Wednesday, January 16, 2013

DIY String Stamp


Oh how fun to make your own stamp! Cath at Moxie Fab World has challenged us to do just that in honor of the new Paper Crafts 75 Creative Card Challenges special issue.

What to do, what to do. Well first, read email! My crafty friend and neighbor Brenda sent me a recent pin ... something so simple it's brilliant.


String on a block! Just because it's a kid's craft doesn't scare me : ) Let's see what we can do ...


This simple thank you card was made by wrapping string around my narrow stamping block and then stamping it in a basket weave pattern. Love patterns! 


 When I finished the pattern and was figuring out what to do with the card, I knew I wanted to keep the focus on the pattern. Then I thought of Cath's OTHER challenge to use a window in your card. So I cut one of the rectangles with my exacto. To take advantage of the window feature, I looked around for something 3D and found these handmade ribbon flowers that I got at a garage sale from a lady who used to make hair accessories for her girls.

For the next card I thought about creating a large string-stamp that I could use for a background. I'm always looking for subtle backgrounds to add texture. So I did! Here's a visual step-by-step:


The string I used is very fine and textured (I'm thinking it's from the 30's or 40's based on the label, I'll have to research that one day). Super excited to ink it up ... what would happen?!?
 

 Yay, it worked! Love how you can see the twists of the string in the inked image. Since there are two sides to the string-stamp, I'm going to try keeping one side for light inks and the other for dark inks. In a nod to the stamp, I include the same string wrapped around the card (reinforced on the other side so it doesn't warp). Then inked it in the Spring Moss, and tucked the other elements underneath. I was happy to dig through my scrap pile for the elements.


 Here they are. On the left you can see the string I wrapped around the stamping block, and on the right you can see the skein of string.

But wait, there's ONE MORE THING ....

"HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, DARNELL!"


To finish out the string theme, I used the string-stamp on the end of the sentiment banner.
Darnell is the sweetest and most supportive card maker there is, always entertaining us with her command of the English language and then some. You should check her out if you haven't already, to either 1) put a smile on your face, or 2) drool over the PG-13 photo of her husband from when they were dating. Ardyth had the great idea to surprise her with some Happy Anniversary cards today.


And here's the rest of the challenge, to post our wedding photos. We got married in 1997 ... WAY before people had cool wedding invitations, and before I had developed any sense of style. But I did a fantastic job in picking my husband, so cheers to that!

Thanks for looking, and "Happy Anniversary, Darnell!"
-Kelly

46 comments:

  1. Wow--where to start. Your DIY stamp ideas are brilliant, as are the cards you made with them. Seriously. And, I love your wedding photo. Such fun!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well I think Joyce summed it up perfectly LOL! FUN FUN cards Kelly, might have to give this technique a try. And your wedding photo is adorable ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. As always, you amaze with your ability to take an idea and really run with it - love the effect of the string and thinking to use it in a pattern like that is really cool! Love the wedding photo (aren't wedding photos great - everyone looks happy!), I think your dress is lovely! Thanks for joining in all the Anniversary Fun, Kelly!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are so clever, love how your homemade stamps "stamped". Happy Anniversary!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh your cards are just awesome. Such a fantastic Idea to make your own stamp like this and the result just looks fantastic. And love your wedding picture anyway. You can find some of our wedding pictures here:
    http://just-our-memories.blogspot.de/2012/08/heute-vor-4-jahren-four-years-ago.html I loved my dress but as I never ever wear dreses I was so happy to get out of the dress at the end of the night and get into my pyjama :o)
    Tascha

    ReplyDelete
  6. Amazing string technique!!! Sooooo inspiring! Love the results you achieved! What a beautiful wedding pic, too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kelly your handmade string stamp is so so cool! Then you used it perfectly. Love your cards, a beautiful wedding photo and a fabulous card for Darnell!

    ReplyDelete
  8. LOVE how these turned out! What a great idea, I love how innovative you are, and what a fun photo....you don't appear to have aged!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Amazing backgrounds using string - you've made great cards from them too. Loved seeing your wedding photo -happy anniversary Darnell.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! These are amazing! What a fun technique! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Fabulous. Love the string stamps. Your wedding pic is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow! Such great homemade stamps!! What lovely cards!! And your wedding photos is beautiful! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your handmade stamps are super - love the cards you made with them. The anniversary card for Darnell and Kevin is just lovely. And I think your wedding photo is just wonderful - don't think my hubby has every picked me up :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. FANTASTIC idea and super FAB cards Kelly.
    Love your wedding pic too :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. You leave me amazed. I'm constantly in awe of your creations (and awesome photo of you and your hubby too!)

    ReplyDelete
  16. First love your wedding picture you both look beautiful and happy!
    No way on the string stamping…….. I love this idea it turned out amazing as always . I cannot wait to try this! Love every card!

