CommUNITY: Inspiration from Phyllis Adams
Hi friends! Today we are here with an installment of our monthly series, CommUNITY, 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 each month. Today our amazing guest is Phyllis Adams!
Hello Beautiful Crafters! My journey in the cardmaking world began in 2010, when I wanted to place a personal thank you in my orders of handmade jewelry pieces. I wanted something unique and personal so I did some research. Not only did I learn how to make a thank you note, I found a world of creativity in cardmaking. I was hooked! My brain was like a dry sponge soaking up every technique and hack it could hold.
Thirteen years later, I have established my own company and I am still watching videos and taking classes to improve on my craft. I believe education, in any arena, is important in staying abreast of new techniques, technology, tools and innovative ideas.
Cards are a personal and kind way we can warm the heart and ease the soul. My personal goal is to scatter kindness and happiness through my creative blessings!
Wooden block stamps; how many of us still use these? My first card features the American Women wood block stamp, showing a diverse and unified grouping of women. When I first saw this, I loved the image and I wanted to use this stamp as the focal point on my card.
I used the Skin Tone Liquid Watercolor Set to paint each face a different skin tone and different watercolor brushes for the coloring of the clothing and hair.
The front of the card is cut 1.25” from each end, resulting in two small panels on each side of the card. A strip of acetate was used to mount the ladies across the middle of the card, which makes them appear suspended across the front of the card. I then cut several ¾” x 3” strips from the Colors of Earth Paper and placed them in a diagonal pattern on each side front panel. I stamped and embossed the sentiment “All colors are beautiful” from the Empowerment stamp set at the top. The card opens revealing the second sentiment from the same set, “We all matter” on layer number two. On the inside of the card, I stamped the American Women in Contour Ink at the bottom of the panel. This renders a soft gray image that accents the bottom of the inside panel.
The Colors of Earth Papers were used for the base and panels on this card; the card measures 4.25" x 5.5".
My second card features yet again the American Women wood block stamp, but this time the Skin Tone Liquid Watercolors were blended over the image - still presenting a representation of diversity and unity. My design of this card takes on a more simple and modern approach. I used panels and strips of the Colors of Earth Paper, cut apart the sentiment stamp “define your own beauty” from Empowerment and stamped each word on a panel in a diagonal pattern. On the inside, I again stamped the image in the Contour Ink. I love the soft yet strong message this image presents in this ink color.
Both of these cards show a group of diverse women - “delicate as a flower but strong as a storm” - coming together to make “incredible things happen.”
Phyllis, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful cards and talent with us today! You can find more of Phyllis' stunning creations over on Facebook and Instagram.
Thanks for stopping by,
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What stunning and meaningful cards!