I'm fascinated by rubberstamping, and have been much more involved with that than pens lately.
I'd love see your rubberstamped creations and how you incorporate them into art, snailing or whatever.
J

I like to decorate Clairefontaine Stationey with rubber stamps (& sometimes some glittery stuff called Stickles if I feel the need to add a little bling.) I can't post any pictures because I don't have a scanner or a digital camera. One of my favorite things to use are a set of 4 stamps that remeind me of passport stamps. I stamp them in different muted colours of inks down the left side of the paper in a somewhat haphazard fashion...kind of the way it looks in My husband & daughter's passports. I look forward to seeing other people post their creations here.

I love rubber stamps! My stamps far outnumber my fountain pens. Mardi Gras was yesterday - here's a Mardi Gras I made last year.

This is a photo folder. The windows and doors are rubber stamped images.

Judybug,
Those pieces are terrific! Please contribute more as time allows.
I've been rubberstamping stationery for the purpose of snailing, although ironically I haven't kept up with my pen pals. Sorry friends!
I stamp both sides of the envelope. The back sides have more room for heavier stamping. Here are a couple from last year -
Despite the number of faux post marks, they seem to make it to their destinations.

Here are few examples of stamped designs on the front of envelopes -

I got into rubber stamping about a year ago. I use mostly Stampin Up stamps, but I do have a few that are not of that name brand. It's a great way to make your stationery your own. This past Christmas I made my own Christmas cards.

There is a really good website called splitcoaststampers that has a really nice Gallery. Sometimes I scroll through the gallery to get some ideas.

Click to view attachment

Jeen-where do you get your intersting rubber stamps? I love what you did on the envelope backs. Sometimes I soak stamps (used) off of old envelopes and glue them onto cards & stationer. Finding some interesting "post mark" rubber stamps would go well with that, I think.
Polly

Probably a “hot” link for any stamp lover: http://ljackson.com/

(No affiliations, but I know a happy customer... )

jeen, love those postmark stamps, especially the Paquebot ones!
I have only 3 stamps myself - a fountain pen, an SLR camera, & one that says " I am not really here."

Polly and ARtaddict,
Thanks!
Polly, I get stamps from a wide variety of sources - brick and mortar, online, and ebay. The most interesting ones from ebay lately.
Artaddict, A friendly warning: Like pens and ink, stamp collecting is highly addictive.
Wvbeetlebug, Quite an adorable card!
Here are a couple more -

I have a box of them I haven't looked at in years! I may have to dig them out and have a look. And buy new ink pads, etc., etc.

Yep serious stamper as well using chops. My wife is a Stampin up demonstrator so I can see two dozen different ink pads as well as probably 200 stamps from where I'm sitting.

And I have done some bespoke Moleskine journals for sale here as well.

Kurt

What exactly are chops?...

I've got about 20 different ones and use them on snails.

Kurt

I have seen stamp ink pads made by Noodlers or one of the major ink genius so that can compound the fun.

oh, I love stamps! I make cards and gift tags when I have the time. I love filling in the embossed edges with watercolour.
here's a card I made, the stamps in the centre, and I hand-embossed the floral motifs around the corners.Click to view attachment

Very nice Knitbug! I'll have to try embossing. Please show more when you can.

Hardyb - I heard of Noodler's stamp pads but haven't seen any. I find that experience with fp inks has helped me with stamp inks.

Kurt, could you post a sample of your bespoke moleskine?

Here are some pics I kept. I made the first few awards for writing contests here:

Thank you for the compliment.

You must try embossing. It's loads of fun. I like embossing the outline and filling in with watercolors. The embossing helps you stay inside the line.

Wvbeetlebug, How is embossing done ? What kind of tools are involved?

Kurt, Cool compositions! I like the complexity and sense of mystery. Please post more when you get a chance.

When you emboss you stamp your image using a special ink pad and then you sprinkle a bit of embossing powder of the image. The powder will stick to the still damp ink. Then you take a heat gun specifically made for embossing and go over the image and powder. This changes the composition of the powder. It will bake it on. Most powders will leave a shiny finish, but there are some powders that are not shiny.

Here is a layout I did using embossing. The horses were stamped and embossed with black embossing powder. I colored the horses using a colored pencil.

Click to view attachment

Wvbeetlebug -
That is adorable! And it doesn't hurt to have a good lookin' cowboy.
What brand of stamp pad and what brand/model heat gun would you recommend for embossing?
Thanks, Jeen

Well gang, it's snowing and sleeting here on the E. coast of the US, and as usual, I'm dreaming about warming shores.

Wow, jeen, your stamped-envelope-creations are simply amazing!! As much as I want to see more of your work, I worry that you might start another addict... = )

Thanks Scribblefan. Give it a go! And if you ever want to talk shop, feel free to pm me.
My ghostly fish don't come out very well in my picture, but anyway here's another -



P.S. Scribblefan, where are you in your avatar?

Thank you Jeen! I used a generic embossing pad from AC Moore and I also bought the heat gun there. The heat guns are only $20, but if you have a coupon you can get for $10 which is what I did.

I really love those tin can mail stamps - did you find those off of ebay?

My avatar was taken at the Leleiwi Overlook on Haleakala (volcano), Maui, Hawaii. It's at nearly 9,000 ft. so not only is it above the clouds, it is freezing up there. Beautiful, though. Here's a look at the uncropped image.

Scribblefan,
My TCM stuff are from ebay, online rubberstamp dealers or were specially ordered. Of course many of the stamps I use were never used by TCM, but they embellish the fantasy. Your avatar reminded me of my own trips above the clouds. Cool shot.

