Saturday 31 August 2013

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   

Stamps Nina used:


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

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

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

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

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.

Friday 30 August 2013

Darcy Wilkinson Project #4 Miss Fleur ....

"Welcome to the final post of my semester, it is so sad typing this, but I have had an amazing 4 months. Thank you so much to Mark and Leandra for inviting me to take part, for their friendship and generosity, and to the PATwits and wider PaperArtsy community for all the support and wonderful comments. It is all very much appreciated. The very first project I did for PaperArtsy was back in February, I made some samples for the Birmingham show. Two of them were 'girls with big hair' So I felt it only fitting to finish my semester with another girl. This time she reflects my time spent with and genuine affection for the PaperArtsy family".

I began by coating a piece of mdf with watered down pva glue, both sides and also the edges. I then sanded it, and added a second coat. This is to seal and make it absolutely smooth. I then sketched on my design. Once I was happy with it, I added a coat of clear gesso.



Then I had to put her away, as I was still working on July projects. I also was lucky enough to visit PaperArsty HQ, where I explained what I had in mind for my final painting. I told Leandra I really wanted to use hearts and clocks in her hair. Now clocks are not a problem, PaperArtsy have a few plates with very nice clocks and watches, but not so many hearts. Then Leandra said..well you design heart stamps and we will make them for you !

OMG! Well here they are...

EDY 01          and           EDY02


So now I could work on Miss. Fleur.
1. I blocked in the hair using Snowflake, as I wanted the top colours to be bright and true.
2. I added the blue rings, graduating the colours, using Baltic Blue, Beach Hut and Bora Bora
3. I started adding shading to the face, and blocking in the features.



Next..
I stencilled the sections with contrasting colours, pretty dark shades, as I wanted them to show through top layers. You will see later that much is covered up. I am ok with that, in the beginning stages I rarely know what I am going to do next, so I don't worry about getting stencilling in the 'right' place. I put it where I think, and if some shows through later great, and if it doesn't then no worries.

I knocked back the stencilling with Snowflake, applied with a brayer. Then used the background stamps from my new sets. 

Eclectica by Darcy :EDY01 and EDY02



Here is a close up of this stage, the previous stencilling ghosting through. Love these cogs as a background stamp.


I added another thin layer of Snowflake then started to sketch the curls of her hair back in. This time instead of using a regular pencil I used a red water colour pencil. The graphite in a regular pencil will react with water and paint, if I had used that and then painted over, the graphite would have smudged and made my paint dirty. Using a watercolour pencil in a similar colour to the paint meant that as I painted over it the pencil lines would just blend away.


Now to work a little more on her face.. For her skin I used Vintage Lace, Rose, Irish Cream and Snowflake. With a little very watery French Roast. At this stage the eyes are Sky, Hey Pesto and Beach Hut, and Snowflake. I used a Uniball eye pen for the black on the eyes.


I wanted the skin mostly done as I knew I wanted some of the stamping to come over the face. I used my stampamajig to position my stamps. Masking off with tape the bits of the stamp that I didn't want.


1. I coloured the heart vine using London Bus, Blood Orange and Claret.
2. I then filled in her hair with my heart stamps and some of the clock stamps from Ink and Dog Clocks 3 and 6. I stamped some images whole, and others just partially, as I wanted them to look like they were popped into the sections of her hair.




I then decided I didn't like the eyes at all, and wanted them to be totally different. So I covered them with Snowflake, you can see just how effective it is at covering the layer below, even though I had used a black pen. I did worry that this extra layer would ad bulk and create a ridge around the eyes, but it didn't. It was easy to blend back into the surrounding skin. I added a little more to the lips using Very Berry, Rose and French Roast.


Now for some colour. I blocked in each clock and heart with a light colour, then added a slightly darker shade to each one. Translucent Fresco Paint is ideal for this job, blending and building up subtle layers.

Next I filled in all the hair between with London Bus, it does look patchy at this point, but
remember this is only one layer, and as it is a translucent you cannot expect it to cover what’s underneath in just one coat.The next layer added depth, and smoothed out the London Bus, I also added some Blood Orange and Claret to create the swirls.


Here you can see the depth created by the layers.


I decided I wanted a really deep layer, so I added this with a dark red Aquamarker. Then I carried on adding layers of Fresco. To add highlights in the hair I dry brushed on some Snowflake. I also added the eyes back in. this time I had her looking down.



