Blank Page Muse Blog: 2025

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Bonsai Tree

Good day, fellow crafters. It's Tamara once again, with a new post where I will be showcasing my latest card created using I Brake for Stamps and Blank Page Muse products!

To create this project, you will need the following:

Bonsai Tree stamp
White watercolor paper
Stamping tool (I use a Misti)
Liquid glue
Paper Trimmer
Low Tack adhesive
Water-based markers (I use Tombow )
Background paper of choice
Metallic cardstock (copper was chosen but gold would work well)
Fine tip paint brush
White A2 card base

Focal Image and Background

To create the focal image, begin with the white water color paper and use a paper trimmer, cutting it roughly 7.5" x 3.75" to make it easier to use. The length and width are set by what will fit in your preferred stamping tool.

Align and secure the watercolor paper.
Align the stamp
Use the low tack adhesive on the back of the stamp to secure the platform

Using the Tombow markers or equivalent water-based markers, lightly add the colors you want in the image to the stamp.
Once colored, stamp the image, repeat as required.
Recommended order is to begin with the flowers, then the leaves, then the tree, then the rest of the image. This should give you a result like the image above and right.

Using a damp fine tip brush and light pressure, use the stamped pigment to paint in the image. Recommended order is the same as the recommended stamping order.
Pro-Tip - with watercolor it is easier to build up color than to remove it. For the best results, use patient and deliberate strokes.
Allow to dry as you progress to prevent accidental smearing of the ink.
Allow to dry completely when filled in.

At this stage the focal image could be considered complete. However, I felt that a bit of detail was lost in the process, so I realigned my paper and then used some of the darker colors previously used in the image to crisp up my image by coloring and stamping in the areas needed.

Assembly

To complete the assembly, I trimmed the focal image panel to 5.5" x 3.5" and then adhered it to the front of the A2 card panel. I then used a piece of patterned paper that had many of the same colors in it from my stash to fill in the rest of the front of the card. Lastly, I added a thin metallic copper strip across the entire card separating the focal image from the patterned paper. With that, I called this card complete.

The stamps I used can be found by following the links in the materials list, or you can find them with a quick search on www.blankpagemuse.com. Visit our social media sites for more stamping fun!

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Saturday, March 1, 2025

A Taste of the Far East

Good day, fellow crafters. It's Tamara once again, with a new post where I will be showcasing my latest card created using I Brake for Stamps and Blank Page Muse products!

When I first saw this beautiful stamp from I Brake for Stamps, it made me think of some of the festivals in Japan. For instance, the Tsunan Snow Festival is held on the second Sunday of March in Tsunan, Niigata, Japan, which is one of the snowiest regions in the world. This festival, also known as the Tsunan Yuki Matsuri, has been celebrated since 1974 to uplift the spirits of locals enduring heavy snowfall, often reaching three meters deep. On March 8, 2025, the 49th annual festival will feature its highlight: the launch of around 2,000 sky lanterns at New Greenpia Tsunan, illuminating the night sky with a magical glow as participants release lanterns carrying wishes for health and prosperity.