Halloween Shaker Cards with Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous

I started these two cards years ago but never finished them. I decided to turn them into shaker cards. For the first card, I was inspired by watching one of Tim Holtz's videos about alcohol ink backgrounds with stamping on it. The background I made was an experiment so I used a piece of scrap Yupo paper. It came out so cute that I wanted to make it into a card, even though it definitely was not perfect. I had double stamped the cats to make them darker but was a little off, the alcohol was too shiny in spots, and the scrap piece I used was a bit too short for the A2 format I wanted to make. Challenge accepted! I made a card that hides most of these flaws.

There's not much to be done about the double stamping but the shiny/mat unevenness wouldn't show much under acetate so I made it into a shaker card. I hid the shortness of the piece by placing a sentiment over it.

The next card background I stamped while I was on the Rubbernecker Stamps design team. The company no longer makes the red rubber stamps I used (they also changed their name and now make clear stamps instead), but I put several similar haunted house stamps and spider web stamps in the supply list below (be sure to check the sizes of the stamps to get the size you want).

Note: You may adapt the sizes of the cards as desired. My cards were A2 and A7 but you could reverse them or make them the same size - just adjust your stamping, etc., accordingly. Also, you may use any nesting rectangle dies to create the frames, just be sure they will fit the card bases you choose. I have Waffle Flower versions that match A2 and A7 card formats so it is very easy to make the right size frames. These are a staple in my craft room! See the Supply List below for links.

Copyright Notice: ©Mary Dimercurio Prasad. All rights reserved. Any illegal reproduction of this content, including images, will result in immediate legal action.

Disclaimer:  Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at the bottom of this blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Happy Halloween Card

1. On a piece of Yupo paper, use various alcohol inks to create a graduated background from red to red-violet, to blue-violet, to blue, and finally to black - leave an area for a moon. Spray with isopropyl alcohol in a mister bottle to make little light speckles. On an ink blending tool, add a bit of black going from the top partway down. I just messed with this until I was happy with the look.

2. Use a cotton swab with isopropyl alcohol to move alcohol away from moon area. Add some yellow in the center making a circle for the moon. Then add light blue, moving outward going in circles around the moon until it meets up with the darker area.

3. Using a stamp platform and Black Soot Archival Ink, stamp Paris skyline from Cityscapes at the bottom of the scene. I didn't want the city to be identifiable so I just used the right part of the stamp without the Eiffel Tower. I stamped a few times to get darker results (let dry in between - if you use a heat tool to speed drying, keep it moving and don't get close or it will deform the Yupo paper). From Halftone Halloween (Stampers Anonymous), stamp bats and witch on broom. For the cats, stamp once but do not remove stamp from stamp platform. Use a cotton swab to remove alcohol ink from cats' eyes and replace with yellow (may have to remove some cotton or use a precision swab). Place back into stamp platform and stamp again until you are happy with the darkness. Clean stamps with a stamp shammy.

4. Cut a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch piece from white cardstock. Fold in half to create a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card base. Use Masking Magic or other masking to cover the back of the card, be sure it lines up perfectly with the fold - you will be ink blending along the front side of the fold. You may also want to cover the inside front of card, depending on how neatly you can ink blend.

5. On a non-stick craft mat, use a blending tool with domed foam and Distress inks matching alcohol ink colors to ink blend around front edges of card. This will make it look like the Yupo panel is the full size of the card front. From bottom to top, I used Lumberjack Plaid, Seedless Preserves, Villainous Potion, Prize Ribbon, Chipped Sapphire, and Black Soot. Adhere Yupo panel to card base. You may remove masks.

6. Use two nested rectangle dies from A2 Layers and Additional A2 Layers to create a frame over the edge of the Yupo panel - you want the edge of the panel between the two rectangles. You may use just one of these nested die sets but the frame may need to be thicker. Be sure that the outer rectangle is smaller than the card front and that the ink blending will fall under the frame. Place the rectangle dies cut side down on surface. Use Mint Tape or washi to tape the two dies on the back (non cutting side) - I recommend all 4 corners and middle of sides to be sure nothing moves while cutting. Cut two frames from black cardstock. Line them up and adhere them together. The double layer will give the frame some strength.

