Home   Site Map   Contact Us

Nihao Stampers    

Gallery    Tips/Tools/Techniques    Links    Chinese Culture     About Us   

Stippling

Source: Colleen Kidder

Ideas for Using the Stipple Brushes:

Now you wonder, "What makes these little brushes so necessary for stampers?". The answer is that there are just so many ways we can use these wonderful brushes? Here are a few ideas.

• Add color directly from dye stamp pads to your stamped art. I love using the stipple brush with the Spectrum pads too, though I like to clean it occasionally by wiping on a paper towel to keep the colors nice and crisp.
• Use the stipple brush to add color to the inside area of plastic stencils and also the Classy Brass ones too! This is great for scrapbooking!! Try them with the cloud template next time instead of a sponge.
• Masks and stipple brushes are made for each other. You won't have to look very far to find items that you can use as a mask to create beautiful backgrounds. Try stippling over some Magic Mesh, Fun Fibers, lace, a doily, etc.
• Still have those Radiant Pearls? Try using your stipple brush with them to create beautiful Radiant Pearl backgrounds by stippling several colors of RPs onto your card stock. You can also use smaller ones to apply the RPs directly to the images which are first stamped in permanent black. Or you can emboss the image first. This is a quick and easy way to add color. I love to twist the brush or swirl it to create soft patterns in the RP backgrounds that show up when they dry.
• Stipple brushes can create wonderful Pearl Ex backgrounds much like the RP ones. First, dip the stipple brush into a shallow dish that has some Dove blender fluid in it. Then stipple onto the paper. Next, dip the brush tips only into the PE and then go back to stippling the paper. I like to use 3 colors of PE per background. My favorite way of doing this is to first stamp the images onto dark card stock using the Versamark pad and then emboss with clear embossing powder. Then I use the stipple bush like I have mentioned to apply the PE over the top. The images resist the PE and it looks so awesome!! For fall, I have been using Red Russet, Aztec Gold, Super Copper and Antique Bronze stipple in a swirling motion over the SU! Festive Fall set. Oh it is so pretty!!
• You can also use the stipple brushes to remove excess Pearl Ex when using the Heat and Stick powder. This works so well and doesn't ruin the image.
• The stipple brush is the BEST tool for doing the Heated Pearls technique. Use the Staz On black pad the create a black glossy card stock. Select your choice of Pearl Ex. Put a dallop of white glue in the middle of your card stock and use the stipple brush to spread the glue over the card stock (be sure to cover it completely.) Working quickly, sprinkle on the Pearl Ex. Work the Pearl Ex into the glue with the stipple brush. Immediately place bush in a shallow dish of water so that the bristles are resting in the water. You do NOT want the glue to dry on the bristles. Next wave your heat gun over the glue/Pearl Ex mixture on the card stock. Watch it bubble up and see that sparkle!
• Many of us are familiar with the 'Thumping Technique' whereby you first press a bold stamp into a light color pad and then add a darker color only to the edge of the stamp using a marker. As a twist on this technique try adding texture to bold, solid stamps by stippling on them in a contrasting color before stamping. It creates very unique designs and textures.
• You can use the stipple brush to dye white organdy ribbon to the color you need. Place the ribbon on the dye ink stamp pad and then stipple the color from the pad onto the ribbon. (I more often just use a marker to quickly add color to it but if I am away from home and all I have are my pads I know I always have my stipple brush with me and use it.)
• Create a wonderful sparkling highlight to any card or scrapbook page. Dab the stipple brush into the Versamark pad and then sprinkle on embossing powder (holographic or iridescent looks very pretty) or sprinkle on heat and stick powder and heat just enough to see the powder go clear but don't over heat! Then sprinkle on the glitter and reheat just a bit. This looks pretty cool. It makes great snow for all our upcoming Christmas cards.
• When stamping on fabric, use the stipple brush with acrylic paints to create a stippled background to stamp on or use it to highlight or shadow your stamped image. I have a special brush designated for acrylic paints.
• I also like to use the stipple brush to add soft color to my dry embossed images. Again it is quick but it also doesn't ruin the nice impression of the embossed image because you don't have to push too hard.
• "Spotlight" an area of your stamped image by using the stipple brush to add hints of color only in selected portions of the image.
• If you want more compact coloring, wrap a rubber band around the bristles to keep them together while tapping.

Source: Barbara Hoch of "Creative Images"

Stippling is one of my favorite ways to create a background.

1. Stamp your main image in the center of your card. Now stamp again on a piece of scrap cardstock and cut out to make a mask (doesn't have to be perfectly cut out, just the general shape.)
2. For the stipple color you can use an ink pad, paint, watercolor, whatever. If you use paint put a little on a piece of paper or waxed paper to make a palette. Now dip your stipple brush into the paint and dab on your palette so it isn't too wet.
3. Place mask over your stamped image and stipple around the edge. You can move the mask around so you are stippling right up to the edge of your stamping. Now just dab, dab dab all over the cardstock, The mask will keep the your stamped image clean. Change colors and keep going. For a little sparkle add a little Pearl Ex to one color of your paint. Just keep dabbing until you like your background.
4. To create a halo effect try stippling with lighter colors right next to the image and then gradually get darker as you get farther from the image.

You can see an example of this technique at www.cistamps.com/snowmen.htm about 1/2 way down the page.

Home | Site Map | About Us | Contact Us | Links | Gallery | Tips | Glossary

Site last updated December 4, 2004