Heart2Heart Challenge - Techniques

This week at the H2H Challenge blog, they asked the question, "What technique inspires you?" For me, that's "Rock-n-Roll" stamping, without question. It's a technique that is SO easy with the Close to My Heart Acrylix stamps and the effect is awesome!

On my entry, I used a retired stamp set that I just can't part with, called "Skeleton Leaves," but the technique is easier to see with my sample pictures using another retired set, called "Nature's Vein."

First, I stamped my image in a light color; I used Creme Brulee'. Then, after cleaning my stamp off, I used Bamboo to restamp the image, but this time I rocked the edges of the stamp into the ink. I made a point to leave the center of the image clean of this new color and also "rolled" the stamp so that as the ink got closer to the center, there was less of it. I stamped it directly on top of the first image, giving my artwork a slight two-toned effect. It harder to see in the pictures, but there was a definite "glow" to the center of the leaf.

After cleaning the stamp again, I used Smokey Plum for the final accents. I used the same method of rocking and rolling the stamp into the ink, but this time my goal was to collect just a little of the edges of the stamp.


Here is another example using the "Skeleton Leaves" stamp set. On this one, I used Sunflower ink as the first stamp, Autumn Terra Cotta as the second stamp and Cranberry as the final one. I love how this techniques creates a finished image!