When I received Traci Baustista's new book, Printmaking Unleashed I was excited and amazed to see so many printmaking ideas! Beautiful projects seemed to spill out of every single page. First I looked at all the photographs, and then I began reading, first skipping around and then from back to front. Tracy's joy and playfulness in her creating process became a joy to me as well!
Tracy also sent me a packet of very fun and unusual tools for me to experiment with and I have to say, my very favorite was the adhesive craft foam! I have wanted to cut more of my own stamps for some time, and have been looking for this wonderful product!!
I looked up symbols on Pinterest, and other ideas on my Hand Carved Stamp Ideas page here. Then I began to draw and cut up my stamp ideas on the foam.
I cut out my new stamp designs, pulled off the protective backside and pressed the sticky side on to cardboard.
I was happily surprised at how securely my designs stuck to the card board pieces!
Next came the very fun part of making images with my stamps and trying different inks! I printed on tissue papers and rice papers, silk and gauze and linen, even notebook and graph paper. Then I tore or cut out each individual image and started playing with collages!
After I found a collage design I liked, I used Traci's adhesive and adhered my images on to pieces of watercolor paper that I had already covered with a light weight piece of rice paper, fabric and white gesso.
Finally when my projects were all finished I added a bit of stitching.
Thank you Traci, for sharing your amazing and inspiring book with me and the world!!
Oh I love your designs and stamps! What beauty you create. Those pages - a delight to my eyes! I will add making these style of stamps to my long list of things to try!!
Posted by: Kim Henkel | December 02, 2014 at 08:33 PM
Great results from a stamp process ... Your shapes are strong and print beautifully! Looks like a good book to add to the shelf!
Posted by: Mary Ann Lehrer-Plansky | December 01, 2014 at 08:49 AM
Your stamp symbols do have an ancient feel about them, Roxanne. I like the sound of Traci's book. Off to find out more!
Posted by: Robyn | December 01, 2014 at 06:48 AM
Roxanne, thanks for sharing information about this book. It looks like some well worth exploring!
Posted by: Sharmon Davidson | November 30, 2014 at 05:51 PM
These are spectacular Roxanne. There is something almost ancient about these -- symbols from the distant past. You really took Traci's approaches and made them your own!
Posted by: Seth | November 23, 2014 at 06:45 PM
This looks like so much fun!!! I'm going to go on line right now find the book and order it.
Thanks for sharing Roxanne, I'm always looking for new things to share with my high school students.
Posted by: Karen The Adventuous Art Teacher | November 23, 2014 at 02:10 AM
Roxanne, Thank you so much for sharing this book and process, wonderful stamps! xoxo
Posted by: Annie | November 22, 2014 at 06:54 PM
Thanks for recommending this book and stamp making tips... with wonderful results.
Posted by: Donna Watson | November 22, 2014 at 03:44 PM