It's A Bird, It's a Plane!

I found the cutest superhero and comic stamps at Whimsy Stamps and had to buy them. Our family is kind of big on comics. And we are definitely team Marvel and not DC, though Wonder Woman is a total badass and I love her. I knew I'd get a lot of use from these stamps since my husband has three brothers who love Marvel comics, and my sister and I used to read Archie and horror comics. Plus, our kids enjoyed comics too. At any rate, these stamps are going to be used. 

For my very first superhero card, I made a birthday card for my hubby. The hero is from a free online clipart site and the comic cover is Whimsy. I used my alcohol markers from Parkoo and I love how it turned out. Inside I used the other stamp set called Bam! You're Old and it reads, "and just like that Bam! You're 53 my MARVELous friend."

The next one is for my brother-in-law, who's a Silver Surfer fan. It's another clipart I trimmed to fit. The cityscape is from the stamp set and I did a little masking to stamp it inside the green area. Again, I used alcohol markers. I tried for a kind of "exploding" look to the green area and didn't go for a smooth coloring finish. I don't know if I like it as much.

This Archie one was for my sister. I can't think of comic books without thinking of her. We used to get a pile and read during lunch. I remember it being rainy and eating chicken noodle soup, but that can't be how it was every time...lolol.

My most recent card is this one. I used a dotted stencil I had to mimic a comic book and then trimmed three small panels and mounted them on black cardstock. This one is for my 30-year-old nephew! and it reads of course, "You're Old, my MARVELous Friend" inside.

That's it for today, but I have to admit, I'm glad I got these stamps and I'm not finished yet!

Happy Friday, my MARVELous friend!

Chark

AAAAEEEEIIII!!!!

If you've ever read horror comics, you know the title of this post happens a lot in the pages...a lot. My older sister, Julie, used to read those comics and then pass them along to me. I loved reading them, although I'm much more of a scaredy-cat than she is and I think she might've warped my young mind. However, it didn't stop me from picking up House of Mystery, Tales from the Crypt, Believe It or Not and The Witching Hour.

So for her birthday, I made copies of a b&w comic I found at a book sale and turned them into coasters.

I had some cork coasters from the craft store and I used them to trace around some classic pages. Y'know with screams and sounds and horrified looks. Then I colored them with Tombow markers. 

(Now, if you're bright, and you know that Tombow markers can be used as watercolors, then you're probably asking why I used them. I dunno, except I like how bright they are.) Turns out that Mod Podge will make the Tombow markers bleed a little when you seal them. But just the red ones. Weird and unhelpful, but that's my experience.

Luckily, my sister will forgive me for this...I hope. First I applied the Mod Podge carefully to the back of the circle and adhered them to the cork circles. You have to cover the entire back of the paper or it will buckle as it dries. I put a book on top of them to make sure they didn't get wrinkles as they dried. 

Then I applied a top coat (you should probably do this fast and lightly so the marker bleeds less). After that initial coat dries, apply another coat and let dry. Then one more and apply it to the edges too.

If you see Julie, don't tell her what I made (I'm sending them out today)!

Happy Wednesday,
Chark