I've had a blast with this crusade! I got to pretend to be a sculptress as a I carved out a few stamps for my journal, cool.
For my first try at carving a stamp, I chose an abstract design based on a sculpture that I saw in a catalog. I really don't have a place in my home for a large sculpture of a moebius flame, but it fits just fine in my journal pages <grin>.
The next stamp that I carved was a very primitive-looking little bird. We've been having a lot of fun lately watching the birds at our backyard feeders and I think it is time that they found a page or two of their own in my journal. I was on the phone and not paying much attention to carving the stamp so I accidentally started shaving off the lines instead of the negative area around the image. When I realized what I was doing it was too late. I decided to just go with it and added an outline also. Didn't test out too bad, so I trimmed the stamp into a rough bird shape and left it.
I've been wanting a few background stamps for my journal so I took a whole stamp block and carved parallel lines into. I like the way it turned out, simple and versatile.
Finally, here is a glimpse of my poor desk with all the carving chaos
Ffyrebird - how perfect to have your first two stamps be a fire and a bird :) That flame is awesome, especially the way you inked it up. Great stuff - love seeing the evidence of the carvings being tested out too. Thanks for sharing with the team!
Posted by: michelle ward | March 17, 2008 at 08:43 PM
That bird has an attitude, well done! I like the journal stamp idea too. -Kim
Posted by: Kim Tedrow | March 18, 2008 at 01:27 AM
Hi Ffirebird
You did a lovely job on carving these stamps! Funny to read how you carved the bird, I like the way it came out!! You are going to have a lot of fun with the background stamp. I have made them in different sizes and use them A LOT! Thanx for sharing,
Hedwig
Posted by: hedwig | March 18, 2008 at 04:09 AM
Great results from your carving crusade. Really wonderful stamps and very versatile too.
Posted by: Dymphie | March 18, 2008 at 04:18 AM
I really like the design of your stamps. The flame and bird are wonderful. I am, however, especially fond of your lined stamp. As you said the simplicity will make it very verstile in your journals. I look forward to seeing it used in a journal. Hopefully, you will post a photo on your blog?
Best-
Ingrid
Posted by: Ingrid Dijkers | March 18, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Great stamps, and the flame is spectacular!
Posted by: Carrie | March 18, 2008 at 10:14 AM
So you have been inspired by the birds as well! I have been totally captivated by robins. I think your new stamps are great, and your idea for the endlessly useful background stamp is inspired.
Posted by: JeriAnn | March 18, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Your bird stamp turned out very nice! The test of creativity is to turn a "mistake" into something wonderful, and you certainly passed the test! :)
Posted by: ArtKat | March 18, 2008 at 06:29 PM
These stamps look great! Don't you just love it when a 'mistake' makes something turn out even better.
Posted by: Ursula C | March 20, 2008 at 12:58 AM
It's inspiring to see how a 'mistake' can become such a great image. What a friendly little bird. And I just may copy that Moebius flame!
Posted by: Chris | March 20, 2008 at 09:55 AM
Very cool flame - great how we can fit lots of things in our journals that we can't fit into our homes, isn't it? Also wonderful bird mistake. I hope all your mistakes (and mine) turn out that positive!
Posted by: carin.c | March 24, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Very cool...
Posted by: Dusty | March 26, 2008 at 04:21 PM
Thanks to everyone who has left comments on the stamps!! I had so much fun carving them and even more fun reading your kind messages. I'm off to go carve a 'stamp' stamp to use for a frame. Help, I'm hooked!!
Posted by: ffyrebird | March 28, 2008 at 12:46 AM
These are fantastic. I love the first one :)
Posted by: audrey h. | April 01, 2008 at 08:56 PM