michelle ward

sneak peek

 

I'm nearing the finish line....new stamps will go up for pre-order soon.  I'm not promising a date yet as I have to get ready for a workshop in October too.  Can't wait for both events! 

My first collection of rubber stamps for Green Pepper Press was called HomeWard.  The next one was called WayWard.  Can't decide what should be the name of the new collection.  ForWard, UpWard, BackWard, InWard, OutWard, DownWard, AfterWard.....Graham said AwkWard *grin*.  Good gracious...I'm having so much fun....can't wait to show you!

m.i.y.o.

Tomorrow is the last day for the current GPP Street Team Crusade.  We've been Making It Our Own and many artists have come by to share their inspiration and interpretations as we strive to add an authentic and personal touch to all that we do.  Often we turn to custom tools to keep things original and unique - like carved stamps or cut stencils.  There have been many times where I have created an element simply because it didn't exist and I needed/wanted it.  THAT is how I began designing and selling rubber stamps.  I made images I wanted to have that weren't available yet.

 

As you know, we are huge HIM fans in this house.  I have an entire drawer of HIM shirts, at least 5 hoodies, several bags, and countless accessories with heartagrams thanks to Hot Topic, Spencers, Heartagram.com, and concerts.  In the early days there was not alot of merchandise with the heartagram on it....so we had to Make Our Own.

 

I carved these stamps and we used them with fabric paint or even cooler: bleach, to make tshirts and stuff.  I cut stencils too.  And the heartagram pendant came by request of Peter and his friends (they all wanted one), made from pink wire.   It's awfully primitive but pretty cool of me don't you think? 

 

A couple summers ago I made these for my NJ/NY HIM Street Team.  Super quick and easy and inexpensive.  Great party favor.  

The heartagram selections at Hot Topic these days are kinda scarce again until the new album comes out (too long from now!) so I may have to go back to Making My Own HIM merch.  (Very closely related to Make It Your Own is Do It Yourself!)  Stop in at the Street Team to see what we are doing....and then come back later in the week to see the new challenge and play along with us.

*claps wildly*

 

I wanted to thank all of you who came by to offer your support for our friend Paula and her family.  The update on our fundraiser:  70+ orders, and I'm still logging them in.  *THANK YOU*.  This is really cool.  If you haven't read all the comments in the last post you should click and have a look - we've gotten two from Paula, and she reminds us all to check our smoke alarms, practice our escape routes, check on our insurance, and get a good fire-proof safety box. 

Thank you for your kind words for my brother and his family.  I think your prayers and good vibes worked as it appears they have held the tides from entering their home.  It will be some time before life is normal but eventually they will be sleeping in their own beds again.  *offers prayers of gratitude*

One more note of thanks to friends and readers who have spread the word about the fundraiser.  I really appreciate that this has grown wings and got bigger than I even hoped.  I'm enclosing a button, since I've already offered it to some...if you want to use it please link it to the order page on GPP HERE.

hot topic, new rubber, special benefit

A special announcement....but first, check your smoke detectors.  Practice your escape routes....

    

 

  

I will post an edit here when I have the order information ready.  I hope you'll join me in rallying 'round Paula and her family.  Keep them in your prayers, and while you are at it, pray for my brother and his family as they have been sandbagging for days in Moorhead, MN, with the hopes of fending off the flooding waters from their town and their home.  Fire and water....I'm thankful for the four walls around me today, aren't you?

EDIT:  I've loaded the new rubber sheet to Green Pepper Press.  Keep in mind it is pre-order so won't ship for a few weeks.  I set up a new shipping policy so this half sheet can go out by First Class mail, which is slower but cheaper!  ($1 to U.S., $1.70 to Canada, and $3.00 elsewhere) 

Thank you for all your kind words.  Anam asked about a paypal donation address - that has been set up by Paula's friends and can be found HERE.

check mates

X and O were my partners in crime for a while.  Of course x and o would eventually take you to tic-tac-toe, right?  Then onto checkerboard.....the scale made me think of the chess punch, and soon I was channeling new ideas which required new tools.  Here's the visual story:

 

 

  

  

  

  

Oh, let me take a moment to recognize that this is my 300th post.  When I noticed I had just hit 100 on the Street Team blog I checked the count over here and it was at 299.  Wow!  Dear readers, this platform, my blog, helps me define who I am - and it cleared the path to meet you.  What's that saying?  It's out on the limb where you gather the fruit.  I ventured out and you served the fruit.  Thank you.

  

Back to chess.....like WAY BACK.  Making these new tools was like revisting old friends.  For nearly ten years I have incorporated chess pieces in my work.  Here's some of the visual history: 

 

 

 

 

 

x meets o

It was back in June that I shared my journal work spinning a "+" into an "x".  See {positive spin}.  Now "x" has a new friend, meet "o".  Duh, right? 

