A card for the morbid romantic?

skulls in love
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Some dear and unusual friends recently got married and as they have rather non-traditional tastes (their wedding cake was black and red and decorated with skulls), I decided that a shiny white wedding card wasn't going to really be quite right. So in order to make them a special card, I carved a new stamp... a skull with hearts for eye sockets.

I'm quite pleased with how it turned out and I hope the card made them smile. I now, however, have a stamp that isn't quite in my usual style. I'm debating whether or not I should make some similar cards for my shop or if it really was for an audience of two. So here's the question ... would YOU buy a card with a skull that only has eyes for love? You'll find the poll in the sidebar.

The goose is getting fat

gingerbread cookies
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
I love the winter holiday time of year. It's full of happy memories of traditions ... the same baking and decorating, and lots of time with loved ones. I now always try to make the same treats that my family always had when I was small since that's what feels "right". So it's Mom's shortbread cookies (some decorated using corn syrup as the glue for sprinkles), Grandfather's gingerbread men (some decorated with currants), and Dad's cheesies. Then there's homemade cinnamon bread and fruit bread. I might experiment with new things the other 11 months of the year, but in December, it's a necessary ritual to have the same things as always.


gingerbread baking
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
I made some carved rubber stamps to make cards for my friends and family far away, but my outside-work has been so busy I did not do so soon enough to also offer cards in my shop. Next year perhaps. This year I did a holly motif on the cards. Some have the stamped greeting inside and just holly on the outside, some have 3-leaf holly, some just 2-leaf holly. Some have the greeting in green instead of red. Part of the fun is making every card just a little bit different.


xmas card 2008
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
Happy holidays!

Watering Can linocut design

Watering Can linocut
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Sometimes the boot of an awaiting audience (however small) is enough to get you going quickly. So here's the watering can linocut that I'm working on. I think it still needs a bit more cleaning up, and I'm not sure if I want to keep the border or not.

I've definitely got to work out a better way to print it. My cardstock is quite thick and textured, so it would probably look even more patchy on that surface with my current technique. I have a proper roller and ink that I have yet to try out since that's not really good for a quick test-print and I am expecting that to give a cleaner print. I've been reliably informed that the bottom of a baby food jar is good for simulating a press and the tutorial that I linked to before suggested the back of a spoon.

Dreaming up new ideas

I'm working on some new card design ideas. I've added a poll to the left column of the blog with some of the things I'm considering. Please pick your favourites!

I am thinking about getting some linocut materials as I'm interested to see how this compares to the rubber stamps. It does require figuring out how you print linocuts without a press. This may involve mounting the linoleum on something like a block of wood, but I've also seen a tutorial showing people using the press method without a press. I'll have to experiment to determine which way gives the best results.

Just a little note....

The cardstock and colourful envelopes that I ordered arrived last week and what fun I've had! I've been busy printmaking with stamps that I hand-carved and the result is a stack of cute cards. I'll be adding them to the my shop over the next few days, but this is a delicious little preview of a few of my favourites.

I was having so much fun that I ran out of cardstock much faster than I expected. So I'll be ordering some more and looking into supplies for photo cards.

I'm interested to know which ones appeal to people most.