Kindred Stamps January Release: Trip to the Arcade
Nothing screams a child of the 80’s as saving up all your quarters and heading to the arcade to test your hand-eye coordination while listening to 80’s pop radio with your friends. The colors, sounds, and smell of Electric Youth and Polo (which were 100% Designers Imposters but no one would admit it). These sites and sounds echo in my brain as I worked on the cards for Kindred Stamps January release.
This blog utilizes affiliate links. These links take you to the products that I utilized while making these retro arcade cards. When you use the affiliate links, you are supporting my creative inspiration at not cost to you. I utilize the proceeds to purchase further product to keep the fun coming!
Arcade Die & Arcade Stampset, Kindred Stamps
Project One: You’ve Got Game
Can you hear the tense music playing? Are you ready to shoot some lasers? This card features the Arcade Die and the Arcade Stamp set to take you back in time to the arcade.
The background was designed to mimic the creatures falling from the sky in geometric pattern. The creatures were inked with Lucky Clover/ Passionate Pink/ and Soft Stone by Gina K. The fighter ships were cut from the same smooth white card stock, colored with Olo Markers (CG7/CG5), and adhered to the center of the creature columns. This was set aside for the coloring of the Arcade Die.
The Arcade Die was cut out of white smooth card stock and select pieces from black card stock. The base was colored with Olo Markers (BG0.4/ BG0.7/ BG0.8) to add depth to the crevices. Once complete, this was set aside.
The front panel was up next. To achieve the landscape that I wanted, I pulled out the Desert Scene Layering Stencil and picked out a section of the rock formation to trace with pencil. With an alcohol safe pen, I re-traced my lines for the formation onto the front panel. Because this formation was based off a stencil, it lacked the definition lines. I added some ledges and layers then colored the rocks with Olo Markers (OR2.5/ OR2.6). The sky was colored from lightest to darkest with Olo Markers (BG0.4/ BG0.7/ BG0.8).
The donation panel (I mean change collector) was paper pieced together after all components were colored with Olo Markers (CG5/CG7; CG3; Y2.3/ Y1.2/ OR2.5). To assemble, the frame was centered on the top center of the landscape front panel and the individual pieces were adhered.
The controller panel was colored to reflect the power of threes. Meaning, there are 3 reoccurrences of the same color to provide a cohesive look. The orange in the landscape, the money collector and then the base of the controller panel (Olo Markers OR2.5/ 2.6) were the first set of 3’s. The knobs and buttons followed with the blues from the sky and the base of the die (BG0.4/BG0.7/ BG0.8) and the yellows from the topper and money collector (Y2.3/ Y1.2). The monitor of the gaming counsel rounded the power of three by coloring the monitor with the same Olo Markers (CG5/CG7) as the money collector panel and fighter ships. That’s a lot of 3’s.
To finish up the Arcade Die, the topper was colored with Olo Markers and allowed to dry completely (Y2.3/ Y1.2). The sentiment “Congrats” was stamped in Versafine Clair Nocturne ink and heat embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. The screen was stamped with Versamark and embossed with Snowfall Embossing Powder.
Finally, it was time to assemble the card. The center panel was cut out of black card stock and popped up with foam tape. The Arcade Die was also popped with with thin foam tape. The layered panel was centered on the front of the card base. Holographic card stock strips were adhered to the sides of the card base and the black panel. The fighters needed to at least try to fight back so a gray enamel dot from the Kindred Spirits Enamel Dots was the perfect little laser bullet. Pew pew pew…
Card Size: A2 (4.25 by 5.5 inches)
Arcade Die and Arcade Stamp Set, Kindred Stamps
Project Two: Game On
This hungry yellow guy just can’t get enough, now if those specters would stop chasing him maybe he’d get his fill. This card takes me back to the pizza place that we would go to as kids. The smell of pizza baking, a pitcher of soda (the only time we really got the bubbly goodies), the sound of laughter, and little dots being munched down by this yellow guy.