7. Cut a piece of recycled clear plastic packaging (or acetate) in a rectangle a tiny bit smaller than the outer frame die. I don't recommend using a die for this as it can be very difficult to cut through. I find that scissors or a paper trimmer works well. Hint: trace around outer frame on plastic using a Sharpie or other alcohol based marker, then cut inside the line. Check the size - trim if necessary.

8. Use 1/8" tape and/or a strong glue to adhere the plastic to back of frame. Be sure plastic is clean. Add 1/8" double sided adhesive foam strips around edges, making sure foam is completely behind frame. Optional: use a powder tool to go around the inside of frame to remove any unnecessary stick. Make sure that no extra powder is on window before moving on.

9. Add Halloween themed embellishments (sequins, beads, etc.) on top of Yupo panel, making sure they stay towards the center. Adhere frame.

10. Using stamp platform and embossing ink or VersaMark, stamp Happy Halloween from Mini Halloween 3 (Stampers Anonymous) on a strip of dark blue cardstock (hint: use a powder tool on the cardstock before stamping). Sprinkle with purple embossing powder and heat with heat tool - see embossing powder notes in Supplies, below. Trim and cut fish tails - I put a dot in the center on each end, about 1/4 inch in from the left and right sides, then cut from the corners to the dot. Adhere to card with foam tape.

Making The Boo Crew Card

1. Cut a 7x10 inch piece from black cardstock; fold in half to create a 5x7 inch card base. Cut 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 piece from smooth watercolor paper or white Heavystock. Use stamp platform and waterproof black ink such as Distress Archival Black Soot or VersaFine Clair Nocturne to stamp haunted house near bottom (see photo). Also stamp house on a piece of Masking Magic. Note: you should heat set the ink with a heat tool, especially if you used VersaFine Clair, which takes longer to air dry. Fussy cut mask with detail scissors. Apply mask over stamped house. Optional: if your stamp does not have a moon and you want one, you may cut one from masking paper, either with a circle die or trace around something round and fussy cut. Stamp web over top in same ink. See Supplies below for stamp suggestions. Do not remove mask yet.

2. (Optional: you may draw or add to sidewalk using waterproof black pen such as a Copic Multiliner or Sakura Pigma Micron. You may also outline moon if you used a mask to create it.) Use Masking Magic or Post-it Notes to cover bottom area for grass/sidewalk.

3. On non-stick craft mat, use Tim Holtz Distress Inks in various colors and a blending tool with domed foam to create a night sky over your scene. Mine went from purple to blue to black. To create texture in the background, spray or dip fingers in water then flick over background. Let sit for a few seconds then blot with paper towel. Repeat until you get the desired effect.

4. Remove masks. Using waterbrush (or paintbrush) color moon, house, sidewalk, and grass. You may use watercolor paints or Distress Inks.

5. Using stamp platform and waterproof black ink, stamp a couple ghosts over the inked background (see photo). Use waterbrush to remove some ink from inside ghosts (be gentle, don't rub a hole in the paper); blot with paper towel. Add some Picket Fence Distress Ink with waterbrush inside the ghosts to give them more of a white glow. Adhere to card base.

6. See steps 6 to 8 in the card above to create a frame from dark blue cardstock but use A7 Layers and Additional A7 Layers instead of A2. Note: the cardstock I used was a pearlized/metallic type; it was just something I have in my stash - don't remember the manufacturer.

7. Add ghost sequins to card background, making sure they stay near center. I bought mine at a dollar store but Doodlebug Design Halloween Night Shakers contains similar ghosts. I think I added too many so adjust as you like. Adhere frame.

8. Die cut Boo word from black cardstock and Boo shadow layer from Holographic paper or cardstock (the Boo dies that I used are difficult to find so I linked to a more current version). Adhere together with strong glue. Using stamp platform and embossing ink or VersaMark, stamp "The Boo Crew" (or just the words "The" and "Crew") on black cardstock (hint: use a powder tool on the cardstock before stamping). Sprinkle with purple embossing powder and heat with heat tool - see embossing powder notes in Supplies, below.

