3 UP Night One: Ink and the Dog

Hello everyone, Leandra here :)

Well I must say, for me this is the huuuuuge Grande Finale, and an utterly magnificent way to end what has been a marvellous birthday month here on the PaperArtsy blog. Its time for you, our blog followers to be in the spotlight, and well worthy you are too. I have been so excited to see all your magnificnet #3UP submissions coming in over the last few weeks, and now its time to share your creativity with the rest of the world.

So what is #3UP? Well we played it 4 months ago, but here's a refresher...although this time we have a few differences compared to the last round.

3UP is a game we play at the end of a 4 month long Semester packed with stunning projects from our Guest Designers. As their post go out back to back for 4 months, we end up with a spare week, and what better way to use it than have our lovely blog, twitter and face-book followers play along and show what they can do when put on the spot with some rubber and a couple of random 'bits'.

A month ago we sent out to the participants 3 mystery items. The #3Upsters had to somehow utilise those items to create a project to share with you tonight. The goodie baggies were allocated randomly as people signed up and registered, so no thought was given to the preferred stamping style of each 3UP-ster. Some people were totally in their element with what they received, and others were well out of their comfort zone, like I mean on another planet! However, this is a challenge, and so challenge you we shall!

However, this round the differences were:
1. Every player got a colour swatch to work to
2. Every player was part of a team (they didn't realise this)
3. Each team worked with stamps from a PaperArtsy Collection released in last 10 years

So, a quick walk down memory lane. Remember, we have never discontinued any stamp line, so tonight's team features the Ink and the Dog Collection, and they worked with a smokey purple and dusky pink colour swatch. But before we move onto what they have made, let me show you some art made with those stamps by other designers in the last 10 years, and a bit of the back-story of the Ink and the Dog Rubber Stamp Collection.

By Heather Crossley

The people playing along tonight have one thing in common, they were all sent stamps from the Ink and the Dog Collection.

By Isabelle Norris

Originally, this Ink and The Dog Collection was released August 2003 with 60 (quarter/ A6 size) stamp sets, in fact, it was the Stevenage 'Stamperama' show, August 2003 where they had their first public airing.

It was fantastic to have them all back on the stand at the very same show earlier this month (picture above), and to realise how many additional diverse stamp collections we have made available in the years since. 

In 10 years, we have never deleted a single stamp set from our collection. I don't think our stamps have 'dated', so there really seems no reason to delete anything. There are many people who 'discover' PaperArtsy every month from all over the world, so to those customers, all our stamps are new!

by Joanne Wardle

These quirky, eclectic, and often slightly odd collage style stamps were predominantly designed by Nea Nygard, a Finnish artist, in collaboration with Leandra, who suggested the themes, arranged the collection into various families and filled gaps where required. Leandra met Nea through a small 24 member online art-swapping group, and when they both realised they wanted to design stamps, they decided to work together on the idea.

by Jo Capper-Sandon

In recent years, Mark has added to the collection with further designs like the clocks series (above), and now there are 130 of the A6 stamp sets across 28 families. That's a lot of stamps for a collection, and a lot of individual images, we would estimate at least 1000 stamps. (anyone actually counted them?)

by Jacqui Chimes

All the Ink and the Dog stamps are A6 (quarter plate sets), and are available un-mounted (£5+VAT) or EZ mounted (£8+VAT).

by Jo Firth-Young

So back to tonight's challenge players. Who is up tonight showcasing a small selection of these stamps?

Well it's quite fitting the Sam Butler is the first up on the first night of the challenge, as many of my tweeples will know, she was also the first to submit her project within 24 hours of receiving the packet! {Need to remind Mark to make her a PA speedster badge!} LOL 

I'll hand over to our players, and see you again tomorrow night. Enjoy! 

Leandra

Who: Sam Butler    

Twitter: @sam21ski    

blog: http://sam21ski.blogspot.co.uk/
stamps Sam used: 

Buttons Plate 5

Buttons Plate 6

Sam Says: I've been crafting for quite a while now and like anything distressed and grungy.  I love any sort of crafting and would say that I am adventurous with new materials and am willing to give anything a go!!  My favourite colour is green, closely followed by brown and I am a great admirer of Tim Holtz.  I also love all stuff PaperArtsy too!! I have a 6 year old bearded collie called Fraser and a partner of over 20 years called Martin.  They both put up with my antics on the dining room table, as this is where I craft. We love to take an annual trip to either USA or Canada in the winter for a skiing trip, hence where the ski comes from in my twitter username.

The Challenge: I gave the frame a coat of squid ink and stone fresco paint. Stamped onto tissue paper with the dress pattern image from Buttons Plate 5, tore it and added randomly around the frame.  Then after lots more stamping, cutting, colouring, painting, re-positioning and finally sticking, this is how it came out. The pink fabric bottom right, was picked off the fabric embellishment I found in my packet, then stitched and turned into a new kind of needle-holder embellishment. The 'feet' are from the cotton reels/spools found in my challenge pack.

