Welcome Back GD: Ellen Vargo Project #1 Altered Manilla Folder (New Stamps)

"Hi everyone, Ellen here, I can't believe that four months have flown by so quickly! I've had an absolute blast working playing with all the PA family and meeting so many new friends through the blog. As a special treat, we've come up with two new special release stamp plates from yours truly! Rather than going with more hand-carved designs, I decided to mix things up and offer some additional textures and marks, in the form of Lines and Circles. These stamps will add that extra touch of texture to any project - I hope you enjoy them"!

Here's the one I call "Lines" (EEV05)

And here is "Circles" (EEV06)

Today we'll be using stamps from both plates to alter a manila file folder. I bought a whole box of heavyweight manila folders from my local office supply store (Office Depot for my friends in the US) and went to town with Fresco Paints and my new stamps ... Here we go!

I'll be using a base coat of Gesso (Snowflake paint would do the same job, but since this is a big project I wanted to conserve...) and then chose a very light color palette of Fresco Paints ( Cheesecake, Guacamole and Mermaid).

First step is to give the whole folder (outside) a good coat of gesso.  I used a paint brush for this.

Don't forget to do the tab at the top (like I did...oops).

Now we'll be using the brayer to apply our Fresco Paints... first Cheesecake...

Next up Guacamole...

And then Mermaid...

I wanted to tone down the colors a bit, so I used my brayer to apply a *very* light coat of Snowflake over the piece...

Like this much better... more "fresco chic" !

And now it's time for some stamping!  First I used the grungy grid stamp from EEV06 over the green sections (I like doing tone-on-tone stamping). I used Veridian Archival Ink for this stamp.

Next I used the Mermaid paint to stamp the circles (EEV06) over the blue sections. Remember we had toned down the blue with some Snowflake paint, and this allows Mermaid stamping to show up over Mermaid paint!  Truly tone-on-tone.

And next up I'll use Saffron Archival Ink to stamp the long lines (EEV05) over the yellow sections...

Next I wanted to add a layer of collage, so I used this script tissue paper, torn into large and medium sections, and adhered it to the folder using my favorite Glue 'N' Seal - but any matte medium would work fine for this.

I'm completely addicted to this tissue paper... will need to find more because I'm down to only one sheet!

I added some additional texture with the dotty stamp (EEV06) and Snowflake paint.  This stamp will give you little "donuts" and I wanted the centers to be black, so I went over each center with a black paint pen.  I also stamped the narrow brush lines stamp (EEV05) with Snowflake paint.  I love the shabby effect of white paint over pastel colors.

Here's the finished front of my fresco folder! (phew! say that 5 times fast! LOL!)

And here are a bunch more folders I made over the last weekend when I went to "Stamp Camp" --- twice a year I go away to a lodge with all my crafty friends and we spend 3 days just making art (and eating junk food). I used all kinds of paints and stamps and stencils on this collection... enjoy!

Hope you enjoyed today's folder project.  Don't forget to join in the challenge for a chance at winning a free stamp set from this weeks challenge. Once you try it you won't be able to stop ... see above as proof... yep... addicted... :)

I'll be back tomorrow with another project to share! See you then!

~ ellen.

Leandra Says: Uber excited to be adding more designs to this collection. Perfect for adding layers and textures in any project. Can't wait to see what you have in store for us this week Ellen.

Gillian Says: These new stamps will add great background detail to any project, congrats Ellen. I can see how this would be addictive. Love the tone on tone effect.

If you would like to join in this week's challenge and play along with Julie Ann's techniques, then do link up your creativity here, and go in the draw to win some PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by 17:00, Sunday April 20th 2014