9. Either hand cut, paper trim, or use a strip die to cut out "The" and "Crew." I couldn't find the strip dies I used but found some similar: Altenew Featured Sentiments, Gina K Designs Sentiment Strips - if they are too long or tall, just die cut one side where it should be then die cut the other, shifting the die but making sure it is lined up before cutting.

10. Adhere sentiment words to card with foam tape as shown. Adhere three ghosts where shown at top right of card.

Supplies

• Ranger Alcohol Inks in Various Colors
• Yupo Paper
• Mister Bottle
• Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Stamps: Cityscapes CMS224, Halftone Halloween CMS199, Mini Halloween 3 CMS140
• Tim Holtz/Ranger Black Soot Archival Ink
• Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Various Colors
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne
• Cotton Swabs
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink Picket Fence
• Sizzix Big Shot, or other die cutting machine
• Waffle Flower Dies: A2 Layers, Additional A2 Layers, A7 Layers, Additional A7 Layers
• Honey Bee Stamps Boo Stamps and Dies HBST-374 (out of print but you may still find it by search); Alternatives: Art Impressions Halloween Sentiments, Waffle Flower Boo Word
• Sizzix Framelits With Stamps Happy Halloween 660647 (ghost stamp, no longer available)
• Avery Elle Simple Sentiments Dies D-18-38; Alternatives: Altenew Featured Sentiments, Gina K Designs Sentiment Strips
• Haunted House Stamps: Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Sketch Manor CMS408, Scrapbook.com Spooky, Colorado Craft Company Happy Haunting, Sunny Studio Stamps Fall Scenes, Woodware Haunted - be sure to check sizes of stamps to get what you want
• Spider Web Stamps: Picket Fence Studios Caught in My Web, Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Tangled Webs CMS346, Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz CMS380, Creative Expressions Web of Shadows - be sure to check sizes of stamps to get what you want
• Masking Magic
• Non-stick Craft Mat
• Stamp Platform (Tim Holtz, Misti)
• Heat Tool
• Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy to clean stamps
• Mint Tape or Washi Tape
• VersaMark or Embossing Ink
• Embossing Powder: I couldn't find WOW! Metalline Violet Regular WG04R that I used but the Ranger Purple Opaque Shiny Embossing Powder looks similar
• Foam Tape, 1/8" Wide and/or Strong Glue (recommend fine tipped bottle)
• Foam Tape
• Scrapbook.com Foam Adhesive Strips 1/8" Wide (I used sbc-ptadh-6000, 2mm thick version single)
• Pink & Main Powder Tool
• Recycled Plastic Packaging
• Halloween Embellishments (e.g. sequins, beads), Doodlebug Design Halloween Night Shakers
• Tim Holtz Blending Tools, Domed Foam Applicators
• Smooth Watercolor Paper (Distress Watercolor Cardstock) or White Distress Heavystock
• Holographic Paper or Cardstock
• Detail Scissors
• Waterproof Black Pen: Copic Multiliner, Sakura Pigma Micron
• Post-it Notes
• Waterbrush

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Making Stamp Ephemera Using Tim Hotz Stamps

I had so much fun making these vintage looking postage stamps! I looked up vintage stamps online to get an idea of colors but there was a huge range, so pretty much any ink color will do. I chose mostly muted colors with a few exceptions. The Tim Holtz/Sizzix Postale die set comes with three dies to make postage edges. These matched most, but not all, of the Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Stamp Collector set. I fussy cut around the others with a good pair of detail scissors.

These stamps are perfect for junk journals, cards, and even decorating envelopes. Please do not use them as postage, but they are perfect for hand delivering; you can even "cancel" them yourself if you have one of the many postage themed stamp sets out there (for example, Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Correspondence - see the Supplies section below for more recommendations).

Copyright Notice: ©Mary Dimercurio Prasad. All rights reserved. Any illegal reproduction of this content, including images, will result in immediate legal action.

