Canvas {with Lynne Perrella Stamps by Helen Chilton}

{Alternative title 'A right dog's Dinner}

Hi Everyone, Helen here. You can see that by the alternative title of my post I had trouble with this one! You ever get a project that doesn't go to plan? You reach that point where you either have to abandon it or try and rescue it? Well this was one of those. I sort of knew what I was planning but ended up with a muddy mess as you'll see below.

This is the end product:

and this is how it started: I used stamps from the Lynne Perrella Collection 026:

LPC026

and one of Lin Brown's stencils 004:

I stamped the girl collage several times onto tissue paper in StazOn Fuchsia, Teal Blue and Mustard and then used Satin Glaze to stick it to my board.

I knocked it back with a wash of gesso and then, using the coordinating Bubblegum, Vibrant Turquoise and Lemon Zest Dylusions sprays, I started spraying at the top and letting it run down and across my canvas, blotting as I went:

Here's where it got out of control!

In desperation I added more gesso and then started rubbing at it with an old flannel (very useful tool) taking off some of the surface as I went:

I was determined to persevere, so thought I'd add some stamping. I stamped the two images onto acetate, flipped them over and painted on the back, using the same sprays with some Snowflake paint to get the same colour tones. When dry I painted over with the Snowflake.

After sticking it to the canvas with Satin Glaze, I added some white paint stamping to lighten it up a bit. I just used parts of the girl stamp for this.

Then out came the Grunge Paste coloured with Mermaid paint and some lovely Lin Brown poppies. It was only at this point that I thought I might be okay!

 I added a little Limelight Fresco paint to the stalks, Fuchsia stamping to the poppy heads using the same stamp as before and outlined all the flowers with a soft pencil that I then rubbed over with a cotton bud.

And here we are, a couple of close ups:

And the motto of this story is - never give up!

Until next time, Helen.

A huge thank you to Helen from all at PaperArtsy HQ for this post, it is always fascinating to see the creative process, to see the things that go wrong and how you have rescued the project. It really did turn out great and does not need the 'alternative' title. 

If you would like to join in our weekly challenge with any of this week's guests who have blogged since Sunday night, then join in to link up your creativity HERE you will go in the draw to win PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by17:00 (London time) Sunday 18th May 2014