25 Days of Hand Crafted Gifts and Ornaments - Personalized Stamped Soap

Continuing with out 25 days of gifts and ornaments I have a fun project I've been asked about several times...

Personalized Rubber Stamped Gift Soap! 

YES, you CAN stamp soap...sort of ;)

First you will need to find a plain bar of soap with at least one smooth flat side.  I found some nice smelling hypoallergenic white bar soap at the Dollar Tree ~ 3/$1.00.  It was about 2x3 bar and had a really nice flat back to it.  Use whatever you can find.

Supplies:

Soap (flat sided)
Tissue Paper
White Beeswax
Archival Ink or Staz-On Ink
Rubber Stamps
Heat Tool
Natural Bristle Paint Brush
Baby Powder
(Optional) Embellishments (ribbon, mesh, tag, etc)

Instructions:

1. Stamp desired image(s) on white tissue paper using a permanent waterproof ink...I like to use Archival Ink but you could also use Staz-On or other inks.

2. Trim the image from the rest of the tissue.  Leave about an 1/8" edge around the entire image.

 

3. There are a couple ways to go about this step...  If you plan on making several bars of soap and have a Melt Pot you could fill it with white beeswax and melt it.  OR  You could place 6-8 beads of wax on the flat side of the bar of soap and melt the wax with a heat tool.  Immediately after the wax becomes liquid brush the wax over the flat area.

This is the initial base for our image.

4. Position the image over the cooled wax and press into place. 

5. Either brush on a top layer of wax.  OR option #2  Place 4-5 more wax pellets over the tissue image.  Melt with the heat tool and brush the liquid wax over the entire image.  Make sure to seal all of the edges as well as the image it's self.  Add additional wax if needed.

6. A bit of the color may run if you didn't let the image dry long enough as shown in the photo...

If this happens you can simply scrape this wax away with an Exacto Knife.

7. Your waxed image may have a tacky feel to it when you are finished.  This is easily remedied by sprinkling a bit of baby powder in your hand and rubbing it over the wax image.

Your soap is now ready to be given and used!

You needn't worry about the image rubbing off or getting ruined if used.  The stamped image has been sealed in between the two layers of the beeswax and will stay nice looking no matter how often it is used.  I tested the bar of soap with the black image in REALLY hot water ~ washed and washed my hands, rubbing it around and as you can see it still looks great!

I shared just the bare basic technique but if you're giving them as a gift you could wrap it with a bit of ribbon and/or mesh...add a nice hand towel and wash cloth for a perfect little hostess gift, stocking stuffers, etc.

They make very nice quick gifts for anytime.

Coming Attractions!

I hope you're all having a wonderfully inky weekend!

I thought I'd let you in on what I have in store for you all in the coming weeks...

First since everyone seems to be enjoying the 25 Days of HC Gifts & Ornaments I thought I'd keep on going...I've got lots and lots of ideas I still want to share. As usual I'm going to run out of days before I run out of ideas ;)

If you were here last year you know I created a CD Calendar last year that featured a different Ranger product and technique for each month.  I thought we'd make another but instead of CD's we'll be using a different base...chipboard...it's more readily available, easier to work with and depending on your source we could recycle lots of packaging (maybe even some that piled up during the holidays!).  So, don't throw your boxes, packages,etc. away after Christmas...it might just come in handy for this project!

The list of products will be:  Alcohol Inks, Liquid Pearls, Adirondack Dye Ink, Dimensional Pearls, Distress Inks, Embossing Powders (not sure what type just yet), Sticky Back Canvas, Beeswax, Perfect Pearls, Color Wash, Stickles Glitter Glue, and the White Pigment Ink Pen!

Also, in mid-late January I'll be announcing a great big huge give-a-way as Ink Stains is approaching 1/2 a million hits!!!  I think that calls for a celebration don't you? 

There will of course be lots more cards, techniques, give-a-way's, card sketches, and fun stuff going on in between!

Hope to see you here :)

Just For Fun Friday - Merry Christmas!

YES! 

It's that time of the week ~

Just For Fun Rubber Stamps Friday!!

