Monday, 14 July 2025

July 2025 - With 3 Things - Mixed Media Journal {by Tracy Hickman}

Hi friends,

It's Tracy from @anonymous.palette with you for another 'With 3 Things' challenge post.

For this feature on the PaperArtsy Blog 3 identical items are sent to 3 members of the PaperArtsy Blogging team. Typically we will receive a stamp, a stencil and a couple of Fresco Paints.

We have no clue what PaperArtsy HQ is going to send, the whole idea of this challenge is to do something crafty in our personal style with these 3 items. We can incorporate other PA products into the mix if we feel it is necessary.

So let's take a look at what I received from PA:


Today I have made a mixed media art journal spread with a pop up slide element highlighting the amazing PaperArtsy Eclectica Stamp Set designed by Sara Naumann - ESN52 as well as a coordinating PaperArtsy Stencil by Sara Naumann - PS090 and PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic in Nougat followed by a side of PaperArtsy Infusions in Black Knight.


Sandhill Cranes migrate through my neck of the woods and these pages are an ode to their travels… “Best Wishes for a Safe Flight”.
 

A detail of the pop up slide element.


A layer of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic in Nougat covers a few pieces of washi tape followed by some light stamping with several stamps in the set.


Who doesn’t love a good a good splatter session?  First, a layer of PaperArtsy Infusions in Black Night with a fan brush followed by those same Infusions mixed with Nougat for a wonderful warm gray.


I embossed a second bird stamp on craft paper and fussy cut that main image to apply on my slide element.


Making collage ephemera to continue the story telling… The measuring tape stamp was inked in black and colored with PaperArtsy Infusions in Black Knight (This makes the best shading color!).  The additional birds on PaperArtsy Stencil - PS090 by Sara Naumann were embossed on craft paper and bordered with new Sizzix die rectangles designed by Seth Apter. Some awesome ephemera pacs from AALL and Create added a bit of steampunk to the pages.


I applied opaque crackle paste from Ranger through that diamond pattern on the stencil and sprinkled a copper embossing powder on top.  The powder was heat set only after the paste set.


More Infusions in Black Knight were added with a brush and spritzed for additional grunge and shading around all those raised and embossed diamond areas.


A detail of that Infused Measuring tape stamp and embossed birds through the stencil.


The focal bird glued only on the bottom half to allow it to stand up when it’s popped up.
This paired so well with this steam punk ephemera from AALL and Create.



There is a beautiful warmth and pairing with the Nougat paint against the craft paper…


I absolutely love These 3 Thing Challenges and seeing the other artists interpretations of how the products can be used.  Grab a PaperArtsy Stencil, Stamp Set and a couple Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics, Mattints, or Infusions and see what YOU can create!

Creative Wishes!

Tracy Hickman
@anonymous.palette

Friday, 11 July 2025

December Diary with NEW PaperArtsy products {by Jenny Marples}


Hi everyone, nice to be back with you again. Jenny Marples here with you.

This year on the blog, we have free reign to do a deep dive into a PaperArtsy product range of our choosing. For this post I have been exploring the new Hot Picks Xmas releases.

If you watched Leandra's recent video launch you'll have seen there are three new sets of stamps and some new Paper Tissue, great for making your seasonal cards. I decided to use them to create a way of recording the memories, activities and important details from each day leading up to the festivities on Christmas Day.


Rather than go down the usual route of creating a journal for this purpose I opted to make a set of index cards and challenged myself to use every stamp available. To find out if this was achieved and see how I created these cards keep reading.



The PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Paints chosen for this project leaned into a 'Scandi style' colour palette.



Let's get straight into building the background for the cards beginning with base layer, a random patchwork of Tinned Peas, Hey Pesto and Zucchini Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints. It's worth having three brushes on the go at the same time for this part.


