Altered Angel

Although this Angel is not created with WillowGrove stamps, I thought I would make an exception just this once to show you a unique project that I created this Holiday Season.

I was inspired by the Altered Angels that appeared in Somerset Studio's Nov/Dec 2007 issue. I especially loved the Celtic Angel on page 23. I found an old angel that my Grandma had made many years ago. It was falling apart and needed an update. I spray painted the angel in Aluminum coloured paint. I then painted patches of gold acrylic paint on it. I added silver and copper foil and Adirondack Eggplant Color Wash. I created a head from polymer clay, added pen nibs, chains, a scroll, feather wings, and a cloak.


I created the Angel's cloak from my new favourite material, diaper liners! I glued three liners together and sprayed the liners with Adirondack Color washes. Once they were dry, I stamped Celtic stamps randomly across the liners. I was very happy with the result.

I wish I had taken a "Before" picture of my Angel. This is the earliest picture I have of it. The original was a dull gold with cardboard wings. As you can see, it has been Altered quite a bit, including the head!

Introducing WillowGrove's Guest Card Maker, Beth Norman

Hi Everyone,
My friend Beth has agreed to be a guest cardmaker on the WillowGrove Blog. She has made two gorgeous cards using WillowGrove Stamps! Thank you Beth for sharing your fantastic ideas!

Here are a few questions I asked so that you can know more about Beth:


Kathryn: How long have you been stamping?

Beth: 3 yrs


Kathryn: What is your favourite technique?

Beth: Kaleidoscope card.

A kaleidoscope card is made up of four layers. The back piece of cardstock houses the sentiment and/or scene. The three layers that are on top are windows that tunnel the main image. The top layered window is full of embellishments. It is a very intriguing card that has so many possibilities which is why I like it.

Kathryn: What is the most number of cards that you have made in one day?

Beth: 60

Kathryn: WOW! That is a lot of cards. You are an inspiration to everyone!


Kathryn: Where is your favourite place to create your projects?

Beth: My studio.

A small bedroom has been transformed into my studio. I have a very large four drawer filing cabinet in which three of the drawers are filled with paper, finished cards waiting to be given away, images that I'm in the middle of working on, and props for my photo shoot for my blog. There is a large computer desk that holds my cricut, cuttlebug, and of course my computer. My closet is a stamper's dream; it houses a custom made unit that is made up of 10 4' x 4' drawers and five cubby holes. Last, my desk is a table that is 6 feet wide and way too full of my supplies.

Kathryn: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Beth: Other artists via blogs & Stampington & Co magazines.


Kathryn: Thanks again, Beth! You are welcome to share your great ideas with us anytime!

Butterflies and Dragonflies

For many years my Cut 'n Dry foam pad has sat in my craft cupboard. I decided to take it out one day and use it! Why didn't I use it before? It is wonderful! For those of you who do not know what a Cut 'n Dry foam pad is, it is my new favourite thing! It allows you to create your very own custom made rainbow inkpad. Simply apply inkpad reinkers onto the foam pad. That's it! Next, use your new custom inkpad on your rubberstamp. For our Lasting Impressions customers, I will be teaching this technique in our next Stamp Club! Go to www.lastingimpressionsbluewater.com for more details or visit us at the store.

To create this Butterfly card is simple. Place drops of Adirondack Currant, Denim and Caramal reinkers on Cut 'n Dry pad. Use your new custom inkpad to ink WillowGrove Butterfly. Stamp on white cardstock and mat onto gold paper.

You will never guess how I made the 'Suede' background paper. It is from a diaper liner! For those of you who do not have young babies, diaper liners are sold in a baby department and they look similar to a toilet paper roll. Tear off a sheet and spray with Adirondack Color Washes. For this card I used Eggplant and Currant. There it is, instant Suede paper! Absolutely beautiful!

Don't forget to add Crystal Stickles to the Butterfly!