Who: Nina

Twitter: @Ladybugnina   

blog: www.adventuresinbugland.blogspot.com

Stamps Nina used:

 

Words 4

One Penny 2

Nina Says: Hi! I'm Nina or on Twitter land, Ladybugnina. I'm from Billericay in Essex, only 5 minutes away from PA HQ! I'm a very lucky girl because I get to work in a fabulous scrapbook store, Sugar and Spice Crafts. My crafting style changes monthly! One moment I'm clean cut, the next, covered in paint and ink.

The Challenge: For this fabulous challenge I wanted to do a scrapbook page. Firstly, I prepared my plain background by spritzing with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in silver. I spritzed heavily in one area and held my page up so the drips ran down the page. Then using a sponge applicator I blended Fresco Stone & Taupe Acrylic Paint into the background, dragging it off to one side. 

Using the cotton reel supplied I thickly painted one end with Fresco Squid Ink paint and stamped it on to the paper until there was no paint left. Using the same paint I stamped the alphabet from Words Plate 4. Then, I mixed the Squid Ink with the Stone to create a lighter shade which I then stamped over the cotton reel circles. I loved the layered look. 

From the same stamp plate (W4), I inked up the tape measure with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Dusty Concord and stamped onto some PaperArtsy smoothy white card. I then rubbed some of the Squid Ink & Stone mix over. When dry, I lightly sanded back some of the paint to reveal the stamped image. 

Finally I painted a piece of smooth white card in Taupe and when dry I stamped the post card stamp in stone. To finish this off, when dry I did a wash of squid ink over the top. 

These pieces of stamped/ painted card were then punched and made into bunting, over some raffia which I dragged through all through my left over paint from my craft sheet. A few buttons, brads, washi tape and of course, moustache paper and my project was finished!

Who: Emma

Twitter: @pinksparklegirl

blog: http://pinksparkledays.blogspot.co.uk/

stamps Emma used:

School Days Plate 1

School Days Plate 2

School Days Plate 3

Emma says: I am delighted to be part of the 10th Birthday celebrations at the wonderful PaperArtsy ! When I received my secret bag of stash I was overwhelmed with the contents, so much stuff!! I have been crafting for a few years in total but I have fairly recently crossed over into the altered look so this challenge really pushed my imagination.

The Challenge: As the stamps in my bag were all of a school theme I wanted to use them to make a school window. I started by using Grunge Paste through a stencil to create the impression of bricks, when this was dry I painted it in Elephant Fresco, I then used an archival ink pad to randomly stamp some text and then highlighted some of the bricks with Classic Treasure Gold.

I stamped the window (from School days 3) twice in black archival onto card I had already painted in Very Berry, I then cut them out. I stamped the remaining image from that plate and the boy (from school days 3), coloured then in slightly and mounted them behind the windows.

I then made a window sill from mount board, I ran it through an embossing folder and then painted it in Squid Ink, it looked a bit dark at this point so I knocked it back with a small amount of Concrete Fresco, I then added some more Classic Treasure Gold. 

I thought seeing it was a window it could do with some flowers growing round it and this gave me the opportunity to use the fabric button I had been sent.

To finish I stamped the sentiment from plate 2 onto some card painted again with Elephant and edged it with some Squid Ink. 

Hope you like the final piece.

Who: Margaret Iddon

Twitter: @MaggieVSOC

blog: www.margaretsartybits.wordpress.com

Stamps Margaret used: 
 

Backgrounds 1

Wings 2

Margaret Says: I am a crafter of around 20 years and have progressed from the cut, lick and stick stuff into the more arty-farty side of things although I still tend to enjoy the ‘cleaner’ looking type of distressed stuff. I usually make ‘things’ and generally only make cards for Christmas. I am from Trimdon in County Durham.

 

The Challenge: When my envelope arrived and I had opened it and looked at the contents  I  thought  ‘where do I start’? I eventually decided to go with a Victorian Hanging theme, given the stamps and colour swatch I received. 

I painted the triangle with white acrylic and then used a mask to mask off the rose shapes and swirls and used a lavender colour acrylic paint over the top. When dry I brushed Saddle Brown StazOn over the top to ‘knock it back’ a bit. I also brushed Adirondack Espresso around the edges and stamped images and words with it too.  The image was stamped with the StazOn and I used Tim Holtz crackle glaze over the top and glued it to the triangle. 

Next I decoupaged the wings and used Gold Stickles on the top layer, and then  edged the stamped image with Perfect Pearls in Orchid.  

I coloured some cream velvet ribbon with the StazOn and used it as a hanger and to trim the bottom point. The scalloped circle was coloured with a mixture of acrylic paint and stazOn and stamped in stazOn and  I added a greeny-brown jewelled brad to cover the hole. The two square pink satin embellishments were stamped with part of the stamp and glued on. I then used some gold Stickles to highlight parts of the triangle to give it a more Victorian feel.