My ritual is to collect and create supplies and then process the palette (or in this case shapes) on journal pages.  If it clicks I will have filled up many pages and will take what I've learned onto other surfaces.  What started with an xoxo stamp from the dollar bin ended up as a full arsenal of custom tools:  stamps, masks and stencils.  I saw that x next to that o and I was toast.  Hyper-focus designing new tools was my mission, and trying them out in the journal was a satisfying reward.    

  

Because we had terrific weather this week I was able to move my studio outside and spray with abandon, completing six painted canvases where x meets o.  A peek at the canvas work:

  

When you want a little something different to bring to your art:  make new tools.  When you can't find a supply that you need:  make new tools.  When you want to create authentic and original art:  make new tools.  xoxo

crusading, cutting

We wrapped up the month of March with a record number of participants who shared links to their custom cut rubber stamps.  We took a vote and bumped cutting stencils to April.  Congrats to Susan Warder for being the Top Hat Pick for Crusade No. 18.  I made a little tutorial on stencil cutting over on the Street Team blog, and will continue adding to it as I did last month with the carving tips.  I'm still obsessing over roses...had to make stamps and stencils yesterday.  WARNING:  It's Addictive.

The only way to know if you have cut a good and useful image is to put it to work.  These are the beginnings of journal pages using both acrylic paint and spray paint with my new stamps, stencils, and masks.  Give them a test run before cutting more because you'll learn what you might have done differently, or what additions you'd like to have:  for instance, a solid image of your stencil to create a foundation to make it *pop*.

I don't often use people or faces in my work so I've stayed away from attempting a portrait stencil.  But I've been wanting to do a Valo, and a Poe, and finally starting working on them.  I had an a-ha moment when I decided to take this design which wasn't quite working, and turn it into a half-face.  I got so excited with it I had to make a PS brush and take it for a test ride digitally.  I think I'm ready to cut HIM out now.  *grins*

 

Wanna join a fun community of artists?  Come see what we're doing on the Street Team.  We have new players every month, so don't be shy.  We have artists who share their time and talent, but most of all, their enthusiasm for making cool stuff.  Seriously, *we rock*.

Cut It Out - Stamps

This month on the GPP Street Team, our Crusade is to cut or carve your own tool - because it's a sure way to keep your art original.  You can come see what we are up - several Crusaders have already shared their terrific carvings.  See the links posted under Crusade No. 18.  I will review making a stamp now and later this week I'll go over stencil cutting.  My source for the carving material is from Nasco, HERE.  You can get the tools there too, but an exacto cutting blade works too.

I just saw The Other Boleyn Girl and have medieval imagery on the brain....had to design a new stamp.  Here's how it happened: 

And a while ago I told you about having stamps made of Sam's drawings - here's Winston:

Can't wait to see what you come up with when you carve your own stamps.  If you want to share what you've done come play on our street.

Outta here

 

TOMORROW:  1196.62 miles to my parents house.  Then another 225 to the cabin.  25th class reunion, and visits with family and friends.  Back in 2 weeks.  No computer connections, I'll miss it here.  Be good.

Speckled Eggs

In the current issue of Somerset Studio I am very honored to have my Painted Ladies rubber sheet featured for the article "With One Stamp".   Thank you to the artists who made lovely things with the images.  I have had alot of questions reguarding the unmounted sheet and how to use the eggs.  I often suggest leaving one row of eggs to use lined up.  If you do cut apart the rows of eggs you can layer them in varying colors to create a speckled egg.  Be sure to label the back sides of each size of eggs to keep yourself organized.

Here is a sample (above) of using the layers of speckles with PAINT.

 

The above shows layering the eggs with INK.  And below shows the entire Painted Ladies 8 x 10 sheet.  For ordering information, go to the GPP site HERE.

Below shows my mess, but you can see how I mount the stamp images on foam, and store them by size in plastic bags.  I use gel formula contact cement as adhesive.  The foam base is a kneeling pag, meant for gardeners, found at this season at places like Lowes and Home Depot.  Trim rubber close to image, apply cement on the back of rubber and face of foam, let dry, adhere and cut with sharp utility knife.  Tutorial HERE.

And finally, below shows how I store my stamps, in acrylic frames.

Casting on Rubber

I've been asked how the casting on rubber turned out from one of the photos below - here it is.  Cool, huh? 

Audrey asked me if paper casting with a blender was the same as casting with squares of toilet paper.  Yes, it is.  You set several squares of toilet paper over your mold and use a brush with water to tap the paper down into the mold.  You can repeat with layers until you reach your desired thickness. 

The only difference with making pulp in a blender is you can get color AND you get the cool-raggedy-handmade-looking edge.  You can use this same pulp with a deckle to make paper.  I'll try to dig up some sheets I've made to show you.  I think I even have some lime green casts around here somewhere.  Lime?  Must have been a project with the kids :)

Clearly Cool

The new clear stamps have arrived!  They are so much fun to play with.  These stamped tags are done by our own favorite Editor, and Director of Publishing at Stampington & Co., Jenny Doh!  She created some cool pieces don't you think?

