Bookmarks

I love to give books or certificates to book stores as gifts. However, I like to have something handmade in the mix as well. So, I make bookmarks, often customizing them to suit my intended Giftee. Bookmarks are simple and fast to make, and they're a little something that my loved ones can keep using long after the books have been read and shelved.

Bookmarks, since we're quickly coming up on that time, also make great stocking-stuffers.

Plus, they're an excellent way to remind someone, even when you're not there, that you care about them.

So, get out your cardstock and stamps and make a few bookmarks today!

Where will your imagination take you?

RubberMoon Stamps

Imagine

Tall Tree

Chubby Crow (sm)

Chubby Crow (lg)

Polaroid Type Alphabet

Library Card

Stars

To the Moon and Back

New Moon

It's a Hoot!

I was so thrilled to receive another package from the RubberMoon Mail Club last week. Look at all that stuff! I got, as usual, the exclusive stamp that only Moon Mail Club members get, plus a couple of pre-folded card backings from Inchie Arts, plus a piece from Gina's Designs Mixed Media Fragments 1. As always it was accompanied by a newsy note from RubberMoon's Kae Pea, as well as a fun print of her art work.

I have Father's Day on the brain, and knew immediately what I wanted to do with the piece from Gina's Designs. I thought it would work perfectly with RubberMoon's Happy Father's Day stamp.

I began by using the piece from Gina's Designs as a stencil. I simply set it on my cardstock and liberally spritzed the entire thing with Fireworks spray. Then I lifted the piece off and coated it with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate ink, to which I added clear embossing powder. I heat set the embossing powder and it gives the piece a really cool, slightly metallic shine.

By then, my cardstock was dry, so I used the same color of ink again to stamp the sentiment. To give it a little extra something, I dotted on some Liquid Pearls in dark chocolate.

(Is all this talk of chocolate making anyone else hungry?)

I assembled my card and adhered it to one of the pre-folded cards from Inchie Arts.

I thought I was done, but that adorable owl stamp that came with my package would not stop staring at me! So, I made a bookmark.

For the bookmark, I stamped the owl twice with StazOn Jet Black ink then colored in the owls using Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils. I gave the eyes a little extra sparkle with some yellow Stickles and finished off the "hoot" by hand-lettering the "h" and "t". All it needed was a colorful ribbon.

I love getting these surprise packages in the mail from RubberMoon Mail Club. It's like a little bit of Christmas on an ordinary day. I never know what's going to be in the package, so the inspiration kind of leaps out of the package along with the goodies. Add to that the fun and inspiration we have in the Facebook group... well, what's not to love?! You could say it's a hoot!

See you next week and Happy Crafting!

Whimsical Bookmarks by Martice Smith II

Hi friends! Martice here to show you a few simple ways to jazz up some scrap pieces of cardstock and transform them into whimsically fun and expressive bookmarks.

Today, I'll be showing you techniques on how to:

1 • mix RubberMoon art stamps with modeling paste,
2 • incorporate image transfers and use numbers as symbols,
3 • use a stencil for a cut-out,
4 • and finally, I'll reveal how I combined these techniques into a mixed-media collage bookmark, inspired by Frida Khalo!


Let's get started...Here are the stamps I used for creating these whimsical bookmarks:

(from left to right): 

Frida

RubberMoon Alphabet Stamp
Large Fern
Save the Date stamp
Kae Pea-New Moon-Art Stamp

For the first two bookmarks, I monoprinted backgrounds using a gelli plate. You can see pink and yellow flowers have been drawn in a scribbly, expressive fashion.

Image on left: Using the Kae Pea-New Moon-Art Stamp, I stamped a scalloped pattern. (I only applied ink to the circular portion of the stamp.)



Next, I applied modeling paste through the Faith stencil (from ArtistCellar's Pocket stencils) and topped it off with gold glitter before it dried.



Image on right: An image transfer of a bird's nest is featured.  Using the number 8 from the RubberMoon Alphabet Stamp, I stamped it sideways to make it look like an infinity symbol -  representing the continuation of life.



The background is very cheerful with the yellow gelli printed flowers, isn't it? Since the yellow paint is water-soluble, it interacted with the blue Large Fern to create a beautiful, deep green, which I think adds much more interest to the image.



((Here's a neat, crafty tip! Place a piece of scotch tape directly onto the storybook page, rub for a couple of seconds, then gently peel back the tape. This lift-off technique gives a nice, faded look to the words.)) Click on the image for a larger view.


I added some journaling along the edges of the bookmark to create a border and embellished with a gold leaf pen.


 

For the third bookmark,  I did a stencil cut-out technique.

