September 2003-- Gene L.
"Pagoda Card"

aglimtiaco@lvcm.com
North Las Vegas, Nevada

(Click on picture for instructions)

How long have you been stamping?
I’ve been stamping about five years now. I first went to my local stamp
store in search of scrapbooking stuff, and then about a year later took their “how to stamp” class (I was seven months pregnant with my twins at the time). It took me another nine months or so before I actually did any more stamping, and life hasn’t been the same since . . . .

What is your favorite technique?
If you can count layering as a technique, then that would be it. I love
playing with paper . . . the different colors, patterns, textures.

Favorite stamp company?
I have lots of “favorites.” They include Judi-kins, Denami Designs, PSX, Stamp Oasis, Stampers Anonymous, and Stonehouse Stamps.

Favorite Asian stamps?
My all-time favorite images are of bamboo and kanji, but I also love koi, cranes, cherry blossoms, and kimonos.

Favorite stamping accessory? (i.e. EP, UTEE, Pearl-Ex, punch)
I still love embossing powders, though I don’t use them as much as I did when I first started stamping.

Favorite colors?
I love all colors, but tend to use black a lot, as well as red, gold and darker colors, in general.

Your favorite embellishment to finish a card?
I love using charms and fibers and, lately, eyelets.

What is the one tool you couldn’t live without? (i.e. X-acto knife, heat gun, glue stick, sponge)
I think I’d have to say my double-stick tape. I love to layer and I’ve found it to be the adhesive that holds up the best for me.

Any helpful tips for the group?
Just this…stick to whatever style/technique that you like to do, that you’re comfortable with. Every once in a while, we all read the post about how someone is too intimidated to send out their creations for fear that it won’t be “good enough”. We’re all coming from different backgrounds and places . . . the artist vs. the hobbyist, the newbie vs. the advanced, etc . . . but we all know the effort that goes into creating something and because of that, we appreciate anything that is shared with us. Make sense?

As a member of the Oriental Stamp Art group on yahoo, why do you like stamping in the Oriental theme?
I really don’t know why; I just know that I LOVE it! It’s truly my passion. I love the simplicity of Asian art, especially Japanese art.

Is there any one place or city you’d like to visit to find rubberstamps,
supplies, or Asian art elements?
I would love to visit Japan again (I was an Army brat living in Japan in the 70’s and didn’t appreciate the culture back then). I’m a paper addict, especially for washi, and I know I’d go crazy with the selection that I can only imagine is available over there.

What other stamping lists or clubs do you belong to?
I belong to the SARA-l list and I try and get together with three other
stampers once a month.

What favorite Stamping magazines would you recommend?
I love Stamper’s Sampler because it always has lots of ideas and goes the range from cute to artsy. I also like Rubber Stamper and Somerset Studio.

Published in any magazines? If yes, please list.
I’ve been published in the Stamper’s Sampler and Somerset Studio.

Any other hobbies, talents or craft interests?
No, not really. Before I got into rubber stamping, the only other “interests” I had were reading and collecting Christmas ornaments. I never considered myself a “crafty” person. I do want to try and do more scrapbooking though.

What inspires you to be creative? i.e. do you listen to music while you
stamp or watch TV, keep an art journal?
Seeing cool projects/samples in magazines and seeing the work of fellow OSA members (especially in the MOSAS swaps) gets my creative juices flowing . . . it’s a matter of making the time to play. And when I do sit down and stamp, I generally like to do so with relative peace and quiet (which in my house is usually after 10:00pm).

Any art background?
No. I’ve always had an appreciation for art though.

Have you used any unusual item in your stamping that wasn’t necessarily meant for stamping? (i.e. found item or household item )
No, not really. I guess I’m not * that* creative.

Any favorite books on stamping or art techniques that you would
recommend? Any on Asian arts & crafts?
I love the books put out by Mary Jo McGraw and Sandra McCall. I also love Symbology (Designs Originals) and Somerset Studio’s Return to Asia.

Do you have a day job when you’re not stamping?
I’m fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom for now, but I also work part-time (evenings and weekends) at a craft store.

Tell us about your family and where you live.
My husband and I are originally from Guam. We’ve been married for 16 years and have five children (13, 12, 8 and 5-year-old twins). We came to Las Vegas because my husband got stationed here (Air Force) and now that he’s retired, we’ve decided to settle our family here for the time being. I have lots to be thankful for in my life, including the fact that my family is so supportive of my rubber stamping.

Back to top

INSTRUCTIONS FOR "Pagoda Card "

(This card template is an original design by fellow OSA member, Dee Hardcastle. You can see some great samples and get more information at her web site: www.hardcastle.net)

Supplies:
pagoda template, cardstock, handmade or patterned paper, pigment or dye ink, sponge dauber, Dreamweaver stencil (LJ 813), embellishments, scissors, scoring tool, adhesives, self-adhesive velcro

Instructions
1. Trace your pagoda template onto cardstock.
2. Cut out the pagoda along the solid lines, including the oval at the base of the pagoda.
3. Score on the dotted lines.
4. Fold the doors into each other and fold down the roof of the pagoda.
5. Turn the pagoda over and accordion fold on the dotted lines.
6. Using a stencil and pigment ink, stencil the roof of the pagoda.
7. Using washi or any handmade paper, cut out pieces to cover the doors and the front base of the pagoda and adhere.
8. Glue on a button for the door handle and adhere a small piece of Velcro on the inside of the door to keep it closed.
9. You can stamp a greeting or anything else to include in the pagoda so that it will be seen when the doors are opened.
10. Accordion fold the base of the pagoda and adhere “B” to “A” at the back.

You can embellish your pagodas in any way you want. Other embellishments could include tassels, fibers, wire, beads, charms, eyelets, brads, etc, etc. The possibilities are endless, so have fun!

Editor’s note: you may print out pagoda templates from your printer by going to this site: http://www.hardcastle.net/crafts/projects/index.html

Back to top