2018 #18 Stamping Platforms: Egyptian Canvas with LPC by Helen Chilton

 2018 Topic 18: Stamp Platform Techniques

When the stamp platform first came out, Helen did a technique that immediately had me sold! She used infusions direct to stamp on a platform for a watercolour effect, so that lines were deliberately blurred, she then dried the stamp and defined the image by stamping again in ink over the infusions, what an amazing result! Of course, in this post, Helen takes that basic concept a step, well several steps further. With some really interesting results! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Helen with you today, and I'd like to share with you a canvas using a stamping platform and Infusions. Well, that's what it started out as but in the end it was more like mixed media as I realised you could use so many different media altogether in one project.

I started with the Infusions and was amazed at the detail you could get in your image. Then I wanted to add some more definition to the images so tried out various ways of doing this. I deliberately used very detailed stamps - one of the new Lynne Perrella sets, LPC040, which are gorgeous:

The one thing to watch out for is that the stamp doesn't slide on the platform plate - as you use water on the stamp it can get underneath and make it slippery - just make sure you keep it in place when cleaning the stamp between different media. I used five of the techniques on the main image and kept it in place no problem.

Here's how I stamp with Infusions: ink up with VersaMark (NB you can also rub dry infusions directly onto red rubber with your finger - without the versamark - if you wish for a slightly less defined effect),

sprinkle on the powder direct, and remember only a little is required of each colour - I add each colour to different areas,

rub in with your fingers - a finger for each colour !...

spritz lightly about 3 times,

and there you have it - a really crisp, clear image that shows practically every line even though it's a watercolour medium. I was jumping for joy at this point! These stamps are SUPER detailed!

Then I re-spritz and keep on stamping - you'll get at least 6 impressions, if not more and each one is different to the last, lighter, more 'watercoloury' etc.

I then decided to try out adding more detail on just parts of the image (this is where the Stamping Platform comes into its own). The following images are all subsequent stampings. First I used a black inkpad to edge and fill in the features - a mini one would be great here:

Then I tried black embossing just the face - like this effect:

Then I overstamped some areas with Frescos - I've gone for coordinatng colours, but you could also try contrasting ones:

Finally I overstamped some areas with some Distress inkpads and then  took a black watercolour brush pen and coloured in very particular areas - the line patterns, the dots, the eyes, the mouth, the nose etc. Great fun this, and so easy, yet effective.

Don't forget, where I've just used black you could use any colour, even multiple colours.

For the background I used a canvas board which fits into the platform really easily.  I left the stamp where it was and just moved the board around to build up the images - very quick to do.

The words are cut out  from one of Alison Bomber's sets, EAB01, and rearranged to say what I wanted.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed making this - it wasn't even very messy considering I was using Infusions and water. I think the Stamping Platform sort of contains it all - it's easy to clean as well. I was tempted to add highlights with Snowflake paint but didn't want it to go wrong at the last minute, but am definitely going to try that when not up against a deadline.

All these detail techniques can be used on any type of stamped image so get out your stamping platform, stick on your stamp and go off and have some fun!

Helen

Blog: A Splash of Colour
 

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