Darkroom Door

Ten Days of Giveaways: Day 10!

Wow - here we are at day 10! The past ten days have gone by so quickly and I've really enjoyed sharing these new products with you! I haven't had as much time to create all of the projects that I wanted to, but I'll continue to share more as time goes on.

Firstly, thanks for all your comments from yesterdays Artist post! A few of you left links to your Flickr ATC galleries, and I've really enjoyed looking through them. You're a talented bunch! Also, for those who weren't sure of how to store ATC's, I usually have mine in a folder with the 9 pockets sleeves. Check out our storage binders and sleeves here.

Now onto the final stamp set.... Photography! It's about time we did a photography themed set don't you think?

This set shows off some of my camera collection and along with some words to create some fun in your projects!! I'm still in Artist Trading Card mode from yesterday, so I've created a couple of ATC's to show off the stamps a little...

See the stamp on the bottom left of the Photography stamp tin? That's a vintage light meter guide and great to use for a collage background. I've stamped this on the background of this ATC using Butterscotch ink, then the Filmstrip border along the right side with Olive ink. Attached the photo (which I had spare from a previous project. It already had the Filmstrip frame printed on there, but you could stamp your own with the Filmstrip Frame from the stamp set.) Then stamped the quote with Olive ink, trimmed into smaller strips, inked the edges and attached to the ATC as shown.

I think it's fun to include your own photos onto ATC's too! Who said photos are just for scrapbooking ;)

Here's another one:

For this one I used a strip of photos from an Index print. (You know those prints you get from the photo lab when they process a bunch of photos for you?) I've added the date of the photos into the 'Date Taken' stamp, also stamped Mug Shot. I have changed the direction of the arrow on the 'Look right here' stamp by masking the arrow from the first stamp impression, then only stamped the arrow next to the words in the direction I wanted it to point. See... versatile :) All of these stamps are really suited for scrapbooking too.

Here's my third sample:

I stamped the box brownie with black ink and coloured with Marvy Markers. Then stamped the words randomly around the camera. I stamped a couple twice without re-inking to have different shades.

So there's a couple of ideas to get your creative brains ticking!

Today is the last day of our giveaways! If you'd like to win the Photography stamp set, please leave a comment here today and describe to us one of the best photos you've ever taken. (remember, a photo tells a thousand words, so I expect a thousand words!! haha, kidding!) Or if your photo is uploaded to a web gallery, add the link in your comment. Or tell us what style of photographs you like to take or look at :)

All of the winners from the past ten days will be announced tomorrow!!! (Sunday 1st March)

Unlock the artist within!

Ten Days of Giveaways: Day 9

So.... today we're looking at the Artist rubber stamp set!

Oh yum, I love this set :) There's lots of elements on here that can be used in so many different ways (that's the recurring theme in all of our stamp sets - we try to make them as versatile as possible!) First of all there's the Artist Trading Card back. Fits an ATC perfectly of course. Other stamps like the quote, 9square art stamp, and the smaller words will fit onto an ATC but can also be used to decorate larger projects such as cards, journals, altered books, layouts... you name it.

Here's some samples to show you how they look...

The ATC on the left uses the 9 square Art stamp. I've embossed it with black embossing powder, then coloured with markers. You could also use Twinkling H2O's for a shimmery effect. The squares could also be cut out individually, in rows of three, or you could also raise some of the squares to give a bit of depth to particular images. Lots of fun to be had! I've photographed the back of an ATC using the Artist Trading Card stamp too.

Here's some of the other stamps in use:

For the ATC on the left, I've stamped the quote with black ink then embossed with Hologram embossing powder, giving it a real shimmer! I stamped around the quote with the splatter stamp. The red gaffer tape is by 7gypsies.

The ATC on the right: I stamped the splatter stamp in blue to cover the complete background, then stamped 'create art', the paintbrush and calligraphy pen in black and embossed with Hologram EP. Inked the edges with Cobalt ink and simply mounted onto black cardstock. I imagine the pen and paintbrush stamp would also look great stamped in different colours. Or in black ink on a white background and coloured in with different colours too. Again... lots of options!

Would you like to win the Artist stamp set? Leave a comment here today and tell us what you love about creating Artist Trading Cards! Also let us know how many you have collected. If you have a gallery of ATC's online, put the link in your comment too so we can all have a look :)

Unlock the artist within!

