Soot Stamped Autumn Leaves

For the past month or so I have been making a lot more ATCs for swapping than I have been making cards. I don't know how interested you are in seeing all of the ATCs I've been making so I haven't been posting them. But today I want to share these Autumn Leaves ATCs that are for a swap I'm hosting at the Stamp Shack. I wanted to use my stamps in a different way and used the Soot Stamping Technique.


In this photo of the set of nine ATCs some look blurry but I had to take the photo at an angle to avoid the flash glaring off of the glossy cardstock. The outcome of soot stamping is that each ATC is unique.

For these ATCs I was trying out an added step to add color to the background. This was achieved by using a brayer and brayering red dye ink on the glossy cardstock. Next you hold the cardstock, glossy side down over a lighted candle. The flame must brush against the cardstock to produce soot. Move your cardstock quickly over the flame to cover with black soot being careful not to hold in one place too long as the edges will catch on fire if you linger. Next, using the stamp of your choice stamp directly onto the cardstock in the soot and carefully lift your stamp. Be careful not to let your fingers touch the soot because you will leave fingerprints. Using a spray clear glaze sealer, immediately after stamping spray your image with the glaze and let it dry. (I used Krylon Triple Thick Crystal Clear Glaze.)

A year or so ago I made these train cards using the soot stamping technique but I didn't add color to the background as I did with with my autumn leaves ATCs.

Either way this is a really fun technique to try but of course anytime you are dealing with paper and a flame you must use caution. You might want to do this technique in your kitchen next to a sink just in case of emergency.

I hope you'll give this technique a try.

Cheers!

Jennifer