Stamp-a-faire 2014: Ancient Rome

Good morning, Papertrey Ink Fans, and welcome to Stamp-a-faire 2014! I am so excited to be sharing in the festivities this year! This year's theme is "Time Traveler" and we're crafting through the ages all day with fun tutorials and challenges to keep you inspired. I have the honor of kicking off today's era presentations with a focus on Ancient Rome (you can get the whole Stamp-a-faire experience over on Nichole's Blog)!

Primavera di Stabiae Fresco

The Ancient Roman Era is known for its detailed visual art works. The Romans particularly admired fine painting, intricate mosaics, and grand sculpture. These mediums were greatly valued and often included in public spaces as well as the homes of wealthy citizens. Cameo glass works were also popular around this time. They were largely affordable and enjoyed by a majority of the population. Highly developed silver work and jewelry, on the other hand, was a privilege of the rich.

Roman Coliseum

In addition to purely visual works, the era is also distinguished by its functional artwork. Architecture, currency, metal casting, and pottery were all adorned with carvings and reliefs. They depicted a wide variety of subjects, from military heroes to gladiators and pastoral scenes.

Roman Calyx

The Romans appreciated these works as much for their aesthetic value as for their role in historical preservation. Everything from walls to oil lamps and coins portrayed the valors of the day, many in the act of battle.

Mosaic Of Carpophorous Fighting A Leopard

The Ancient Romans were also directly influenced by the artwork and architecture of Ancient Greece. Mythological figures were a favored subject. Gods and goddesses frequented the works of Roman artists for hundreds of years. Botanical motifs, like the acanthus and laurel leaves, were also borrowed and modified to reflect Roman tastes. They, along with patterns such as the “Egg and Dart” and structures like winding triumphal columns and arches, helped give Roman architecture its signature form.

Fresco From The Villa of Agrippa Postumus

Now that you have a little background about the era, let’s get on to a couple of fun challenges that incorporate elements of the frescoes and mosaics that are so characteristic of the era!

Faux Frescoes: Colorful painted frescoes were greatly admired in Ancient Rome. They portrayed everything from urban scenes to landscapes and people. Follow along with the video to see how embossing paste transforms basic cardstock into a plaster canvas. You can get wonderful results with outline stamps and your favorite coloring medium or keep it simple with solid stamps. And you’ll just love the texture of your finished pieces!

Here are some still shots of my projects. Check out the video to see the step-by-step instructions.

Here are a few things I wish I had mentioned in my videos (but either forgot or thought of later - I'm still learning, folks. Thanks for your patience!):

• Your embossing paste will take anywhere from half an hour to two hours to dry (depending on how thick you get with the paste). It's a good idea to coat your cardstock with embossing paste and then move on to another challenge or element of your card while it dries.
• You can use any coloring medium for this technique. I used watercolors, but markers (make sure your embossing paste is marker nib friendly), colored pencils, reinkers, and more will work perfectly, too!
• The stamping will stay wet for awhile (especially if you use dye inks). You can heat set it to help, but be prepared to let your project sit undisturbed for awhile just in case.

Mock Mosaics: Romans favored mosaics for embellishing the walls and floors throughout their architecture. These beautifully tiled pieces often depicted mythological and historical scenes, but were just as regularly geometric patterns that varied in complexity. You can achieve tiled designs in your projects using one of today’s easy techniques!

Here are my projects from the tutorial. Check out the video to see exactly how everything came together!

And here are the tips I wish I had mentioned in this video:

• (First Technique) If you don't have the Mosaic Tile Die or cover plates you can still play along! Just cut up a piece of self-adhesive foam into random shapes and stick them to a clear block.
• Don't have a clear block to spare? How about an old wooden block from an unmounted stamp? Or an extra die cutting plate?
• The spacing of the Mosaic Tile Die works best with larger/bolder images, but you can use smaller or more delicate images by placing the tiles closer together.
• You can also arrange the tiles however you want to get different looks with your mosaic pattern.
• You can use colored ink create a graphic background instead of stamping with embossing ink over a pre-stamped scene.
• (Second Technique) You can use a cover plate instead of the Mosaic Tile Die to create similar results.
• (Second and Third Techniques) The Xyron does make this technique easier, but it isn't completely necessary. You can also use strips of double sided tape (I would suggest Scor-Tape), but you want to get nearly complete coverage so keep that in mind when you're adding your adhesive.
• (Third Technique) Your stencil will work with spray mists, sponged ink, embossing/texture paste or even chalk!
• You can add more or fewer layers of acetate depending on how much dimension you want your embossing paste to have.

I could seriously do another series of techniques with the Mosaic Tile Die, so don't be surprised if you see it again here in the near future. Don't forget, if you missed the kit earlier in the summer they will be on sale for a limited time in October so you'll get a second chance! 

Make sure to head over to Nichole's blog to see all of today's challenges and share your projects. Thank you so much for joining me today! Enjoy Stamp-a-faire and I'll see you around the forum!

Recipes:

Sunflower Fresco Card

Stamps: Botanical Blocks, SAF: Ancient Rome Mini - Papertrey Ink

Cardstock: Classic Kraft, Dark Chocolate - Papertrey Ink; white

Ink: Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate - Papertrey Ink; Noir Black - Palette

Other: Embossing Paste - Wendy Vecchi; Foam Tape - Scotch; Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors

My Hero Card

Stamps: Military Hero, SAF: Ancient Rome Mini - Papertrey Ink

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Ocean Tides, Classic Kraft, Marble Patterned Paper (SAF: Ancient Rome Kit) - Papertrey Ink

Ink: Pinefeather, Ocean Tides, Classic Kraft (reinker) - Papertrey Ink

Other: Tag Sale #8 Die, First Place Die Collection, Linen & Canvas Impression Plate - Papertrey Ink; Embossing Paste - Wendy Vecchi; Foam Tape - Scotch

Butterfly Mosaic Card

Stamps: Life Is Beautiful, Modern Wood Mats - Papertrey Ink

Cardstock: Limeade Ice, Aqua Mist, Aqua Mist Polka Dot Patterned Paper - Papertrey Ink; white

Ink: Limeade Ice, Hibiscus Burst, Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist, Tropical Teal - Papertrey Ink; VersaMark - Tsukineko

Other: Mosaic Tile Die (SAF: Ancient Rome Kit), Small Scalloped Border Die, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Die Collection - Papertrey Ink; Clear Detail Embossing Powder - Filigree; Marshmallow Sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; Foam Tape - Scotch; Self-adhesive foam

Floral Mosaic Card

Stamps: Cutting Garden, SAF: Ancient Rome Mini - Papertrey Ink

Cardstock: Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold - Papertrey Ink; white

Ink: Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Berry Sorbet, Smokey Shadow - Papertrey Ink

Other: Mosaic Tile Die, Sketched Shapes Die Collection, Rustic Jute Button Twine - Papertrey Ink; Foam Tape - Scotch; Xyron Machine

Stenciled Mosaic Card

Stamps: SAF: Ancient Rome Mini - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Acanthus Patterned Paper (SAF: Ancient Rome Kit), Clear Cardstock - Papertrey Ink; white

Ink: Aqua Mist, Smokey Shadow - Papertrey Ink

Other: Mosaic Tile Die, Mat Stack 2 Layerz Die, Aqua Mist Button, Soft Stone Saddle Stitched Ribbon - Papertrey Ink; Embossing Paste - Wendy Vecchi; Foam Tape - Scotch; Crochet Thread; Xyron Machine