I’m having altogether too much fun combining elements from different stamp sets right now. Just when I think I’ve exhausted my imagination something else comes along to excite me. This time it was the unlikely pairing of the Back On Your Feet Stamp Set and the multi-sentiment Many Messages Stamp. I always think of Back On Your Feet as a stamp set for get well projects but it doesn’t have to be that limited. It was my determination to show how you can use the Many Messages Stamp Set without the coordinating die that started it all off.

JUST ONE MESSAGE

While I was looking at the Many Messages Stamp I decided I wanted to use the “Be Strong, Be Brave, You’ve got this” sentiment. Obviously as this is just one of the 19 sentiments in this large single stamp I’d need to be creative.

I began by setting up my Stamparatus stamp positioning platform with a piece of Small Grid Paper on the base. Then I placed the clean stamp, rubber side down, on the grid paper so the sentiment I wanted was as level as I could get it and centred between a two inch section indicated by two of the bolder lines. This relied on my accuracy when placing the sticker on the back of the stamp, but it was a starting point. Then I marked the edges of the two inch section where I’d planned the sentiment to go.

Once I was happy with the placement of the stamp relative to the lines on the grid paper, I closed the hinged lid to pick up the stamp. Now I needed to ink up only the sentiment I wanted, and for that I’d need a Stampin’ Write Marker. I chose Evening Evergreen from the 2021-2023 pack and using the brush tip, added ink to the surface of the stamp. Then I closed the hinged lid and stamped onto the grid paper. When I lifted the stamp I could see how accurate I’d been by comparing it with the lines on the grid paper. It wasn’t perfect but it wasn’t bad so I decided to leave the stamp where it was and move on to the next stage.

At last I was ready to stamp on my actual project and for that I needed a 2″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Thick Very Vanilla Card. Using the lines on the Grid Paper to guide me I placed the card onto the Stamparatus. Then I reinked my chosen sentiment with the Stampin’ Write Marker and stamped onto the card strip.

BACK ON YOUR FEET

With the sentiment done I now needed the Back On Your Feet Stamp Set. I wanted the image of the tortoise on his back and stamped him onto the card strip using Evening Evergreen ink.

To colour in the tortoise I decided to use Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers. For the under-side of his shell I began by colouring the whole section with a light Mint Macaron marker. Then I went over the shading on the stamped image with the dark Mint Macaron. Finally I went over the whole of the underside of the shell with the light Mint Macaron again.

For the back of the shell I began by colouring the whole section with dark Mint Macaron. Then across the bottom left corner of each of the ‘square’ sections I used dark Soft Succulent. Light Soft Succulent came next over the dark colour and a little further into each ‘square’. Finally I went over the whole back shell with dark Mint Macaron again to blend it all together.

I finished off the image using dark Petal Pink over the shaded parts of the head and legs. Then I coloured the whole of the head and legs with light Petal Pink and I was done.

To turn the card strip into a bookmark I shaped the top and added a ribbon slot using the Fancy Tag Topper Punch. Then I threaded a loop of gold 3/8″ ribbon through the slot and passed the ends through the loop. After securing the ribbon in place with Mini Glue Dots my project was finally complete.

I can’t tell you how pleased I am with how this bookmark turned out. It makes me want to look more closely at the other sentiments in the Many Messages Stamp and the similar Many Happenings Stamp. I wonder what other stamp set combinations they’ll inspire.

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