2016 #2: My Heart {by Lynne Moncrieff}

2016 Topic 2: Hearts 

Hi everyone, Lynne Moncrieff (Adorn) here this evening to share with you a post focusing on the theme of Hearts. When, in 2015 I had a Guest post for PaperArtsy, the assemblage I created featured a beautiful ESN linked hearts stamp which I stamped into paperclay. Stamping into paperclay appeals to me for many reasons, especially as a way for us stampers to extend the versatility of our stamp collection. For this tutorial I wanted to return to the hearts stamp, once again stamping into paperclay but this time with quite a different style and outcome to the finished artwork.

Now, I might not be one to get giddy over embellishments but let's talk about Prima Relics and Artifacts! Those creamy, smooth resin embellishments are wonders, blank canvases ripe and ready for us to throw whichever mediums we wish at them. Marrying them up with the stamped paperclay allowed me to create a whimsical art doll. She is ready to give her heart to you. 

Step One: After rolling the paperclay I stamped the linked hearts from ESN11 into it - no need to ink up the stamp.

 ESN11

Step Two: As I only required the large heart, with a craft knife I cut directly through the linked smaller heart. Paperclay can be cut with a knife/scissors before or after it has dried. 

Step Three: Working with the paperclay and an Art Doll Face mould could not be any easier! If you are new to working with paperclay, a few factors determine the drying time:-the thickness of the paperclay element, humidity and temperature. It's always a good idea to make a batch of elements at one time, saves time in the long run. 

Step Four:- A base layer of colour in the form of Distress Stain Spray Tattered Rose was misted onto a large white/greyboard tag before applying Grungepaste . Once dry, I followed with Translucent Paste applied to a heart stencil. To this, I applied Fresco Finish Blue Oyster, Blush and Prawn mixed with Brown Shed (please don't look too closely at my messy bottles!)

Step Five: After the texture and colour was laid down, I set about stamping with Archival Ink Watering Can. Below are the three stages of stamping. 

Step Six: Dipping into the colours used on the tag along with a dash of Sherbert, I lightly and shabbily painted the paperclay elements along with a wooden frame and hearts and two Relics and Artifacts hands. For the Relics and Artifacts wings, I first misted with Tattered Rose, leaving to air dry before dabbing on Nougat and Blush. Note:- I removed the eye screws from the Relics and Artifacts after painting but that is a personal preference only.

Step Seven: The fun part, assembling the art doll on the tag, with my adhesive of choice, Golden Gel Medium. Little touches such as raspberry velvet ribbon, lace, rhinestones and a MOP heart button and to add just another hint of texture and detail to the tag, I swiped Blue Oyster onto deli paper, stamped the handwritten script from ESN18, tearing into fragments before adhering with Gel Medium to the background.

ESN18, 

One final detail photograph to share with you of the heart she clasps in her hands. This wooden heart was painted with Brown Shed mixed with Prawn before stamping My Heart from ESN11 with Staz-on Jet Black. I had to alter the configuration of the sentiment to fit the heart, inking up a word at a time. To give a beautiful shiny layer I applied Liquid Glass.

It is always fun to take a loved stamp and work with it in a different way, play around with it, creating something that is a little bit different to your "go to" style. Maybe for the Hearts theme you will delve into your own heart stamp collection. A small heart repeatedly stamped in a circle could form a flower head or a single heart to create another style of quirky flower, completing the flowers with a simple hand-drawn stalk. By stamping into paperclay it would instantly bring extra depth and interest to your artwork and the benefit of paperclay, with it being so light, once dry, it is suitable for cards or small tags as well as larger pieces of art. 

Re-evaluating this project, I would probably take the step of either stamping a face into paperclay or adding hand-drawn features. It would also be fun to extend the doll to include legs and dressing her with a skirt of lace. I hope you will have fun exploring your heart themed stamps.

Lynne Moncrieff

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This is so lovely Lynne, the doll face and the overall colour scheme is so serene. The different levels of dimension all compliment each other from the grunge paste to the paper clay to the hands and heart. Thanks for sharing with us. ~Darcy 

We would love to see how you interpret this Hearts topic by linking what you make to our 2016 Challenge #2: Hearts, on this page HERE.

All of our bloggers love to see your twist on their ideas, particularly if you were inspired directly by their post. 

All links go in the draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The 'Hearts' link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, February 7th. The winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

NB this link is open for 3 weeks instead of 2 - all will become clear why on Jan 31st!