Usually all of the DT Girls work with the same selection of stamps to give everyone a variety of ideas for different ways to use the same stamps BUT the next few weeks are Free For All Fridays!!!  Each of us can chose whatever stamps we wanted to create with.  I was so excited when I found out about this...I picked some of my favorite holiday stamps and I can't wait to share what I created. 

The first stamp I decided to use was the Large Pine cone Ornament.  It is so cool...you can use it in so many different ways. This was the same image I used to create the card that was posted on Ranger's blog earlier this week ~ Pine cone Christmas.

I made each pine cone differently...one was watercolored with Distress Inks (left), one was made by applying Stickles Glitter glue (let dry) then adding Distress Ink to the cardstock in a random pattern over the top of the Stickles (center) and the third was made by stamping the cone and inking the same fashion you would using the Gradient Inking technique using the Ink Blending Tool (right).  ALL of the pine cones were highlighted with Stickles or Distress Stickles!  Gotta love that sparkle ;)

(a few of you guessed correctly that I added Stickles to the mix!!)

The next image I used was the Leaping Deer.  I don't know why but for some reason I always associate deer with Christmas.  This is a beautiful example of one ~ so majestic and graceful.  Each component of the card was created using the "Spritz & Flick" technique.

I used "Holiday Wish" for my next card.  It was colored with a variety of mediums...Distress Inks, Bic Markers and Staedler Colored Pencils!  I then coated the entire image with Distress Rock Candy.

and finally I used a couple of images for my last card... Ready for Winter and Winter Landscape.  I have to say I just love the lady sitting on her sled...she is just beautiful!  She was colored with my Niji waterbrush paired with Distress Inks and Staedler Watercolor Pencils.  I added a bit of highlights with the White Pigment Ink Pen, Glossy Accents to her buttons & ribbon and White Enamel Accents to her collar & cuffs.

Be sure to check out the Just For Fun Blog to see what stamps the rest of the Just For Fun Girls chose to play with on this Free-For-All Friday!

25 Days of Hand Crafted Gifts and Ornaments - Tic Tac Toe!

Since we're playing with the glass pebbles the last couple days (Jumbo Glass Pebble Magnets, Jumbo Glass Pebble Charm) I thought it would be a great time to create another glass pebble gift only this time we'll use the regular sized pebbles.

Tic Tac Toe!

This little compact game makes a great stocking stuff and it is the perfect game to take while you're on the go...traveling through the woods to grandmother's house ;)

Supplies:

Game Stamps - Just For Fun
Ticking Background Stamp - Just For Fun
Script Background Stamp - Just For Fun
Alpha Stamps (tic tac toe) - Making Memories Magnetic Stamps
Archival Ink - Cobalt - Ranger
Distress Inks - Ranger
Ink Blending Tool - Ranger
Distress Stickles - Ranger
Glossy Accents - Ranger
Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Ranger
Cardstock - Georgia Pacific
10 Glass Pebbles
Magnet Strip
Metal Tin

Instructions:

1. Apply various shades of Distress Inks to your cardstock using the Ink Blending Tool.  I used blue for the example but you could use any color you desire.

2. Spritz water into your hand and flick it onto the inked cardstock.  Let the water sit on the paper for a few seconds and blot away the excess.  Let dry naturally or speed drying using a heat tool.

3. Divide the sheet of cardstock into two pieces. Set one half aside. On the other half, stamp the Game Image stamps using the Cobalt Archival Ink.

4. Trace and cut out the circle for the lid of the tin.  Adhere to the lid using desired adhesive.  I use a combo of Aleene's Thick & Tacky around the edges and ATG in the center.

5. Cut 2 strips of the stamped cardstock...one thin strip around the lid of your tin and one strip for the box part of the tin.  Adhere both strips to their respective areas.

6. Apply a thick layer of Distress Stickles to the seam on the lid where the two papers meet. Set aside to dry.

7. On the second half of the Spritz & Flick paper trace the bottom of the tin.

8. Stamp a tic tac toe board using the "Ticking Background" stamp and the Cobalt Archival Ink.  To do this I inked up one strip of the ticking pattern and stamped the board. 