Disclaimer:  Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at the bottom of this blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Stamps

1. Antique several sheets of high quality/premium printer paper (e.g. Hammermill Premium). I do not use cardstock for this; paper makes them feel and look more like real stamps. I antique the paper by pressing various colors of Distress Inks on a craft mat or Glass Media Mat, spraying lots of water, then dragging the paper through it. Start with a light color such as Antique Linen to cover the entire sheet. Dry with a heat tool or let air dry before continuing. If you want darker paper, use less water or use something like Vintage Photo but start with more water unless you want very dark results. To add texture, press various light brown inks (maybe 2 or 3 colors) onto craft mat again, spray with water, break up ink by running your fingers through it, then tap paper in it, moving it to different areas. I recommend starting with light colors and more water first. Dry between layers with a heat tool. Tim Holtz shows how to do this in many of his videos when creating backgrounds. Make a lot of sheets if you want many colors.

2. For optimum efficiency, I recommend mounting the entire unweeded stamp onto a stamp platform (e.g. Tim Holtz or Misti). If you have already separated the stamps, you'll need to move each stamp onto the stamp platform - be sure to leave enough room between each to cut apart and die cut later. Ink up and stamp onto antiqued paper. I recommend using VersaFine Clair inks. They have the crispest results. Note: you should use a heat tool to set the ink as it tends to dry slowly. I also used Ranger Archival Ink and Tim Holtz Distress Archival Ink to fill in colors I didn't have in VF Clair. Clean stamps with Stamp Shammy and water.

3. Cut stamp images apart, leaving room for die cutting. Fussy cut around any that don't fit in one of the dies with a good pair of detail scissors. Using a die cutting machine and Postale Dies, die cut the rest of the stamps. I like to do this in front of the TV or while listening to a podcast.

4. Optional; Use an ink blending tool and dome foam to ink edges of stamps with a brown Distress Ink.

Supplies

• Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Stamp Collector CMS338
• Tim Holtz/Sizzix Postale Dies 665927
• Distress Inks (for example: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy)
• VersaFine Clair Inks, many colors
• Ranger Archival Ink or Tim Holtz Distress Archival Ink, many colors
• Stamp Platform (Tim Holtz, Misti)
• High Quality Printer Paper (I recommend a premium paper like Hammermill Premium)
• Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy to clean stamps
• Craft Mat or Glass Media Mat
• Sizzix Sidekick, Big Shot, or other die cutting machine
• Detail Scissors
• Tim Holtz Blending Tools, Domed Foam Applicator
• Heat Tool
• Stamps sets to hand cancel your postage: Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous sets - Correspondence CMS225, Tidbits CMS488, Holiday Postmarks CMS323

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Use Scrap Strips to Make Ephemera Using Stamps and Washi

I have a hard time throwing away scraps, including strips. I even keep strips that I cut off the ends of patterned paper - you know, the white strip at the top, sometimes with a hole? Some come with a pattern that's found on the reverse side - I even keep those!

I'm working with cream and white scraps here but you could do this with light colored scraps too. If the color is too dark, the stamping or washi tape may not show up well. Use these strips to decorate cards, junk journals, scrapbooks, envelopes (I'd recommend using thinner cardstock or paper scraps for envelopes), decor, and more.

Copyright Notice: ©Mary Dimercurio Prasad. All rights reserved. Any illegal reproduction of this content, including images, will result in immediate legal action.

Disclaimer:  Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at the bottom of this blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Strips

1. Gather up your cream or white cardstock scrap strips and/or cut some strips from larger scraps or full sheets. You may also use light colored cardstock strip scraps.

2. See photo for examples. Use thin washi tapes to line edges of thicker strips. Use thicker washi tapes either by themselves or with stamps depending on the thickness of the strip and the desired look. See Supplies, below, for some of the Tim Holtz Design Tapes I used.

3. Optional: use a blending tool with sanding disk on a small cutting mat to sand off some of the surface of the washi tape. Use a soft cloth, such as a microfiber cloth, to wipe off and pick up any dust before handling. Sanding makes the tape look less shiny, makes it adhere better, and gives it an aged look. Note: I use the back side of my cutting mat so I won't sand off the lines on the front. You may want to use a dedicated mat for sanding.

4. Stamp between washi tape or stamp above/below as desired. I used VersaFine Clair Inks for their crispness. Look for small stamps to fit the space. If a stamp has two lines and you want to stamp in one line, you may either ink one half at a time or mask off one line at a time (e.g. use a Post-it to cover half while inking then remove before stamping). If you get ink in an undesired area, I recommend using a Stamp Shammy to clean off ink; I fold and use a small edge or corner for accuracy. Stamp Shammies are also excellent for cleaning your stamps before putting them away.