Who: Rebecca Harris

Twitter:  @Craftin_Coates

blog: molly-diddle.blogspot.com

stamps Rebecca used: 

Clocks 4

Ephemera 3

Rebecca Says: Well I’m a craft addict amongst other titles; you know Wife, Mom and Chief Bottle Washer etc…  I run a Landscape Design business from home but as the company is still in its infancy I also have a part-time job to keep things jollying along, so I tend to be busy and generally get to craft late at night. 
 

I have always been arty-farty since I was little. My style? ...well I don’t know really... I go with the flow and try all sorts but I love colour. I am generally a card maker but altering stuff has definitely come into the fray over in the last couple of years! I just love to get inky and messy... I mean who doesn’t?

I was well chuffed with everything I received to be honest and I had almost all the fresco paint colours already including my new favourite Squid Ink, then again I’m a little fickle as my favourites tend to change with the latest one/batch I buy!! LOL

So I sat and pondered a while what to do, I had three weeks left at work before holidays etc… I had a few ideas whizzing round the grey matter and thought I had better make note before they disappear into the ether, this is as good as I get at craft sketching, I understand it anyway...

I decided to make a fabric pouch to house keepsakes or little things you collect whilst on holiday or anything else you might want to out in a fabric pouch!

I started by figuring out the size of pouch based on size of stamped collage. Cut on the ‘square’ (don’t forget seam allowance). If you spritz the fabric and bias binding with water it helps the paint soak in better. Paint pouch material with all 3 colours (Squid Ink, London Night, Nougat) from centre blending out dark to light, keeping paint as a light wash so fabric doesn’t become too stiff. Paint the bias binding with squid ink using less water to create a nice contrast. Dry well.

Now stamp the collage of clocks with black Archival Ink around the bottom of the pouch and heat set. Create a mask of the collage clocks and mask off while randomly stamping EA3 text with Squid Ink paint.

Cut two circles of fabric large enough for the main clock image and one slightly larger, stamp the main clock on the smaller with black Archival ink and heat set. Wet the edge of the stamped circle with water and just a touch of squid ink up to the stamped image.

Paint a thicker layer of squid around the edge of the larger circle, just enough to create a border for the smaller one. Once everything is dry sew the stamped image and the outer circle onto the pouch following the clock line.

Stamp the border from JOFY14 with black Archival ink along the top edge of the pouch and on the painted bias binding with nougat and heat set. Sew the pouch together.

Cut the bias binding into 2, to the width of the pouch plus a small turn over and sew one to the front and one to the back in a contrasting colour cotton leaving a gap at the ends to create the ribbon casing. Thread 2 lengths of ribbon through the casing right to left front to back and 2 lengths left to right front to back so that when you pull the ends either side it pulls the top edge together and finally secure wooden beds to the end of the ribbon.

Who: Karin Beadell

Twitter: @Karin_5

blog: http://craftyunicorn.blogspot.co.uk/

stamps Karin used:

Ancestors Plate 4

Words Plate 5

 

Words Plate 6

Karin Says:Oh my goodness me, what a surprise when my #3up package arrived at my home on the south coast of West Sussex, there was so much in there that I was initially stumped as to what I was going to create.

Challenge: Firstly I did one of my favourite things and got ink on every stamp and made impressions using different inks and onto different surfaces to see if an idea would form … and it did!

A base for the wooden frame was cut to size from a piece of backing board. I applied Gesso to the wooden frame, base and canvas, dried and coated with Nougat. Then I mixed a drop or two of Squid Ink into some Grunge Paste and applied it through a border stencil. Next I blended a watery light wash of Squid Ink and Nougat onto the canvas. I added some low lights to the raised areas, covered the rear of the canvas and the very edges of the wooden frame with Squid Ink.

The main image was stamped onto tissue paper using Versafine black onyx and painted with Snowflake, Nougat, Tinned Peas, Squid Ink and Liquid Leaf Classic. I used a damp paint brush to add the clear stardust ink onto the wings to create a fine sparkle but I’m not sure whether the camera has been able to capture this. I ripped a piece of linen slightly larger the stamped piece of tissue paper and frayed the edges, then attached both together onto the canvas. The hinges and door closure were now fixed in place. I sprayed the paper flowers with diluted Inky Pool in a mini mister and also gave them a quick squirt of iridescent gold mist, adding them to the canvas with leaves and adhesive gems.

Inside the box I made use of some of those earlier impressions by cutting them out and using various distress inks to age the papers, adding some of the embellishment buttons in there too. After a quick rummage in my flower box I found an ivory silk flower that I made into a corsage using paper roses entwined around the hat pin embellishments which I attached to the back of the canvas.