions on how it was made.

4. Email the images, text, and your details (name and blog so we can link back to you) to info@darkroomdoor.com with Christmas Competition in the subject line.

5. Create as many projects as you like, but please send each project in a separate email.

6. We will feature a selection of projects on the Darkroom Door blog from the 1st december through to 25th december. All projects will also be put into a gallery here on the Darkroom Door blog.

7. All names from the featured projects will be put into Santa's Hat and we'll draw three names on Christmas Day! These three winners will each receive a Darkroom Door stamp set of their choice! Ho Ho Ho How good is that!!!

So get a jingle on and start creating! If you don't own the Christmas Reindeer stamp set, there's still time! Please visit our Stockists page for your favourite store or online shop. We also have them here (however we still encourage you to support your LSS or online store first :)

Edited to add: To be entered into the draw, projects must be emailed by midnight AEDST 20th December. However, since we'll start showcasing projects from the 1st December, the sooner you email your project in, the better chance you have of it being featured on the blog!

Unlock the artist within!

Scrappit November Kit

Scrappit have used a bunch of Darkroom Door product in their November Kit... including Venetian Papers, Robot Papers, Music Papers, Filmstrips, Wordstrips and much more! They also release a newsletter where the Scrappit Design Team share layouts and projects they have created with the kit contents. We just LOVE the Robot mini book that Scrappit DT member Shirley Fyfe created! Check it out:

(Photos courtesy of Scrappit and Shirley Fyfe)

Please visit the Scrappit website for more details on the November Kit and to view their newletter  which shows many more projects using Darkroom Door products!

Inkurable Stampers November Challenge

The theme for the november challenge on the Inkurable Stampers blog is Christmas!! Entries close on the 30th November, and there's a stack of cool prizes to be won, inlcuding a Darkroom Door Christmas Reindeer stamp set! Go here to read the full details of the challenge. Go here to see all the fab prizes!!

This card was created by Sarah Schwerin (Inkurable Stampers owner and challenge master!). It's created with the Christmas Reindeer stamp set and showcases some cool ideas that you could use for the challenge!!

So hurry - get your jingle bells on and go create!! :) You've gotta be in it to win it!!

Last days!! Hurry! Hurry!

Only two days until the Fat Cats Card Corner competition closes!!! If you've created anything with Darkroom Door stamps, you can upload it to the Fat Cats Card Corner gallery to have the chance to win a $100 voucher at the Fat Cats online shop!!!

You can upload as many creations as you like!

International entries are welcome!

I know heaps of you out there have created stuff with our stamps, so please take the time to enter :) You have to be in it to win it! Entries close November 20th.

Click here to go to the Fat Cats Gallery.

Guest Artist: Sephi Kemp Part 3

So who's enjoying Sephi's projects? I'm just LOVING them!! We have two more projects to share here today...

Music Is:

 

Materials

•    Photochips: Darkroom Door #DDPC003 Music
•    Wordstrips: Darkroom Door #DDWS003 Music
•    Paper: Darkroom Door #DDPP009 Legato
•    Card: Bazzill Vineyard, Stonehenge
•    Copper polka dot ribbon
•    Copper brads
•    Double-sided tape
•    Double-sided mounting foam

Method

1.    Tear a square slightly smaller than the dimensions of the photochip in the centre of Allegro paper. Distress the edges of the paper with sandpaper.
2.    Adhere the photochip to the centre of Vineyard card and position the Allegro paper over the top so that the photochip shows through the torn window.
3.    Tie copper ribbon around the bottom of the card and affix three copper brads to the photochip. Cut and adhere the sentiment “Music is an Outburst of the Soul” from the Music Wordstrip.
4.    Layer on folded Stonehenge card.

Peer Gynt Suite ATC

 

Materials

•    Stamps: Darkroom Door #DDRS012 Chorus
•    Paper: Darkroom Door #DDPP010 Allegro
•    Ink: StazOn Jet Black
•    Card: cream, dark blue
•    Glitter glue
•    Coloured pencils
•    Sandpaper
•    Double-sided tape

Method

1.    Lightly distress the edges of Allegro paper with sandpaper and adhere to dark blue card.
2.    Stamp Peer Gynt-Suite from the Chorus set on cream card using Jet Black ink.
3.    Colour the image with coloured pencils and add highlights with glitter glu. Adhere to the ATC base using double-sided tape.