I like to add extra layers in decreasing amounts and find scraping the Blue Moon and Marbles Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint from a gel plate with a spatula onto the background works well. It also means you can pull a print with any remaining paint from the gel plate 'palette', so no waste!


To finish the layering take turns with 'highlight' colours, Sand, Peachy Keen and Cloud 9 Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints rolling a small amount of each in turn across the gel plate with a brayer before running it lightly over the background.


Chop up your background into the size of cards needed, retaining some to decorate your box. Now it's time to start decorating the individual diary cards.


It can feel pretty daunting to be faced with 25 'blank' cards so break it down by using some of the new Printed Tissue PT12 'Script', tearing off pieces and adding them using Mattints which coordinate with the paint colours. Here you can see Fern Mattint produces a subtle look which is to be expected on a mainly green background.


Then try Shark Mattint to echo the blues already used. You'll notice I blended the tinted tissue into the background by scraping a little more Sand, Peachy Keen and Cloud 9 Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint over the top.


Ladybug Mattint again echoes the salmon pinks in the background but definitely provides more contrast.


Finally try using Nutty Mattint, again to provide more contrast. In hindsight I would have been less heavy-handed with this one but still like how it picks up some of the browns in the colour palette. Now it's time to get stamping with that challenge to use every image provided.
 


It was a joy reaching randomly for each stamp in turn from the new PaperArtsy Hot Picks sets HPXM10, HPXM11 and HPXM12I recommend using a stamping platform for this part as it allows you to re-stamp with extra ink if needed (we are stamping onto an uneven surface after all). It also means you can paint in the details and re-stamp over the top with ease. Along with the colours already used I added Chocolate Pudding and Scottish Salmon Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints into the mix.


You'll notice a simple 'faux stitched' border has been applied around the cards; it's my favourite 'no sew' option which involved running a pattern tracing wheel along the edges before following the lines with a permanent black pen.


Try stamping directly over the Printed Tissue sections to enhance each image. It means you can get away with using even the smallest images individually to help decorate each page. You might spot I even used the PaperArtsy car image which is included on the sheet of script.


To add visual impact with the tiniest images try repeat stamping them. I also used part of the sentiment from one set inside the decorative cartouche from another.


Since the idea of this project is to create a record of each day in December adding the dates is always helpful; I used the PaperArtsy Stencil PS021 for this, adding that slightly uneven look in the corner of every card.


To finish the set mount your decorated cards onto slightly larger plain ones, enabling you to add lists, reminders, photos, receipts and memories on the back. You can also make a few blank cards with pockets on the front to store these. For my diary box I used a CooKatzCraft kit which has a co-ordinating die set to cut the holes in the bottom of the cards.

Now your diary cards can be loaded into their box in readiness for December.


Here are some more of the completed cards;





I loved creating this set of diary cards and did indeed use all 26 of the stamps contained within the three new sets. As well as making your own record in a box (or book) you could also use this method to create cards, tags and gift bags.


Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Summer Postcards with NEW Alison Bomber products {by Riikka Kovasin}


Moikka everyone! Nice to be back with you again! It's Riikka here here today, sharing a project I created using new Alison Bomber products.

I combined two stamp sets and a stencil in this make. I used the vintage-style ads to create patterned paper and backgrounds, and the beautiful poppies to decorate both the cards and the box.


I crafted a kind of summer mini album using these products. It's a box containing blank cards and two folders inside. I'm taking it with me on a little summer trip we're going in a week or so. I've been making this kind of box for quite a while now because it's such an easy and fun format. The idea is to collect some postcards from the trip to provide the photos, and then add journaling to create a travel diary.

What I especially enjoyed about this process was using inks like watercolors - particularly how I used them to edge the journaling cards. I'll show you more in the step-by-step process!



Here above are the products I chose for my mini album box. Well, be sure to add some paper to those pictured here, too! As I mentioned earlier, I used two of the new Alison Bomber stamp sets: EAB48 and EAB50. In addition, I also included one of the new stencils in the make: PS473.

