No glossy cardstock? Try photo paper!

I came across a package of 4″x6″ glossy photo paper today and I wondered if I could use it in lieu of glossy cardstock. My 4-year-old HP printer does not like the small sheets so rather than let it keep collecting dust I took it to my craft room to have a play with it! BTW this 5 minute card is made with a  new stamp from the stamp show by Lost Coast Designs.

It stamps beautifully! You get gorgeous detail and the ink is dry in a flash but not all glossy techniques will work on this paper.

What WILL work on photo paper:

• Stamping “photo” stamps with lots of detail with dye based ink.

• Coloring over the dye ink with Copics or other permanent markers (see the pink hat)

• Blending with watercolor markers (see how the black stamping ink blends with the brown marker)

• Coloring on the rubber of your stamp with watercolor markers and stamping like I have been showing you earlier this week (Local King Technique)

What won’t work on photo paper:

• Stamping with watermark ink for a resist (un-embossed) the ink absorbs into the paper coating rather than drying on top I think.

• Smooth blending with dye based ink (the paper dies too quick), see how my background is splotchy…But who cares, it’s a cat in a party hat, it is still fun!

Just keep in mind that the ink is going to dry much faster on photo paper than glossy cardstock. I only played with dye-based ink so you might want to see if pigment ink will dry or lend some fun looks. I have quite a bit of this glossy photo paper (it is HP advanced photo paper in case you are wondering) and I decided that I am going to play with it and try some scene stamping (a skill I have yet to become mediocre at, let alone master) and they are just the right size for a post card! I think postcards are fun because you can brighten your mailman’s day too…but that is tomorrows topic:) Til then happy crafting!