Rubber Stamping with Bleach

 Bleaching is a fun way for beginners to try rubber stamping on their scrapbook projects with minimal investment. The bleaching effect will vary depending on the color and type of paper you use. This technique works best on darker paper, but you can still achieve a subtle effect with pastel papers. Experiment with different papers and colors and keep a swatch book for future reference.

Supplies

• Household Bleach 
• Paper Towels
• Flat bottomed container
• Rubber Stamps
• Solid Core Cardstock 
• Archival mist (if you are using your project in scrapbook) 
 

Preparation & Safety
Cover work area with a protective cloth or paper. Wear clothing appropriate for working with bleach. Eye protection is suggested in case of spattering. If you have sensitive skin you may want to wear latex or rubber gloves. Make sure you work in a well ventilated area.  Never work with bleach near an open flame. Bleach is toxic, therefore this technique is NOT SUITABLE for children.

Steps

1. Fold a paper towel into quarters and place in your container.

2. Soak paper towel with bleach, just enough to dampen (not sloshy).

3. Dab stamps onto paper towel and press on background paper.

4. Do not overload the stamp with bleach as this will result in blurred images.

Tips

• Use bold stamps as bleach has a tendency to run a bit.
• Try letter and phrase stamps to make backgrounds that match the theme of your layout.
• Use solid core cardstock that is the same color all the way through the paper (do not use papers with a white back or core).
• Test on a scrap of the paper you want to use to see how it reacts to the bleach.
• Do not allow bleached areas to come in contact with your photos until it has dried completely and treated with an archival mist.
• Bleached images can be painted, colored with chalks or finished in the same way as any other image.
• If you dilute the bleach you will get a softer look.

Once you are done stamping with bleach, it is VERY important to clean your stamps thoroughly. The bleach will not harm your stamps if you follow this rule and It may clean up any ink residue that may be stuck in the nooks and crannies. Wash with a soft brush and warm soapy water.

First I stamped flowers repetitively along the bottom edge to create a border.






  Next, I stamped some butterflies
























It would have been pretty with just bleaching, but I decided to stamp the same flowers in a darker ink, slightly offset.  I did the same for the butterflies but used a contrasting stamp.  You can't really see it, but I also sprayed some glitter spray over the entire sheet.

Voila, the finished product!

 

Now, I'm going to get busy and create a layout with my unique patterned paper. I'll show the completed layout in the next post.  Until then....Happy Stamping!