Don't forget to add highlights to all the small images too, this was done with a white Posca Pen. Highlights don't need to be complicated, just adding dots..(my favourites) can be effective.


Next I worked on her eyes some more, finishing them off with a black pen, and a dab of posca pen . The eyebrows are French Roast, I love that paint. Watered down it can be used to shade all sorts of things. To get the shade I wanted on the lips I used Pitt brush pens, these are perfect over Fresco Paint.


This is how she looked at this stage.. Fleur is finished, just the background to do..


1. I added more of the blues back into the rings, mixing a little of one blue to the colour of the nextring, so that the colour changes aren't so harsh. To soften he lines between them I dry brushed on some Baltic Blue.
2. Next I brushed on some Guacamole to the rings,
3. Finally adding some stamping with watered down Claret. I wanted this stamping to be a
complimentary colour to the hair, but didn't want it too strong. Watering it down and only stamping lightly achieved this.


Here you can see the many layers. I also added some light stencilling using sequin waste. I added it to the rings, and then took it a little way up the neck to join the two areas. I really like this 'hessian fabric' style heart, it can be used subtly in the background or more boldly in the foreground.


1. Now for the title. I started out by hand cutting the letters, on waste paper, just to see how they looked, and to get the size right.
2. Once I had them as I wanted them, I cut them from smoothy card, then painted them with a couple of coats of Snowflake. I glued them on and added shading under them using grey markers.
3. Lastly I added dots to the edges using a uniball pen. Once this dried I felt they need a little something extra, so I brushed on some PaperArtsy Pearl Glaze.


Now for some 3d elements. I had seen a technique using glue and a candle flame, (to see this search youtube for 'burnt tacky glue butterfly'.  I wondered if grunge paste would work in the same way. So I cut 2 hearts from PaperArtsy Crunchy Wax Paper, then I added Grunge Paste

Mine was just a bit left in the bottom of the pot, and was drying up, so this was a perfect experiment. I squished it on with my fingers.


I then held it over a candle. BE VERY CAREFUL, obviously it gets hot!!!. You do not want to go into the flame, hold the shape just over the flame, so that it only just touches. You need the flame to be touching the grunge paste side. Keep moving it, so that it does not catch fire, you really just need the extreme heat in small bursts over each area.


It will start to go very black with soot, but you will see that the Grunge Paste shrinks and cracks.


Once it has cooled carefully wipe away the loose soot, then you can apply Treasure Gold.


These are not the most robust of embellishments, once glued onto something they are fine. But they would be no good for jewellery or something that gets daily handling.

Next I made a butterfly..
1. I started by colouring some copper sheet with alcohol inks, then I stamped my butterfly stamp using Stazon.
2. I cut it out, turned it over and rubbed into the back using a paper stump, to create the embossed look.
3. I then decided red didn't work, so I made a green one.


I added silicone glue to the back of the hearts and the butterfly. This ensures they are well stuck to the painting, while being raised slightly, creating more of a 3d look.


Here she is all finished..



So there you go.. 'That's all Folks' …

It has been a pleasure bringing these projects to you, I hope you have enjoyed them. Thank you to Mark and Leandra for allowing me to be a part of this great semester, it's been a wonderful summer.

Darcy xxx

P.S Hop on over to my blog to see how you can win some of my new heart stamps.
http://art-and-sole.blogspot.com/2013/08/guest-blogging-for-paperartsy-project-4.html

Leandra Says: Wow, where to start Darcy. its been an utter joy to watch you at work, and to have you contribute to the blog. Stamps is the icing on the cake! Can't thank you enough for your dedication, and enthusiasm. You are the bomb! I know this is just the beginning not the end! Thank you so much! xxx

Gillian Says: Oh La La Darcy ... Miss Fleur looks absolutely A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. The depth and detail of layers as always has just blown me away. Congrats on the new designs ... definitely a stamp set that is going to be well used in this household. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing all your amazing artwork over the last four months and your dedication. This I somehow think won't be the end lol:) xx

To win a set of Darcy's stamps, leave a comment, we have 2 sets to give away here, and so does Darcy on her blog! Don't forget, there is still the challenge for this week, you have till Sunday! Get some cracked burnt hearts going!