Stamp School 17: Simple Silhouettes!

Hi friends! If you have never made a card before OR need a quick elegant card OR want to learn how to use tricky silhouette stamps this lesson is for you!

Silhouette stamps make a big impact and they can make a quick card too since you don’t need to color anything in. They are also very versatile, if I took this gingko tree silhouette stamp and heat embossed it in white iridescent powder on silver cardstock it would be an elegant wedding card. You can also use any colors to completely change the look for any occasion. Silhouettes equal quick but it can be a bit tricky getting the ink to transfer properly. I will help you overcome that with this video! The stamps I am using today are from our sponsor Art Neko, mention “Thefrugalcrafter” to save 10% on any order or get free shipping on orders over $50. You can use whatever discount is greater!

Now, even pros make mistakes, after I made this card I realized that the bottom clump of leaves was a separate stamp on the plate LOL! You are actually supposed to cut that stamp off so you can stamp on more foliage if you want. Well, I still think it looks great!

Supplies:
Cardstock in black and shades of green (or color of your choice)
Ink in black and green (or color of your choice)
Stamps: Bonsai Tree Silhouette, Leaf
Ribbon
Round paper clip

Directions:
1. Stamp focal image on colored cardstock that is the same color as card base.
2. Cut a piece of black the same size as stamped panel.
3. Layer a lighter shade of the same color of card on the card base, then adhere the back piece and then offset the stamped panel.
4. Cut a slit for the ribbon 1/2″ from the bottom of the card, insert the ribbon and wrap around card and tie the ends to a round paperclip.

Try this the next time you need a quick card. Happy crafting!

Stamp School #5: Winning Ways With Watercolor Pencils!

Hi friends! I hope you are enjoying your summer, we had another beautiful day in Maine! Sunshine and low 80s! I hope you picked up some watercolor pencils because I’m going to show you a few techniques while we make this card:

I recommend a waterproof black inkpad and watercolor pencils for beginner stampers for 2 reasons: 1. they are very versatile and allow you to have a rainbow of color for a small cost. And 2. Because even if you do not continue to stamp you can use the watercolor pencils for many other hobbies.  I hope you enjoy this weeks lesson!

Video!

This video is sponsored by Art Neko (Formally About Art Accents)
Special Deals for Stamp School Students:
10% off merchandise (not shipping and handling)
or
FREE shipping on $50.00 orders.
You will get either the 10% or FREE shipping, whichever is more.
All YOU have to do is mention The Frugal Crafter.
***Special Deal! $10 off the full sheet that this stamp is from for Frugalfans only, search LIND in the search box at Artneko and the stamp set will show up at a lower price! (don’t share the link, it is a special deal for YOU guys only;)

Supplies:
White cardstock
watercolor pencils
Butterfly stamp
Sentiment (this is by inkadinkado)
Blender pen
watercolor brush
bucket of water
Waterproof black ink pad
Black pen
Glue
Optional

BTW  If you don’t have a waterbased blending marker just use a paintbrush dipped in a 50/50 water glycerin mix (glycerin is available at the drug store.)

Let me know how these techniques work for you! If you liked this project please click the like button below and share it with your friends on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter! Thansk for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Halloween Stamp Giveaway from ArtNeko!

Howdy friends! Can someone please tell me what happened to September? The weather today is like summer except for the beautiful fall leaves. It does not feel like it should be October in a couple of days…but, alas, it will be. And since I have not given away any fabulous stamps this month I thought I might as well choose some Halloween ones because by the time the winner gets them it will be just right for Halloween! All you have to do for a chance to win is leave a comment on this blog post. I will draw a name at random next Sunday {October 5th.} Up for grabs are the 3 Halloween stamps I used on this project as well as a $10 gift certificate to Art Neko. Not feeling lucky? How about this, you can save 10% on non sale rubber with my coupon code Lindsay10%

I hope you had a great weekend! Good luck in the prize drawing and as always happy crafting!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! & a cheap marker trick!

Howdy friends! The winner of the chicken stamp and $10 gift certificate to Art Neko is Elaine! I have sent you an email with instructions on how to claim your prize! Now, on to the tutorial. I was going through my school supply stash today and saw some boxes of Crayola markers that I bought at Target for $1 a few years ago at back-to-school time. I wondered if I could use them for stamping. Turns out I can and they work great, have a look at them in action in today’s video:

I saw the marker packs on sale for $1 this year too. You might want to splurge on a bigger set now that you know they work but I love the vibrant colors in the classic and assorted sets plus you can mix the colors on a tile or on the rubber stamp itself. It is easy to tone down a bright color but you cannot brighten up a dull one. What do you think? Have I gone too cheap with this tutorial? Just think, with all the money you saved on markers you can buy more stamps! The stamps I used are from Art Neko (formally About Art Accents) and the bamboo and peony are among my faves. Thanks so much for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Stamp winner and a New Card {And a sneaky $1 stamping tool!}

Hi Friends! First up congrats to Trish Wood, the winner of the ArtNeko stamps from the giveaway I posted last week. If you did not win you can use my coupon code to shop: Lindsay10% and it will save you 10% on non sale rubber. I have 385 entries for that giveaway, holy cow! You like those stamps huh? I don’t blame you, that is why I used their Jellyfish stamp in today’s tip laden video, you will also learn what my sneaky $1 stamping tool is:

Funny, it seems like all of my tips today were about how to use mistakes and push through crafty failure. Doesn’t it feel good to know you are not the only one whose creative mojo takes a hit now and then? What do you do when your crafty mojo is down? I’d love to hear your tips! Leave them in the comments!

Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Rubber Stamp Giveaway & Nature Themed Cards!

Howdy friends! It’s giveaway time! Up for grabs are these beautiful snail and butterfly stamps from Art Neko (formally About Art Accents):

The full 8″x10″ Garden Friends sheet of stamps that these images came from is gorgeous and on sale for $10 (regularly $20) so you might want to check it out. Don’t worry, if you buy it and end up winning it you can pick different stamps:) Oh and if you see stamps that are not on sale that you want to buy you can use my coupon code for 10% off: Lindsay10% I will show you how I made these cards with lots of tips and hints along the way in today’s video:

Here is a close up of the snail card:

And the butterfly one…I think I need a sentiment here, what do you think?

For a chance to win the stamps I used and a $10 gift certificate to Art Neko just leave a comment on this blog post and I will select a name at random next Sunday the 25th. Art Neko ships worldwide so anyone on the planet can enter. Good luck and happy crafting!

Quick Art Therapy & a Winner!

Hello friends! What a wild, busy week! I am always happy to have my kids home on school break but I must say by the end of the week I feel like I need a vacation! First off I want to announce the winner of the Art Neko Stamp Giveaway….kellyphillips62 Yay! You get the stamps I used on last Fridays post and a $10 gift certificate to Art Neko (formally About Art Accents) check your email for contact details! We had 267 entries, wow, thanks for playing everyone! Tonight I have another fun card for you also using stamps from Art Neko:

As I mentioned before, I love having my kids home but this week I felt more like a chauffeur than a mom, I’m glad they have activities they enjoy but I would have enjoyed just chillin’ at home with them a bit more. Oh well, we have an entire summer for that LOL! Anyway, as I mentioned I was exhausted tonight but I also had the itch to get inky in my studio. This card takes only a few minutes to make, it is wild and fun and you are only using a stamp, a sheet of plain white cardstock and watercolors (the kids watercolors are fine for this too!)

This is a great warm up exercise too, remember you are only using a sheet of cardstock so don’t worry about it, just paint! It’s fun, don’t over-think it! OK, now I am really tired. I hope you have a great weekend and til next time happy crafting!

Stamp Giveaway Time & Lots of Inky Goodness!

Happy Friday friends! I feel like giving away some stamps today and it’s a good thing too because the fine folks at Art Neko (Formally About Art Accents) have some lovelies for me to give away.  You can win the stamps I used on this card, and a $10 gift certificate to Art Neko! With Mothers Day right around the corner I thought I’d share a fun technique that lets you get nice and artsy! You will need an old book or magazine page, white gesso (or flat white house paint/primer if you don’t have gesso), some kind of clear embossing powder, a silhouette style stamp and a dye based ink pad and sponge. Ready? Let’s get inky!

I really wanted to feature these Authentic Antique European Silhouettes stamps because they are one of the first sets I got from them  5 years ago AND because that stamp set is on sale for $9.99 (regular price $29.99) for a 8″x10″ sheet of red rubber stamps! I love a bargain. Of course winning stamps for free is even better so leave a comment and you will go into the prize draw! If you buy the set and end up being the winner you can pick other stamps as your prize, yes the owners of Art Neko are that awesome! I’ll pick a winner next Friday. This contest is open to EVERYBODY EVERYWHERE so don’t be shy, leave a comment. Also Art Neko ships worldwide and charges actual fair postage. Good luck & happy crafting!

Need More Marker Ideas? We’ve got ‘um!

Hi guys! Do you have waterbased markers? Marvy LePlume, Whispers, Distress, Tombow, Memento, Stampin Up or others? Today I am going to share a few techniques with you. Some might be old favorites, some might be new but hopefully by the end of the video you will see how versatile your watercolor marks are! Also, I’ll let you know what I think of a new waterproof inkpad I bought. Enjoy the video! 😀

That card won’t win any awards but it was fun and isn’t that the point? The stamp I used is from Art Neko (formally About Art Accents) and it is available as a single image, a plate of 10 designs or a set of 6 plates with all 50 states birds and flowers plus bonus stamps, they are gorgeous and perfect if you love to color! Well, that’s it for me tonight, one of my favorite shows that has been on break for weeks because of March Madness is back on, I’m gonna watch me some Elementary! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!