The domino effect: thinking outside the artistic box

Expression, March-April, 2005 by Linda K. Moore

When it comes to creative style, my husband is always reminding me that it's okay to think outside the box, not only literally, but figuratively as well. Objects don't always have to be realistic colors--bears can be purple!

When I discovered stamping I was instantly hooked and it's been my passion since. Like so many others, I uttered the famous beginner-stamper's words, "Oh look at how much money we can save on Christmas cards, honey." In jest, my husband reminds me just how expensive each Christmas card is every year.

Nevertheless, I added my love for stamping with wire wrapping and thus began my latest passion for crafting domino necklaces. When I begin to twist the wire, I'm never sure how the final product will look. Stamps help to add visual pleasure and with added color, the domino begins to come to life. And of course, I always remember to think outside the box.

INSTRUCTIONS

Preparing and Stamping Prepare the domino by submerging it in bleach for a couple of hours to remove the finish. I prefer ivory-colored dominoes. At the top of the domino drill a hole through the side that is 1/16 in diameter. A drill press is essential for drilling the hole straight. A handle for your domino is an easy and innovative technique that everyone can use and adapt to various projects. The handle is placed on the back of the domino and used when stamping the image onto the domino. It helps with alignment and keeps the ink off your fingers. To make the handle, fold a 3-inch piece of tape in half lengthwise, leaving approximately 3/4 of tape on both ends loose, forming a "T" (the top of the "T" is taped to the backside of the domino, the bottom of the "T" is the handle). Once you have selected the portion of the stamp you would like to use, lay the stamp upside down and ink using StazOn Black ink. Hold the domino by the handle, and in a straight up and down motion, stamp the domino onto the stamp. For quicker drying time, heat-set the image.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Coloring You can select any pens you wish to use for coloring. My personal favorites to use with this technique are Chartpak, Studio 2 or Prismacolor pens. Chartpak pens will not lift the permanent ink. Use a gentle stroke when coloring. I use Chartpak mostly for coloring faces. If there is excess ink at the end of the stroke, use a tissue to dab excess ink off. Chartpak ink will lift Chartpak ink. In other words, if you want to lighten a Chartpak color just color over the original color with another color. This works with Chartpak inks only. Because Studio 2 and Prismacolor pens are alcohol-based inks they will lift (erase) the StazOn ink, even if you have previously heat-set the ink. (Exception: If you are very careful and pass over the StazOn-inked image only once and not let the alcohol ink puddle or saturate the permanent ink, in most cases the ink will not lift the StazOn ink.) Studio 2 or Prismacolor pens will bleed or run on the plastic domino if there is excess ink. Experiment on an unstamped domino by coloring the domino using a Studio 2 or Prismacolor pen. Then hold the pen down allowing excess ink to flow and watch the color run. Or try using a blender pen to move color around or lift some of the color. My favorite method of coloring using the alcohol pens is to lay a fine line of color directly on the stamped image on the domino and then use a fine-tip paintbrush, dipped in 91-percent isopropyl alcohol (not the more commonly found 70 percent), to move the ink around. This gives a neat watercolor effect.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

You have two options when coloring your image. The easiest method is to simply use any of the pens discussed above and carefully color the image. The other more complicated method (yet finished results are a must see), is the polished stone effect. This method of coloring a blank domino first is most effective when you use a collage-type stamp. On a blank domino randomly apply one or more colors of Studio 2 ink making various lines or squiggles which will cover the majority of the surface. Dip a sea sponge into 91-percent isopropyl alcohol and squeeze excess alcohol out of the sponge. Dab the sponge onto the colored domino, let sit for a minute and watch the amazing results. If you wish to add a touch of gold, blot Krylon Gold Leafing pen onto a separate piece of paper. After dipping the sponge in the alcohol, rub sponge through the Krylon Gold Leafing pen residue left on the paper, then dab onto the domino. If you are not satisfied with the color, repeat steps. The color should be light enough so that a stamped image can still be seen. You can also combine these two techniques. Stamp the image onto the domino and color the image. Around the outside of the image, color squiggles of color and with a fine-tip paintbrush previously dipped in the alcohol, move the color(s) around.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Finishing If you smudged your image when stamping, or don't like the colors you used, simply apply StazOn Cleaner and it will remove most, if not all of the image. Fine-grit sandpaper will remove any remaining ink or color. You may even erase an image after you have sprayed sealer on the domino. Again, a bit of rubbing with fine-grit sandpaper may be necessary to remove any remaining ink or color. Unfortunately, you will also remove the plastic coating that allows the alcohol inks to flow so smoothly. An alternative if you don't have Permanent Ink Cleaner would be to set the domino in bleach overnight. Use the Krylon Gold Leafing pen or permanent black ink pen to color the sides of the domino. If you use an alcohol-based pen to edge, the black ink may (depending on how thick you apply the finish) run when you spray on the sealer. Spray Krylon Matte Finish #1311 on both sides of the domino to seal.