    ReplyDelete
  17. You have executed this FAB idea so beautifully! Love it, Kelly!

    ReplyDelete
  18. You are so clever! I love your take in the challenge, so creative. Love your cards.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I keep going back to the first card - just brilliant! I am definitely going to try this! And I just have to say I'm kind of glad Pinterest wasn't around when I got married - too many great ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  20. WOW! These cards are stunning! I absolutely LOVE the string technique. Love the wedding photo!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow! Incredible cards and beautiful wedding photo!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. String stamps ... stunning! Wonderful card for Darnell and such a beautifully romantic wedding photo! Anita :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Your string technique is super clever Kelly! LOVE the cards and your wedding photo!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow, these are fabulous, Kelly! I would have never thought to stamp with string...

    ReplyDelete
  25. What an amazing project, Kelly! Must give this a try! I LOVE the basket weave pattern and how you cut out a little window--genius! Thanks so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thank you so much, honey! Dad and I always loved that wedding photo of you two kids!!

    I really am fabberglasted that you included me and the Mister in such a fun and amazing and inspirational post as this!! Your card for us is just perfect and so much fun, Kelly! I'll be adding it to the special Pinterest board I've created. Mwah!

    Speaking of Pinterest, you did a sensational job of CASEing that Pinterest string stamp idea, Kelly! You could totally make a canvas for your home just like they did! Do it! All your cards are so great. A lot of us are going to be taking another look at our big background stamps and smacking our foreheads!

    I love to see that people are sort of being nostalgic for some of the old-timey things on Facebook and Pinterest - in some ways, going back to simpler times. I think we get so used to having "things" (machines, dies, stamps, etc.) sort of start doing things for us, we don't even think - like you brilliantly do - of how we can do something "homemade." For instance, I swooned over your first string stamp card with the wee rectangle window and my first thought was, oh, I like that little window. I wonder what die or punch she used.

    Thud. It never even occurred to me that you made it with your Exacto knife! (Just a sec, my foot is itching and I need to go place my foot in my foot scratcher assemblage.)

    And thank you for playing along with the fun link on Ardyth's site. Would you please go back and add a link with your wedding photo? It's so fun and so unique to see everyone's in-love photos! Please. And would you let me know the month and day of your wedding, so I can return the flavor and send you congratulations in a comment on your special day? Please.

    Thank you for being such a beautiful bride, well-wisher, thinker, creater, inspiration, and sweetheart blogging friend! Mwah! Darnell

    ReplyDelete
  27. Okay, now I'm inspired to make my own string stamps. That basket weave background came out perfect. So creative.

    ReplyDelete
  28. How clever! I can't imagine the patience that basket weave stamping took! I can't imagine me pulling it off! ha! Great cards!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I simple love this stamp idea, its genius :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'd love to spend a day inside your brain! Bet I'd get a year full of ideas out of it! LOVE that small string block pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  31. How cool is this, a wonderful idea and picture tutorial. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love your wedding photo! you look just the same :) oh, and your stamp idea is pretty snazzy as per usual

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow, you totally rocked this technique! Sooo cool!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sensational, what you show us here! It is imperative that I try it! The cards you made with this technique are simply gorgeous!
    Great!!
    Thanks for show us...

    Rosi x

    ReplyDelete
  35. Awesome awesome awesome! You totally rocked that kids' technique to bring us some very grown-up, stylish cards! What a great idea!!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Love your cards. What a great idea using string to create patterns. Love it. Will have to try it soon. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  37. What a great post Kelly!
    Your cards are sensational of course!
    You have mastered this technique beautifully ;-)

    and thank you for making me smile with that last comment and your precious picture!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I can't believe I missed seeing these cards until now! These are way too awesome! I don't even know where to begin! The string idea is simply incredible, and I love how neatly you wrapped it around the blocks. And the pattern on the first card together with the cute little window looks so cool, I just kept staring at it :) this is a winner for me!

    ReplyDelete
  39. What an amazing technique! I really would love to try this in scrapbooking!! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  40. What an incredibly cool technique! And your cards are all amazing with the added "texture" of the string stamping. Love the top one especially with the cut out window!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Your string stamping is very clever. I am inspired to try it myself.
    Heather T

    ReplyDelete
  42. OMG what a wonderful and creative idea this is ,Kelly!!love the basketweave pattern.U look so radiant in your wedding snap.:))))

    ReplyDelete
  43. You always seem to come up with such innovative ideas Kelly!
    ..I loved the first card , so unique!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hey Kelly! Thanks for linking this up to the Make a Card with a Window Challenge in the Moxie Fab World! I'm so glad you joined in on all the fun! :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hey Kelly! Thanks also for linking this up to the Stamp with a Homemade Stamp Challenge in the Moxie Fab World! I'm so glad you joined in on all the fun there as well! :)

    ReplyDelete

I absolutely love reading comments. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave one! - Kelly