In addition to those PaperArtsy products, I used two kinds of stamping inks - a permanent black ink, and a selection of water-reactive inks in brown, yellow, and blue. While red is the typical color that comes to mind when thinking poppies, they actually come in a variety of colors. I picked my color palette based on the old coat of arms of our summer destination!

But let's dive into the process, starting with the step I found especially satisfying!


I began the project by cutting eight postcard sized pieces out of cream colored cardstock. By "postcard", I mean the Finnish standard size, 10,5cm by 15 cm, or A6. I also laid out two A4s on my craft table, along with two brown water-reactive inks and the new Alison Bomber EAB50 stamp set.

I covered the two A4 sheets from edge to edge with stamped ad blocks to create full patterned backgrounds. For the postcards, however, I only stamped along edges, leaving the centers black to serve as an easy surface to write on. I applied the two brown inks randomly, ensuring each card had a mix of both shades for a varied, vintage look.


Next, I grabbed a mop-styled watercolor brush and gently added water over the stamped design. Since I had used water-reactive inks, the images began to bleed, tinting the edges in lovely brown tones. The stamped designs remained visible, but now with a beautiful vintage, timeworn feel. I absolutely loved the result, it turned out even better than I expected!

Using the same large brush, I painted over the two A4 sheets with water as well. The brown tones appeared a bit stronger on these, for two reasons: first, there was simply more ink on the pages due to the full-coverage stamping; and second, with each pass of the brush, more ink accumulated, gradually turning my water into a tea-colored wash. While the water had stayed clear enough during the smaller cards, it took on more color while working the larger sheets. So, if you plan to recreate this technique and prefer a softer, more delicate hue, I’d recommend changing your painting water more frequently.


After letting the sheets dry, it was time for some cutting and folding. I had cut the cards earlier, since I only wanted to treat their edges, but the two A4 sheets needed to be cut to size. I also cut the box base from a kraft-colored 12"x12" cardstock sheet.


Below are the measurements from the box and the folders, in case you'd like to recreate this project. Of course, feel free to adjust them to suit your card size - or even switch the cards out for tags, if that's more your style!

I used a paper cutter to both cut and score the pieces. Although... now that I look at the image below, I realize I probably should have marked the score lines differently. Right now they look just like the cut lines! Most of the lines inside the shapes are score lines.


Once I had my folders and box cut and folded (but not yet assembled!), it was time to turn my attention to the embellishments. For these, I used the beautiful poppies from the new Alison Bomber stamp set EAB48. I stamped the blooms multiple times onto a sheet of cream cardstock using a permanent ink. Since I needed at least eight flowers to decorate the journaling cards, plus a few more for the box itself, I decided to fill the entire sheet, just to be safe. That turned out to be a good call, as I did have a mishap when the stamp slipped and landed right on top of already-stamped blooms!


The coloring actually took me less time than deciding which medium to use! My first thought was to go with colored pencils, but since I had already used the inks in a watercolor-like way, I felt the textures might not blend well. I then considered layering watercolor beneath the pencil work, but as you can see, I ended up going a different route. Instead, I reached for more water-reactive inks and used them like watercolors to bring the poppies to life.

Honestly, I originally planned to add some pencil details on top, but once I finished coloring, the blooms looked so lovely that I decided they didn’t need anything extra. And even though you might spot hints of green in the flowers, I only used the three colors shown in the photo below - blue, yellow, and brown.


After finishing coloring the flowers, I let the blooms dry for a while before carefully cutting them out from the sheet.

With all my elements now ready: cut, colored, and prepped, it was finally time to bring everything together and assemble the project!
 

I have to admit, the next step was probably the most tedious, even though it makes such a big impact on the elements. I'm referring to inking the edges!

I used a corner punch to round the bottom corners of the journaling cards and gave the same treatment to the flaps of the folders. Then I inked all the edges: of the cards, the flowers, the folders, and even a torn strip from the A4 sheets I had set aside for decorating the box.

