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Debbie Gaetz, Bella Carta

Love Mama Elephant!


I have been waiting and waiting to use this stamp from Mama Elephant. Putting aside the household chores, I made two cards. Why only two? Because I had to finish what I put off earlier. I will be making more cards with this stamp . . . it's now made my Top 5 Stamps I Love list.

Mama Elephant: Botanic Hello (stamp design and sentiment)

VersaFine Ink in Onyx Black

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Watercolor Markers

Tim Holtz Stamp Platform

ATG with double-sided adhesive tape

Base Card: Conqueror 118# Cover Card Stock in Diamond White

Card A: Memory Box Stitched Oval Layers Die Set 30069 using Silk Card Stock from Hanko Designs

Card B: Spellbinders' Nestabilities Card Creator 5x7 Matting Basics A Die Set using Bazzill "Red Carpet" Bling Card Stock

I stamped the image with the Tim Holtz Stamp Platform; if you haven't purchased yours yet, drop everything and run to your nearest rubber stamp and/or craft store. They're in high, high demand due to the extended wait from the manufacturer; however, it seems to be superior to the MISTI that we've all loved. Now I have both stamp tools and I love them both. There are features on the Stamp Platform that make life a little easier when using it. With the Tim Holtz Stamp Platform, I was able to cut my base card and score it; without folding it, I placed it on the stamp platform to stamp directly on it because of the open sides. Otherwise, I would have had a stamped panel and a mat panel on top of the base card.

After stamping the image with the VersaFine ink, I heat set the ink so it wouldn't bleed with the watercolor markers. I used at least two, if not four, different tones of each color used. Using a darker tone on the letters helped to add a subtle dimensional effect. In the second card, I used the lightest gray color to go around all of the outside edges and the inside white spaces. I didn't go back to do that with the first card because I wanted you to see the difference. My vote is to stay with the light gray shadowing.

Mama Elephant Stamps, Memory Box, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, Tim Holtz Stamp Platform, VersaFine ink by Tsukineko

Mama Elephant Stamps, Spellbinders, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, Tim Holtz Stamp Platform, VersaFine ink by Tsukineko

I'm always the one who never stamps the sentiments in a straight line, or gets off kilter with something.

To aid in deciding how to center the top frame panel in the first card, I die cut the oval. I then placed the oval die cut over the stamped image where I wanted the opening; using temporary tape, I adhered the oval to the stamped panel and snuggled the metal die around the die cut and taped it down using the temporary tape. It worked!

For the second card, I sized up two of the nesting dies in the Matting Basics A die set to cut the thin "frame" that sits atop the stamped base card.

I don't know how old or new this stamp design is. I do know I love it and thank MAMA ELEPHANT for designing it!

Thank you for stopping by. I'm off to Portland, Oregon tomorrow night for a 2-day class with Finnabair. And then I'm back for classes at Art 'n Soul in Lacey, Washington featuring the artistry of Kae Pea with RubberMoon stamps. The next 5 days are going to be fantabulously artsy!

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