5. Use blending tool with a domed foam applicator and brown Distress Oxide Ink or brown Distress Ink to ink edges of each strip. I used Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink. You may want to do this on a Craft Mat or Glass Media Mat.

Hints: See the photo above; each square is 1/2". If your stamping was crooked, try stamping over with a darker ink, maybe using a seal type stamp. You may also trim down the area and separate areas by stamp. For example, I stamped "Handle With Care" twice but they were crooked so I cut around them and inked the edges to use separately. I stamped the red stripes (above the blue and red arrows) but left too much of a gap between the stamps so I added a black Air Mail seal over that area to hide the gaps. If you have very small scraps, fit very small stamps or washi (the red "Air Mail" with stripes is one stamp).

For a more distressed look, bend strip in different directions, each time sanding and/or inking the bent edge before flattening back out - see top strip with "Special Delivery" stamped down the middle and black washi tape at top. The music strip is just washi alone - the strip was very thin, I even had to trim it down to fit the paper.

Supplies

• Cardstock - Cream or White
• Various Washi Tapes - Tim Holtz Design Tape (e.g. Postal, Vintage, Collector, Trims)
• Thin Washi Tapes
• Tim Holtz Ranger Sanding Disks (for Mini Ink Blending Tool)
• Small Cutting Mat
• Microfiber Cloth
• Stampers Anonymous Stamps:
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Field Notes CMS396
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Correspondence CMS225
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Holiday Postmarks CMS323
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Tidbits CMS488
• Optional: Post-it Notes
• Recommended: Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy to clean stamps
• Tim Holtz Blending Tools, Domed Foam Applicator
• Brown Distress Oxide Ink (I used Vintage Photo) or Brown Distress Ink
• VersaFine Clair Inks (e.g. Nocturne, Tulip Red, Paradise)
• Craft Mat or Glass Media Mat

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Use Scraps to Make Vintage Labels - Tip to Prevent Ink Beading

Use your cream and white scraps to create lots of labels in different colors. Grunge them up for a more vintage look. Add adhesive to the back using a Xyron Creative Station, Xyron Creative Station Lite, Xyron 250 Create-A-Sticker, or Xyron 150 Create-A-Sticker if you would like to make them into stickers. I listed these in order of price (high to low), which also corresponds to size. The largest Creative Station will accept paper/cardstock up to 9 inches wide (e.g. US letter) and may also be used with 5 inch cartridges. The Creative Station Lite will accept 5" and 3" cartridges. The 250 has a 2.5" opening, and the smallest 150 has a 1.5" opening. All are refillable, but the larger machines (former two) offer more and varied cartridges, such as lamination and magnet, whereas the latter two are just for making stickers. Note: the largest Vintage Labels will not fit in the smallest sticker maker.

Labels can be used in many ways. You can stamp on them with words or numbers for a more traditional look, or stamp them with images for something different. Use rub-ons or vellum stickers on them. Use them on cards, in scrapbooks, or junk journals. Write on them to label folders, storage bins, etc. Make tabs out of them by either folding one in half or putting two of the same size/type back to back on a page or other edge so that part sticks out.

Copyright Notice: ©Mary Dimercurio Prasad. All rights reserved. Any illegal reproduction of this content, including images, will result in immediate legal action.

Disclaimer:  Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at the bottom of this blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Labels

1. Gather your white card stock and cream card stock scraps. Of course you may also use full sheets but this is a great way to use up your scraps! If pieces (or sheets) are too big for your die cutting plates, you may want to cut them down to fit first. This is especially important if using a Sidekick. Note: I show how to use scrap strips in a different post.

2. Before inking your Vintage Label dies, you need to condition them or the ink will bead up, giving you poor results. See photo below. The labels on the left were inked and die cut before conditioning the dies. The labels on the right were done after (same ink, same dies). To condition the dies, use toothpaste on a cotton swab to scrub well over the raised surface of each die where ink will go. I did this back and forth around each die about a dozen or more times. A little surface metal will come off - you should see this as you rub the toothpaste. This is how it conditions the surface; it roughs up the surface on a micro level, giving the ink a place to sit without beading up. This should only have to be done once, although if not enough of the surface is roughed up, this process may need to be repeated.

