Stamping effects?

[Marie]

I've been playing with my Graphicus Harlequin Rose and fairy stamps today, I'm using them as the designs on my nieces' 21st and 18th birthday cards. I'm really pleased as I've had some really good result using black stazon on glossy decoupage paper from Crafters Companion, the detail on the Harlequin Rose stamp just pops out, looks amazing. Tomorrow I'm going to try colouring in some of the images to see how they work on cards.

I've also tried using black stazon on some of the CC coloured pearlised paper, in pink and gold and although I've had some decent results, I can't seem to get as perfect results, possibly because of teh fact that the paper is more absorbent. But I really like the effects of just the black on the pink or gold paper, in fact the very fact that the images aren't perfect seems to work better on these papers. I think that simple matting and layering onto some co-ordinating paper might be enough to make the images work on cards.

Anyway, just wondered what people think - i know that a lot of craft makes use of things NOT being perfect, seems to me that this might be one of those occasions. Just wondered what people think? :confused:

[Wellington]

Oooo - you've made me all jealous Marie ;) It's ages since I've just had a play to see what effects you get from stamping on which surface with which ink (also usually involving heat embossing :D)... I wonder if I can persuade hubby he wants to play on the PS3 tonight :D

IMHO you go with what you like - not exactly a helpful opinion, but I can't word it any simpler than that. If you like the effect on the pearl papers, go with it! Sometimes there's nothing more effective than a simply stamped image on coloured paper. No need to emboss, no need to colour in etc. You can always make up the cards - if you don't feel they're 'special' enough for the 18th & 21st cards, I'm sure they'll be just fine for a straight birthday card IYSWIM?

Maybe you can play with making some background papers too - I know you've been increasing your stash over the last year, do you have some co-ordinating inks you could play with? Sometimes I make a card from a single stamped image & then wonder if I haven't put much effort into it, does it make it any less special.

I'm terrible for wanting my stamped images to be perfect though - I tried stamping on acetate & shrink plastic for the Halloween swap last October & it drove me nuts cos I kept smudging the image...

Sorry if this post isn't helpful - I've had a couple of glasses of wine :D

[soopy]

I'm with Welly...and I haven't had any wine :D
With me, it depends whether I want a grungy, shabby, antique, aged, vintage etc effect or not. I love 'not perfect' on the very few altered projects I've tried and also my atc's, but tend to prefer clearer crisper images on my cards.

[Marie]

well either way, i'm enjoying having a play with them all, lol! I've got some gorgeous Graphicus papers taht I'm going to try stamping on tomorrow, but I've been playing with my Sakura pens with paint brushes and water to get a lovely sparkly effect, they are so pretty, just give a gorgeous effect. The only thing with playing is that I'm using up lots of bits of lovely paper! I know the stamping mantra of "throw nothing away" but I'm sorry, sometimes things are just not worth keeping once you've stamped on both sides of the paper and they don't work, lol!
Okay, off to do a bit more playing. I've got the card words and messages set up on the cricut design studio programme ready to print out when I've decided which colour to use. I can see some pink and purple coming up, those are the girls' favourite colours, lovely to play with!
Any more opinions will be appreciated, I like hearing what people think.

[soopy]

The only thing with playing is that I'm using up lots of bits of lovely paper!

Well, at least that gives you a good excuse to buy more :D

[Phree]

Here's my tuppence worth - if you like it then it's perfect, even if it's not really perfect ;)

[Rainbowwand]

I have to agree, it often depends more on if i like the look of it rather than if its perfect, sometimes only perfect will do, other times if i like the effect then i will carry on with the card, i have even carried on with something i wasnt sure of and made the card, (without actually sticking it together) before making a final decision, enjoy your playing :)

[CaramelBunny]

I'm with Phree on this one. An image doesn't have to be really crisp to be perfect for what you want. Having a play & just seeing what you like is definitely the way to go! I often stamp on to textured card which gives a more gentle effect, but definitely not crisp & "perfect", even with Stazon. Once in a fit of recklessness I even stamped onto handmade paper with a regular ink pad! The image was so soft & blurry, but actually very effective for what I wanted...