The frame for this card acts as an all you can eat buffet of dots! The yellow guy (Arcade Stamp Set) was stamped in Wild Dandelion, while the specters were stamped in Blue Lagoon and Passionate Pink from Gina K. Pulling out the trusty exact-o-knife, I cut the eyes and images out. The dots were found deep in my stash from probably about 18 years ago and were adhered. Foam tape was applied and the frame was set aside.
Next up, the Arcade Die! This one is definitely cleaner than the one at the pizza place, but I colored it in the same color theme. The die was cut from smooth white card stock and ink blended with inks from Gina K. I repeated the die cutting with black card stock on a few select areas. The base and front panel of the die set were blended with Blue Raspberry and Blue Denim. The change collector was blended with Wild Dandelion and Stormy Sky. The quarter slot was colored with Altenew Artist Marker TG03.
The control panel was given shadows with Altenew Artist Marker (TG03) as well as a couple buttons and a knob. The remaining knobs and joint stick were ink blended with Wild Dandelion and Cherry Red (Gina K). To complete the topper, Versamark was utilized for an emboss resist technique with Clear Embossing Powder and inked with Wild Dandelion. The ink was removed from the embossing powder with my Kindred Microfiber Towel. The screen was the only thing left! The heart was stamped in Cherry Red from Gina K and allowed to dry. Once dry, Versamark was stamped over the heart and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder to add some shine. To complete the rails, a little shadow was added to the bottom (just like at the pizza place… I imaging it was once white). The die was assembled and foam tape applied.
Prior to assembling the complete card, remainder of the background needed attention. Utilizing a vibrant blue card stock, the Warp Speed hot foil plate was heated up and iridescent hot foil applied. The radiating lines draw your eye to the soon to be focal point of the Arcade Die. The card was assembled and I am ready for a piece of pizza, a picture of soda, and a few quarters to try my mad skills!
Card Size: A6 (4.5 by 6.25 inches)
Arcade Die and Arcade Stamp, Kindred Stamps
Project Three: Framed Level Up
Have you ever thought of how good of a packer you are? You know, how you can cram sooooooo many crafty goodies in such a small space. Just visualizing the shape and determining where it will fit best. If you can relate, I’m guessing this card speaks to you!
This card layout is so simple… A fun lava card stock in a brilliant blue was attached to the card base. A simple frame cut from black card stock was popped up with a little foam tape and adhered in the center of the lava panel. The star of the show is up next, the colorful die cut!
The Arcade Die was cut from smooth white card stock and a few select pieces from black card stock. The base was colored in color blocks that reflect the colors of the game pieces. Utilizing Olo Markers (Y2.3/Y1.2; BV1.4/ BV1.7; YG1.6/ YG1.4; R0.6/ R0.5) and Altenew Markers (B204/ B201) to color the die, I was able to add some depth to the die cut. To emphasize the angles, a black fine liner pen was used to draw in sharp lines. The control panel pieces were colored with the same color theme. Finally, the change collector was colored with same blues and yellows, and the quarter slot was colored with Olo Marker CG3.
The front panel is where the money is at! A thin frame was drawn with an alcohol safe fine liner pen. The various shapes from the Arcade Stamp Set were inked with 5 different colors from Gina K (Dark Lilac/ Luck Clover/ Wild Dandelion/ Tangerine Twist/ Blue Lagoon) with intentional gaps. Random falling shapes were stamped from the top down. Using the CG3 Olo Marker, the background was colored to complete the panel’s aesthetic. The red boarder was filled in with Olo R0.6/ R0.5.
To finish the Arcade Die, the sentiments from the Arcade stamp set were stamped in Versafine Clair Nocturne ink after shadowing was added with the CG3 Olo Marker. The die was assembled and foam tape applied. All that was left was snugly centering the die perfectly into the black frame. A skill I mastered in my youth. How about you?
