New stamps coming soon, Haunted

Two diminutive bookmarks this afternoon to continue my samples for my upcoming new stamps release at the store on Wednesday night, next. Both bookmarks are made with the same stamp. To me, nothing says Hallowe’en like black on black and I’ve been waiting to get my hands on the actual stamps to do my favourite thing, heat embossing. The stamp used is a long label/tag stamp from the new set, Haunted – the stamp produces an image just under 5.5 inches long by just under an inch and a half wide.

Serendipitously, it fits lengthwise into a standard spellbinders rectangle die (2 and 5/8 by 5 and 1/2) I have in my collection and because it’s narrower, I was able to push it along the die and cut it again to get a perfect cut out.

There’s a ton of detail in the stamp so I kept the black bookmark ultra simple, I stamped the label image, and clear embossed it, then I popped in the ‘Greetings at Hallowe’en’ sentiment and clear embossed that also. Punched a little hole at one end and threaded through some black ribbon, super simple party favour idea. I’m using it as a bookmark, but this will also make a great treat bag tag. I love the dark academia feel of this bookmark, it’s detailed and tactile, and subtly spooky.

This stamp is also great for folks who like to colour as well, here’s one version I did with it. I first stamped the image in black versafine ink, because it’s great for detail. I immediately clear embossed it, I love the texture embossing gives and it also makes it easier to colour, by keeping the black pristine.

This stamp and indeed the rest of the set are based on antique decorative printing blocks that I have redrawn, rearranged, and added Halloween details to – there are pumpkins, skulls, stars and a tiny hanging bat hidden in the design, colouring these things really makes the design pop. I used copic markers, which I cannot believe are mostly still good after 7 years in storage!

The centre panel of this label stamp is blank, so you can really add whatever you want in there, I added the longest greeting from the set, but some of the words from the Old books stamp set would work particularly well here also, words such as ‘Wisdom’ and ‘Lore’. Add whatever colours you want to match your party theme, I went with lilac. I love that the design is spooky but not gory, I’m more of a cottage core Halloweener myself, what’s your preferred vibe?

The upcoming set is a large set 8 x 6 packed with 25 stamps. This is the largest stamp in the set, which is designed to cover your needs from party invite, to gift giving, come back over the next few days for more samples before the release goes live on Wednesday evening at 8pm UK time. Ta for popping in!