Make Your Own Smashing Stamps

I have been working on a homemade smash book for my daughter these past few days. I thought of creating my own set of stamps to go along with it, because let's face it, stamps are expensive. I wanted to get a modern, and let's say "not perfect" stamping look for her smash book. But those rare pattern types can get a little $$pricey$$.

Using really inexpensive products: two foam sheets (89 cents per sheet at Michael's), small detailing scissors and any type of strong adhesive, you create your own stamp designs. You just have to be a little creative with patterns.

I used two different foam colors. First I traced my designs on the white foam sheet. Then I cut them out with the small detail scissors, and glued them to the black foam.

My intention was to mount the design and black foam onto wood squares, but I found out they work just as fine by themselves.

I used geometric patterns: arrows, triangles, squares, but any shape will be easy to make.
For the polka dot stamp, I used a paper punch to create the little circles. It's my personal favorite.

This is my testing sheet. Later on I will follow up with future projects using them.

For my daughter's smash book project I intend to use bright, colorful inks.
This time I used just red and black to test the stamps out.

In very little time I had quite the assortment of stamps.

I found this project to be really easy to make, inexpensive and fun. For more information you can watch the tutorial on this project on my YouTube channel.

Thanks for reading and your comments.

DIY art for your craft room

I am still in the process of decorating my craft room: I think of it as a never ending project. And this weekend I got inspired to do a pair of painted canvas for the wall above my desk. For materials I used: a pair of 8 x 10 canvas, acrylic paints in different colors, mod podge, gesso, stamps, inks, color markers, and Faber Castell gelatos.

For the first step I prepped my canvas with gesso to have a good base for my project, then used the acrylic paints to create a background. 

  I stamped my images on paper torn from an old book, then cut and colored them with color markers. Nothing fancy, I actually liked the edges to be a little off.

After all the images were colored, I attached them to the canvas using mod podge.

I drew the stems free form with a black marker.

To add interest I used a polka dot stamp on the corners and bottom of the canvas.

I used black gelatos to distress the edges a little bit and add a shadow.

These are my finished canvas ready to hang in my craft room.

 They are going to be my inspiration while doing my crafting.

Thanks for reading and your comments.

Valentine's day DIY treats

This is a last minute project for Valentine's day, especially if you are looking for ideas for a little sweet touch. You will only need: chocolate bars (I used  Hershey's), pretty paper and ribbon.

I wrapped the chocolate bars in scrapbook paper and made the printed sign with my computer, I Stamped the little owl and drew the heart, then added a little ribbon and voila: V-day wrappers. Perfect little treat for your kids.

Happy V-day!

Valentine's Day giveaway winner announced

Congratulations to the winner of the Valentine's day scrapbook mini album giveaway.  A huge thanks for all of you that participated.

Happy Valentine's day.