Friday 16 January 2015

2015 #1 Playful Portfolios {by Helen Chilton}

2015 Theme 1: Fragile Papers

Hi everyone Helen here, joining you this evening with a post about Waxed Tissue paper and heated Portfolios. By shaving the Portfolios onto tissue paper and then screwing it up into a ball, it stops the shavings blowing away as you heat them and also reminded me of tie dying with material. You can work with one colour at a time or lots of different coloured shavings in one go. The Portfolios melt and you can scrunch the paper up several times to spread the colours.


Step One.
Fold a sheet of the tissue paper in four and scrape some of the Portfolio pastel onto it:



Step Two
Scrumple up the tissue paper and heat with heat gun. Squidge it around a bit:


Step Three.
Open up and add different colour shavings. Scrumple and heat:


Add further colours in the same way:


Step Four.
When you've finished, separate out the layers of tissue paper. You'll see the crayon has seeped through to each layer. I've used the lighter one for stamping my image onto and the darkest for making my background:


Step Five.
To make my project, I stamped text onto the tissue paper first in coordinating colours of Distress inks, then added shavings and heated.  Then I stamped the text in white Portfolio crayon over the top. To do this, heat the stamp, rub over the crayon, heat again and stamp:


Step Six.
Stamp the image from Hot Pick 1004 and die cut this and bottom layers using  Grunge Flowers 2 and 3. Layer onto white Portfolio stamped corrugated card and add embellishments.



I like the element of surprise you get with this technique - you could try working from dark to light with the Portfolios, or adding a whole layer of melted white on top to create a subtler colour palette.This technique works equally well with the Waxed Kraft Crunchy paper which is a little more robust. I got round the fragility of the tissue paper by using several layers at once. 

Thanks for looking! Helen

Thanks Helen, your command of the Portfolios never ceases to amaze us. Such vibrancy from a relatively simple medium.. and of course because they aren't wet, your fragile tissue isn't compromised.. only enhanced. 

We would love you to join in with challenge #1: Fragile Papers. If you are inspired by any of our guests who have blogged on this topic over this fortnight, then please join in and 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) Sunday, Jan 18th 2015, winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

15 comments:

massofhair said...

Wonderful way to use Portfolio Pastels they are one of my favourite mediums to play with Helen.

Some fabulous layers and colours, love the stitching and the felt layer on the flower. Fabulous inspiration :-) xxx

Helen said...

You've mentioned shaving and melting the portfolios before,but it's helpful to see the step by step pictures - and what a great outcome! Love it...

margaret said...

Looks good must try!!

craftytrog said...

Fantastic!!! xx

Gabrielle said...

Ooh! When I was training to be a teacher (long time ago!) I used to do this with crayons and an iron - never thought about it with Portfolios! Looks amazing. Must, must try!

Julie Lee said...

This is so clearly explained and what a great effect! I love Portfolios because there is always that element of surprise in the effect when they are blended and or melted. Such gorgeous vibrant colours here and I love the stitching. xxx

Etsuko said...

Lovely project! beautiful the background with crayons. I love it, must try! xxx

craftimamma said...

How clever Helen! Must give this a try ....... like very soon!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Kezzy said...

Wow what a fantastic technique to get some great textural colours. I really must get my portfolio's out, it's been ages. Happy Creating :-) Kezzy xxx

Lucy Edmondson said...

What a fantastic idea for the portfolios, Helen! Must try it!

Lucy x

Colleen said...

Helen,
Great color, I've never used the portfolios may have to put another thing on my lists.

~*~Patty S said...

Such an innovative use of the oil pastels with brilliant results in what you've created here.
Thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

You used the crayons to such great effect.
Bold & Beautiful.
Wishes
Lynne

Kirsten said...

Such a good idea! The finished piece looks great & I love the added stitching.

Hazel Agnew said...

Fabulous results. I too have done wax crayons and an iron but will be adding this to my list of things to play with. Thanks. X