Ten Days of Giveaways: Day 8

Loved your ideas on how you'd like to use the Butterflies from yesterdays comments! So many things you can create with them :) Our daughter Zoë wants to stamp lots of them and attach them to the walls of her bedroom!

Today we're focusing on the Alphabet Medley stamp set:

An alphabet set is always essential to your stamp collection - and this set has two alphabets in one! :) The larger alphabet measures approximately 18mm (0.7"). The smaller letters are approximately 9mm (0.35"). Here's a few things you can do with this set:

• Create titles for scrapbook layouts with the larger alphabet
• Stamp journaling for scrapbook layouts with the smaller alphabet
• Create your own sentiments for greeting cards
• Stamp gift tags with the recipients name
• Create mail art - address your envelopes with these stamps!
• Create words for ATC's, journals etc
• Stamp dates - for layouts, birthdays, anniversaries.... any occasion!

These are only a few ideas... the good thing about having an alphabet set is it gives you options. Here's a couple of things I created with them:

I've used the Full Bloom Vol 2 paper on the card and have stamped 'Happy' with the large alphabet letters and 'birthday' with the smaller letters using Adirondack Butterscotch ink.

For the ATC - I've just created a number medley and mounted it onto the Robots Stripes paper.

If you're into mail art - here's a cool way to decorate your envelopes:

I've stamped the address using a combination of the large and small alphabet, then added some Butterflies. Sponged the envelope with Olive ink. Now it's ready for me to mail to myself, haha. I'm heading off to New Zealand next week, so perhaps I should use it to send Stew a love letter while I'm away :)

So who wants to win the Alphabet Medley stamp set? Leave a comment here today and tell us who you'd send a love letter or mail art to, or what words you'd like to create with these stamps :) Winner will announced on the 1st March along with all the other winners from the Ten Days of Giveaways!

See you tomorrow...

Unlock the artist within!

Ten Days of Giveaways: Day 7

Welcome to day 7! I have to say, your comments from yesterday have been very inspiring and make me want to travel. I've heard great things about Yosemite National Park, and it seems many of you have been there or want to go. It's already on my to do list. Others that are on my to do list are: Antarctica (can you imagine photographing those icebergs and penguins! Tell me you need a collection like that so I can justify the trip, hehe), Cambodia, Peru, Alaska, and outback Australia. So many wonderful places in the world to explore.

Now, let's move on to the Butterflies stamp set:

There are 13 butterflies in this stamp set - all from photographs that I have taken of butterflies which gives these stamps such realistic detail. :) The hardest thing I found when I started using this stamp set was deciding which butterfly to use first! Then to decide a colour!! The options really are endless.

Here's a card I created:

Using Violet Versacolor ink onto light purple cardstock, then trimmed around the butterflies and bent their wings up a little to give a bit of depth to the image. Adhered them to the card from their bodies only. The quote is from the Wildflowers stamp set. Patterned paper is by Cosmo Cricket.

Here's an ATC:

For this one I simply stamped the butterflies onto the 7gypsies paper. You can still see the detail in the butterflies even over the text pattern. 'Spread your wings' is also from the Wildflowers stamp set.

These are just the tip of the iceberg of what these butterflies are capable of! I've also thought of some other ideas:

• Create your own patterned paper by stamping lots of butterflies (large and small).
• Stamp and emboss with a glitter or holographic embossing powder to give the butterflies some sparkle!
• Add Stickles glitter glue to various parts of the stamped butterfly for bits of bling.
• Ink the butterfly stamp with different inks or pen colours to create a multi-colour butterfly.
• You could also spritz the stamp after inking (as above) to create a watercolour butterfly!
• Stamp the butterflies in a resist ink and brayer or sponge a coloured ink over the top.

There's a couple of ideas to get you started. I'm sure there are plenty more ideas out there too. If you'd like to win the Butterflies stamp set, leave a comment here today and let us know what you'd like to do with these butterflies!

Unlock the artist within!

Ten Days of Giveaways: Day 6

Today's post is a little later than usual - my apologies, I was having too much fun creating projects for this post! Let's get straight into it...

Today we're looking at the paper products from the Wilderness Collection which include the Wilderness Photochips, Wilderness Montage, Wilderness Filmstrips and Wordstrips.

