Stamping Design Team - Andi Mulholland


Select Artwork for Larger View and Item List "Ctrl P" to Print		My First Slide Mailers by Andi Mulholland Stamping Deck Crewmember What am I doing on a boat in January in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean? As I contemplate that question, I am clinging to the railing, staring into what has to be the iciest water that I've ever seen…..It's only fitting that we're traveling the same route that the Scots did as they made their way to a new land. If I close my eyes, I can hear the brogue of the Highlanders who were forced from their homes, and who came to this place of crags and water known as Nova Scotia. "New Scotland" marked a new beginning for them, as it will for this new team member of SSReflections…..Journey with me as I begin my maiden voyage into the magazine and into the world of slide mailer art! January is typically a very cold month in Nova Scotia, yet the adventuresome person can find much to do, especially if they're a history buff as I am. One of the most interesting things I learned about Halifax is the role that the sea captains played in the Titanic tragedy. Ships out of this location were responsible for the recovery and later burial of some of the unidentified passengers. There are over 100 people buried in Halifax cemeteries that were never identified. The sample below is something that I imagined may have been part of the artifacts rescued with one of the ladies. I chose to distress the piece to create a water-logged antique look. Slide mailers are made of heavy gray cardboard and take surface treatment well. Because I wanted to colorize this piece, I applied a layer of gesso before adding ink. The gesso gives a base or neutral field for you to work with. Pink, yellow and brown pigment inks gave me a softer vintage look than a solid field of brown ink would have, and I further aged the piece by liberally spraying diluted walnut ink onto it. Black and white photocopies of reproduced Titanic photographs were glued to the microscope slides and used to embellish the cover of this memory book. Inside is a collage of more photos, dried flowers, and vintage lace that complete this ghostly souvenir. Let's go into the Solarium and warm up! I know it's winter, but I'm always looking towards the greens and new life of the springtime. I chose my favorite greens for this single opening slide mailer; the tissue covering it is very beautiful in person, and I've had it for years. Doing these little works of art forced me to dip into a huge stash of papers and ephemera that hasn't ever been touched! The one thing I learned with this sample is that bulk is best left outside or the mailer will not close! No problem….I made it into a shrine instead. The dried flowers inside are from my garden, and looking at them helps me remember that winter isn't forever. Crystal Lacquer was the ideal adhesive to keep both flowers and slide in place. I am a coffee drinker. Without my coffee in the morning, I am not fit company to be around! I'm also not awake…and for a nurse who pulls a wake up time of 4 am, that's not a good thing. One of my nightshirts is a ratty, pink thing that reads "Don't mess with me before my morning coffee!" Wise words, indeed. This next piece is therefore near and dear to my heart! Over the years I've collected stamps and pieces of paper ephemera having to do with my favorite drink, and some of it came in handy here. The slide mailer's surface took beautifully to a crackling technique done with inexpensive acrylic paints and crackling solution from the dime store. I chose to make this a cute gift enclosure for another coffee loving friend. What little girl doesn't love to dress up? I used to force my brothers to play house with me when we were little and we always had a stash of old clothes to use for "pretend." My favorite dress was a wedding gown, and I'd throw a cotton diaper over my head for a veil! This image from Stampsmith was the inspiration for my next slide mailer. As I worked on it, I thought about my own wedding and recent silver anniversary. Though I couldn't bear to cut apart any of our wedding photos, this little mailer might make a nice memento for an anniversary remembrance. The inside could also be decorated with photocopied wedding pictures and a bit of someone's wedding invitation! Photo stamps are fast becoming a new love, and Stampsmith's "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" plate is full of inspiring images such as this one. Valentine's Day is around the corner, and this last sample was something that I was compelled to try. The inside slide frame is filled with melted UTEE! It took me 4 mailers to get up the guts to try this, but it worked out just beautifully! I'm glad because this was the last one that I had... Normally I prefer earth tones, but Valentine's Day seemed like a great excuse to go nuts with bright colors and metallic paper, glitter, and glamorous pinks and reds. These little mailers are terrific for miniature pieces of art, and I have really enjoyed making everything here. I'd like to thank Frances Naeve of Hearts in Touch for providing the slides and slide mailers for my first article, and the crew of SSReflections for their warm and friendly welcome to the magazine! Andi Mulholland andimulholland@ssreflections.com Stamping Deck Crewmember S.S. Reflections, Inc. This entire web site © Copyright S.S. Reflections, Inc. Legal Statement ***Disclaimers - While individual techniques may vary, always follow product manufacturers' directions and cautions for safety and best results.

My First Slide Mailers