Stampbord Books

Does a white pristine surface intimidate you? Do you fear that you might ruin it? Have you left your scrapbook table terrified to begin a creative process on a blank surface? A new product by Ampersand Art Supply called Stampbord can erase your fears as easily as it helps you remove your artistic mistakes.

Stampbord is a 1/8" solid board covered in a smooth, absorbent clay-coated surface. It accepts all stamping inks and images stamped on it are beautiful and clean. Colors blend nicely without running. Using special scratch tools, you can create incredible details and highlights on your work. If you want a "do-over" you can simply wipe over your mistakes with Ampersand's oil-free steel wool or continue scratching with the scratch-knife nibs. There are many different sizes of pStambord to choose from, depending on your project. Projects can range from jewelry, magnets, scrapbooking embellishments or covers for miniature albums. I've chosen to create album covers with my Sstampboard.

Supplies:

• Stampbord
• Scratch tools
• Oil-free steel wool
• Inks

Instructions:

1. Using Prussian Blue Colorbox chalk ink I created a blue surface as a background for my four stamped flowers.
2. The larger blade of the scratch tools was used to carve away the flower heads. A cat's eye chalk ink provided the perfect point to colorize the scratched-out areas. I used a different color on each flower head and quickly wiped away any excess with a tissue. This step also helps to push the ink into the clay. I repeated the scratching step with the stems and petals. I left bits of the black ink from the original stamped image to keep an outline on the flowers.
3. With the smaller blade now inserted into the holder, I created fine lines of detail in the flower heads and added some doodling and grass. The oil-free steel wool roughed up the surface and created an interesting texture. I repeated these steps on the back cover as well.
4. After adding the stamped word "GROW" to the front cover with black ink, I traced around each letter with the smaller blade. This allowed the white clay to show through and give highlights.
5. I also scraped around the outside edges and then inked a frame on each cover.
6. I attached my completed Stampboard covers to drilled chipboard with artist's tape. Inside pages were layered between the two covers and the sandwich of cover, pages, and cover was threaded together with a ribbon.

Other artists have created Stampbord projects that show more detailed work through the use of the fine-tipped blades and other stamping techniques. It is amazing what can be created with the variety of tools and colored inks on this product. It is so relaxing to sit, scratch, color and brush aside the scratched-out clay. My only caution is to be careful when using the sharp blades and sliding them in and out of the holder. While I have a beautiful little book to ooh and ahh over, I also have a few cuts on my fingers that have caused the same reaction......ooh....ahh........ouch!