Blog Hop: Mixed-Media with Guest Artist Pam Carriker’s New Stamp Designs

Okay, the secret is out. I LOVE my Pam Carriker rubber stamps. I'll also confess that I've been lucky enough to own them since the days when Pam first created them for her workshops.

Background stamps are among my favorites for art journal pages, and no one makes a good background stamp better than Pam. In the page below I used Pam's "Thoughts of Courage" and "Sketched Background" stamps in addition to "My Heart Lifts" as the focal point of the page.

"My Heart Lifts" is also featured on the following two pages. Yes, it MAY be my favorite 'image' stamp in the collection and I especially love how it works alongside my parents' wedding photo on the 'love & devotion' page.

My other favorite 'image' stamp is the "I Will Soar" wings (okay, I kinda have a 'thing' for hearts and wings on my journal pages) and I love what they add to the following pages. I also used another fabulous background stamp, "Column of Dots," on the 'make time' journal page along with Pam's "Create" stamp.

So, you get it, right? I'm kinda hooked on Pam's stamps and love to use them with Staz-On ink AND also with Pam's signature liquid pencil.

Take a peek at the Somerset Place blog post and the magic Pam works with her stamps and then follow along as a number of fabulous artists share what they create with the stamps.

© Nancy Lefko

New Publications

It's always a wonderful honor to have artwork published and especially so in the beautiful Stampington publications.

This month two of my articles have hit the newsstands.

"Mixed-Media Fourth of July" is featured in the annual issue of Somerset Holidays & Celebrations

while "Tea Time" appears in the Autumn issue of Somerset Apprentice.

Many thanks to Jennifer Jackson Taylor and Jana Holstein, editors extraordinaire.


© Nancy Lefko & Stampington Inc.

New Magnet Designs

"Tea Time" Art Magnet by Nancy Lefko by NancyLefkoCollageArt
See other Collage Magnets

"Ooh La Latte" Art Magnet by Nancy Lefko by NancyLefkoCollageArt
Look at more Latte Magnets at zazzle

"Blue Lagoon" Art Magnet by Nancy Lefko by NancyLefkoCollageArt
View more flexible magnet designs from Zazzle.

"Appletini" Art Magnet by Nancy Lefko by NancyLefkoCollageArt
Browse Cocktail Magnets

"Lemon Drop" Art Magnet by Nancy Lefko by NancyLefkoCollageArt
Find additional refrigerator magnets at zazzle.com

"Cosmo Time" Art Magnet by Nancy Lefko by NancyLefkoCollageArt
View more flexible magnet designs from Zazzle.

More designs available in my Zazzle Shop.

© Nancy Lefko

Upcoming Workshops

As summer winds down, my workshop schedule heats up and I find myself gathering supplies and creating guides and collage sheets for my students.

First up will be MORE ART JOURNAL PAGES at INK ABOUT IT in Westford, MA. On Saturday, September 7th I'll be offering two sessions: 10am-1pm and another from 2:30pm-5:30pm. We'll use more techniques and materials than in the first ART JOURNAL PAGES class that I taught there this summer, but no previous experience is needed for this follow-up class.

Later in September, on Saturday the 28th, I'll be at ECLECTIC PAPERIE'S studio space in Hampton Falls, NH teaching MIXED MEDIA ART JOURNALING from 10am-1pm. Venture into the world of art journaling, an expressive outlet and playground for your creativity. Explore a variety of techniques and materials while creating art for art’s sake; art that is yours alone and uniquely “you.” All levels are welcome.

Over Columbus Day weekend, on Saturday, October 12th, I'll be teaching LITTLE BOOK OF SECRETS at the ART IS...YOU art retreat in Stamford, CT. Big things come in small packages and the same can be said for art journals! Using small canvases, paint distressing techniques and embellishments, we’ll create texture-rich journal covers. Mixed media and collage techniques will fill our accordion-style, pint-sized pages with special thoughts.

The end of October finds me back at ECLECTIC PAPERIE for MIXED MEDIA MANIA on the 26th from 10am-2pm. Color, color and more color! Unleash your creativity with acrylic paints, oil pastels, water-soluble crayons, decorative papers and inks. Use ordinary objects as print-makers to add texture and design, and create canvases that burst with color and originality! We’ll play with layer upon layer of media infused with design and texture. Think “fingers covered in paint, inks and gel medium” while creating canvases that evolve and grow and reflect the beauty of the individual.

I hope that if you're in the area, you can join me for some artful fun at one of my live workshops.

© Nancy Lefko

Illustration Friday ~ FRESH

Summer is the time for FRESH fruit and veggies at the Farmer's Market, so what a perfect prompt for Illustration Friday.

To see the myriad of takes on the prompt, hop on over to Illustration Friday and check out all of the marvelous artwork there is to see.

This original mixed media collage, on gallery wrapped canvas, is available in my Etsy shop.

© Nancy Lefko