Xmas 2014 #3UP {Masterboards}

Hi everyone Leandra here, it's Christmas eve, but we are squeezing in a few more #3UP posts. 

3UP is a feature we run at the conclusion of each semester. We highlight the creativity of our followers.They contributors volunteer blind, are given a brief, and this time they were asked to show us their favourite techniques. 

Tonight is all about masterboards.  The concept is perfect for backgrounds, and can be interpreted a myriad of ways. Layers of collage, stamps, colours create one big interesting background. This is then often cut up into smaller sections, and can be used as a mosaic, or independent sections on their own. Endless combinations, methods and options. Tonight we have 3 of those to share with you.

First up it's Margaret Brackenbury. (@brackmarg) Margaret is an awesome PaperArtsy stamper, she's not been as active as she would like this year, so it is fabulous that she volunteered to be a contributor this round of #3UP. We really love seeing Margaret at shows. On her blog you can see she uses so many of our different stamp collections and successfully incorporates a wide variety of styles and techniques in her crafting.

Hi everyone, Margaret here. This is one of my favourite techniques at the moment, as it is so versatile, you can use so many different mediums.  I have stamped and used coloured pencils, painted.  

For this board I used Fresco paint and the brayer.  Using Lin Brown’s Limited Edition Paints I dotted stamping card with paint and spread it out with the brayer.The next stage was to add some stamping using JOFYs Christmas stamps some from this year and some from last year until I got the background I wanted.

I then set about cutting the board up using as backgrounds and tops and adding more stamping etc for the following cards.

It's amazing how the same background can be used in so many different ways

Thanks
Margaret

Next up we have another long term supporter, Helen Lindfield. (@stampingbyh) None of us quite understand how Helen manages to craft so competently on the floor. This year our ears have pricked up at her more frequent mentions of a bit of a clear out, maybe we could dangle a desk as the reward at the end of the sorting process if she does! Mind you clearing up is always more complicated than you anticipate, my studio-shed is yet again in dire need of another JOFY makeover....Let's take a look at Helen's masterboard shall we...

Hi everyone. My favourite technique using PaperArtsy Fresco Paints is to make masterboards. I think it was Jo Firth-Young I first saw using this technique but since then I have been well and truly hooked and have used it for most of my 2014 Christmas cards!

Step One:

For my 3UP project I took a piece of copy paper and a selection of Fresco paints in shades of blue – Antarctic, Ice Blue, Bora Bora and Pea Coat (the old, translucent version). Starting with the lightest, Antarctic, I spread a small drip on a spare piece of craft mat and brayered it on my paper... 

Step Two:
Repeating with each colour in turn, to nearly fill the paper,  I added a little South Pacific (a translucent) for a bit of brightness, and then repeated the process with Antarctic and Ice Blue to knock back some of the darker areas.

Step Three:
Now for the stamping!  I used Ellen Vargo’s sets EEV02 and EEV07, the scratchy circle and diamonds, using South Pacific and Antarctic respectively, applying to the stamp with my brayer for a light touch. I randomly stamped these over the page. That completed the background.

Step 4:
For my main stamped images, I used the new Lin Brown Christmas set, ELB10. First I took the Tree Branch and Watering Can archival ink by Ranger; which I stamped across the paper, then the small bauble and the robin, in Black Archival and again stamped them randomly over the paper.  I coloured these with Inktense watercolour pencils in yellow and red, blending with a paintbrush.

You can do so much with your masterboard – journal backgrounds, bookmarks, you name it – this year as I mentioned, I’ve made Christmas cards.

Thanks to you all

Helen

Our final contributor tonight is Jules Bell. (@pinkjules50) Jules has been playing along with us of late, and you can see the results on her blog. Take a look at this amazing canvas project she made using Finnabair techniques with Lynne Perella Stamps. Its a stunner! Tonight shes a masterboard genius....

Hi Everyone
So after to speaking to my follow masterboard enthusiast's, I settled on a Christmas theme, my desk was already filled with Christmas goodies so I was already in the mode.


Step One:
I choose the JOFY28 set, grabbed a piece of white card and started randomly stamping. 

Step Two
I overlapped the baubles and then filled in all the gaps with the lovey star/snowflake stamp in the set. I use the word joy in the longer baubles for extra impact.

Step Three:

Next I choose a traditional red and green colour scheme and using a range Promarker pens started to colour. Its such a wonderfully peaceful and relaxing thing to do. If you haven't tried this technique before please give it a go. Its not anywhere near are hard as it may look and it only took me and hour and a half to finish the board. you can choose any PA stamp theme for any occasion. 

I was very pleased with how vibrant this turned out, and decided to carry on and make some cards from it. I added an green and a red mat as a base and then a couple of embellishments to finish off. 

From one plain piece of white card stock I end up with 3 beautiful 6x6 cards to add to my Christmas card collection.

I thoroughly enjoyed this project and taking part in another 3up challenge. I hope you enjoy, and Merry Christmas :)

Jules

What a lovely way to spend Christmas Eve. We hope you have a fabulous day with friends and family tomorrow if you are able to. If not and its a quiet one for you, then get crafting while there is some peace and quiet. We'll be back to resume this round of #3UP on boxing day (26th), or we'll chat on twitter I'm sure! 

Wishing you all a very, very, Merry Christmas !

Ho ho ho .....

Leandra

We would love you to go in our challenge draw for a prize from PaperArtsy, a voucher to spend in our online shop. Link up your creativity HERE. All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. This link will close 17:00 (London Time) December 31st 2014, the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00, Dec 31st, 2014.