Here’s another one of my stamps seeing ink for the first time — one of the Sidekick Sayings, a Stampin’ Up! Level 1 hostess set. That’s two stamps down from this set, one to go. Gosh, surely I can use these stamps more than one time each. One of the reasons I hang on to stamps for so long is that I tend to reach for whatever pops into my head. An idea forms, I think about it as I go about my non-stamping business, and I eventually have time to put it down on paper. That doesn’t necessarily involve my most recent stamp purchase. I’m making an effort to do a little better in that regard but in many cases those uninked stamps may be several years old. Yes, I agree — shame on me!
The images from this set are not breathtaking or even exceptionally cute. They are quick and easy to work with, though, and I do love a funky little Christmas tree like this. There are dress up possibilities with any stamp, no matter how simple, so that’s what I did here. Unfortunately, most of the dressing up is not apparent in the photo because it involves sparkle and you know how hard that is to photograph without compromising other aspects of the design. To get sparkle to show up in a photo it needs a light to shine straight onto the card front which then eliminates the shadow cast by a dimensional piece. The only way to get the shadow is to have the brighter or closer light shining from the side. It’s a catch-22. With a lot of fiddling with the lights and positions, numerous photographs and trips to the computer to check the results and, needless to say, plenty of time on your hands it’s possible to show both sparkle and dimension. It’s darn hard, though! Well…it’s hard for an amateur like me.
This image is stamped in Basic Brown and colored with markers. See the teeny tiny ornaments on the tree? Those are the smallest stickers known to Man and how I got them on there is a mystery to me. They’re amazing in real life, though. I wish you could see them in person. Oh, my goodness, it’s as though they’re lit from within! Furthermore, I wish I knew what they’re called because I’d love to have more of them. The prismatic sparkle is beyond belief for something so small and flat. There are varying sizes on a sheet and wouldn’t you know I’d need the smallest ones for this card. They were a gift from a friend. As soon as I find out what they are I’ll let you know.
If you look real closely you can see a tiny glint of sparkle on the star. That comes from the Copic Spica glitter pen. Mine is clear but they’re available in several colors. These pens have a quality unlike other glitter pens. They lay down a very fine line of the most delicate fairy dust sparkle. It catches you unawares just as you’re about to set the card aside; an effect so ethereal it’s almost mesmerizing. But then, perhaps you know I have a fascination for sparkle these days… I was so enchanted with the pen I wanted to touch up everything in sight — so I traced over the words, too. That accounts for the appearance in the photo of the words being unevenly inked. It’s actually the reflection of the Spica sparkle.
The papers, by the way, are last year’s Stampin’ Up! Christmas papers, which became this year’s Wintergreen collection — same patterns, new colors. I like the new colors better but, darn, I’ve got almost a whole pack left from last year — surprising discipline on my part.
Well, guess I felt a little chatty today. That’s what comes from a rejuvenating day outdoors. I hope you had a fine day, as well. Happy stamping to all!
Stamps: Sidekick Sayings
Paper: Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, SU! DP (retired)
Ink: Basic Brown, markers: Old Olive, Summer Sun, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Ribbon, brads, Copic Spica glitter pen, fascinating little prism stickers, Scotch brand dimensional mounting tape
