Simple and Stunning: Handmade Clear Stamped Cards

Oct 09 We all love collecting clear stamps, but sometimes it's hard to think of new ways of using them. Luckily stamping expert Barbara Gray is here to help - Barbara pioneered clear stamps back in the early 1990s so she really knows her stuff. You'll learn lots of new techniques, including how to create reflection effects, how to use a corner stamp to make a lacy border, and how to print background textures with a brayer. Barbara's card projects are clearly explained for beginning stampers too. * Papercraft Inspirations * July 08 Clear stamps are the latest type of rubber stamps, allowing greater freedom as you can see where you are stamping. Also, as they are mostly sold in sheets of press-out shapes with the acrylic blocks available separately, you get more for your money. The sets are themed, making endless variations possible without having to save up to buy more wood-mounted stamps that match. There are some beautiful stamps in this book, oriental ladies, lovely views, fashion, Art Nouveau, Victoriana and others that are suitable for any occasion other than religious festivals. As usual with Search Press, you can expect lots of staged photographs and instructions, showing how to make cards that are indeed "simple and stunning". You mainly need the stamps, ink pads and whatever additions come to hand to make these cards, so no specialist equipment is needed apart from a steady hand and a talent for assembling a pleasing arrangement. I particularly like the way the stamps all come from one company, and the website for this is given at the front of the book so you really can make all the cards exactly as they appear, if you want to. I confess to not having been a keen rubber stamper until these new sets came along, but it is simple to create something really professional with comparatively little outlay and this book shows how versatile these new stamps are. * Myshelf.com *

See-through stamps offer many exciting design possibilities. They can be accurately positioned to create borders, frames, repeat motifs, reflections, two tone effects and to fill in selected areas. All the techniques are clearly explained and each card shows how to build up confidence and skills. Subjects include Victorian lace, fashion, cats, landscapes and mail art.