CommUNITY: Inspiration from Laura Taylor

CommUNITY Unity Collection

Mar 20, 2024 Hero Arts

Hi friends! Today we are here with another installment of CommUNITY series, where we share artwork from artists who we'd love for you to get to know. CommUNITY is about embracing and honoring the creativity of individuals who are often underrepresented. By sharing art from a diverse group of creators, we hope to not only bring inspiration to this papercrafting community we all love so much, but also support and empower individuals to be their authentic selves as they create and share. Look for a new CommUNITY guest artist right here on the blog every other month. Today our fabulous guest is Laura Taylor.

Hello Crafty Friends! I am honored and flattered to have been asked to be a guest creator for Hero Arts CommUNITY Collection. I have been a crafty girl for as long as I can remember. I started stamping when I was a tween in the early 80s, but it wasn’t until I attended a friends stamp party in 1998 that cardmaking became my obsession.

This first card is made with Positive Script Bold Prints, Together Stamp & Cut, and a ray stencil as well as a fine detail black pigment ink, clear embossing powder my favorite rainbow colors in dye based inks, sticky note paper, and a stipple stamp I had on hand. First stamp the script with the black ink and heat emboss with the clear powder. Then position the stencil and mask off all but the first two rays with the sticky notes and ink blend with the first color.

Move the sticky notes to mask the next section and ink blend the section. Continue until all rays are complete. Stamp with the stipple stamp or use your favorite splatter method. Use A2 layering dies or a paper trimmer to trim the rainbow rays panel and black mat and adhere them to a white A2 card base. Adhere three “together” die cuts, stacked on each other, for weight and dimension and place them on the card then stamp “We All Rise” on a white scrap and trim to size. Placed under “together.”

My second card is made with Positive Script Bold Prints, Together Stamp & Cut and Nesting Circle Infinity Dies. Stamp a background with your favorite rainbow inks with Positive Script Bold Prints. Use either a trimmer or A2 layering dies to trim to size and cut a black mat. Use three different size circles from the Nesting Circles to remove three circles from the script background and then use the next size up for each to cut coordinating mats and adhere together.

On a white A2 card base adhere black mat, script background and the circles covering the holes in the background. Cut “together” three times and glue stacked. Stamp “Create a Better World” on a white scrap, trim to size and between “A” and “Better” and adhere to the front of the card, supporting the part of sentiment not attached to a circle with 1mm foam tape.

The third card is also made with Positive Script Bold Prints and Together Stamp & Cut along with Nebula Cluster Stencil. Use embossing ink and clear embossing powder to heat emboss Positive Script Bold Prints on white cardstock. The background is made using the “smooshing” technique. I apply pink and purple ink pads directly to a non porous surface such as a silicone mat, spritz with water and “smoosh” cardstock or heavy watercolor paper in the puddles. Keep “smooshing” until it looks like you want. Set aside to dry. Cut “together” once out of a metallic paper and two times out of white. Just like the first two cards, glue them stacked.

With a trimmer or A2 dies cut a coordinating mat. On cardstock the same color as mat, stamp “We Can Do Anything” with embossing in and emboss with white detail embossing powder. Trim to size. Once your background is dry use the stencil with the purple ink over the background. Use a watercolor glitter pen to add some shimmer to spots in the nebula. Wipe the panel with a very slightly damp cloth to remove excess ink from the embossed script. Adhere mat and background to a white A2 card base, place the sentiments and add some small gems for a little extra sparkle.

Laura, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful cards and talent with us today! You can find more inspiration from Laura on Instagram @l.t.crafts.

Thanks for stopping by!