I absolutely love landscape photography, especially in warm sepia tones. I also love traveling, hiking, adventure and exploring new and uncharted places! The photographs in this collection include areas such as Mt Kosciuszko, Mt Field, Blue Mountains just to name a few from Australia, along with Nepal, Belgium, Switzerland, Scotland, Thailand and more. It's a real mixture and can be used for so many different styles of projects.

Here's a few samples:

This card literally takes only a couple of minutes to make! Using the Photochip image with a Wordstrip underneath. Tip: Although it looks like the wordstrip is the full height of the card, I have only used two smaller sections which means there are no words underneath the Photochip. No point wasting words when you can't see them!

Here's a project using the Wilderness Montage:

I've used four of the middle sized images from the Montage to make a composite image for the card. I've added some texture by finding a little stick from the garden and have attached it with eyelets and twine. Added a couple of Wordstrip words and it's done!

The texture from the stick looks great and certainly adds to the overall 'feel' of the card:

Notice how I've been photographing all the projects in the wilderness too?

Also here's a tip for the Wordstrips. If you don't want them to be white, they can easily be coloured with inks. Just sponge your desired ink colour over the top of them. Distress Inks and other dye inks work really well. Here's a sample of what they can look like: (white original Wordstrip at the top, Olive green ink sponged on the left, Coffee & Sepia ink sponged on the right.)

So remember the Wordstrips can be altered to any colour you choose!

Today we'd like to give away a pack of goodies from the Wilderness Collection which incudes Wilderness Photochips, Wilderness Montage, Wilderness Filmstrips & Wordstrips. To be in the draw leave a comment today and let us know three favourite places you've been in the wilderness and three wilderness places you'd like to go!

Unlock the artist within!

Ten Days of Giveaways: Day 5

Ok, so we're half way through.. are you still with me? Hope so! Remember that we'll be drawing the winners after Day 10 - so please remember to drop by each day and leave a comment to be in each days draw!

Today we're looking at Wilderness Vol 2 stamp set:

I love this set. The two quotes on this set are some of my most favourites - and I love the detail in the forest image. It has been a busy weekend here, so I've only had time to do two samples today... here they are:

I've created a light background using Mushroom and Stonewash Alcohol inks onto white glossy cardstock. Then stamped the image with Archival Jet Black ink. Mounted it onto the card, stamped 'explore' and mounted it over the image to complete. The 'take a walk on the wild side' quote is also appropriate for this image!

Here's an ATC:

I stamped the leaf with Cranberry Adirondack ink several times without re-inking to give the shadow effect. The compass is stamped with Rust Adirondack ink and punched out with a 1 1/2" circle punch. (we always try to make our circle stamps fit a punch so it's easier to create with!) Then stamped the quote, trimmed into individual words and added to the left side of the ATC.

Here's some other ideas for both Wilderness Vol 1 & Vol 2 stamp sets:

• Mix and match the quotes to the different images throughout both sets.
• The trees from Vol 1 can be stamped several times in a row to create a longer border of trees.
• Brayer sunset colours behind the silhouette images (trees & mountain range).
• Colour the images with Marvy Le Plume pens (or other colouring mediums).
• Stamp the forest image from Vol 2 set in white ink on a coloured background to create a wintery scene.

So there's just a couple of ideas to get you started! These stamp sets are great for making cards or projects for adventurers, travelers, explorers, men, women or anyone!

Today we'd love to give away a Wilderness Vol 2 stamp set! To be in the draw, leave a comment and tell us if you have ever gotten lost and where. Or tell us where you'd like to explore and get lost! :)

Unlock the artist within!

Ten Days of Giveaways: Day 4

I'm so pleased to see that you're enjoying the projects and products! Thanks again for all the ideas and inspiration that you are bringing with your comments :)

Today we are moving on to the Wilderness Collection... firstly the Wilderness Vol 1 Rubber Stamps:

The Wilderness Collection was born from my love of hiking, nature and wild places. The stamps in this set are very detailed with many possibilities for each one. Here's a couple of cards I've created with them:

The mountain image was stamped onto white glossy cardstock using Archival Jet Black ink. The image was then coloured with Marvy Le Plume markers to give colour to the water and foliage. The quote was stamped with black ink, trimmed into separate strips and adhered over the bottom of the image. Added some fibres, mount the image and it's done! I have a huge stash of fibres that I have collected over the years and these stamps are the perfect reason to bring them out again! Just adds that textured 'wild' look!

