Until this project, I don’t think I’ve ever used a “photo stamp.” You know the kind – stamps made from photographs rather than drawings. I’ve seen many that have interested me, but just didn’t know what to do with them or how to use them. That brings me to the pound of rubber I received from Viva Las Vegastamps! For only $25, you can buy one pound of unmounted, deeply etched red rubber stamps. Viva Las Vegastamps! will select, at random, a pound of images and sayings from their collection of over 16,000, mostly “non-cute” stamps. I got a pound and when I sat and went through them I found Senior Ladies 3 1/2″ x 4 3/4″ (#8671).
Every time I looked at this stamp, a story went through my head. These two woman knew each other for years. They often went to the park together. They fed the birds. They played BINGO. They were best friends.
Given how many times I stopped and looked at this stamp (yes, I go through the pound of rubber over and over again), I knew I had to use it on a project.
I started by covering some glossy photo paper with distress ink. Then I stamped Senior Ladies 3 1/2″ x 4 3/4″ (#8671) using black dye ink. Once trimmed, the result looked like an old photo!
I picked up some vintage BINGO cards at a flea market this summer and decided to use one as a background for this photo. If you don’t have a real BINGO card, you can create your own using Bingo Card 4 3/4 x 5 3/4 (#8431).
For the sentiment, I stamped letters using Scrabble Alphabet Unmounted Regular Size (#1948) on white paper. I applied distress ink, used a Copic marker to color the edges of each tile and then embossed the letters with Ultra High Gloss Embossing powder. Once cut out, they look like real Scrabble tiles.
The card base is made from Designer Paper (DP) that fits the vintage look I was going for.
Now that I’ve finally used a photo stamp, I know they will become a standard part of my stamping portfolio. I hope you’ll give them a try too. In fact, why not challenge yourself? Get a pound of rubber and see how creative you can be with stamps you didn’t select. I bet you’ll find it as fun as I did!
Click here to visit Viva Las Vegastamps! Store!
Check out the Viva Las Vegastamps! blog for more Design Team projects.
Happy crafting!
Joe
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Love it! I'm with you on the photo stamps but you did an amazing job using one to tell a story.
I finally know what Create and Craft is! Anyway, I adore this card! Very clever with the lettering. I have the bingo card and I think it is wonderful how you thought outside the box (or rather bingo card).
I LOVE those ladies Joe! Very cool card!