Hey there Artie! Last night on Del & Artie Live we talked about how to make stamped images your own. One of the Arties asked me about feeling guilty for using stamps in her creative endeavours. She feels like she cheats because someone else drew the image and she just adds color.

Well, earlier in the month, I had a Zoom sit down with the artists who create the stamps for one of the companies I design for. First of all, they rock! Second of all, they rock!! But also, they really fawned over how the card makers take their line drawings and illustrations to new heights with color, composition and tweaks of our own.

5 Helpful Ways of Thinking About the Issue

1. A market for stamps exist because not everyone has the same level of drawing skills as others. Artists can create a stamp image they drew and another artist (or crafter — what’s the diff?) can color, paint, emboss, repeat, blend or gel over it to make it their own.

2. Some artists have great ability with a computer program. Creating stamps offers these folks a way to release their creativity through digitally drawn line art. Buying their stamps supports their art. As long as you do not present your finished projects as entirely your creation, you can delight over your part of the creative process.

3. Your longing for increased creativity may be a sign you are hungry for growth. Why do we eat when we get hungry? (that’s a rhetorical question — put down that donut). Why do we opine over abilities we don’t possess instead of recognizing our inner hunger and finding a place to satisfy it? Consider enrolling in a local art course at a community college or taking a structured online course in the area you would like to grown in. I am taking a class with Vanilla Arts right now on Copic Markers. You may consider Sandy Allnock or Kathy Racoosin!

4. Everyone can draw. Who told you you can’t draw? You can definitely draw, maybe you just need a bit of direction on how to see things differently. Search YouTube for that question and watch the Ted Talk I mentioned in my live episode last night.

5. This is supposed to be fun! I hate to say it, but guilt is often just an unhelpful and uninvited guest. Have you ever had someone over for dinner that afterwards, hopped up to help you with clearing the table and washing dishes? Such a refreshing experience compared to the guests who leave their disposable cups, plates and napkins on the end table or spills on the floor. Guilt works like an unhelpful party guest. You are supposed to be having fun and guilt can crash your party leaving you feeling tired and beleaguered. Show guilt the door and pay attention to the fun guests who arrived to help you (your stamps, paper, colors, inks and sprays).

Catch last night’s Del & Artie Live on replay if you missed it or you need more Del in your life! LOL!

You can watch the video for all the details on how I created these cards. I have left you a supplies list at the bottom of this post!

Card #1 - Turn that Jar into a Hanging Light

Card #2 — He’s Got the Whole World in His Jar

Thank you for joining me today! If you feel inspired to shop, I would appreciate you using my links below to do so. These are affiliate links, so I will receive a small portion of your purchase at no additional cost to you!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Daniel