A Soul's Heartbeat: Using Gamsol with Art Impressions stamps

Monday, February 20, 2017

Using Gamsol with Art Impressions stamps

a Country Craft Creations Design Team Share

Today I want to share how I color using a product called Gamsol, paper stumps and blending. Gamsol can be found in most craft and hobby stores or online. It's an odorless mineral spirit solution that when used with colored pencils blends the colors softly so your lines disappear.

To try this technique you'll need a bottle of Gamsol, I've transferred mine to a plastic dauber bottle which can be purchased at a beauty supply store. It's actually used for nail polish remover and runs about $7. Gamsol has a tendency to evaporate so it's best to keep it closed when not using and this is perfect, you'll see how snappy it works on the video. You'll also need some paper blending stumps or tortillions. These can be found at any craft store or online along with the sanding pad. As far as crayons go you can use the most expensive or the cheapest, I actually like these Crayon twist up pencils which are super cheap. When blended with the Gamsol they all take on a soft blended look.

I've used two different Art Impressions Vintage stamps this example is using the Six Layer Cake set along with the Party Time paper collection from Echo Park that was in my Craftology box. If you're unfamiliar with what a craftology box is check them out in the Country Craft Creations store. A few sequins, some flat back gems and bakers twine ties the card together.

To use Gamsol you simply color as you always do. You then dip a paper stump into a small amount of the Gamsol and blend your colored image. You'll see how the lines simply disappear and how soft the coloring looks. It's such a simple step and one I think you'll enjoy adding when you color your images or color in a coloring book.

Here's the inside of this card. I forgot to share the technique for the bakers twine. I punched a hole on the folded edge and ran my twine around and around through the hole and over the side, knotting it in the front and adding a bow. Just popping one of the cut apart saying from the collection on a couple of bright mats which are all grunged on around the edges completes the inside.

Here's the second Art Impressions stamp set, Bathing Suit Set. I just love these ladies!! I've merely fussy cut around the colored image, popped it on black and re-fussy cut and then popped them up on foam,

Here's the inside of this card using an older Art Impressions sentiment that I'd been gifted, some black netting from the craftology box and a sticker from the Party Time Collection.

I hope you'll watch the video where I really show you up close and personal how beautifully Gamsol can soften and blend your colored images. Since Gamsol evaporates quickly you have no residue left on your page when it dries. I'll link to the supplies I used from Country Craft Creations, and the links to the social media sites just below the video.