Card Size: Mini-Slimline (6.25 by 3.25 inches)
Arcade Stamp, Kindred Stamps
Project Four: Congrats, A New Player Has Entered The Game
Who says wedding cards have to be all lovey dovey when they can be just awesome! The first card I made with the Arcade stamp set was this wedding card. I just couldn’t help myself. This clean and simple card consist of 2 sentiments and 2 images from the Arcade Stamp Set.
Utilizing the Card Basics Die, a black panel was cut out. A second white card base was cut out with the same die and then trimmed to remove the stitched outer lines (you could also just use a A2 die, but why get up and walk to the die machine when the trimmer is right there…). With my layers prepped, I could get down with the stamping.
The heart was stamped first in Cherry Red ink from Gina K. Then the Yellow Guy was stamped on the left hand side of the heart in Wild Dandelion (Gina K). To stamp the Yellow Gal, I removed the panel from my stamping platform and stamped the image onto the base of my stamping platform. I do have a clear polymer stamping pad inside my platform. To complete the reverse image, I placed my panel ink side down onto the stamping platform and rubbed over the area that I had stamped. This process was repeated to achieve the color saturation I desired. On a scrap of card stock, the t-shaped stamp was inked up with Cherry Red (Gina K) and then fussy cut to only form a “V". This bow was adhered to the Yellow Gal. The images were outlined with a fine line black pen to define the edges of the yellow stamped images.
The sentiment “Congrats” was stamped below the scene and “a new player has entered the game” to the inside of the card base in Versafine Clair Nocturne ink. The black Card Basic die panel was adhered to the card base and the inked panel was adhered with some foam tape on top. To make the heart glisten like true love, I applied some Glossy Accents for shine. Then finally, to ensure the new couple had the power to get through their honeymoon, a few Magic Seasons Enamel Dots were applied. (Wink, wink…)
Card Size: A2 (4.25 by 5.5)
Arcade Stamp Set, Kindred
Project Five: Aliens Are Coming
Fighter jets at the ready! This card is takes the sentiment and turns it into a fighter jet to take on the aliens! Only 2 stamps from the Arcade Stamp Set were utilized with the blackout technique. A fun technique to play with!
The background came together with the Desert Layering Stencil by using the positive and negative cuts. The other worldly scene was ink blended (Sweet Mango/ Tomato Soup/ In the Navy/ Sweet Corn/ Wild Dandelion from Gina K). Some metallic spatter was applied and the background was set aside to drive.
The aliens were up next! Using the blackout technique, I was able to have the various colors on each row. To achieve this, I masked a piece of paper with a sticky note and ink blended the top row with Keylime (Gina K). The mask was removed and reapplied to the top and bottom of the next row to be inked leaving space for the image to be applied. This was then inked with Bubblegum (Gina K). This panel was allowed completely. Don’t skip this step, you will be sad…. I aligned the alien stamp into the stamping platform and prepped the panel with an antistatic tool. The alien image was stamped in columns by simply adjusting my panel to stack the aliens in the colored rows with embossing ink. Clear Embossing Powder was applied and heat set. The alien was cleaned, moved to the next column, retreated, stamped, powdered, and heat set 2 more times. Now that all of the shiny aliens were ready and cooled, it was time to make the magic happen.
To complete the blackout technique, I pulled out Distress Black Soot ink and a foam blending tool. To protect the panel from my finger oils, I did use some post-it tape, sticky side up, on my fingertips for holding the panel down. The entire panel was inked heavily with black ink to cover all color rows and white space. Using my Kindred Microfiber Towel, I buffed the embossed aliens clean of the black ink. The aliens came to life!
The sentiment “You Got Game” was stamped and embossed with Snowfall Embossing Powder and fussy cut out leaving a canon on the top. Foam tape was applied to the alien panel and the sentiment spaceship. To assemble the card, the alien world background was applied flat to a card base. The alien panel was popped up on the center upper portion of the world scene. The sentiment spaceship was centered on the bottom of the card. Utilizing some random pearl square shaped embellishments from probably 20 years ago (unknown supplier) I added some laser shots onto the scene. See, it pays to be a hoarder… you never know when you may actually use them!