So that is the final project from Sephi this time... I'm sad it's over to quickly!! We have enjoyed having her as a Guest Artist SO much!!! Please check out her blog for more incredible inspiration. Sephi is also on the Design Team for The Stamping Queen, so please check out the gallery over there too! The Stamping Queen stock a lot of Darkroom Door product, so please support them if you're keen for a bit of shopping!! :)

Thanks Sephi for sharing your fabulous work with us this week. I have admired your work for such a long time, so it has been wonderful to see how you have used DD product. Three days of different collections and different styles... you certainly are a master with rubber stamps! We thank you!

Unlock the artist within!

Guest Artist: Sephi Kemp Part 2

Here's another two great projects from Sephi...

Hey Dude

Materials

•    Stamps: Darkroom Door #DDRS015 Robot Vol.2
•    Wordstrips: Darkroom Door #DDWS004 Robot
•    Filmstrips: Darkroom Door #DDFS007 Robot Vol.1
•    Ink: StazOn Jet Black
•    Card: Bazzill Prince Charming, Desert Marigold, Lava
•    Silver jump rings
•    Small silver spring
•    Black and white gingham ribbon
•    Red pen
•    Double-sided tape
•    Double-sided mounting foam

Method

1.    Stamp a robot from the Robot Vol.1 set on Prince Charming card using Jet Black ink. Cut out the image and use a red pen to add highlights.
2.    Stamp stars from the Robot Vol.1 set on Desert Marigold card. Adhere the robot to the card with double-sided mounting foam. Layer the entire piece on folded Lava card.
3.    Tie black and white gingham ribbon around the spine and suspend a Robot Filmstrip and a small spring from the ribbon with jump rings.
4.    Cut the words “Hey Dude” from the Robot Wordstrip and affix to the card with double-sided tape.

I love how Sephi used the star stamps to create the background - there's so much you can do with two tiny stamps. Also love how the robot is stamped on a different colour cardstock, trimmed, and raised with foam adhesive. And love the spring!! The whole card looks cool :)

Hey Girlfriend ATC

Materials

•    Stamps: Darkroom Door #DDRS015 Robot Vol.2
•    Paper: Darkroom Door #DDPP015 Robot Dots
•    Ink: StazOn Jet Black
•    Card: Bazzill Katy Did; white
•    Kaiser dark blue rhinestones
•    LuminArte Twinkling H2Os
•    Watercolour pencils
•    Small blue confetti stars
•    Sandpaper
•    Double-sided tape

Method

1.    Lightly distress the edges of Robot Dots paper with sandpaper and adhere to Katy Did card.
2.    Stamp a robot from the Robot Vol.1 set on white card using Jet Black ink. Trim around the image and colour with watercolour pencils. Add a light wash of Twinkling H2Os for sparkle.
3.    Stick dark blue rhinestones over the robot’s eyes and confetti stars to her skirt.
4.    Adhere the robot to the ATC base and add the words “Hey Girlfriend” from the Robot Wordstrip.

How great are those rhinestones on the eyes and sequin stars on the skirt!! Love those details. Thanks again Sephi for sharing these!

Please check back again tomorrow for Sephi's final project!

Guest Artist: Sephi Kemp

Name: Sephi Kemp

Zodiac sign: Aries

Lives: Newcastle, NSW Australia

Known for: My mad love of buttons, an ever-growing stamp collection, and a fierce reluctance to throw anything (no matter how small!) away.

Blog: Night Owl Designs http://nightowldesigns.blogspot.com

Loves to: Watch all of my favourite TV shows on DVD, read, rattle the branches of my family tree, and create, create, create!

Loves to create: Anything “old world”. I love experimenting with tags, artist trading cards and canvases.

Favourite Darkroom Door product: I adore the Robot collection and I’m also very fond of the Photobooth ladies.

Have you ever been in a darkroom? Yes, I studied photography for four years at high school. I remember wrecking my school uniform with the chemicals. Good times!

Let’s say you’ve been invited to come into our darkroom for a day. What would you bring with you? All of my rolls of undeveloped film from the 80s and 90s. Hmmmmm, wonder what’s on them? LOL

Are you afraid of the dark? Oh no. I’m definitely a night owl, hence the name!

Here's the first of Sephi's projects...

