March 2006 - Min L.
"Lantern Card"

minjlim@yahoo.com
Honolulu, HI, USA

(Click on picture for instructions)

How long have you been stamping?
About three years now. While I was on medical leave from graduate school, I took various arts and crafts classes to pass the time. I was intrigued with heat-embossing rubber stamp images at my first stamp class and have been hooked ever since.

What is your favorite technique?
Hands down, I love to age and distress everything!

Favorite stamp company?
It would be difficult for me to narrow it down to a particular company. I have a relatively small, but varied and eclectic stamp collection.

Favorite Asian stamps?
In regards to Asian stamps, I think the photo images from Oxford Impressions and Bella Rosa are some of my favorites.

Favorite stamping accessory?
Does paper count as an accessory? If so, it would definitely be paper. I'm enamored by papers of all kind, but especially so by handmade Asian papers like marbled mulberry, hand wrinkled momi-gami and silk screened yuzen. Paper, in itself, often serves as my source of inspiration.

Favorite colors?
I'm quite partial to vintage colors.

Your favorite embellishment to finish a card?
I think charms and beads are always a wonderful addition.

What is the one tool you couldn't live without?
That would be my paper cutter. I would be lost without it.

Any helpful tips for the group?
Hmmm… there have already been so many inspiring and helpful hints shared on OSA. I'm not sure if this has been posted, but brayering over a stamped image, or any paper element for that matter, with a mica-based interference ink like Opalite produces a beautiful iridescent sheen. I used to paint a color wash of Twinkling H2Os to achieve this effect, but this is much simpler and doesn't cause the paper to warp or buckle.

As a member of the Oriental Stamp Art, why do you like stamping in the Oriental theme?
I like elegance and minimalism in design and these are characteristics I associate with aspects of Asian art and culture.

Is there any one place or city you'd like to visit to find rubberstamps, supplies, or Asian art elements?
Well, I guess Japan, but I'm happy searching the web!!!!

What other stamping lists or clubs do you belong to?
I belong to various paper arts lists including book-making, altered art, and ATCs.

What favorite Stamping magazines would you recommend?
I'm a huge fan of all the Somerset Publications. I subscribe to Stampers' Sampler and Inspirations.

Published in any magazines? If yes, please list.
No, I've never actually submitted anything.

Any other hobbies, talents or craft interests?
Aside from stamping and other paper crafts, I love the culinary arts, cinema, foreign travel and practice yoga daily.

What inspires you to be creative? i.e. do you listen to music while you stamp or watch TV, keep an art journal?
Leafing through stamping, travel and art magazines get my creative juices flowing. I'll often place chosen magazine images in and around my stamping area and, at some point and time, they will manifest themselves into my projects.

Any art background?
I've taken several art appreciation classes in college, but have no formal training in studio arts.

Have you used any unusual item in your stamping that wasn't necessarily meant for stamping?
I saw a rubber bath mat at the discount store with the most beautiful bamboo design on it. I came home, inked it up and stamped it on large sheets of cardstock for use as background paper.

Any favorite websites you would recommend for inspiration?
OSA provides quite an eyeful. I enjoy the gallery at Somerset Studio as well.

Do you have a day job when you're not stamping?
I've recently began doing legal research regarding women's issues for a NGO. I think stamping serves as a wonderful compliment to this left-brained activity.

Tell us about your family and where you live.
I moved from Boston to Honolulu several years ago. My mom, siblings and three adorable nieces all reside within driving distance and I enjoy being able to spend time with them.

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR "Lantern Card"
By Min L.

1. Score a piece of 8 ½"x 11" cardstock in half lengthwise. Your cardstock should now have two panels, each 4 ¼" x 11".

2. Proceed to measure from the shorter (4 ¼") edge of the above cardstock and score vertically at 2 ¾", 5 ½" and 8 1/4". Your cardstock should now be divided into 8 equal panels.

3. Next, use a craft knife to make a 5 ½" slit along the line scored in step 1. Start the slit at 5 ½" from the shorter edge of the cardstock and end the slit at 8 ½" from the same edge.

4. To assemble the piece, apply double stick tape along the shorter edges of the cardstock, fold in half lengthwise and press firmly to adhere. The resulting piece should measure 4 ½" x 11".

5. To form the lantern structure of the card, take the shorter edges in each hand and gently push in. The slit should pop open to form a rectangular lantern shape.

6. Now, take a paper punch of your choice and create one or more windows for your lantern. I used a circular punch and adhered vellum to the interior.

7. The structure of your lantern card is now complete and you can decorate it as you please. I used decorative papers, bamboo skewers and layered various portions of images from Art Neko's Eizan Set #1 with foam tape to create a 3-D effect.

8. Lastly, you can place a tea light in the center of the lantern and your project will be aglow. I'd like to mention the caution that one should not leave any lit candle, even a tea light, unattended.