Part of my crafting life involves demoing on crafting TV, and because of that I don’t always share the finished projects or the shows themselves here on the blog - especially when lots of different products are being featured at once. However, as I craft in many different ways, I’ve been wanting to change this and start sharing more of these makes, focusing on the creative exploration behind them rather than the demo itself.
Recently I took part in a Crafting TV show featuring the latest Tim Holtz Mini Distress Oxides (sets #13 – #18), alongside several different Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous stamp sets - one of them being
Curiosity Shop.
This stamp set immediately spoke to me, as it really brings out the collage crafter in me. Collage is my go-to when my mojo decides to pack its bags and disappear without warning! What I loved most was the ease of creating backgrounds - whether through layering multiple stamping techniques or simply repeat stamping to build up pattern.
Repeated stamped background
For this card, I wanted to use the numbers to create a quick but interesting background. I’ve read online that some crafters cut the stamp into separate numbers - something I do myself at times - but here I chose to selectively ink only the numbers I wanted.
When stamping off the edge of the paper, I always start in the middle and work upwards, then back down again. This helps keep the design balanced. The numbers were stamped onto backing paper from the Tim Holtz Memoranda 12" x 12" paper pad.
On a separate piece of card, I stamped the hands, hat, typewriter, moustache, words and numbers with Versafine Clair Nocturne and embossed them with clear embossing powder before cutting them out. The clover leaves were stamped separately, (with peeled paint) and cut out, then everything was layered together, raising some elements with foam pads to add dimension.
Stamping with coloured inks
For the next card, I started with another piece of paper from the Memoranda paper pad and stamped the numbers repeatedly down one side. I added subtle colour around the edges before mounting the panel onto a 5" x 7" card base.
Using coloured inks, I stamped the focal images, embossed them with clear embossing powder and then cut them out. Once arranged on the background, the card came together very quickly, showing how effective simple stamping can be when colour and repetition do the work.
A quirky Valentine twist
For the final card, I wanted to use the same stamps again but shift the theme completely. This time I created a softer, more playful background using a stencil layered over stamping from the
Curiosity Shop set.
The hats, moustaches and light bulbs were stamped separately, coloured with inks and cut out before being added to the background with foam pads. To help ground the images, I drew lines from the light bulbs and added small hearts. These were created by stamping the clover image and cutting it into individual pieces - a simple tweak that completely changed the feel of the stamp.
Final thoughts
Working with the Curiosity Shop stamp set reminded me why I’m drawn to stamps that don’t dictate a single style. The same images worked just as comfortably in layered, grungy collage as they did in a softer, playful card - simply by changing the inks and the way the backgrounds were built.
This is something I’d like to explore more on the blog: taking one stamp set and seeing how far it can stretch creatively, rather than using it once and moving on.
If you sometimes struggle with creative mojo, I’d really encourage you to try repeat stamping, selective inking or simple pattern-building like this. It takes the pressure off and allows ideas to flow again - at least it does for me.
Supplies used:
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Curiosity Shop
Tim Holtz Mini Oxides: Set #3, Set #4, Set #6, Set #13
Versafine Clair Nocturne
Tim Holtz Memoranda 12"x12" Pad
Tim Holtz Mini Layering Stencil #59
Until next time, take care,
Lou
xxx
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