Fun with ArtFoamies! by Nancy Sheads

• Kae Pea | Creative Concentrics - Celestial Rings | Foam Stamps - Set of 3 by Art Foamies
• Balzer Designs | Inner Struggle | Foam Stamp by Art Foamies
• Ma Vinci | BLP504G - Cursive "Imagine" - Rubber Art Stamp by Rubber Moon
• Additional basic supplies listed below.

Now I have to admit that before joining the 100 Moons Creative team, I hadn't tried any of the ArtFoamies stamps, but now that I have, can I just say how much I love using them?!? I'm a cardmaker and I love making my own backgrounds. I have a LOT of design paper in my stash, but I hardly ever use it anymore, opting instead for stenciled or ink blended backgrounds. So these ArtFoamies stamps really spark my creativity. 

To be honest, I started this project in a completely different direction, using a different image for the focal point. But then I created the background and the two didn't go together. I loved the background more than what I did with the original image so I ended up in a completely different direction. Funny how that happens!

I started with a piece of Distress Watercolor Cardstock cut to 4.25 inches x 5.5 inches. I flipped the cardstock so that the textured side was face down. For the background, I used the Inner Struggle foam stamp. I randomly applied two colors of Distress Oxide Ink to the stamp - Shabby Shutters and Mowed Lawn - so that the stamped image would have a variegated appearance. Since size of the Inner Struggle stamp was less than 5.5 inches, I turned the stamp so that it was perpendicular to the cardstock. I stamped the image in the middle and then worked each side to the edge.

Using the largest die in the Spellbinders Standard Circles Large set, I cut a circle from a piece of Distress Watercolor Cardstock. For the sun image, I used the Celestial Rings stamp. Since this stamp is in three parts, I applied a couple of pieces of low tack tape on the back to hold them together while I stamp. Starting from the center, I applied three colors of Distress Oxide Ink - Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, and Candied Apple. I stamped the image on the smooth side of the circle die cut. Afterwards, I used a water brush to lightly blend the colors where necessary. 

Once the ink was dry, I used a black Copic multiliner to add details to the face. I used Copic markers (R20, R22) to further enhance the facial features. I normally would not use Copic markers on top of Oxide ink, but to be honest, I forgot that I hadn't used regular Distress Ink. It didn't seem to damage the marker nibs, but you might want to use a water-based marker instead. I used my Copic multiliner and a blue gel pen to add more details to the sun rays. I'm not much of a doodler, so I kept the pattern simple.

All that's left is assembling the card. I stamped the sentiment on the background using Versafine Clare ink and then adhered it to my cardbase. To add dimension, I cut a piece of craft foam slightly smaller than the sun image and glued it to the back. You could use foam tape instead, but I prefer craft foam because it supports the entire layer. I applied glue to the other side of the craft foam and positioned the sun image on the card.