#Printinktober 2022 - week one

I always enjoy a little creative challenge, so when I saw this one on a blog which I follow, I knew I wanted to get involved.

Inktober is a month long challenge where you use an ink supply to create a piece of art every day during October.  Printinktober is where you use a stamp to create a piece of art every day during October.  I thought it would be a great challenge for me as it would encourage me to use stamps which I haven't used at all, or not very much.  I could also review my stamp collection at the same time..possibly...or not!  There are a set of prompts (above) but as always with these things, you don't have to follow them.  There is an opportunity to share what you do on instagram I think, but I am just going to do a weekly round up here.

Above is Circles. I used a variety of circle stamps from Aall & Create and Visible Image.

This one is Pattern and used stamps I have only used once before. These were border stamps from Dovecraft.

The prompt here was Rubber Stamps, so I used some of my latest Tim Holtz stamps - Eccentric.  I do love all the different texts and numbers in this set. 

Yes, this one is Rainbow and I used some new pigment inks (Versafine Clair) which have lovely vibrant colours. This was a Sizzix stamp set called Splats.

Abstract was the prompt here and this used Altenew Simple Flowers. This is a stamp set I really like but I forget I have got it.  

Here is Silicone - I used a silicone/polymer stamp by Jane Gill for Woodware called Hare in the brambles.

Red - watercolour over black embossed poppy stamp (Perfect poppy) from Hunkydory.  Another stamp I haven't used.  I am really enjoying this challenge and am creating a nice little book as I go along.

Are you joining in this month?

Learning New Things

 I have been learning some new crafting techniques - this time, stamps, embossing powder and a heat gun.  I have been investigating the internet for 'how to' videos (of which there are many, as you'd imagine) and decided to have a go.  This technique wouldn't work with polymer clay due to the direct heat required, but as I already had lots of different stamps and some pigment ink pads, I thought, why not try?  I can use the technique for cards, tags, and decorating notebooks (all useful for blog swaps and birthdays!).  Above is an embossed stamp pattern (the embossing powder when heated forms a raised surface), painted with iridescent acrylic paint (Pebeo Studio Acrylic Iridescent).  The magic happens when the light hits the paint in a certain way and the metallic element shines out.

 Hmm, I may have to be a little more careful where the paint goes as I seem to have gone over the lines a bit!  The gold paint looks very shiny here.

 Here are some of the gorgeous paint colours.  The paint covers well and is nice and thick, but can be thinned with water as required.

 Even the water used to wash the brush gets some added sparkle.

 Here are a couple of hummingbird stamps, embossed and then painted with the acrylic paints.

 I really like the blues and greens, but then I would!  I am looking forward to more experimenting with black background paper and other stamps as I  really enjoy learning new skills.