Here's another card:

Using the wild trees stamp, it has been stamped with Sepia ink, then sponged the cardstock around all edges. Added some twine - again going for the more natural embellishments. I also think adding some twigs and small sticks would be great too. The quote was stamped in Sepia ink and sponged the edges. I also stamped the quote a second time on scrap cardstock and cut out the two words 'wild' and 'free' and added to the quote with foam tape just to emphasise those words a little more. It's a simple card, but so great for all those people who love earthy colours and love nature! I also think the wild trees stamp would look great embossed in one of the brown Distress Embossing powders! The texture would be fabulous. Something for me to try later.

Moving right along... here's an ATC:

This time I've used the smaller single tree branch stamp to go around the edge of the ATC in Olive ink. Stamped the quote in Sepia ink and trimmed them to be separate words. I've also added a waterfall image from the Wilderness Montage. (Loving those smaller images on the Montage sheets!!)

There's so much that can be done with this stamp set, especially combined with the Wilderness Vol 2 stamp set and other Wilderness images - but we'll move onto those over the next couple of days!

For now - we want someone to go into the wild and win this Wilderness Vol 1 stamp set! To be in the draw, leave a comment here with your ideas for this stamp set and let us know the most remote wilderness place you have ever been. Remember we are reading all your comments (thank you, they are great!!) and we will announce all the winners on March 1st, so please don't forget to drop by each day and leave your comments!

Unlock the artist within!

Ten Days of Giveaways: Day 3

Thank you for all the comments on yesterdays post - and again all the fabulous ideas and techniques that you'd like to try!

Today we're looking at the paper products from the Viva La Flora Collection. They include the Photochips, Montage, Filmstrips and Wordstrips.

 

 

I always love the classical beauty of black and white flowers and I wanted to bring that to life in a complete collection. These images are simple and elegant, with the option of using them as they are or by altering them into something a little different.

Here's some options for using these products:

• Photochips are the perfect size for creating greeting cards. They are also a great size to add as an embellishment for scrapbook layouts. They can be punched, sanded, scratched, inked, stamped - so can be altered in many ways to suit your projects!
• The Montage sheet has several different sized images that are suitable for gift cards, ATC's, jewellery, and miniature projects! They are made from the same stock as the Photochips, so can also be sanded, inked etc.
• The Filmstrips and Wordstrips can be used as a complete strip on scrapbook layouts (they are 12" long) or can be cut into individual images or words for smaller sized projects. The Filmstrips can be used in slide mount frames. Or punch them out with a 1" circle punch and place inside a bottlecap or jewellery piece.

That's only the tip of the iceberg for ideas! Here's another idea:

This card uses the Lilies Photochip. I love the look of hand tinted black and white photographs, and you can achieve this on the Photochips by using colouring pens. I have used Marvy le Plume pens to colour the lilies. The Le Plume pens are so smooth and the colours are so soft and dreamy.

Here's one of the Montage images used to create a gift card. I have the same colour scheme going on here as I just used the left over scraps of cardstock and ribbon from the greeting card above. So simple and quick:

Last but not least - I have created a pendant using a Filmstrip image and Wordstrip word. I just trimmed them to size and adhered into the pendant (Nunn Design) using Glossy Accents.

 

It would also look nice if the Filmstrip & Wordstrip were inked in a nice Antique Linen Distress Ink to give them a more vintage look.

So there's some ideas for the paper products from Viva La Flora! I'm sure you guys have plenty more ideas of what you'd like to do.... so share away! Comment here with an idea, or simply tell us your favourite flower from the collection and we'll draw a winner who will receive the Viva La Flora Photochips, Montage, Filmstrips and Wordstrips!

Unlock the artist within!

Ten Days of Giveaways: Day 2

You guys rock - I am so inspired from all the different ideas that you posted in the comments from yesterdays post! I can't wait to try some of them and hope you do too... but for now, let's move on to day 2 of the giveaway...

