The Computer Has No Soul

by Colleen Bodvig

In this world of instant gratification... of selfies, IMs and tweets that we can send out to the world in a matter of seconds... Snail Mail seems to have lost favor. However, I still believe that good things come to those who wait. I would rather let the U.S. Postal Service do its job, even if I must wait, and walk out to my mailbox each day in eager anticipation of possibly being able to hold in my hand a delightfully crafted card, because, face it: 

the Computer Has No Soul... 

but I can see yours in a heartfelt, handmade card.

My basic supplies were a black gatefold card, Gears texture sheet from Gina's Designs, a 2x2 inchie arts Art Square and two squares of silver metallic paper.

Gina's Designs says of its texture sheets to: Ink it, paint it, use it as a stencil... but I got to thinking, why not emboss with it? 

And it worked!

I attached the embossed silver square 

with black brads to the left side of the gatefold card.

On the second unembossed silver square, 

I wrote "Letters Mingle Souls" repeatedly.

I positioned the silver square above upside down in the center of the inside of my card and applied double-sided tape to the right side of the back of the card and closed to seal.

Next I stamped "The Computer Has No Soul" by RubberMoon to the left side of the silver square.

I first stamped the Gears stamp by RubberMoon onto the inchie arts Art Square using Imagine Crafts Delicata Ink in Silver, but then decided I didn't have enough contrast for the front of my card, so I then stamped the same image on a black square and affixed it over the old image on the Art Square. 

(Waste not, want not!)

I then attached the Art Square to the front of the card.

Lastly, I attached a sheet of white paper to the center inside of my card for a letter-writing surface.

I hope you will take some time to send a handwritten note in a handmade card to someone you know!

Witchy Woman

by Colleen Bodvig

I'm a little surprised that my inspiration for this month's project is this creepy, little spider from RubberMoon (ge2888 - spidey) - particularly since I HATE spiders!  But there you go:  One never knows when the inspiration bug will bite you!

My spider needed a home on which to reside (and multiply), so I assembled some bits and pieces which I hoped would become an art doll assemblage.

Hot glue gun in hand, I went to work! I don't think there is any reason a Witch has to be unattractive, do you?  Borrowing the face from RubberMoon's New Moon stamp, she looks more angelic than witch-like:

...so I "creeped" her up a bit with lots and lots of spiders (stamped on vellum):

But I couldn't stop there.  She needed a canvas to stand against, so I created a makeshift shadowbox from this vintage find:

...and I ended up with this:

Below are a few closeups of the details.  For the spider web (Victorian Greetings), I decided to make use of the "halo" left over from punching the face out of the RubberMoon New Moon stamp:

For the fall scenery, I used two RubberMoon pumpkin stamps (long, tall pumpkin and pumpkin vine).  Both were stamped on a heavyweight vellum and colored with Copic markers. Since the ink from the alcohol markers stayed on the surface (did not bleed), I ended up with a pretty and slightly glossy effect as I worked the layers of color.

One paper hat and a train of fibers later, her outfit is complete:

Enjoy your Halloween... but beware the spiders!

End of Summer / Paper Lantern Postcard

Major denial that summer is coming to a close.  How can it, when I am still able to find bloom to photograph?

That said, I put together a postcard tonight for a friend. Whimsical paper lanterns, breeze, a bit of final bloom in the midst of darkening autumn days.

First, I used Dylusions spray ink for a splash of sky color in the background.  Once dry, I used StayOn Jet Black to stamp Paper Lanterns (ge2826:  Lanterns).  I used Fiskars gel pens to add a bit of color to bloom and to lantern.

At this point, I decided to add some late summer/early fall color to the decorative paper.  This I adhered to a postcard.

With an add of the paper lantern piece my postcard is ready to send!

And one last bloom of summer...

Thanks for reading my post today!

:)

Kersten Christianson

Tea for Two by Colleen Bodvig

If you follow my personal blog, Remains of the Day, you may already know that I recently experimented with a few ways to add color to a solid image stamp (RubberMoon's Teapot and Mugs).  

Taking one of my test prints (shown above), I was inspired to create this "Tea for Two" collage:

Below are a few of the steps involved in creating the layers of this collage:

First, I used matte gel medium to glue down the tea-related dictionary clippings, then used my new paint wedge tool by Catalyst along with Golden Fluid Acrylics and Making Memories Acrylic Paint to lay down a base of color.

Next I added texture with foam stamps I created from embossing folders (the text background and mini dots shown below):

I can't seem to create ANY collage that doesn't include faux post, so using 100 Proof Press postage borders and postage paper, along with RubberMoon's "teacup bird," I created some postage stamps to add to my collage:

For the last layer, I stamped with RubberMoon's "dots & circles" and "circles upon circles" using acrylic paint...

...and then I added the postal cancellation images as the finishing touch!

I hope you have enjoyed the journey!   :-)

Give Peas A Chance

Hi! I'm Barb Black and I'm delighted to be one of the new RubberMoon Creative Dream Team members.  I think the most difficult thing I had to do for this first post was to decide which RubberMoon stamp(s) to use first!  It really wasn't that much of a challenge, I guess.


