This month's Artist-in-Residence Challenge Project, for Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko, offered me a tremendous amount of fun 'making my own' stamp!

by Debbie Gaetz, AIR, for Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

For the card base, use a lavender colored metallic Stardream card stock and emboss the front cover.

With 80-lb. Solar White Classic Crest card stock, spray the card stock with Angel Pink & Canteloupe Fireworks! After spraying, use a paper towel to dab up any color that may have pooled. Allow the paper to dry completely.

I found these items to make stamp designs by adhering them to Tsukineko's Tack 'n Peel:

Strips of Leather Cord

Roll-a-Bind plastic discs

Lego block rubber erasers

Ink each of these items with VersaMagic (Thatched Straw) and stamp onto the prepared background paper.

Cut the background paper into a 3x3-inch square.

Make a square frame using the Spellbinder die and the same white card stock that will be placed over the square background paper.

This is the die I used for the frame;
I don't know the name of the die set from Spellbinders that
is shown below. I purchased it in a kit from
Amazing Paper Grace who, at the time, was designing
dies for Spellbinders.

Use mini foam adhesive dots to lift the frame up for a little dimension.

Stamp the tulip stamp from Magenta on the white card stock with Black Onyx Versafine. Color with Copic markers.

Because I think tulips are rarely just one color
and I like striations of a contrasting color in the tulip petals,
I first used Maize (Y35) in spots on the petals. I followed
up with 2 shades of lavender -- first with Mauve Shadow
(BV00), followed with Ash Lavender (V22) for the
shadowing and dimension. I then went back in a few
places with the Maize to blend into the Mauve Shadow in a few tiny spots.
Use Dim Green (G40) for the stems and leaves, followed with
Green Grey (BG93) for added dimension and contouring.

Using the Spellbinders' Nesting Squares, use the die that fits around the Magenta tulip stamp and center it around the stamped image. After die-cutting, spray the image with Shimmering Goosebumps Spray for a nice finish. After the Goosebumps has thoroughly dried, use the Lulu Lavender Memento Marker around the edges with a light touch and then smooth over with a paper towel.

With foam mounting tape, place the tulip image in the center of the raised frame. Place small yellow pearls on each corner of the tulip image and each corner of the raised frame.

Swipe VersaMagic in Spring Pansy, Thatched Straw, and Pink Petunia on two different-sized paper flowers (cream colored) from Prima. After the ink has dried, spray with Shimmering Goosebumps for some extra shine and a wet look. Attach both flowers with a white brad that has been colored with the Lulu Lavender Memento Marker; use more Goosebump spray on the reverse side to adhere to the front of the card.

This is another view of the card to try and capture the texture and glimmer of the products used.

Thank you for taking the time to review my Challenge Project for Imagine Crafts. I'll be back later this month with my spring Themed Project using VersaMagic inks.

In the meantime, I hope you're enjoying all of the Imagine Crafts' Artists-in-Residence postings. I'm always in awe of their artistry and creativity. John has put together an amazing team and I'm quite honored to be amongst them.

See you soon!