A Real Beauty. A stampy Step by Step…

A Real Beauty. A stampy Step by Step…

Hello there!
Happy Valentines Day
xxx
All a bit too commercialised for me, I’m afraid.
Maybe I’m just getting old and cynical.
Thanks for popping in today.
 Sunday and I’m working from home today.
The sun is pouring through the window here, 
and throwing a light prism across the desk.
Beautiful. Warm too.
Yesterday we had a great day out at the Royal Albert Hall.
Went to see Amaluna, Cirque de Soleil.
Although the reviews weren’t great we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Great production, Fantastic costumes and brilliant stunts!
Blimming critics. I’d like to see them have a go.
Anyway. On the subject of fabulous dancers,
our 4 elegant dancer stamps would have fitted in perfectly!
Let’s go back a week to last Sunday,
when I was pedalling away at HOCHANDA.
Here’s a stampy step by step from the 2pm show.
It’s all about the masks…
Stamp the Beauty Dancer onto a printed page,
using black Archival.
An old book, an old magazine, an old newspaper.
Cover the dancer up with her mask.

Use a couple of mellow colours to brush across the 
masked image, using our Clarity Brushes.
The make-up sponge is great for wiping the ink off the mask 
into the background. 

When you remove the mask, the dancer stands out beautifully.
You can easily replace the mask and add more depth to the background if you like…

Colour in the dancer’s outfit.
I used Faber-Castell Polychromos.
Spectrum Noirs work well too.

Add a base underneath her feet with paper and a make-up sponge,

then layer up on a complimentary colour.
I used yellow card and our little corner slot punch 
to catch the artist.

Well, I must go and make a dent in the mountain of work 
that is in front of me.
Happy to have it. A mountain of work.
Wouldn’t want it any other way!
Happy days.
love & hugs.

54 thoughts on “A Real Beauty. A stampy Step by Step…

  1. Love this, although I find it so hard to use a page from a book, I love books so much. But if it's very old, falling apart, and if maybe it's a dictionary or encyclopedia rather than somebody's imaginative slog, I suppose it's OK. Your dancers actually remind me of Cirque de Soleil, especially the lady on the high wire, and the trapeze, wow she was good. I'm having a pj day, and doing very little, love it x

    1. I daren't admit how many books I have bought with the intention of cutting up for projects like this only for them to sit on my shelves because I can't bring myself to break them up! The only thing I can say in my defence is that they are all charity shop ones so at least the money is going to good causes. I did manage to persuade myself to use one and I love the results achieved but each time I do, still feel guilty, must be the librarian in me. I just love books. Karen xxx

    2. Oh I'm the same, I would really struggle to tear up a book. I think if you ask charity shops they have torn and falling apart books that are heading for the bin, that would be a bit easier! Xxxx

  2. Hi Barbara… Lovely artwork! It looked great demoed on telly too!
    These bookpages cards are so good for any stamp!
    Don't spend all today working… Take a little time out just for you and Dave!
    Love and hugs! Xxxx

  3. Hi Barbara… Lovely artwork! It looked great demoed on telly too!
    These bookpages cards are so good for any stamp!
    Don't spend all today working… Take a little time out just for you and Dave!
    Love and hugs! Xxxx

  4. I enjoyed this demo on TV and this looks even better than I'd remembered. The book page is a lovely idea, and I shall try and read it in due course, for brain exercise. Talking of brains, what a brainwave the masks are.
    Glad you had a good evening out. It's nice to enjoy another artform.
    Carol

  5. Hi Barbara
    So pleased you enjoyed the show. The critics should have a go themselves. I am searching for a book so I can have a go stamping on a page. The effect is lovely and something I have never tried. I am trying not to neglect my stamping in favour of Groovi.
    Hugs from Chris X

  6. Like the look of stamp on book pages but as Loraine says could only do it if the book is falling apart. Glad you had a lovely evening out. Valentines Day to me is special as it is my youngest son's birthday (my baby) now 38

  7. Hi Barbara
    I love this technique of stamping onto a book page and these dancer stamps are gorgeous just the job.
    Hope your taking some time out today.
    I'm glad you enjoyed the show.I never listen to others I think you should always make your own mind up,good job you didn't listen to the critics.

  8. So glad you enjoyed the show, would love to see it myself. I can't really see why we have critics, everyone is different and what appeals to one person might not to another. I like using bookpages for cards very effective and I ordered the masks for these dancers last week,could not face cutting them out. xx

    1. Hi Donna, hope you've had a lovely sunny day. We went out for lunch today, very nice. Had good news yesterday my Son's sister in law had a beautiful baby boy 9lb 8oz. They didn't get to shop like they had planned had a 2 hr journey each way to see Mum and Baby. We didn't get home until midnight but so enjoyed our time with the children.xxx

    2. I was hesitant to use book pages, til one day in a charity shop, they refused to sell me a book because it was too tatty. Discovered books can get passed along charity shops, but eventually they may just go for destruction. So now I repurpose books…. charity shops get money, I get to play and books get to live longer, albeit in different form, win all round.