I love how the key appears to be sunken into the bookmark while the word 'seeker' pops out as a dimensional element.

I traced the inside of the Vintage Key (Mini Steampunk set of ArtistCellar's Pocket stencils) with a craft knife, painted red acrylic paint on a piece of paper, and glued to the back of bookmark.



Background created with:


Save the Date stamp  - I only inked the word 'the' in white and stamped on bookmark.
Next, the word 'seeker' was handwritten with black Micron 03 pen on scrap paper and glued onto foam dot (for dimension).

DecoArt black gesso
DecoArt Multi-Surface Satin - School Bus 
Gold glitter


 

Last but not least, here's the fourth bookmark, inspired by Frida Khalo! 

This bookmark showcases all of the elements combined, plus more!

Techniques include: image transfer, journaling, collage, stamping, plus, applying modeling paste through stencils. I think the addition of embellishments really make the Frida stamp pop!

I wanted Frida to look like a tall, angel-like figure so, I elongated the stamp by drawing her shirt longer. Now, it looks like she's wearing a dress...simple, right?!


For the top portion of the bookmark, I applied green tinted modeling paste through the Mini Chakra Crown stencil and white modeling paste for the Mini Steampunk Wing stencil on storybook pages and attached them with gel medium. (Both stencils from ArtistCellar)

Letters from the RubberMoon Alphabet Stamp create the word 'Passion' at the bottom of Frida's dress (DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics- Phthalo Blue). I cut out and glued the word 'queen' from my storybook and finished the bookmark with some journaling and gift wrapping ribbon.

Background created with:
Storybook pages, collaged

DecoArt Black gesso
DecoArt Gloss Enamel - Yellow
DecoArt Neon fluorescent in Fiery Red
watercolors
acrylics (white paint splatters)

To prevent the water-soluble media (and glitter) from smudging off, I sealed everything with a light spray of matte varnish.

What a fun and simple way to practice these techniques! Here's a final look at all four whimsical bookmarks...

Do you like to make your own bookmarks? If yes, are they plain or decorated?

Enjoy your weekend!

Shimmery Stamped Tags For All Occasions

Hello Friends!  This is Carmen from Serendipity Studio and I'm so happy to be back with you today to share some of my favorite RubberMoon stamps.  I've created some tags that can be used for several different occasions and saved as works of art.

Creating 100 Artsy Bookmarks - Using Rubbermoon Stamps

When visiting the Sunview Elementary School 3rd Grade classes a couple weeks ago (as a visiting author - I recently published some books), I really wanted to bring some special giveaway to the kids. A small, simple artsy gift to remind them of the writing pep talk I gave to them. Since the four classes consisted of over 20 kids per class, I decided to create 100 bookmarks (25 per class, so the teacher could keep a couple as well).

So how do you create 100 bookmarks when you really don't have much time on your hands?

Here's how! And it's also very fun!

MATERIALS:

• 2 sheets of 15x20 (or larger) 90 lb watercolor paper.
• Gouache paints
• Brushes of your choosing - and sponges to add textures
• Rubbermoon art stamp (I chose the typewriter - one of my favorite stamps - because I was giving a writing pep talk).
• Exacto knife and/or paper cutter

1. Use a large brush or sponge to create a wash to over the whole paper. I recommend getting both sheets out and painting them simultaneously. I painted one at a time only because I underestimated how many pages I would need to create enough bookmarks - didn't plan properly. Painting both sheets at once will save you time.

2. Just start painting away! Use a variety of brush styles to paint. I like to use a soft brush to make swirly shapes and a stiff bristled brush to create spattering. I also love to use sponges to add texture.

3. After your paintings have dried, it's time to cut them up (you COULD start rubber stamping now or after cutting)! First I used an Exacto knife and ruler to cut large chunks that would be easy for me to slip into my mini paper cutter (which is very small - used for scrapbooking). If you are lucky enough to have a large paper cutter, just use that! Chop strips to the size of your liking. In order to get as many pieces done as possible using two sheets of watercolor paper, I cut mine in various sizes, averaging 1.5"x 3".

4. After cutting all my pieces, and counting to make sure I have the 100 slips of paper I need, then I placed the strips onto a newspaper and started stamping away. Yes, you could do this BEFORE cutting, but it was important to me that every single bookmark had a recognizable amount of the  typewriter image visible on the bookmark. 

And VOILA! You have one hundred bookmarks to use as giveaways!

I wish I would have been prepared enough to add stickers with my website info on the backs, but live and learn, I guess! I highly suggest you use these fun giveaway bookmarks as business cards if you like, adding a stamp or label of your own on the back with your contact and/or website info! This is certainly something I plan to do, because making these bookmarks is SUPER fun!