3. Have die cutting plates ready. One plate will be the cutting side; set this aside for the moment. Place the non-cutting side nearby so you can easily transfer inked dies to this plate when ready. Choose Vintage Label dies (or die) to fit a scrap piece of white or cream cardstock. Place these dies cutting side up on a sheet of scrap paper - I use scrap copy/cartridge/printer paper. Tap Ranger Archival Ink (or Distress Archival Ink) over surface until the flat raised areas are well covered. If the ink is still beading up too much, you may have to repeat conditioning. Be sure your ink pad is not too dry or you may not get enough ink to transfer on to the die. Once inked, carefully lift paper and slide dies onto plate, still cutting side up. You may need to slide them around in a configuration that will work with your piece of cardstock. Place cardstock carefully over dies then place cutting plate on top. Be sure nothing shifts. You may have to hold the plates in both hands as you start to feed them into your die cutting machine. If you find they move too much, you could try using washi or painters tape to temporarily tape paper to the bottom plate before placing the cutting plate on top.

Note: If you want to change ink colors, I recommend using isopropyl alcohol to clean dies. I don't recommend using stamp cleaner as any oil residue left behind may prevent ink from sticking.

4. Optional: after die cutting, ink edges of labels with Distress Ink or Distress Oxide Ink. I used Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink on an ink blender tool with domed foam. Note that if you do not ink the edges, some of the color of the Archival Ink that got on the blade may show a little. Adding inking around the edges helps hide this.

5. Optional: if you want to create sticker labels, put labels through a Xyron Creative Station or Sticker Maker (see other models listed in supplies, below). If you are doing multiples, you may cut them apart or leave them on the larger sheet until you want to use them. Note: you may add the adhesive to the cardstock before die cutting but I find that this wastes more adhesive and makes one side of the cardstock really slick, possibly making it more difficult when feeding into the die cutting machine.

Supplies

• Tim Holtz Sizzix Vintage Labels 665929
• Toothpaste, Cotton Swabs
• Tim Holtz Distress Archival Ink
• Ranger Archival Ink
• Cardstock - Cream or White
• Tim Holtz Blending Tools, Domed Foam Applicator
• Brown Distress Oxide Ink (I used Vintage Photo) or Brown Distress Ink
• Sizzix Sidekick, Big Shot, or other die cutting machine
• Optional: Xyron Creative Station (9" and 5" cartridges), Xyron Creative Station Lite (5" and 3" cartridges), Xyron 250 Create-A-Sticker (2.5", refills), or Xyron 150 Create-A-Sticker (1.5", refills)

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Grunge Vintage Old World Maps Tim Holtz Distress Ink & Oxide

I'm enamored with old and vintage maps. I've collected a few world map stamps but haven't done much with them so I decided to make some old maps to use on cards, journals, etc. I Googled vintage map images (click Images at the top) to see what colors of ink were used and how they looked aged. I made some of mine super grungy but made others with a much less. I also added watercolor pencils on a couple.

Copyright Notice: ©Mary Dimercurio Prasad. All rights reserved. Any illegal reproduction of this content, including images, will result in immediate legal action.

Disclaimer:  Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at the bottom of this blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Maps

1. Start with smooth ivory/cream or white cardstock - it's easier to get an aged look with cream. I was able to use some of my larger scrap pieces; they varied in thickness and surface. Use a blending brush to apply Old Paper Distress Ink all over. Don't worry if it's patchy - this just adds to the effect. To add more texture and patchiness, use a blending tool with domed foam in a twisting motion; this creates darker areas.

2a. Use a blending brush (I used a small one) with Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink on a craft mat or Glass Media Mat (blending area) - rub brush in ink, tap off on mat, then blend in areas of paper where you want even darker areas.

2b. Optional: if you want a very grungy look, you can add drips/splats by spraying Distress Spray Stain onto a craft mat, adding water, breaking it up with your fingers (or tool, like end of a paintbrush), then tapping paper into it. Use a heat tool between dips to add layers and also to dry final result before stamping.

