Monday 8 March 2010

Swirls and curls, and the case for digital stamping

My big reorganisation is still ongoing, but I managed to clear enough space on my desk to make a card for this week's Tuesday Taggers, the theme being Swirls and Curls. For the first time ever, I've used a digital stamp, the Hero Arts butterfly.

I'd previously bought a few digistamps from other companies because a) I thought I ought to try them and b) I liked the pictures. However, subconsciously I think I was reluctant to use them because they were not "real" stamps. I have thought about it for quite a while now, and come to the conclusion that there are parallels here with digital photography. Many people said originally that digital photography was not real photography. Now, especially with the advent of digital SLRs, even some of the diehard darkroom aficionados have embraced it. Photography has been a great interest of mine for many years but I never had the opportunity to have my own darkroom, so I joined the digital revolution with enthusiasm. I decided that whichever way the image was captured, the end result is what counts.

I think that this argument may also be used with stamping. Whether made with ink and rubber, or ink and printer, the image which appears on the paper is to all intents and purposes the same. It's what you then do with it that matters. This is illustrated very well by Jennifer McGuire in her video on the Hero Arts blog. I watched the video, checked out the Hero Arts digistamps, and that clinched it for me. Apart from being very good value for money (because each digistamp set comes with lots of extras) many of the HA digistamps have rubber equivalents (some of which I already have!), giving lots of scope for combining the two. Also, the digistamps can be resized, so there are endless possibilities.


Inspired by Jennifer's butterfly demo, I coloured mine with Distress inks and then overstamped it (real stamp!) with the HA flourish. To fit the swirls and curls theme, I stamped all over the base card with the flourish from Crafty Individuals (who are sponsoring this week's TT with a great prize!) and then added some swirly background papers from the gorgeous new Papermania Capsule Collection. A Martha Stewart punched border and a few Prima flowers completed the design.

I should add (in fact I'm doing just that!) that "real stamping" will always be my preference, and it's not often that I make anything without some stamping on it. However, digital certainly has its place too; it's just a different way of arriving at the end result, and I think we are very lucky to have so many and varied artforms available to us to create with.

I would be very interested to hear any other views for or against digital stamping!

17 comments:

Unknown said...

Know what you mean about Digital Images Lynne, I was reluctant too, but hubby bought me a printer and Linnie asked me to join CDM and the rest is history,,now that I craft in the kitchen instead of the shed, it saves on space too...You have made a fantastic job with this image, thanks for sharing with us at Tuesday Taggers this week. Hugs Avril xxx

Lisa Jane said...

Yes i agree too re Digitsl images - i miss the Physical side of stampng and the option of getting messy lol - but it does save on space and the resizing option is great , so in the ened i decided they both had their place.I use both and that keeps me satisfied.
The Butterfly is absoloutely gorgeous it looks ike it has just rested on the card fir a moment and could flutter off at any minute
Lisa ;)

Cath Wilson said...

What you've done looks good. I'm afraid I disagree with you about digital images - they're not stamps, but clipart, whichever way you look at it - sorry. It really is a very different art medium, although they do both have their place. There are so many things you can do with a stamp that you can't do with a digital image, although I can understand why people use them and how versatile they can be. I began by creating digital artwork, then discovered stamping - I know a lot of people have gone in the opposite direction - but there is so much more fulfilment from using stamps to create something special - you have to get it right first time and that's a challenge I enjoy, along with the 'hand crafted' element.

Teri said...

Digital is all I ever do! I have a couple of rubber stamps, never used them. I create my own digi-images to sell and use them for my cards too.(http://deliciousdoodles.blogspot.com)
Must say I think your card is fantastic - love it!
Thanks for playing along at Tuesday Taggers this week hun.
Hugs,
Teri x

Jill said...

Lovely card and that Martha Stewart punch is gorgeous! Thanks for joining us at TT this week. Jill

PatR said...

Thanks for playing along with TT this week and good luck for the prize draw.
Pat xx

Unknown said...

Lovely card...thanks for joining us at Tuesday agers this week...hugs Nikki xx

Zoechaos said...

Beautiful card wonderful colours and layout. You know are takes many forms all good. Thank you for joining us at TT this week, good luck.

chris said...

Wow there Lynne!!
this is PERFECTION I think that is the word with this card nothing else needed.
hope you are well hugs chris xx

Sally H said...

Absolutely stunningly gorgeous! I love it! You know I love both digistamps and rubber stamps too. The versatility and messy/ experimental side of 'real' stamping is such fun, but sometimes I don't want to spend ten quid on something I will only use a couple of times. being able to pay for a digistamp and get it almost instantly is great with those last minute cards too! Sorry, I'll stop now! Thanks for sharing with us at TT this week!

Lesley said...

Beautiful card Lynne, I agree about the digital images too, it's not something I have done much but I didn't realise Hero Arts did them so may have to take a look at those! xx

craftimamma said...

I absolutely love this card Lynne. That colour combination is gorgeous and I love what you've done with the butterfly.

I can't comment on the digital v hand stamped because I've not yet been tempted to try one but I do agree with you that each method has it's place.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

brenda said...

Hi Lynne

Do you know I am convinced I left a comment here the other day, trouble is I move off too quicklt sometimes and foget the word thingie.

You would never know this is a digi, I am not a fan usually, but this is just stunning. You have really worked magic with it.

B x

Michelle said...

Hi Lynne
Wow this is just so beautiful! I read with interest your ideas around digi stamps and found that your thoughts echo mine precisely. My passion is for creating art using rubber stamps but there is definately a place for digi alongside them. Hadn't used many digi's until I got a place on the DU2DS design team and now I find that some of m favorite work is done on the computer. I came to the conclusion that there is as much skill in manipulating images digitally as there is in stamping. Your card just proves my case!
x Michelle

Jacqueline said...

You have some beautiful craftwork on your blog, lovely to visit you!

Jill said...

Your card is absolutely lovely! Love your butterfly and the flourish was definitely the PERFECT touch!

mamapez5 said...

Hi Lynne. I have only just come across your blog, (via a link from a fellow GG member), hence this comment on a fairly 'old' post. I am interested in your views on digistamps. I have often looked but not yet bought any. I didn't know Hero art made them. One question: I have an inkjet printer and I would expect the ink to run if I used a wet ink pad such as distress ink to colour it. Is this a problem at all?
I love so many projects on your blog. So glad I have found it and will now become a follower so I don't miss any new posts. very inspiring. Kate x