New Pug Stamp - A68

I had so much fun handcarving a new stamp today. I created it in the likeness of my latest panting pug painting design A68.

I love carving stamps. I have documented my process and materials for you see how I create them.

It is a wonderful, fast and easy way to get my printmaking fix without carving into wood or lino which can be frustrating for me, and I do not need a press to run a print... just a stamp pad!

I use my stamps to embellish cards, journals, inspire fabric designs or embroidery doodles. I think this one will appear in one of my creations for doodle design class. :)

Tune in tomorrow to see new pictures and videos of Emmitt and Bogart together. He came for another visit last week and we all had so much fun!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

New Hand-Carved Pug Stamp - A67

I just finished carving a new pug stamp inspired by my new pug painting, A67.

I love carving stamps. I have documented my process and materials for you see how I create them.

Here is the stamp, my carving tool and four prints drying.

Close up of the stamp.

It is a perfect addition to my collection. I use them in my journals and to stamp on cards, packages or any place that needs a pug - which is every surface of course!

Art Camp 2008

Yipeeeee! I just found out that Melanie and I just got in to the session at Anderson Ranch that we were hoping to this summer. This will be the 3rd year that I have sent myself to a week of Art Camp. I am thrilled that Melanie is able to go with me this year. It will be a new experience for both of us because I have always taken printmaking classes, and this is a book binding class called Wooden Books.

Here is the class description:

This workshop will immerse you in the world of historical bookbinding. Participants will make an Ethiopian-style binding, a structure developed as early as the 4th century. The fact that some of these books are still around is a testament to their sturdiness. After creating a miniature paste-board model with papyrus covers, you will construct a sewn-board Coptic binding. The elegant sewn structure, combined with wooden covers, opens a wide range of possibilities for both the beginner and the advanced bookbinder. Using simple hand tools, you will drill, shape, and smooth your book covers. Finishing includes sealing wooden covers with milk paint and a coating of wax and adding a leather closure. As time allows, your instructor will share various features he includes in his own bindings and sculptural books.

It is a wonderful creative experience. The camp is beautiful and the classes are fun yet intensive. The studios are open 24/7 so you can work on your art as much as you would like. Here are some of the prints I created in past years at camp. I cannot wait to see how our books turn out.

Drypoint Etching 2007

Drypoint Etching 2007

Drypoint Etching 2007

Solarplate Etching 2006

Fun News!

My hand carved stamps are going to be published!

I am so excited! I just received the news that my hand carved pug stamped cards will be in a new book, 1000 Handmade Greeting Cards.

I entered the contest through a post I read on Etsy. I believe they are still accepting entries, and the book will be published sometime next year.

Speaking of carving stamps, I had the pleasure of carving Miss Maisie for my friend, Linda.

It is fun to change the effect by printing them on different color and textures of paper.

Here are 3 cards I made and the stamp itself carved out of PZ-Kut.

Here is a Stamp I made of my sister's corgi, Moe.

And my favorite stamp I created, a self portrait of me and Emmitt.

Craft Day with Melanie

Melanie and I had so much fun this weekend. We had a craft day and made teddy bears and potato prints.



Mel made 2 velvet bears and I made 2, two sided bears each with a different color fur and face.

We had a ton of fabric, buttons, fabric yo yos and ribbons to choose from.






Emmitt even shared in the fun. He brought us every toy out of his toy box!





Then I showed Mel how to make prints with a few red potatoes, a knife and some cheapy watercolor paints. We cut the potatoes in half, gouged out some shapes, painted them with watercolors and stamped away.

I think they will work as fun embellishments for our altered book workshop that is coming up next week.

Pug Collagraph Prints with Chine-Colle

Last night was my last Collagraph printmaking class. I had so much fun printing my new plate I showed you last week. I ran a few in a relief process and then started adding bits of cut out paper into the process which is called Chine-Colle. I love the results and will definitely do more of these in the future. Thank you to my friend and teacher Theresa Haberkorn for teaching this wonderful class in her studio. Here are some pictures of the process and prints.