{3UP} Night 1: Eclectica - Lin Brown

Hi Everyone, Leandra here for the entire week ahead co-ordinating the end of semester 3UP challenge entries. 

Back in mid-March we asked for submissions for this end-of-semester #3UP round based on the new stamp releases of Feb 2014. 

So what is  3UP? Well, it's simple. 3 volunteers are selected to be featured each evening on the blog. When a semester concludes at the end of the 4 month period, we end up with a spare week before the new semester commences. This is the perfect opportunity for us to feature the work of you, our blog, twitter and face-book followers, and for you to show us your personal style with our newest releases.

Each time we do this the 3UP format changes a little depending on my latest brainwave. In the past we have had stamp themes, colour combos, surprise envelopes, and in August 2013, to celebrate our 10th year in business we featured all the PA stamp collections of the last 10 years.

This week each evening features ONE of our 2014 new product collections released in February. The names of those who pre-registered went in the hat, and 3 people were drawn, except for the final night where we will feature 6 people using each of our newest Hot Pick stamps!

So let's get started. Tonight our volunteers are using the newest Eclectica: Lin Brown series of stamps, stencils and dies, and of course they were permitted to use other products from Lin's Designer series too. 

FIRST UP: Shirley with 2 striking cards

Dies with matching stamps is a concept we came up with in 2010 when we first released our Hot Picks. It'sd an idea many stamp and die companies have picked up on since. Shirley has perfectly used the ELB stamps (which have matching dies) that we released early this year to create 2 cards with a striking use of colour. I do love a bit of CAS style! The detail in these new stamps adds a new dimension and contrast to the bold hand-carved stamps in the rest of Lin's collection.

PaperArtsy edit: Please note the stamps on the set Shirley has used all have fine black borders as shown in the image below, ELB07. All these stamps have dies to match. The recommendation is to die-cut the shape first, then stamp the corresponding stamp-image onto the die cut shape, this will leave a slight border around the edge of the image. For example, here is the ELB branch die and it has been stamped with the ELB02 branch.

However, there is also another new stamp set (ELB09) where the stamps are slightly larger than the die cut shape (a new PaperArtsy concept in stamp and die sets), so if you stamp these onto the die cut, the image will extend beyond the shape's edge, for a no-border effect. Both options are really useful, with or without the dies, and some of the dies have stamp images to work on both the front and the back of the die cut shape. We like to offer you extra versatility wherever we can!

So, let's hear from Shirley, and what she got up to with these stamps!

Name: Shirley Bampton

Blog: http://shirley-bee.blogspot.co.uk

Stamp: ELB07, ELB01

Shirley Says: I’ve been stamping for 17 years and I absolutely love it.  I’m lucky enough to have retired early and, as hubby likes to do all the cooking, I get plenty of time to play with all my toys.  I’m primarily a card-maker but I also like to do 3D items - canvases, wood blocks, books - as long as there’s stamping included, I’m happy! I've made 2 clean and simple cards for this 3 UP challenge

Card 1: Secrets Of The Garden

This card incorporates some of my (current) favourite techniques - distress inking, splatting and stitching.  I stamped the images onto white card with black permanent ink, then swiped distress inks across the images, rubbing the inks in with kitchen roll.  Spritzed the images with water then cut them out when dry, edging with a black marker pen. 

I splatted some of the colour onto a smoothy card panel, then stuck the cut-out images down with a bit of double-sided tape in strategic places, keeping the tape clear of the stitched area.  I machine-stitched the pieces down and left the thread-ends trailing.  

The sentiment (from ELB01) was stamped in green and before it dried I smudged the ink to soften the edges.  I edged the panel softly with green ink to help define it and stuck it onto the main card, then bent the cut-out pieces up to add some dimension.(NB. You could also use the Branch and Butterfly dies for speed)

Card 2: Art In Bloom

I wanted to make a monochrome card using this set, so I stamped the images in black permanent ink and cut them out (you could use the Leaf and Bloom dies), leaving a border around one of the flower cut-outs.  On a panel of black card I dragged white pigment ink with the edge of a credit card, then mounted that onto the white card base.  

I stamped the sentiment (from ELB01) onto spare white card, cut up the words, then added some fine lines across the top and bottom of each word.  Punched a disc from black card for the flower centre then assembled the pieces on the card, bending them for dimension.

SECOND UP: Cazz and a Distressed, painted Storage Box

We love the way Cazz has used so many techniques on this project to alter this really useful storage solution. The translucent paints really 'pop' on top of the Grunge Paste. A great way to personalise and alter any wooden item.

Name: Cazz Wright
Twitter: @sunshine_cazz
Blog: www.thecazzbar.blogspot.com
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/isowcazz/
Stamp: Using ELB05, PS005

Cazz says: Hi, my name is Cazz and it's my pleasure to bring you my take on the 3up challenge this evening. Some of you may know me from Twitter as @sunshine_cazz, a title given to me by another tweeter for always bringing a bit of sunshine to their day. Some of you might have seen me wandering round craft shows wearing my trusted blue witch hat - handy when you are meeting people you don't know, or when your mum is trying to find you across a crowded room. 