3. Stamp maps. I listed three map stamps I used in Supplies, further below. The fourth was a very old previously wood mounted stamp; I don't know the manufacturer. I also listed two I didn't use but would recommend; one is the Winnie the Pooh Hundred Acre Woods stamp - so cute! The other, Antique Hero Map, reminds me of a pirate map. To get best results, use a stamping tool, such as Stamp Platform or Misti. Use VersaFine Clair ink for fine detail plus waterproof coloring. On some, I used various brown Distress Inks or Distress Oxide Inks if I didn't plan to watercolor after. These inks may stamp light so definitely best used with stamping tool unless you like that look. Note: you may use a waterbrush with Distress stamped images to add water effects, such as blurred lines. For an even bolder effect, drip of water on the image. Use a heat tool to set and dry ink. I recommend a Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy to clean stamps.

4. Once heat set, cut out images using scissors, paper trimmer, or even dies if you have any that would work (e.g. rectangle dies). Use a Corner Chomper to round corners as desired. You may add more shading/distressing after stamping. On some I added Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink with a blending brush, either in spots or in a sort of frame around the edges. For the edges themselves, I used blending tool with domed foam and Walnut Stain Distress Ink, just coming in a little, then finally Scorched Timer Distress Ink where I wanted the very darkest parts, mainly in the corners.

5. Optional: distress edges by tearing, bending, sanding, or using a Paper Distressing blade. Add wrinkles by bending and inking the bent edge before flattening. For more wrinkles, crumple, flatten, then lightly ink over top to catch the peaks of the crumples.

6. Optional: use watercolor pencils to go around areas of the map then use waterbrush to extend and blend watercolor. I only did this on maps with waterproof ink but you may experiment with Distress stamped images for more grungy look. I tried Arteza watercolor pencils first - they were OK but waxy and not so easy to blend, especially on cheaper cardstock. I had a much easier time using Fabel-Castell Albrecht Dürer watercolor pencils; they blended like a dream in comparison.

Hint: keep your scraps and strips of paper, including inky ones. I'll be posting about how to take those scraps and make ephemera out of them.

Supplies

• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Air Travel CMS102
• Deep Red Stamps Olde World Map SKU 5X705724
• Darkroom Door Background Stamp World Map DDBS025
• Recommended: Hero Arts Antique Hero map Bold Prints
• Recommended: Echo Park - Winnie the Pooh Hundred Acre Woods Map
• Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Inks (Old Paper, Walnut Stain, Scorched Timber)
• Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Oxide Inks (Vintage Photo)
• Optional: Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Spray Stain (Antique Linen, Old Paper, Vintage Photo)
• Optional: Tim Holtz Stamp Platform or Misti
• Waterbrush
• Heat Tool
• VersaFine Clair Inks (Nocturne)
• Smooth Ivory/Cream or White Cardstock
• Tim Holtz Ink Blending Tools
• Domed Foam Applicator
• Blending Brushes
• Craft Mat or Glass Media Mat
• Corner Chomper
• Optional: Paper Distressing Blade
• Optional: Tim Holtz Ranger Sanding Disks (for Mini Ink Blending Tool)
• Watercolor Pencils (I recommend Fabel-Castell Albrecht Dürer instead of Arteza if not on a budget)
• Recommended: Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy to clean stamps

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Tim Holtz, Grunge Labels, and a Lot of Inky Fun

I've been creating my own ephemera, and other grungy items, for use at a later date. In this post I'm showing how I made sticker labels. This is a great way to use your stamp stash. I even pulled out a few holiday sets with stamps that could be used generically. Most of the stamps I used are still available, but a few are long out of print, including ones where I no longer have the original packaging (this was before I had a blog!). I have two butterfly/moth stamps, one from an old Sizzix set with four figures vertically on it, but the other, with three figures horizontally, was a single in my collection. It looks like Stampers Anonymous but I have no idea where I got it, or if it was part of a set or not. However I have seen similar butterfly/moths in other current Stampers Anonymous sets.

To isolate the single figures (butterfly or moth), I masked parts of the stamp using Post-it Notes or just inked carefully (using a stamp shammy if I got some where I didn't want it). For the small labels (photo further below), I used a stamp platform and home-made positioner from clear recycled plastic packaging.

