The Bon Appetit Menu - stamps and aging techniques

I had so much fun making cards with the Bon Appetit collection.  I was a bit stumped how to use the menu stamp, but the sentiment that goes along with the collection gave me the inspiration.

Start by inking the menu stamp - I used the Club Scrap india ink for a super dark black that won't run when I start aging the menu.

I want my menu to look aged, so I dab a cloth randomly on some different areas of the stamp.

I love how this looks after stamping.

Now, the fun begins!  Tear the paper to create a lovely aged effect.

Spray with whatever mists you have on hand that give that lovely aged appearance.  My sprayer wasn't working well, so I got these lovely spots that were perfect.

I used some distress inks to add some depth to my color.

Use a bamboo skewer (or whatever you have on hand!) to roll the edges up a bit.

I added some ink to the exposed areas from the backside and a little ribbon "clostheline," compete with closteh pins (I used half of the pin to add a little less dimension).

All stamps and paper from the Club Scrap Bon Appetit collection.

Hope you are enjoying the summer.  We're still knee deep in our remodeling project.  Should be great when it's done!

Kissing my stamps

Well, not really....

Kissing is a technique I don't do a lot with my stamps, but I thought it would be perfect with this striped stamp from the Club Scrap Bon Appetit kit.  Start by inking a stamp - I inked the striped stamp that is mounted on my grid ruler.

Kiss the inked striped stamp to the second stamp - a brocade pattern.

Stamp on your paper.

You now have a lovely stripe, but with a subtle pattern.  I liked this better than the bold stripes on their own.

Repeat until you have covered the entire panel - using the grid ruler helps you to line up all of the stripes nicely.

On the front of the card, I used the brocade pattern in a contrasting color to bring that out more boldly, and finished it off with a sentiment and a few little embellishments.  An easy way to make your stamps go further!

All stamps and paper from Club Scrap's Bon Appetit collection - and I used their lovely hybrid inks too (great for any surface).

Since this is the height of summer and we're knee deep in a remodeling project, my posts will be a little infrequent from here on out.  I should be back on a regular schedule in September after classes start again.