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TPD: Soot-Stamped Halloween Flat Card

Launch gallery slideshow

Group:The Paper Dragon
Swap Coordinator:LahDeeDah (contact)
Swap categories: Card Making 
Number of people in swap:6
Location:International
Type:Type 3: Package or craft
Last day to signup/drop:October 4, 2012
Date items must be sent by:October 18, 2012
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

Soot stamping is a fun and easy technique well-suited for spooky Halloween paper crafting. This challenge is to make one flat (not folded) 5" X 7" (12.7cm X 17.7cm) Halloween-themed card featuring a soot-stamped image.

(I am posting a large image so that you can see the detail.)

To make a soot-stamped image, you will need a piece of glossy, white cardstock, a candle, a rubber stamp and matte spray fixative. Hold the cardstock, glossy side down, over an open candle flame. Keep the cardstock moving so it doesn't catch on fire, but allow the flame to actually touch the paper. The flame will leave a soot residue. When the paper is blackened to your liking, turn it over and place it on your work surface with the soot side up. Be very careful not to touch any of the blackened areas because the soot will come off. Take a clean, dry rubber stamp and press it firmly into the soot. Lift the stamp straight up. The stamp will remove the soot from the paper leaving an eerie image. Spray your image with a matte fixative. Allow the fixative to dry and apply a second coat of spray. Once you have an image you like, cut it to the size you want to use in creating your flat card.

Please write or type a brief note to your partner on the back of the card. Don't forget to include the swap title and your name. Although the card you make will resemble a postcard, it must be mailed in an envelope.

I will angel this swap if you find it necessary, according to Swap-bot rules, to rate your partner a one. You must rate to receive an angel. Flakers will be toasted over an open flame.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:

-Although glossy cardstock is not as flammable as other types of paper, I recommend applying the soot over a sink or tub filled with water, in case the cardstock does catch on fire.

-Be sure to blow the candle out before spraying any type of fixative.

-If you are holding a candle up to the cardstock, be careful to protect your hand from dripping wax.

-You may want to hold the cardstock with a wooden clothespin or tongs to avoid accidentally touching your hand to the flame.

Discussion

TerryF 08/12/2012 #

Veeeeeerrrry interesting!

TerryF 08/12/2012 #

Wow, 6 already watching...maybe we need a support group for pyros...

Paige1900 08/13/2012 #

@LahDeeDah ... uhm hold many alter sacrifices lately?

LahDeeDah 08/13/2012 #

LOL! Just trying to please my Halloween-loving friends. Next swap: daisies and smiley faces!

clillebakken89 08/16/2012 #

Oh how I love reading the comments. :P You guys are great.

clillebakken89 08/16/2012 #

I would love to try this. Have never seen any matte spray here though. Still not till October so I will have to look around more.

dobie256 08/17/2012 #

Oh My Goodness! This was a bit challenging, a whole lot messy, slightly dangerous -- and one of the coolest techniques I have tried in a long time. Took me a bit to get it down but now I plan to do several more images tomorrow (need another candle LOL). Wonderful fun!

LahDeeDah 08/17/2012 #

@clillebakken89 - You can try using hairspray to seal the image, as well. Just test it on something you don't care about first to see what happens.

@dobie256 - I felt the same way when I tried this! Isn't it cool how the flame slides along the cardstock like a paintbrush? I love that!

bstitched 08/24/2012 #

This is so much fun! I used glossy photo paper and when the flame got to close it bubbled (and crackled and stunk up the house, hehe). Now I need to find another candle and a tombstone stamp. Oops, I didn't read the last part of the first safety precaution about putting water in the sink soooooo FYI, an icecube applied to hardened wax drippings on an enamel sink makes clean up easy peasy:)

LahDeeDah 08/26/2012 #

Oh, wow! There must be a major difference in the way various papers react. The glossy cardstock I used didn't do anything nearly as exciting! :-)

dreamerkins 08/27/2012 #

just soot stamping, or is reverse soot stamping allowed too? (for that, you stamp your cardstock with clear embossing ink before doing the soot, soot, then rub all the soot off. the soot will stick in the ink. you still spray it with the fixatif after). seen here, as opposed to this. we should do one that isn't halloween too... :)

dreamerkins 08/27/2012 #

yeah, glossy cardstock is coated, and is a completely different thing than photo paper, b. the paper just doesn't work for heat (heat gunning it can be like blowing up a balloon too...lol. yes, I've tried that too).

LahDeeDah 08/27/2012 #

@dreamerkins - This round is soot stamping (not reverse) with a Halloween theme. :-)

maroyau 08/31/2012 #

Hmmmm, got the prefect stamp in mind, just have to find glossy card stock

maroyau 08/31/2012 #

perfect even .... can you tell it's Fri arvo here Down Under lol

LahDeeDah 08/31/2012 #

Hey everyone - As @dreamerkins mentioned above, glossy cardstock and photo paper are not the same thing. I didn't know what makes them different so I googled it and read that glossy cardstock has a coating made of clay while photo paper has a chemical finish. You can buy glossy cardstock in single sheets at many scrapbooking stores and copy centers. I also read that Joann Fabrics has it. Of course, it can be ordered online, but I assume that's the most expensive option. If you have any other ideas about where to find it, please do leave a post here.

bstitched 08/31/2012 #

@LahDeeDah thanks for researching the photo paper vs glossy cardstock. Tried the process again using the cardstock and it turned out much nicer, didn't stink, didn't bubble and crack:) Also, once sealed the surface was much smoother than the photo paper. Thanks again for the heads up!

lcjustme 09/28/2012 #

Very fun technique - you never know exactly what you are going to get so each one really is one of kind!!

Bandkh1 10/ 2/2012 #

I didn't have a candle so I tried it with an oil burner and it worked a treat! A possible advantage to using the oil burner is that you can control the height of the flame by setting the height of the wick - that may make it a bit safer for some people! Thanks for a very cool technique - I'm in!

LahDeeDah 10/ 3/2012 #

Good to know, @Bandkh1 Thanks for sharing that tip!

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