  9. BEAUTY-ful card, Barbara, aber aus welchem Buch ist denn dieser Text????? ;-))
    Think I have to buy a japanese newspaper at the airport for such a card so no one can read the text…
    Rolf xxx

  10. Very lovely artwork today – I've been saving books that are falling apart especially to do something like this. Woke up this morning to a completely white garden as it had snowed overnight, but most of it has gone now sadly. x

    1. Hi Sheila! Hope that you are feeling ok today – it's good that you are resting! Hope that you aren't feeling 'too wiped out'? Special hugs on their way from me! Gilly xxx

  11. Loved watching this demo come together last week. Beautiful stamps in this set.
    Not a fan of Valentine's Day either – commercialisation = tacky to me.
    Tonbridge Sue

  12. Hi Barbara – I loved watching you demo this, husband very impressed too! I think that his comment at the time was 'she's VERY good, she always produces a piece of art'! So there's another fan for you!!
    I agree that Valentine's Day is too commercialised, but we have had a good Valentine's weekend. Today we went for a Valentine Afternoon Tea for 2, and then went for a drive to enjoy watching the sun shining on the sea at Mevagissey (which is nearby). Now sat in front of the fire in our cosy little cottage! Hope that everyone has had an enjoyable day! Gilly xxx

  13. These stamps and demo are gorgeous. It would indeed be a boring world if everyone had exactly the same tastes. So pleased you had such a great night. x

  14. Hi Barbara
    Loved this when you did the demo on tv, she really is gorgeous. I see you've used a German book – haha no naughty words that we can see then!
    Have a lovely relaxing evening with Dave once you've put the paperwork to one side! Good to hear the show was enjoyable yesterday.
    Love Diane G xxxx

    1. Hi Diane, we've had the sunshine too, so no snow for us. Supposed to be good for the next few days, hope so as our Daughter and her family are down in Cornwall for half term holiday.xxx

  15. So pleased that you enjoyed your day out yesterday, good for you making time to relax. Card today very arty. Have tried this with the columbine stamp but mine ended up a bit too dark, have to try it again. Bought an old book at a National Trust place proceeds to charity, so didn't feel guilty. Enjoy your evening. Xx

  16. Hi Barbara, Your day out and at the Royal Albert Hall sounds fabulous, so glad you had a good time. I would love to watch that show.
    I'm so glad you have shown us the step by step of this, I loved watching you demo this 'beauty', great technique and a fabulous completed card.
    It was my hubby's Birthday today, so we celebrate that, but he always gets me a Valentine card too, isn't that nice.
    Enjoy your evening.
    Lots of love from Patricia xx

  17. Hi Barbara, Your day out and at the Royal Albert Hall sounds fabulous, so glad you had a good time. I would love to watch that show.
    I'm so glad you have shown us the step by step of this, I loved watching you demo this 'beauty', great technique and a fabulous completed card.
    It was my hubby's Birthday today, so we celebrate that, but he always gets me a Valentine card too, isn't that nice.
    Enjoy your evening.
    Lots of love from Patricia xx

  18. this was a great demo on telly. hope you still had time to relax for a while. it was a fab sunny day today. pity we spent most of it inside with a group of 7/8 yr olds to celebrate Massi's birthday. but it was a good day too, hugs xx

  19. Hi Brenda and Dot, hope you are ok and that you are keeping warm. By the weather forecast north Scotland very cold with snow, hope you haven't got it. Take extra care if you have.xxx

  20. so glad you had a good night out.I love doing this technique used it quite a few times since the workshops last year.managed to watch last weeks shows at last as went back to work this week ,very shocked to see my card shown on telly thank you so much,have kept the recording to show the kids lol lol

  21. Love this technique. I have the Beauty stamp I just need the mask. Can they be bought separately? Hope you're having a restful evening after your busy day 🙂 Mxx

  22. Hi Barb,
    Loved this demo when you did it on to so thank you for giving us the step by steps. I too struggle to tear pages out of books apart from those that are falling to bits. I really love hoe the design pops once you get the colour on it. Really pleased you enjoyed the Albert Hall yesterday. I never take any notice of critics, I prefer to make my own mind up. Make sure you get plenty of you and Dave time too. Love Alison xx

  23. I've always liked watching you stamp book pages and I keep meaning to go to the charity shop and find an old book but I'd need to read the page before I used it, knowing my luck I'd find the only page in the book with the naught bits! I remember years ago reading the Which magazine on best buy brandies – I like brandy. I bought one of the top recommended brandies as I'd ever tried it before – it was revolting and eventually ended up down the sink, thankfully it wasn't too expensive. Since then I make my own mind up about things like that.

  24. Glad to hear you had a good time yesterday and enjoyed the show. We've been to youngest son's for Sunday lunch today which was lovely. I haven't got these dancer stamps but am beginning to think I should ! xx

  25. Hi Barb, so pleased you enjoyed the show. Love this image and artwork. The demo on the telly was fab. Still wanting the stamps, keep dropping hints. Hope you got through the work. Take care. Bx

  26. Morning
    Know what you mean about Valentines Day another one of those commercially led days. My Mum hates Mother's Day she says she feels it is Mother's day every day because I care for her so well….how nice is that ? Love the project and thanks for the great shows on Hochanda.x

  27. Morning, tried to view your blog last night but there was something wrong with the internet so catching up now.

    Lovely photo of the flowers…. the day was much the same for me….

    Glad you enjoyed the show, I have always heard good reports about it I have to say.

    Lovely spring like day today – even got the washing on the line !!!

    Well back to crafting,
    Crafty hugs Pen x

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