9. On scrap paper, stamp the script background using the Cobalt ink.

10. Glue 5 of the glass pebbles to the script background using Glossy Accents.

11. Apply Denim Alcohol Ink to the remaining 5 glass pebbles and let dry.  Glue these pebbles to plain white cardstock using Glossy Accents.

12.  Trim the excess paper from all pebbles and sand edges if desired.

13. Glue a magnet to each of the pebbles.

14. Stamp the words "Tic Tac Toe" on a scrap of plain white cardstock, trim and mount on the lid.

Time to Have Fun!!

Get Inked - Dec 2010 - Snowflakes and Bird

I wanted to share the projects I created for this months Get Inked Kit...as I mentioned yesterday the stamps consist of 3 different sizes and shapes of snowflakes, a flourish, the sentiments ~ "Jolly" and "Let it Snow" as well as a little bird tucked in a pine bough. 

The projects I made were centered around the kit inks...

Lavender Brilliance ink and Celadon ColorBox ink. 

and for an extra surprise from me as a thank you to the kit subscribers I added an extra project ~ this charm using one of those jumbo glass pebbles!  I sent Vicki the pebbles and findings to complete this charm ~ all you'd have to add is the paper to stamp on and the glue to put it all together :)

I'm going to be giving away this charm as well as a set of this months stamps to one lucky winner...

Just tell me what your favorite winter activity is. 

It could be sledding, building a snowman or if you live in warmer climates maybe it's an early morning swim.  Whatever it is be sure and post a comment cause you can't win if you don't enter!

You have until 12-15-10 to enter to win!

Good Luck Friends!!

Snowy Pine Cone Christmas @ Ranger Blog!

Happy Inky Wednesday!

I hope you're all having a fine day...

I just wanted to let you know that one of my cards

~  Snowy Pine Cone Christmas  ~

is today's project over on the Ranger Blog!

It's made using the Pigment Ink Pen and some stamps for Just For Fun!

The pine cone ornament stamp is my absolute favorite Christmas stamp I have!  It can be used as a ornament or as a real pine cone by simply trimming the hanger parts.  

I've got another pine cone card I'm going to share with you this Friday on my Just For Fun Friday post. 

I pair it with one of my favorite embellishments...can you guess what it is?!?!? 

Happy December Goodies Winner....

Hey everyone!

We were gone today longer than I had planned but it was fun.  So I'll share more about the Get Inked Kit tomorrow but I did want to post the winner of the Happy December Goodies....

The winner is....

JOY!!!!

joy said...


December 23rd is my birthday, so that is my favorite other than Christmas! A birthday so close to Christmas is sometimes not as celebrated; but my parents, and then my family, have always tried to make it a special day for me. Thanks for the chance to win a great giveaway!

December 2, 2010 6:21 AM

CONGRATULATIONS JOY!!!

please e-mail me your snail mail addy so I can get your goodies in the mail.

QKD - Royal Blog Hop & December Get Inked!!

Today is Queen Kat Designs Royal Blog Hop Tuesday and as always the first of the month is always a card sketch...

Pretty cool huh...well I didn't have time to work on a card so I thought I'd let you all have a sneak peek of this months Get Inked Kit!!

I don't know about where you live but this months Get Inked stamps are PERFECT right now....snowflakes!!!  Yes, we've had several inches of snow fall over the last few days.  This was a pic outside my window last night....

And here is a look at the projects I created for this months Get Inked Kit... There are 3 different styles/sizes of snowflakes, a flourish, a bird in an evergreen sprig and a couple sentiments - "Let it Snow" and "Jolly"

Later this afternoon (we're going to be gone today)...I'm going to post larger photos and let you in on a little secret about this months kit!

Till then, take it easy and have a wonderful day!

Ink Stains 3rd B-day WINNER!!!

Before I announce the winner of the 3rd B-day Celebration I wanted to thank you all for your support and friendship over the last 3 years.  It has been so much fun to read through all of your comments about the blog.  I am humbled by all the well wishes and compliments :)  I never thought it would grow into such an amazing place!