Check out the glorious mess I made while creating these labels.

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Making the Labels

1. Start with a large sticker sheet (I'll discuss the small labels further below). Use an ink blending brush or blending tool (preferably with a domed applicator) to cover the page with Old Paper Distress Ink or other light ink that will give the paper an aged look. I used a blending brush first then dabbed and blended heavier areas using a blending tool and domed foam.

2. On a craft mat or plastic packaging, spray Distress Stain one color at a time, mixing with some water if desired (I wanted the colors to be lighter so I did add water). I used Speckled Egg, Antique Linen, and Vintage Photo. Break up ink by running your fingers or other tool through it. I used the end of a paint brush. Dab stickers into the droplets, creating splatters over the labels - quickly dry with heat tool. If you do not dry between dabs, the stains may interact with each other and/or bleed; this happened to me with Speckled Egg, creating undesirable color rings and bleeds.

3. Stamp! Note: more specific supplies are listed at the bottom of the post. Use butterflies, moths, other bugs, mushrooms, numbers, signatures, labels, seals, text for background, etc. I mostly used Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous stamps but also used a variety of my other stamps. It was fun digging through my stash for little treasures! On some labels, I first stamped background text using Distress Oxide Vintage Photo, on others I didn't. I wanted a variety of looks. Sometimes I stamped words or numbers up the sides of labels. When using my larger stamps, I often masked off the label edges using Post-it Notes, although you can allow stamps to go over two labels if you like that look (I only did this with a label stamp; I then stamped numbers inside each half). I also used Post-it Notes to mask parts of a stamp I didn't want inked or I used a corner of the ink pad to selectively ink the stamp, removing any excess with a stamp shammy. For most of the stamping I used either VersaFine or VersaFine Clair ink to get the cleanest images but when I wanted the stamp to fade more into the background, I used Distress Oxide Vintage Photo. Note: VersaFine ink is being replaced by VersaFine Clair ink. I still have some of the older VersaFine ink pads - I will replace them as they wear out.

To create the smaller labels (above), I used similar techniques. I didn't add the splats though; I may go back and add them later but for now I've left them off. I used a stamp platform (e.g. Tim Holtz, Misti) with a positioner I made using recycled plastic packaging. I cut the packaging to fit the platform. I put the top of a label sheet near the bottom of the stamp platform, up against the side, then lined up the stamps on a row of labels and picked them up with the door of the stamp platform. I did 4 at a time since there are 4 labels in each row, changing them out once in a while.

I put the plastic packaging in the top corner of the positioner, inked up the stamps and stamped on the packaging, being careful not to touch the images once stamped. I aligned the labels underneath to make sure the images were centered; if not, I repositioned the stamp, wiped off the ink from the positioner, and tried again. Once aligned, remove the positioner (careful not to touch the inked images), re-inked the stamps, then stamped.

To do the next row, replace the positioner and move up the labels so they align. You can change colors of ink as desired. When replacing a stamp, you will have to clean its image from the positioner and re-stamp it. Use masking and other techniques as mentioned above as desired.

Here's a look at the finished large sheet of labels. There's another close up at the bottom of this post.

Supplies

• Avery Address Labels 1 x 2-5/8" (e.g. 5160, 8160)
• Avery Labels 1/2 x 3/4" 5418
• Tim Holtz/Ranger Ink Blending Tool, Domed Foam
• Ink Blending Brush
• Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Inks (Old Paper, Walnut Stain)
• Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Oxide Inks (Vintage Photo)
• Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stains (Speckled Egg, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo)
• Heat Tool
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Field Notes CMS396
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Correspondence CMS225
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Tiny Toadstools CMS377
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Examination CMS412
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Rest in Peace CMS435
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Mini Worn Text THJ007
• Hero Arts Bold Prints Cling Stamp Novel Prose CG839
• Tim Holtz Sizzix French Flight 659884
• VersaFine Clair Inks (Nocturne)
• VersaFine Inks (Majestic Blue, Satin Red) - use VersaFine Clair Inks instead, newer version
• Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy
• Post-it Notes
• Stamp Platform (e.g. Tim Holtz, Misti)

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