She knows me well....look what her title is for the instruction segment for these in the Stampington online Studio, HERE.  How Cool is That?

Shuffle over to my Street Team site and see the One Day Give-Away I announced.  Winner will receive the Rock&Roll clear set of rubber.

Thanks Jenny, for sharing your art!

Carving Pumpkins

How's this for clever?  Next weekend we're having a Halloween party and I thought it would be cool for my daughter and her friends to have an activity in addition to the eating and dancing, and touching up of make-up.  (They are 11, make-up is a crucial part of the costume!)  So I'll announce we'll be "carving pumpkins", and they won't know what I mean until they see the tools.  (We'll use safety-kut, I like to buy the teacher packs, pre-cut into 2" x 3" blocks.) 

I crack myself up.  Carving Pumpkins!  Here is a paisley and a plaid pumpkin.  I suppose if you used green ink they could actually be peppers. 

I was only going to make one or two sample pumpkins....but you can see it's addicting.  Need to send Halloween cards?  It's not too late to carve yourself a pumpkin.  (Supplies can be found at most craft stores.)

p.s.  I forgot to mention - earlier this week I got to meet Celine. 

She is lovely, full of energy (had to be after this last trip of hers) and a talented and generous soul.

TIP No. 2 Storage and Stuff

I've been asked quite a few questions about unmounted stamps, storage, and 'how do you use those big images?' 

Here are a few answers.  For those of you who use acrylic blocks for temporary mounting - there isn't a block available for some of these larger images.  I suggest you get yourself an inexpensive acrylic box frame, and use that as a mount.  (As you have read, I use gardeners kneeling pads with contact cement to mount my stamps. )

For storage - I use these same acrylic box frames - upside down they are like stackable trays.  To keep organized I lay the INDEX sheet in the bottom so I have an idea of where to sort the stamps when I've finished using them.  (Helps me to determine if something is missing as well).  I keep my stamps in the tray image-side-up so they are easy to find.  I also label the front of the box and keep them stacked on a shelf.  My favorite ink pads lay upside down (so ink stays on the surface) in these frames too.

{When I used to keep my unmounteds unmounted, I adhered them to fun foam, as cushion, then I would doublestick tape them to an acrylic mount.  To store them I would slide the INDEX sheet into a page protector, then I would attach the (still sticky) images to the outside.  All my unmounteds could be stored in a 3-ring binder and the images were easy to find because of the index sheets.  I would keep my binder in a drawer or box because I never wanted to lose the rubber that might fall off the page protector. } 

Sample above shows how to use the plume on your Painted lady.  Don't be afraid to use more than one ink on your stamp.  For instance, the green scrolly image on right - ink the entire image with green, then lightly tap around the edges of the stamp with a corner of your black ink pad, then stamp!  Be sure to wipe off your stamp before trying again or your ink pads will be a real mess.  Also, wipe your ink pad with a paper towel if they start to get mucky from mixing colors on a stamp.  The coolest!

The Crusade has started.  Check over on the Street Team link at right to see the details.  Drawing for a Halloween gift happens on October 27.  Enter by adding a comment with a link to your site.  It's not a competition - anyone can be on the Street Team.

Romeo Romeo, Where for Art Thou?

Romeo and Prague arrived!  There may have been no mail yesterday, but the man who drives the Big Brown truck pulled up and lugged boxes of rubber to my door.  Spent the day sorting and packing (until 2 am!)  As of this afternoon EVERY ORDER HAS BEEN SENT!

The latest issue of Postscript was sent today and announced the pre-order of my new clear stamps.  These are currently 10% off  and available Nov.1  Click here for details at Stampington & Co.

TIP No. 1 - Egg Sizes

If you purchased Painted Ladies, you'll notice there are three sizes of eggs.  Whether you mount them or leave them unmounted it would be useful to label the back indicating the size.  When you are searching for images to layer onto one another to create the speckled eggs you want to have eggs that match in size.  It's a good way to keep organized and will prevent errors.  After trimming the rubber, lay out by size, then label each size with a letter on the back of the rubber or your mount.  (Once you try the "speckling your eggs" layered technique you may want to add additonal notes of your preferred order.  For instance, A-1, A-2, A-3, etc.)

The idea for speckled egg stamps came to me when I found these soaps on this site, Gianna Rose Atelier.  Take a look at all the yummy offerings they have.  In addition to these egg soaps they have pears!  I love anything with a pear scent.  Not sure what the eggs would smell like but they sure are pretty, aren't they?

Another update on rubber deliveries: Romeo and Prague have not arrived yet.  If you ordered one of these your package has been held and will go out next week.  My manufacturer shipped these on Friday as well as the remainder of my order of Painted Ladies and Crow About.  I've packed as much as I can until I get the rest of the inventory here.  Thanks for your patience.  As I said before, the response to the new collection has been wild and my guy is pressing alot of rubber!