The Look of Old Time Photos (Reverse Soot Stamping)

I am really fascinated with the Soot Stamping techniques.  My favorite so far is the Reverse Soot technique.  I used a stamp from Impression Obsession called Lottie Collage for these two cards.  Isn't she beautiful?  I recently purchased this stamp used at a stamping garage sale.

This first card was for a swap in my Florida Stampers online group: 

Reverse Soot Stamping - Lottie

To do reverse soot stamping, you first stamp the image using Versamark ink onto glossy cardstock.  I use a piece larger than needed for the card.  Then you hold the paper with the stamped image toward the flame of a candle moving the paper around until soot begins to build up on the surface of the paper.  Be sure to keep moving the paper so that it does not catch on fire.  Tip--the edges catch on fire quickly.  So far every time I've done this, the edge has caught on fire...so be prepared!  And the soot will rub off if you touch it so you also have to be careful when putting out your burning paper.  After you have all the soot you want, take a tissue and wipe off the excess.  The soot remains on the stamped image, and there will be a little left on the rest of the paper too.  You need to spray this with a matte Final Fixative so it doesn't rub off (you can use hairspray, but I was afraid it would yellow after awhile).  I purposefully caught these edges on fire to give it an old, worn look.  I used a little Antique Linen Distress Ink on the lace so it would look older, layered it onto a dark brown ruffled ribbon and also put a tiny beige ribbon on top.  Added some real dried/pressed flowers at the top that I had in my stash and the saying at the bottom is from Inkadinkado.

The second card is the same image done in the same way:


Lottie in Purple - Reverse Soot Stamping

 I sent this card to a friend (oh, she is the person I bought this stamp from).  She is a good buddy and I haven't been sending cards out "just because" lately.  The image this time looks a little more worn because you can see that it got a slight bit more burned in one area.  I added some purple mulberry paper behind the soot image.  Just add some water to where you want to rip the paper and it will pull apart easily leaving fibers showing at the edge.  I inked the edges here because this paper had white showing after I ripped (first time for that).  Added the fun ruffled purple and black ribbon with  a pale lavender piping glued on top.  The flowers were beige Prima wildflowers that I colored with Milled Lavender and Dusty Concord Distress Inks and put small half pearls in the centers.

I love how the same image looks so totally different depending upon the card arrangement!
Hope that you will try sooting!   Send me a picture (ilchezhead@yahoo.com) and I will post it here, and/or I can link back to your blog also.

Happy Sooting!
Sandy (Cheesy)