I have been crafting for many moons; I will turn my hand to almost anything. I can knit, I just don't. I can crochet, again, I just don't. I like to make a bit of jewellery when the mood takes me, and can sew up a bag or a kitchen curtain when I want to, and throw together a card or two or a home project. I love Digital crafting and going a bit hybrid. Maybe I am not a master of one particular trade but certainly I am  jack of all!

By day, I can be seen whizzing around St. Neots, Cambs on my lovely lavender bike for work. I work for myself and clean other peoples houses for a living. It's hard work, but I have a lovely group of clients that I clean for on a regular basis and whilst it doesn't pay well, I love what I do, except when its raining cats and dogs and it drips inside my waterproofs - then I am not so enamoured with my job. But, it pays the bills and keeps a roof over my head so it could be a lot worse. 

Storage Box

So, to my 3up project. I chose to work with Lin Brown's ELB05 as I already had the Stencil set PS005 so thought they would go well together. I began with one of Ali Reeve's MDF mask storage boxes and covered it with Gesso. Once dry, I used Fresco Beach Hut on 3 sides and the front of the drawer. (I didn't do the back as it will be against a wall anyway - economical with the paint then). Then I applied a thin layer of Fresco Crackle Glaze and left it to dry for a while then gave it a blast with a heat gun. I then generously applied Fresco 'Chalk' paint (from the JOFY limited edition Paint set) over the top and allowed the crackle effect to occur. It only takes a few minutes, but you can speed it up with a heat tool.

 

The inner walls of the unit and the drawer were  lined with Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby paper edged with Broken China Distress ink. Using the Stencil Set PS005 and Grunge Paste, I applied flowers over the unit and allowed them to dry. Once dry, I used a make-up sponge squished into a mushroom shape to add some colour to the flowers; Fresco Pumpkin Soup, Cinnamon & Beach Hut were used.

The wooden letters were painted with Fresco Dusty Teal (from the JOFY set), dried and dabbed over with Treasure Gold: Copper before sticking them to the drawer front. The flower in the front was also given a tickle of Treasure Gold: Copper.

I then used Jet Black archival ink to add the sentiments from the stamp set ELB05.

THIRD UP: Helen with a Large Hanging Chunky Board

These hanging boards have been so popular, and make a great surface to alter. Despite being a bit of an uneven paper-mache surface, they seem to stand up to all kinds of altering, and make great mini book covers too, landscape or portrait. And as they are so cheap, people seem to buy them by the dozen!

 
Name: Helen Lindfield
Blog: stampingbyh.blogspot.co.uk
Twitter: @stampingbyh
Stamp: ELB07, PS001

Helen says: I am Helen Lindfield, living in a very crowded flat (can't stop buying stash!) I work for a mortgage broker dealing with her administration and mortgage processing - helping people realise their dream homes (hopefully).   When not working, I can be found on twitter @stampingbyh or blogging at http://stampingbyh.blogspot.co.uk or http://photosbyh.blogspot.co.uk and getting to know my new camera, and watching football.  I've been crafting with rubber stamps for about 20 years. This April 1st (yes, really!) just gone would have been my 25th wedding anniversary - were it not for the divorce, hehe! 

I started my project with one of the PaperArtsy papier mache hanging boards, painted with two layers of gesso, and then Chartreuse Fresco paint (from the ELB Limited Edition Paint set). I took one of the leaves from my chosen stamp set - ELB07, and using Chutney Fresco (applied with cut and dry foam) stamped the leaves randomly over both sides of the box. Using a small palette knife I applied Grunge Paste through  Lin Brown's stencil PS001 as shown, and dry brushed Beach Hut Fresco, wiping back with a baby wipe. I painted the leaves on the box with a watered down coat of Chocolate Pudding, wiping most of it off. I stamped the sentiment from ELB05 randomly over the box, using Jet Black archival ink.

I stamped both of the larger leaves (5 in all) and 3 butterflies from the same set, on Heavyweight Smoothy Paper using Jet Black archival ink and cut out the images. Next I painted Hey Pesto on some and Chartreuse on the others. I added shading  using the alternate colour, and adding Chutney for tone round the edges. For the butterflies I used a base layer of Tango and then Smoked Paprika over the top, with Beach Hut accents. I finished by accenting the base and the butterflies with White Fire and Spanish Topaz Treasure Gold. I fixed the butterflies with heavy gel medium. 

Thanks to all of our 3 upsters tonight, please make sure to visit their blogs and say Hi! We love this time at the end of a semester where we get to see what you all like to do with our newest products, so thanks for your continued enthusiasm and participation.

If you would like to play along with our #3UP this week, then feel free to link up by Sunday May 4th at 5pm, and go in the draw to win a surprise prize at the end of the week. As it's the end of the semester, the prize will be a special goody bag with a variety of items to the value of £50. 

Each entry generates you a ticket in the draw to win. Maximum number of entries per person is 3. Your entry must be a new creation made this week, and explain which person's 3UP entry inspired you to play along. Good luck, winners will be announced on Sunday May 4th, 7pm.

We'll see you back here tomorrow with another #3UP group, and a different collection of new stamps!