There were over 350 entries between the comments, followers, extra postings and trivia guesses!!!  Quite a turn out if I do say so myself :)

And without further delays the winner of the GIANT Ink Stains 3rd Birthday Give-A-Way is....

TXMess!!!!!

TXMess said...


1. What is my favorite tool?
A: Ink Blending Tool

2. How many posts did I have for the month of May 2008?
A: 59

3. What did I post on Wednesday 9-16-2009?
A: Postcard Art #3 - The Vintage Vacation Words!

4. What was the very first technique I posted?
A: Soot Stamping

5. What is the name of my book?
A: Teach Yourself Visually Collage & Altered Art

I only discovered your blog a few months ago and now my day isn't complete until I make a visit to Ink Stains to see your latest projects and ideas. Thank you so much for all the inspiration!

November 29, 2010 10:53 AM
 

CONGRATULATIONS TXMess!!!

please e-mail me your snail mail addy :)

 

Thanks again everyone!

25 Days of Hand Crafted Gifts and Ornaments - Jumbo Glass Pebble Magnets & Tin

Early this summer I went to the Dollar Tree in search of something I just had to have and while I was there I stumbled upon something I had never seen before....  JUMBO glass pebbles!  These puppies are anywhere from 1.25" to a little over 1.5".  Normally the glass pebbles you find are around half to three quarters of an inch.   I've been saving them for now and I've got a couple projects to share using them.  Today's project is a fun gift for anyone on your list by simply changing up the themes. 

Jumbo Glass Pebble Magnets

in a

Decorative Tin

Supplies:

Jumbo Glass Pebbles
Images (stamped or collage images)
Glossy Accents
Sandpaper
Magnet
Metal Tin
Alcohol Inks
Ink Blending Tool
Distress Ink
Distress Stickles (optional)
Distress Crackle Paint (optional)
Vintage Sheet Music or Cardstock
Embellishments

Jumbo Glass Pebble Magnet
Instructions:

1. Apply a bit of Glossy Accents to the flat side of the glass pebble.

2. Place the glass pebble on the desired image ~ slide it around a bit to ensure that the entire back of the pebble is covered in glue.  Let the GA dry completely.

You can see here that I'm making several at one time....

3. After the glue has dried, trim away the excess paper and sand the rough edges.

4. (optional) If desired you can ink the exposed white edge with Distress Inks.

5. Glue magnet to the back of each pebble with a strong glue.  Let the glue dry completely.

Decorative Tin
Instructions:

1. If you are recycling a mint tin you will want to sand areas of the tin that you will be inking/gluing. I am going to ink the bottom half of the tin and gluing on the top of the lid so that's where I sanded.

2. Paint or ink the tin as desired.  I am inking the bottom of the tin with a combination of Adirondack Alcohol Inks for a vintage feel.  I used Espresso, Ginger and Latte with a bit of Gold Metal Mixative.  I love the distressed, worn look it creates.

3. Next I traced the lid onto a bit of scrap vintage sheet music...you of course could use anything you like...cardstock, pattern paper, other ephemera, gift wrap, etc.

4. Cut the paper out and glue it to the top of the tin.  I used Aleene's Extra Thick Tacky Glue. 

5. When the glue has dried, Trim off the excess paper and sand the edges just as you did with the glass pebble.

6. (optional) Apply a layer of Distress Inks on the paper if desired.

7. Finish embellishing as desired!

ENJOY!!!

Now just think of all the cool variation you can come up with by using stamped images, collage images, vintage ephemera, clip art images and so much more!  The possibilities are endless and this truly is a gift for everyone!  It's even small enough to be a perfect stocking stuffer.

Would you like to make your own set of Jumbo Glass Pebble Magnets?

I have a set of goodies all set to go to a new home ~

and I will also be giving away the finished set of magnets and tin!!

Just post a comment sharing your favorite gift you've GIVEN in the past...

You'll have until 12-12-10 to post to be entered to win.

Good Luck Everyone!!!