Card Size: A2 (4.25 by 5.5)
Arcade Stamp, Kindred
Project Six: Our Friendship Box
This fun fold card looks lack luster on first look, but when you open it up there’s a surprise for you! Let’s just say, it “falls” into place when opened.
Arcade Stamp, Kindred Stamps
A top folding card base was scored at 5.5 inches and 1.5 inches. A black A2 card panel was cut to remove 1.5inches from the bottom of the card. These panels will be adhered above and below the score line in a hot second. But first, using a black bleed proof pen on the scored card base, I traced a line above the 1.5 inch score line, through the channel of the 1.5 inch score line, and directly below the 1.5 inch score line. The black panels were adhered to the card base above and below the card stock. By tracing the score line, the color is seamless without having a dark card base which would make the card insides heavier. I don’t want pay for more postage…
Medium and small stars from the Card Basic dies set were cut from holographic card stock. On a scrap piece of white card stock, neon inks were applied in sections for die cutting and for the layering frame that surrounds the sentiment on the front of the card (Electro-Pop inks: Raging Red/ Orange Glow/ Hello Yellow/ Screamin’ Green/ Blaring Blue/ Potent Purple). Utilizing the Stitched Alphabet die, the word “ARCADE” was die cut. Finally, the sentiment was stamped on a piece of black card stock with embossing ink, covered with Snowfall embossing powder and heat set (Arcade Stamp Set). The front panel was assembled.
To make the fun fold, another piece of smooth white card stock (7 by 4.25 inches) was scored at 1.5 inches and 5.5 inches. Pulling out the square from the Card Basic Die set, the square was centered in-between the score lines. Do not discard the cut square, this will be used in a few. Using Altenew Artist Markers (TG05/ TG07), the frame around the cut out was colored. Again going outside the score lines for color transition. A piece of black card stock was cut to fit the backside of the card front and adhered. The inside frame and the card base were set aside to complete the inside image.
Arcade Stamp, Kindred Stamps
Remember the die cut that we set aside from the Card Basic square die? Gotta find it again… under a pile it was located. With a ruler I sketched out 2 rectangles with corresponding frames. Using the shapes from the Arcade stamp set, I stamped a layered board in the larger rectangle and a single shape in the smaller rectangle. (Gina K: Dark Lilac/ Lucky Clover/ Wild Dandelion/ Tangerine Twist/ Blue Lagoon). To fill in the stark white of the rectangles, I pulled out a Olo Marker in CG3 to fill in around the shapes. The frames of both rectangles were colored with Altenew Artist Markers (TG05/TG06). Finally the remainder of the square was colored with Olo Marker B4.6. The completed scene was centered on the black card stock on the inside of the card base.
Arcade Stamp Set, Kindred Stamps
Time to attach the our frame to the card base. After re-enforcing the score lines, the 1.5 inch on the framed piece was adhered to the top of the card front on the inside. Ensuring that the colored frame when folded up flows to the inside. With the card opened I folded over the frame. When laying flat it will fit perfectly into the card front (A2 sized panel). Place adhesive on the 1.5 inch section of the framed piece. Fold the card to adhere the fun fold to the inside card base. The panel will now open and close exposing the framed image. I added a piece of black card stock to the base inside the frame continue the framed area. To finish off the card, the sentiment “is on another level” was stamped in black ink. This felt a little naked with all the neon on the front of the card, so I placed a scrap of the neon inked paper and a strip of holographic paper. Tada, no longer naked!
Card Size: A2 (4.25 by 5.5 inches)
The entire Kindred Stamps release will be available this Friday at 8am PST/11am EST. Be sure to subscribe to the Kindred Stamps blog to see a daily line up of sneak peeks from our amazing Design Team! Come join the Fan Club and release event to be part of the release fun, and you may just win some Kindred Stamps credit!!