Today we're looking at the Viva La Flora Vol 2 stamp set:

This stamp set also has a bit of everything in it. Collage style flowers, simple stemmed flowers, quotes, and two cute little flowers. Here's a card I have created with the Daisy collage stamp:

Inks used: Versacolor Ash Rose and Burgundy. I inked the centre with Ash Rose and the outside with the Burgundy to graduate the colour a bit. The centres of the flowers have a little Crystal Stickles on them to add a bit of bling :)

Here's a different technique with that same stamp:

This time I stamped with Brilliance Moonlight White ink onto white cardstock, then embossed with Frosted Crystal powder. I sponged Spiced Marmalade and Fired Brick Distress Ink over the top to bring out the flowers and text background. The 'small beginnings' quote has been stamped with Jet Black ink onto Pink Paislee orange dot paper. (love papers like these!) 

Now time for an ATC:

I've used the Dandelion stamp and the little Memories & Moments words. A tip about the quotes and words in these stamp sets - stamp lightly! They are created with such an elegant fine quote, so you do not need to put much pressure on the stamp. Easy does it :)

The background was created with alcohol inks, Dandelion was stamped with Jet Black ink, and have added some German Scrap for decoration!

Some more ideas for this stamp set:

• Brayer rainbow ink over the collage flower stamps for a colourful background.
• Stamp the Collage Dahlia twice and cut out the Dahlia's on the second image and layer them with foam tape over the first image.
• Stamp the little flowers over and over to create backgrounds.
• Stamp the Dandelion or Daisy several times to create a garden of flowers. Try 'shadow stamping' (stamping several times without re-inking to form different depths of colour)

Then of course there's a multitude of different inks, embossing powders and other materials that would produce fabulous results too! The options are always endless!

Today we're giving away one Viva La Flora Vol 2 stamp set! To be in the draw, comment here with an ink or embossing powder or other product that you'd like to see used on these stamps! Or technique that you'd like to try.

Unlock the artist within!

Ten Days of Giveaways: Day 1

Thank you to everyone who has left comments or sent emails about our new releases!! We are so excited that YOU are excited about them! Yay!

To celebrate the new collections, we are going to host 'Ten Days of Giveaways' here on the Darkroom Door blog! Over the next ten days we will show you some projects created from each new stamp set and from the paper products. And yep, you guessed it, each day there'll be a giveaway! What's not to love about that!!! Valentine's Day has been and gone, but we're still keen to share the love for the rest of February!

So, let's begin with Viva La Flora Vol 1 Rubber Stamps:

When I'm stamping, I love using stamps that are versatile. I love stamps that can be simply stamped with inks, layered on top of each other to create a card in minutes. I also love stamps that can be used with different techniques and materials. I think this stamp set covers it all! Here's a few tips for this set:

• Stamp a solid flower in a light coloured ink, then stamp the corresponding detailed flower over the top in a darker ink. (if you want to use a stamp positioner, the flowers line up perfectly.)
• The solid flowers can be used on their own. The detailed flowers can also be used on their own.
• Stamp a detailed flower and colour in with pencils, pens, Twinkling H20's, Dimensional Pearls, paints, or any other colouring mediums!
• Stamp a solid flower and emboss the detailed flower over the top in a contrasting embossing powder.
• Press the detailed stamps into Polymer clay or UTEE.
• Use a combination of large and small flowers on a project. They look great as a background for cards, layouts, invitations.... anything!
• The quotes can be used in one line, or cut the words individually to layer them as you desire.

Here's a quick card and ATC I created using this stamp set:

I used Adirondack Light Cool Peri & Peach Bellini inks for the solid flowers and Archival Grape ink for the detailed Dahlia and Archival Tangerine for the detailed Gerbera. I love that the smaller version of the flowers look great for ATC's. Doing one of the larger flowers would also look stunning.

So what do you think? To be entered in todays giveaway, leave a comment here and tell us what colour combination you'd love to use for these stamps. I've done a tone on tone effect here in these samples, but I can imagine the colour combinations are endless! If you have specific inks in mind, mention them too. Or what techniques you'd like to try!

A winner will be drawn from todays comments... and will win the Viva La Flora Vol 1 stamp set!

Winners will be announced on 1st March 2009. There will be a different prize each day and your comments are only valid for that days drawing. So check back here each day and leave a comment to be in each draw!!!

Unlock the artist within!