I love wordplay, so as soon as I saw Gretchen Ehrsam's "Give Peas A Chance" stamp, I knew the direction I was taking.  Pairing it with Sunny Carvalho's whimsical pea pod stamp was a no-brainer.

And so, this card was born.

For this card I used the following supplies: 

Glossy white card stock,

Green card stock,

Black card stock,

Water-based green ink pad,

Craft (or chalk style) white ink pad,

StazOn Jet Black ink pad, 

Green water-based markers in two different shades, 

A black Sharpie,

Sequin waste, and 

Sponges

I began by stamping the saying and pea pods on the glossy white paper, using the black ink.  I used StazOn because it doesn't run or bleed when I color over it with anything water-based.  I then colored in the pods and the peas and carefully outlined the piece using my Sharpie.

Once that was done, I set it aside to work on the background pieces.  This is where good ol' messy fun comes in (my favorite pastime).


First I did a rough tear across one edge of the black cardstock just to give it some quirky interest.


Then, using the white ink on the black, and the green ink on the green, I set the sequin waste over each piece and dabbed the inks through the holes with a piece of sponge.

I love using sequin waste for backgrounds!  It's ridiculously inexpensive, which always gets my attention.  As you can see, I used the same piece for both colors.  I simply wiped it off with a clean damp cloth in between uses.  You can probably also tell that I've used this same piece many, many times before. Once upon a time it was white.



Sequin waste is just what it sounds like - it's the "ribbon" of hole-y plastic that remains after sequins are punched out.  Just as different sized sequins are available, so are pieces of sequin waste with different sized holes.  The possibilities are endless!



After all that, the only thing left to do was to glue the layers of my card together, find time to write a quick note, and send the happy little thing off to brighten someone's day.



I hope this gives you inspiration for new projects of your own.  Life is messy - join in!

A Poetic Postcard

Hi. It's me, Kae Pea, posting from RubberMoon Studio!
I made a new little hummingbird stamp and so I just had to play a little bit. :)
It's no secret, I love watercolors and just went on a bit of a spree at Daniel Smith art supply on my recent trip to Seattle. Daniel Smith is known for their watercolor paints and so that is what I splurged on!
This project is simple yet satisfying if you are craving some creative time but don't have a lot of time to spare. 
To make this postcard art you will need just a few supplies. 
Here are the stamps and supplies I used:
Of course you may substitute different stamps but we highly recommend RubberMoon Art Stamps ;)
Little Hummer KP5188F
Gretchen's Fuschia GE5035K
"Poetic" by Nancy Curry
2 sheets of 140 lb. Watercolor Paper*
*1. 3 x 5 piece
  1. 4 x 6 piece
Permanent black inkpad
PVA Glue
Watercolor paints & brush
Jar of fresh water

Stamp your images on your smaller sheet of watercolor paper using your black permanent ink...

Begin painting in your images using a round watercolor brush (I used a # 8)
and a fair amount of clear, fresh water. I used a mixture of blues and greens and a touch of Opera Pink watercolor for my humming bird.

I painted the fucshia flowers with Opera Rose and Leaf Green and then I painted the entire background with clear water. Washing your paper with water before you paint, helps the pigment to flow and give it a loose, washy effect that makes watercolor so delightful!

After I 'washed' my entire background with a fair amount of water, I added Manganese Blue and let it really be wet and flowing. I also added a couple of light touches of the Opera Rose Hue and a bit of Hansa Yellow. I painted wet into wet and let some of the colors 'blossom'. I like the radiant and organic effect this gives.

After my watercolor was dry, I added PVA glue to the back and mounted it on to the larger 4 x 6 sheet of watercolor paper and TA DA! Pure Poetry! Now I have a lovely postcard to send or to frame.

Hope YOU get to be creative today!

Sending Moonbeams,

XOKP

Story Girl Writes a Letter

I've only just returned recently from my second summer residency in my MFA program, and even though I'm studying poetry, "Story Girl" resonates. Below is the ATC I made just prior to leaving and the mail art is the letter I wrote to a friend about the residency upon my return.  Both use these wildly funky Gretchen Ehrsam backgrounds that with enough play on page can be mesmerizing.

For Story Girl, I inked up the Typewriter with Heart (kp5044) using StazOn Jet Black ink.  This I stamped onto a precut glossy cardstock piece just shy the size of an ATC.  I stamped an identical version onto a sticky note to serve as a mask.  Once I applied the mask to the card, I used about five different hues of Distress ink on Gretchen Ehrsam's background stamp, Umbrellas (ge2843).  The expression Story Girl (kp5059) was stamped out on a scrap glossy strip.  It was glued first to black cardstock and layered onto the card.  Once the Distress inks dried, I adhered the card to an ATC back, and added a bit of colorful acrylics and glitter glue to the edges.

And just for kicks - here is the mail art that began its flight to Paris yesterday...for this I used Mixed Border (mk592f) and Evening Starflower (db4785g).