Grunge Paste Canvas {with signature designer Ellen Vargo}

Hi everyone!

Ellen Vargo here, back again for my monthly project.  Last time I saw you we had just announced the release of 3 new stamp sets.  Today I'll be showing you how I've used one of the new scratchy background stamps from EEV07 to create an awesome textured background for a canvas, and then adding some additional layers of fun.

I started with a 6 x 16 box canvas and added a thin layer of grunge paste with a palette knife.

Then I used the scratchy diamond background stamp from EEV07 to  stamp into the grunge paste while still wet.  Before you stamp into the grunge paste, wet your stamp a bit with some water and rub it in with your fingers.  This will help the stamp release from the grunge paste.  

EEV07

Here is a close up shot of the texture that results... just begging for some paint!

So... of course I added some paint!  I chose three shades of fresco chalk paints: cheesecake, haystack, and limelight.

I started with cheesecake, starting in the top left corner, working down and across to the right middle, and then down and back over to the bottom left corner.  Next I blended some haystack into the cheesecake color, following the same pattern.  And, finally, limelight... in the remaining white spaces.

But now comes the *wow* part... I added a slightly watered down layer of Toffee paint over the entire canvas, being sure to work the paint into the texture of the grunge paste.

Don't panic... it has to get "ugly" before it can look awesome! Don't let the paint dry completely, and then take a baby wipe and go over the entire surface, taking the toffee paint off the top layer, leaving it behind in the textured areas, and revealing all the color of the original paint layer.

Et voila! I just love this textured look!  I also sanded back a little bit of the grunge paste in some areas, and around the edges to give a nice worn look, but the grunge paste has such a smoooooth texture... gorgeous.

But to add even more interest to the background, I used the scratchy "keyhole" stamp from EEV08 with some tissue paper and some tree branch archival ink to create a gorgeous patterned collage paper.  This is a favorite technique of mine because you can create whatever pattern and color you need for each project.  If you're using tissue paper, be sure to heat set the stamped images as you're stamping so they don't bleed.

EEV08 

Then I used glue 'n seal (matte) to collage the patterned tissue paper in three areas on the canvas.   Any matte medium would also work fine for this.

And, of course.... I just *had* to make some flowers with my new petals/circles set EEV09.  I used zesty zing, smoked paprika and blood orange fresco paints to create a scraped paint background on some medium weight drawing paper.  I didn't want super heavyweight paper because I wanted the paper to curl easily.  Then I stamped my dotty texture stamp from EEV06 with black archival ink and stamped the outline petal stamp in several areas.

EEV06

EEV09. 

Here's the results after cutting out all the petals.

Couldn't resist filling in all those "holes" with a white paint pen. It just makes everything *pop* !  I created three different sized flowers: 7-petals, 5 petals, and 3 petals, stamped 3 centers on the same dotty paper, and assembled them on the canvas.

And of course, the flowers needed some stems, so I drew them with a sharpie paint pen - simple.

And here's the finished canvas.  I thought about adding a quote or sentiment but decided to keep it simple this time.  I'm quite happy with the result and plan to find a home for it in our living room.

  

Here is a close up on the flower petals. I love the white dots.  And just imagine all the possibilities with the outline flower petal stamp: book text, dictionary paper, map paper, any scrapbook patterned paper, or create your own stamped pattern (break out all those background stamps!).  The sky is the limit!

Thanks for following along - hope you have fun finding new ways to configure the petals - I've already made a list of all the different things you could make with that shape:  flower petals (pointed or rounded, depending on which direction you assemble), feathers, wings (butterfly, dragonfly, bird), rain drops, rays of sunshine, heck... it could even be a carrot or an ear of corn!  It's fun to imagine all the ways to use that shape... bet you can come with even more!

OK... signing off... starting to ramble... hope to see you soon!

~ ellen.

How would you like to win one of Ellen's stamps? Leave a comment on Ellen's blog for a chance at winning one of her new stamp sets!  She's giving away one new stamp set (EEV07, 08 or 09) to three lucky winners!  Click HERE to go to Ellen's blog.

A huge thanks to Ellen from PaperArtsy HQ, wonderful to have you back with us showcasing your newest stamps. This canvas is stunning, so elegant, I am sure a lot of us could find a home for it lol Fabulous texture.. ooh I just want to stroke it, topped with such vibrant pops of colour. So yummy!

We would love you to join in with our monthly challenge, why not have a go at Ellen's flowers! Just link up your project as inspired by Ellen to the September challenge page HERE. You will go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from PaperArtsy. Add your link by 19:00 (London time) Sept 30th 2014.