NEW {2015} PaperArtsy Products: Hot Picks

Hi everyone, Leandra here to introduce the newest Hot Picks. This is our final night of new 2015 product releases on the blog. Normal service will resume tomorrow as we launch into a new blog topic to explore together over the next 2 weeks.

Tonight I'm going to show you a few samples Gillian and Darcy have made with the latest HP Xtra stamps, and we have a video which not only explains the Hot Picks, but shows you all the PaperArtsy stamp collections, how they differ in size, and how they came about.

'Hot Picks' is a collection that Mark started in 2010. It initially started out as a stamp and die concept, with other supporting images. It was designed to be less quirky than Ink and the Dog, with larger format images, and nothing overly gender-specific. Now, among the hot Picks, we also have seasonal HP's (Halloween and Xmas) and a category called 'Xtras', which are stamps that don't really fit elsewhere...it is into this category that the new journalling Hot Picks fall. Months, days and numbers in various sizes and fonts form the core for the new 3 sets. We have had numerous requests for stamps like these, and so having a variety of sizes, fonts and styles means they have been designed to be used with all our other stamps from Eclectica collections and PA collections, and on various size projects.

The stamps...

HPXT06

HPXT07

HPXT08

So lets see what you can make with these... first up it's Darcy

Calendar Challenge by Darcy UK

Each month on my blog I am hosting an altered calendar challenge, we are 2 months in now and it is so much fun..and not too late for you to join in too. I have wanted some calendar stamps for such a long time and was thrilled when Mark agreed to make these ones. The variety of fonts is fabulous, and with so many elements these sets will be so versatile. 

Here is my January calendar page. The full details of how I made the page and how you can join are HERE. 

The month fonts from HPXT07 stand out beautifully over painted papers, the days of the week are from HPXT08.

Here is the February page. The full details of how I made this page, and how you can join in are HERE. 

This month I chose to adhere the elements slanted. The numbers are from HPXT06 and the days of the week are from HPXT08

Again the month font is from HPXT07 and is stamped onto painted paper, and then matted onto more painted paper to add that pop of colour. 

This is  the March page, the full details of how  made this page will be on my blog on March 1st. 

This time I used the tiny font from HPXT06, to boost them a little I matted them onto black. The numbers this month are from the same set. 

The main month stamp is from  HPXT07.

For this card I started with a piece of Kraft card, this was brayered with Caribbean Sea, Bougainvillea and Snowflake. I then stamped the whole background with the month stamps from HPXT06. I used 3 sizes, graduating them down the card. 

I folded the card into a stepped concertina. 

I stamped the stems from ELB01, the numbers from HPXT06 and the word from HPXT08. i also stamped the flower heads from EDY11. ( i masked off the centres so that just the outer edges stamped)

Then everything was layered up, some handdrawn shapes painted to the top border and some accents added with a white pen. 

Next up, I needed a cover for a new art journal. I painted some smoothy card with limited Edition paints from Lin Brown and Jo Firth young. I then stamped a repeating pattern on each piece using the borders and background stamps from EDY11.12,13,14. 

Over this background I then stamped lots of the new Hot Picks text. I created collages with the numbers from HPXT06, as well as stamping numbers alone. I filled my acrylic block with stamps  to create one big stamp and used that to cover many pieces.

All these pieces were glued to a backing paper. Then I used my sewing machine to zig zag over each join. 

I folded over the short ends, and stitched those into place, and Voila! one journal cover. 

I was so pleased with how it turned out, I recreated the patches onto cotton fabric. I then stitched the fabric patches into a pencil case. Here they are together. 

...and here is Gillian Simson - Gillian's Mixed Media Musings

These new designs from the Hot Picks collection are going to be so versatile for us crafters, from scrapbooking layouts to journalling/mail art to mixed media projects. Combined with the new paint collections i can't wait to see what everyone creates.


I love love love the new bright Lin Brown Ltd Edition paints and they work so well with these new HPXT06/07 designs. Here's a funky idea for a Valentine's day card.

For this tag I've used  HPXT06/07 along with the new Blue fresco finish Paints. I've also used elements from ESN13.

This sample is a quick, fun way to incorporate a specific moment in time into a journal page. I've used images from HPXT08 along with JOFY Ltd Edition paints.

In this sample I have used images from HPXT06/07 along with the "star" image from ESN13, combined with JOFY Ltd Edition paints to create a "wintery" feel to this Xmas tag.

I really hope you are going to enjoy using these this year....

Thanks so much to Darcy and Gillian for these awesome ideas.

Our product launch this year has been amazing, This is the final night. I think you'll agree the stamp/product designers have all done an outstanding job over the last 7 nights. We are thrilled to represent the collective talent of such amazing people, we are proud to share their designs under the PaperArtsy brand/umbrella. These women are a joy to work with.

We are a close creative family here at PaperArtsy. For such a very small company, I think we do an astonishing job of bringing such an array of designs to the market for you to enjoy. We are passionate about our designers, the quality of our products, and the brand we represent. We have always been recognised for bringing new and different ideas to the market. Long may it continue! If you are inspired by our projects, please try to give credit where it is due to the collective ideas of our designers. And most of all, share with us via our blog challenges the gorgeous things you are inspired to make with all our stuff. We really love to see what you do!

Small companies like us, and the independent retailers whom we supply need your support so that you can continue to enjoy the ideas and styles we bring to the market every year.

Worldwide we will only supply independent retailers who are full time, established businesses that teach classes, offer education online, blog regularly and are VAT/ GST/ TVA etc registered businesses in their local tax authority.  We do not supply chains, TV channels or distributors. Our focus is 100% to support carefully selected independent retailers. We prefer you buy our products from a PA stockist. Google it to find a PaperArtsy stockist either online, or near you. Most physical shops also sell online or via mail order.

You can follow us on Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter, the PA blog, and of course the amazing blogs of our designers.

Next weekend we will be at the NEC in Birmingham, at Craft Hobby and Stitch International, a trade only show teaching classes, demoing and showing all our new products to retailers, and trade visitors (shops owners, teachers) from across Europe. We are looking for full time retailers who are passionate about exploring the versatility of creative ideas and products with their customers. Retailers whose customers enjoy scrap-booking, card making, textiles and mixed media creativity. Come and tell us what you and your customers like to do, and let's work out together if the PaperArtsy brand is a good fit for your shop.

If you are coming to the show, we have moved our stand to a new location, we are now up the front of the hall, to the right as you walk in the main entrance. Stand F02, opposite Tonic and Sizzix. If you are a retailer, we really hope to see you there. We will have 3 or more designers on the stand every day demoing their new stamps. It's a chance to connect with them direct, talk about their new stamps and products, and perhaps get them to come and teach in your store.

Don't forget on the PA blog a new Topic starts tomorrow evening, so watch out for that, and of course the winner of the Topic 2: Shiny Stuff challenge will be announced too. The challenge closes at 5pm, winner and new topic will be announced in the 7pm blog post.