I used the same WillowGrove Butterfly stamp for this card. However I used different colours for my custom made inkpad. It changed the effect entirely. It was a lot of fun to make the background paper that I used to mat the Butterfly. I spread pigment ink onto embossed paper and sprayed with Lettuce Adirondack Color Wash. The pigment ink acted like a resist which was a nice surprise! For the final background I simply used a light mist of Lettuce Color Wash.



This was the simplest card of my Butterflies and Dragonflies series. I inked the WillowGrove Dragonfly stamp on a Cut 'n Dry inkpad that I coloured with Reinkers.
I matted the Dragonflies on blue and attached them to a card.
A fabulous card in minutes!

WillowGrove Christmas Tree

To create the WillowGrove Christmas Tree card I used one of my favourite techniques.

The first step is to ink the Christmas tree stamp with Lettuce, Currant and Red Pepper Adirondack ink. I prefer to use only the corners of the ink pad so I don't get the entire inkpad dirty with other colours.

Using a waterbottle, mist droplets of water onto your stamp. The best way to do this is similar to applying your perfume. Hold your stamp image side up and wave underneath the mist of water. This rehydrates the ink on the stamp. The more water that you mist onto your stamp, the softer the image will appear.

Now you are ready to stamp your image onto cream cardstock.

The next step is to apply Caramel Adirondack ink onto the cardstock using a sponge.
Press the sponge onto the inkpad and then rub the ink onto the cardstock.

Drag the edges of the cardstock over the Currant Adirondack inkpad. This is a wonderful way to add a hint of colour to the edges of your image.

The final step is to mist a touch of Lettuce Adirondack Color Wash.

Adhere your Christmas tree onto cardstock and next onto a Scrapbook paper background.

Handmade Cards

If you would like to order a WillowGrove card, please email me at kdodkin@hotmail.com.
Prices for cards are $4.00 - $6.00 depending on detail.

Guest Designer

Hi everyone,
This month, I am the guest designer on my friend Beth's blog.
This is a fabulous blog to find some amazing ideas for cardmaking.

Go to:
http://sunflowersanddragonflies.blogspot.com/

Have fun!

Earmuff Snowman

Try stamping on textured paper to add interest to your card!

Christmas Card Season!!!

Hoorey!
It is time to make Christmas cards. This is my favourite cardmaking season. Here is my new Christmas tree stamp. It is modular so you may decorate it as you wish.

This is a new design as well. I love the presents stamp because it will work well
as a Christmas card or as a birthday card.

In This Month's RubberStampMadness!!!

Look for my Jolly Santa card in the Nov/Dec issue of RubberStampMadness!

COMING SOON!!!

Look for the latest WillowGrove Stamps Christmas tree set soon!
This is a stamp set that allows you the freedom to decorate a
Christmas tree yourself with a few easy steps.

Time to Start Making Your Christmas Cards!

It isn't Halloween yet but now is the perfect time to start making your Christmas cards. Christmas will be here before we know it and it is always good to be prepared. This is an easy Christmas card to make using the Jolly Santa stamp. It fits in a business size envelope so mailing it to your favourite people is simple.

Have a Spooky Halloween

This is my latest Halloween Stamp set. It is Modular so that you may design the haunted house exactly as you wish.

My Rubber Stamping/Scrapbook Room

Willow loves to hang out in the Scrapbook Room.

This is my Nick Bantock flag that my friend Sharon bought for me.

This is my Rubber Stamping/Scrapbook Room where I design my WillowGrove Stamps. It is a fun room with lots of cupboards to hide my collection of stamps, paper, ribbon and embellishments!

One Year Anniversary

It is John and my one year anniversary. We were married on September 16, 2006. We cannot believe one year has gone by already!

Halloween Giraffe

This is one of my favourite WillowGrove Stamps. You can see the Halloween Giraffe in our adverstisement in the Sept/Oct issue of RubberStampMadness.

Halloween Pumpkin Card

Egg Shaped Snowmen Card

This is an adorable Christmas card created with Egg Shaped Snowman.