She Danced … with Ann Butler Designs–Blog Hop

Ann Butler has released a new set of EZ-De’s Stamp Line with kellycraft and to celebrate, she is hosting a Blog Hop Party.  I was thrilled to be invited.  Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom for the list of other Designers and their projects.

So, the new stamps are high-quality clear polymer stamps, made in the USA! EZ-De’s^TM (Easy Design Elements for Stamping) is a patent-pending borderless stamping system designed by Ann Butler which allows you to create quick and easy design pattern combinations.

These are the sets I received to work with.  I have to admit that while I have been known to stamp with detail for cards and layouts, I am most in my zone when creating a mixed media piece.  I usually use rubber stamps for mixed media, but was quite impressed with these polymer stamps because they were firm and not ‘squishy’.  These are perfect to add layered elements to any piece.  I do love that they are borderless too and plan on playing with creating new designs with them as well.   However, I used these stamps today to create this canvas above. **warning, picture heavy post **

I started with a ready-made background I created by using up leftover paints from my last project.  You can read more about this tip on my Salt Water Cure Mixed Canvas.

Then I just started layering with elements from my stash box, paints, and stencils.

Add in a few layers of stamping with the EZ-De’s Stamp Line Rails Set A using coordinating colors of inks by Clearsnap, and I have a finished background I am quite happy with.

I decided to use this triangle from the EZ-De’s Stamp Line Tri Triangle Set A to create a dress.  I stamped two triangles on some of my favorite paper from Susan K Weckesser and cut them out.

I folded one in have and cut a neckline and sleeves by snipping top edges and cutting a v notch in center. Voila!  Dress!  You don’t see it yet?

How about now?  I painted in my girl using Shiva Paintsticks.  I use these by rubbing off the dried edge and then using a brush to pick up directly from the stick.  I can even mix colors on the stick.  For example, I picked up ochre and then blended it right into white to get the skin tone.  I was able to create some shadow and highlights by varying the amounts of each.   I sat down and had fun painting, shading, sketching, blending, etc. to create my finished girl.  I knew which quote I wanted to use and wrote it in by hand.  I hate my handwriting and have tried to take some lettering classes, but obviously I’m not passing those.  I’m learning to embrace it anyway and try to incorporate it in more of my work.  Maybe that will make me try harder on my lettering instead of stamping or printing all the time.

I embellished her with some resin pieces I made while playing and working on projects as a featured artist for Amazing Mold Putty.

You can see the layers of stamping using the EZ-De’s Stamp Line stamps here.

I hope I’ve inspired you to ‘dance like no one is watching’ even when you are creating!  Create for you and enjoy the process.  You can find even more inspiration by visiting the other designers in our Blog Hop.