Another offering on a frozen February day -

I love all those envelope designs! Do they make it through the mail ok? I'd like to try decorating one with postage cancellation marks & quirky postal sayings and send it airmail to my daughter in Africa.

One other question: I really liked some rubber stamps designed by Nick Bantock, but the site I used to get them from doesn't have them anymore. I have tried "googling" & I still can't find a distributor for those rubber stamps. Does anyone know where stamps by NB can be found? Thanks!

Polly

Thanks Polly!
I was also concerned about mailing with faux postal marks, but so far no problems, domestically or internationally.
I do follow the USPS addressing regulations for the most part. See -
http://www.usps.com/send/preparemailandpac...rectaddress.htm
If you scroll down the page the envelope image is helpful. I do write the recipient's address parallel to the the long axis. Otherwise I believe there is a surcharge for hand sorting. I also keep the bottom edge of the front of the envelope clear for the bar code.
If the envelope is too dark or has abundant designs on the front, I'll use an address label.
I have taken liberty with my return address placement, and sometimes my stamps have migrated a bit from their designated corner.
I bought my Nick Bantock stamps online from Hampton Arts, but sadly they no longer carry them.
So Polly, what is your daughter doing in Africa?

I received these cool French alphabet stamps by Cavallini and Co.as a gift and used some on an envelope made earlier.
There are many fun elements like this that are now available.

And one with cancel marks -

Thanks for the envelope/addressing info, Jeen. My 21 yr. old daughter (a missionary) is in Mozambique (SE Africa) and is working at an orphanage/children's center. She is in charge of the girl's dorm, as well as helping in the baby house & teaching/tutoring reading at the school on the center. I try to snail mail her several times a week. I plan on stamping up an envelope back like you do & sending it this week. It will be awhile before I know if she gets it as someone has to go to South Africa to retrieve the mail.

I also used Hampton Arts to purchase the Nick Bantock stamps. I shouldn't have waited to get more of them because now it is too late. I hope someone somewhere makes his stamps available again.

I also like to use old postage stamps for "mail art." The ones you have look like alot of fun.

I have been a customer of Leavenworth Jackson's forever!!! At least 20 years! I KNEW this list was completely awesome!
katfish

Hi Katfish,
What do you do with rubber stampin?
Let's see some of your creations!
Best regards,
Jeen

I, too, am trying to find the Nick Bartock collection. I'm kicking myself for not buying more of them when I had the chance!

I loved the art on the envelope - especially the fish. May I ask where you got them? (Or are they Nick's, too?!)


Leavenworth Jackson rocks!!!

Thanks,
Lloyd

LloydSherman and friends,

I bought most of my fish from the marvelous Fred Mullet:
http://www.fredbmullett.com/miva/merchant.mvc
His nature stamps are made from imprints of real animals, plants, and minerals, which explains their detail and beauty.
They're highly addictive. I've collected most of his marine animals in one size and a few in two sizes!

A couple recent envelopes from TCM -



Here's a postcard of Edward Lear's "Outside the Walls of Suez" that I distressed and stamped to make it look like something the English Patient might have carried across the Sahara.

Oh, jeen! Just love what you've done with your envelopes! I have hundreds of rubber stamps that have been put away for some years, but you are inspiring me to get more and to use them. I spent a couple of hours on the net last night googling rubber stamps. In addition to the ljackson website you suggested, I found www.stampfrancisco.com - if you go to their Ivory Coast Trading Poste section, there are tons of exotic faux postal stamps. What fun! Or check out their section of "all things with text" or look at their themes dropdown menu for more . Very fun. Your stamps and your creativity in using them are great.

[Edited for typo]

Kudzu,
Thanks for your kind words. I hope you get back into rubber stamping and show some your creations. Yes I am very familiar with Stampfrancisco. I've bought many of their stamps, and Catherine has always provided great service. I highly recommend them. Here a few more, including the busy one, which I'm told arrived in good time.

Tonga is famous for the adorable fox bat (megachiroptera) which explains the stamp.

As always, great envelopes, Jeen! I really like the altered postcard as well. I hope to try my hand at something like that...once I find a suitable postcard.

Here is yet another source for rubber stamps: Got to WWW-site called J-List and make these searches:

• stamp
• hanko
• inkan

jeen your envelope creations are wonderful and inspiring!

Thank you p-zero and Scratchy for your comments, and thank you Juhtolv for that interesting Japanese website.

Scratchy, how about creating your own envelopes, perhaps with a Scottish theme?
I Imagine you can find rubber stamp images of your beautiful long haired Highland cattlle or a myriad of other images of Scotland to serve as faux postal cachets. Surely there must be a rubber stamp of Ben Nevis or Old Man of Storr? Even a rubber stamp of a Harris Tweed label would be interesting. Perhaps you can find or special order faux Royal Mail rubber stamps. You can use your endless supply of Scottish ephemera (that goes out in the trash daily) to adorn your envelopes. I bet pen pals near and far would enjoy such envelopes.

Wait til you get into coloring those stamps and buying those copic markers to color them and blend them....These crafty hobbies are expensive!

Here's a postcard. Sometimes even one 1 or 2 stamps can add some fun or interest -

This is Mrs. Mary Robinson by Gainsborough.
I've seen her expression before, accomanpied by, "you've bought another fountain pen?"

Oh you enjoy the sophisticated vintage-like stamps. I like the cute ones for fun.

Hi Betty,
I'd love to see your cute ones.
Here's the other side of the pc.

An offering from Tin Can Isle



Happy Spring to all!

Well, I was able to track down some of the same stamps you show, jeen, and just love them. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, consider my handiwork to be a huge compliment.
Click to view attachment


[edited to remove one too many pics]