Heartfelt Happiness:

Materials

•    Stamps: Darkroom Door #DDRS017 Friendship Flowers
•    Paper: Darkroom Door #DDPP008 Blush, #DDPP007 Meadow
•    Ink: StazOn Jet Black
•    Card: Bazzill Forget Me Not
•    Glass ladybird
•    Acetate
•    Acrylic paints
•    Pink ribbon
•    Silver brads
•    Brayer
•    Double-sided tape

Method

1.    Stamp three flowers from the Friendship Flowers set on acetate using Jet Black ink.
2.    Lay a larger sheet of acetate over the stamped piece.
3.    Apply acrylic paints to the acetate – green for the stems, and pink, yellow and blue for the flowers.
4.    Spray with water and lay Blush paper face down on the wet acetate. Use a brayer to ensure an even transfer. Peel the paper away and set aside to dry.
5.    Lay the stamped acetate over the Blush paper so the images are aligned. Secure with a few pieces of double-sided tape and silver brads. Trim away the excess paper and swipe the edges of the acetate with the Jet Black inkpad. Layer on Meadow paper.
6.    Knot pink ribbon around the design and stamp “Heartfelt Happiness” on Meadow paper. Trim to size and affix as shown in the photograph.
7.    Adhere a glass ladybird to the acetate and mount the entire piece on Forget Me Not card.

Scatter Seeds of Happiness:

Materials

•    Stamps: Darkroom Door #DDRS017 Friendship Flowers
•    Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Black Soot; Versamark
•    Card: Bazzill Prince Charming, Lava
•    Kasier deep yellow rhinestones
•    Lime green grosgrain ribbon
•    Hole punch
•    Double-sided tape

Method

1.    Cut a tag from Prince Charming cardstock and stamp the “Scatter Seeds of Happiness” quote from the Friendship Flowers set using Black Soot ink.
2.    When the ink has dried, stamp two flowers of your choice from the Friendship Flowers set over the text using Versamark ink.
3.    Layer the tag on Lava card and punch a hole through the centre top of the tag.
4.    Knot green grosgrain ribbon through the hole and affix three yellow rhinestones to the tag to finish.

How gorgeous are these cards!!! Great work Sephi!

We'll be showing more of Sephi's work tomorrow, so please drop by!

Card Competition @ Fat Cats Card Corner

Here's some great news for anyone who owns a set of Darkroom Door rubber stamps! (or for anyone who needs an incentive to purchase some!) Kaaren at Fat Cats Card Corner is running a competition in the gallery within her online shop - and you must use Darkroom Door stamps to enter! Here are the details, copied from the Fat Cats website:

DARKROOM DOOR COMPETITION

You could win $100 of goods of your choice from our website. Simply make a card using any of the Darkroom Door Stamps  and upload a pic to the gallery under the Darkroom Door section. You may buy or borrow the stamps from whoever you please... Closing Date is 20 November 2008. Entries will be judged by Rachel Greig.

Arrrk - did you see that? I have to judge the entries!!! That is always so HARD! And I'm counting on all of you to enter and make my job the hardest ever. Deal? So go forth, unlock the artist within, and share your creations!

Can't wait to see all the entries!

Click here to go to the Fat Cats website.

Guest Artist: Catherine Duffy Part 3

Need some new jewelry? Check this out!!

Robot Necklace

Materials…
• Dark Blue Polymer Clay, I like Sculpey
• Darkroom Door Robot Vol 1 & Vol 2 - Rubber Stamps
• Assorted Colours Rhinestones
• Assorted Lumiere Colours
• Stretch Elastic for Stringing

Destructions…

1. I made some practice bits to see how the stamps would work with polymer clay, to see what would happen to plastic rhinestones if you baked them, and to see if paper would combust at 130 degrees celsius. The answers… good, they melt and go bubbly, and no combustion. WARNING: If cooking cardboard into your polymer DO NOT WALK AWAY WHILE DOING IT!!!

2. When working with polymer clay it needs to be conditioned before shaping, this simply means rolling it between your hands until it is warm. I decided to make 10 simple rhinestone studded beads, so formed up 10 shapes, both square and round.

3. Press a rhinestone into each piece. Press each piece onto the robot stamps for texture. Use a fat needle make a hole through each bead. Put onto the bottom of a pyrex dish for baking. Don't bake polymer on any surface that you intend baking on later.

4. Roll out a big bit of polymer clay and flatten, stamp your preferred robot into clay. Use the fat needle to trim edges back to robot shape, then your fingers to smooth edges. Make sure you make a hole to string him, I strung him through his ears. Bake in your oven for 15 minutes at 130 degrees celsius, no longer. Set aside to cool.

5. I have used some 4mm brightly coloured crystal beads and strung it all together using the elastic. Use a surgeons knot to finish. This is the professional advice off a beading website I read, but it didn't explain how to do it, so I do a square knot (about 10 times.)

6. I painted my robot man with lots of different colours of metallic lumiere paint, and added a touch of it to each polymer bead.

…and here is the finished necklace…

…and here I am modeling my new necklace…

Thanks Cath for sharing your all of your colourful art and destructions (instructions) with us over the past few days!!! We love it! These necklaces look pretty cool, time for me to pull out some sculpey I think :)