While edge inking can sometimes feel meditative, this time I was itching to get to the fun part of decorating with the flowers! Still, I absolutely recommend doing this step, as it beautifully defines the edges and gives everything that polished, finished look.


With all the edges inked, I could finally move on to adding the finishing touches to the folders before assembling them. I used the new Alison Bomber stencil PS473 to add a few leafy patterns to the folder fronts, applying the same brown ink I'd used earlier for the edges and background stamping.

To create a simple closure for the folder, I sewed two buttons onto each folder and wrapped a piece of twine between them. It’s an easy mechanism, but it adds both functionality and a little detail to the folder.


Finally, it was time to add the flowers! I had considered adding a stenciled detail to the journaling cards as well, but hesitated. I worried it might take up too much of the writing space, so I decided to leave them clean. However, I did add several leafy accents to the top of the box using the PS473 stencil again.

To attach the flowers to the journaling cards, I used a mix of two tapes, and a stapler. I thought carefully about the composition and how it would look when the cards are placed inside the box. That’s why the placement and height of the flowers vary: on the front cards, the blooms are set lower, while on the cards toward the back, they rise up more prominently from the edge. I'm crossing my fingers the flowers stay put during our trip! If you'd like to create the same graduated design but worry about durability, try backing the flowers with a piece of clear plastic. That way the weight is distributed on a larger area, and avoids putting pressure on just the narrow stem.

As for the box, I used the same attachment method, but instead of just settling for tape and a staple, I glued the flowers in place and tucked a piece of vintage lace underneath to add a bit of soft texture and vintage charm.


Once I had the box constructed and the cards neatly tucked inside, I took a step back for a final look. Something still felt missing! So, I grabbed a leftover piece of the folder material, added letter stickers, and inked the edges to match the rest of the design. I wanted the year to echo the black accents from the decorative tape used on both the cards and the box, so I created a label with my embossing label maker. Oh, and I couldn’t resist adding a button for that final touch to match with the folders inside!


After adhering that final button in place, my little memory-keeping box for our upcoming summer trip was officially complete! I can’t wait to put it to use!



Here it is, my finished album box! Or… postcard box? Journaling cards in a box? Whatever you want to call it, I can't wait to take it with me when we head out to Mikkeli in a couple of weeks!

As I mentioned at the beginning, I’ve been using this kind of box setup for a while now to document summer trips. It all started back when I was scrapbooking more actively and ordered my photos from a photo service. By the time I got home, sorted through everything, picked my favorite snaps, placed the order, and finally received the prints… well, weeks, or even months, could pass. By then, some of the details had already started to slip from my memory.

To avoid that, I began writing the stories down while still on the trip. But then I felt a bit silly re-writing those journaled bits once the photos finally arrived. That’s when the idea of this box came to me: a place to collect the journaling, little pieces of ephemera, and later, tuck in the photos when they were printed. It makes everything come together in one lovely, cohesive keepsake.


I'm extremely happy how the flowers turned out and how they are attached to the cards. I love the splodgy look of the watercolors, and the contrast between the soft, delicate blooms and the bold black tape and sturdy staples. That unexpected mix emphasizes the contrasting features.

At first, I was worried whether the cards would stay securely inside the box, especially since I usually I have a flap or a lid in the box to keep things in place. But this time, I wanted the flowers to "grow" freely from the box, so a lid wasn't an option. To solve that, I added some bulk inside to make sure the box was full enough to hold everything snugly. The two folders do just that, provide the bulk, but they also provide a perfect place to tuck in smaller ephemera like tickets or receipts I want to save from the trip.


I hope this project inspires you to try something similar! I would love to hear how you store your summer memories. And if you've shared a project on Instagram, please tag me to help me find you!

Thank you for stopping by today!


Instagram: Paperiliitin