We are pleased to announce (by popular demand!) two new sizes:
ATC size 2-1/2" x 3-1/2"
and 3" squares
These new sizes are available in all of our 7 colors; either in boxes of all one color, or in an assortment. From left to right; black, dark gray, light gray, wheat, dark cream, ivory and white.
(bird stamp from Rubbermoon stamps)
ATC size, 3" square, 2" Twinchie Square, 1-1/2" Inchie + Square and 1" Inchie Square
But, ART SQUARES are a just a blank canvas until you apply love and art.
We have discovered that these new larger sizes are like opening a Pandoras Box of art techniques that were not quite possible with the smaller sizes.
Because of the larger size you are more aware of the uniqueness of the material and how it behaves like a hot press watercolor paper enabling the use of a great variety of wet mediums including
all manner of paints, sprays, inks and stains without the surface deterioration
that would normally occur with paper weight materials.
The artist grade surface is equally ideal for fine pen work, stamping,
all variety of markers, color pencil, chalks and pastels.
And the matboard weight of the material stands up to mixed media,
layering, collage, embellishment and encaustic.
the smaller sizes.
A few samples....
Image layering, larger format stamps and coloring with Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils and Twinkling h20 paints - yeah, larger coloring areas!
(stamps from Rubbermoon, sentiment from Impress)
Stamping and creating textures with gesso, then coloring with alcohol inks, Brilliance re-inkers, Twinkling H20 Paints or Pan Pastels.
(stamps from Savvy and Impress, sentiment from Lockhart)
White pigment ink with white and white diamond embossing powder to create special chalkboard effects on darker ART SQUARES as well as the magic of white gel pens and Prismacolor pencils on dark gray.
(stamps from Fred Mullett and Savvy, sentiments from Rubbermoon and Impress, embossing powder from JudiKins)
And explore using larger stamps by coloring the stamp with assorted dye based markers
(stamps from Fred Mullett and Penny Black, sentiments from Impress and Savvy)
This Valentines Day card was created by using white gesso as 'ink'.
Apply a few dabs of gesso to an non porous surface slightly bigger than the size of the stamp.You want it a bit 'gloppy' (vs. thin and smoothed out) so the stamp will 'pick up' enough of the gesso.
Press the stamp into the gesso being sure to pick up enough to cover the entire stamp. "Stamp" onto a white 3" ART SQUARE. Repeat twice more without overlapping images. Immediately wash stamp off in warm water or set into a very shallow dish of water so the gesso does not dry on the stamp. Let dry completely, best overnight.
The color is actually just a small squeeze from two different colors of Brilliance ink refill bottles. The Pearlescent Orchid and the Platinum Planet. Either in a small egg carton style pallette or a non porous surface place a small amount of paint of each color. Using a brush, sponge or just about any type of applicator pick up a dab of the Platinum ink and quickly wipe it across the bottom half of the stamped square - full coverage left to right. Moving quickly with a rinsed or new brush, repeat with the Orchid color on the top half overlappying the Platinum slightly.
Finish by using a more wet than just damp paper towel and wipe across the entire surface. As you do this you will be removing almost all of the paint from the white gesso hearts. The more water...and the more you wipe...the more white they will become.
The end result shows the 'ink' absorbing into the white 3" square and the gesso hearts resisting most, if not all of the overpainting of ink.
(stamp from Savvy, sentiment from Lockhart)
Happy Valentines Day!!
