2016 #8 A Box of Cards {by Ellie Knol}

2016 #8: White Space

Hi everyone! Ellie Knol here, joining you this evening with a post about white space.

White space can be dramatic; highlighting the focal point of your project!. I always try to add a lot of contrast, as that is what ART is about, isn’t it? Without contrast, there will be no expression in your project. What better way is there to add contrast than (a lot of) white space?

I’ve made a box from cardboard (to fit the envelopes and cards), and used the same technique on the outside of it, as I’ve used on the six cards inside it. It will make for a nice and unique gift!  I’ll show you the step-by step of the box, the decorating of it.

Step One: Make a box for the cards with cardboard (3mm thick). Paint the bottom part of the box with a dark brown acrylic paint. Now for the lid of the box - crinkle up some blotting paper and cover the whole of it by glueing it to the surface with decoupage glue; this creates a beautiful texture. Leave to dry. Paint it with Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics (Snowflake). This gives a nice chalky surface to use as a base for the technique. 

Step Two: Tap a little bit of Nuance and Bistre powders onto an acrylic block (the one I used measures 6,5 x 5,5 centimeters). Mist it with water. Stamp with this onto the surface. Blot with a paper towel if there is too much color or water in certain areas. Leave to dry. This creates a base for the stamping and a die cut.

PaperArtsy says: this effect would be wonderful done with our new Infusions, available from your favourite PaperArtsy retailer now. 

Step Three: Add some stamping with Ink & The Dog Mini Stamps (Mini 61 and Mini 29) with a permanent dark brown ink. 

ID Mini 61

ID Mini 29

These mini stamps are beautiful to use for backgrounds. 

Step Four: Spray the surface with a fixative. Add a diecut. Add a permanent dark brown ink to the edges with an ink pad. Paint the whole surface with a multi medium. 

As I said - I've made six cards with the same technique. I did not use blotting paper as the base though, just plain cardstock.I used two more minis on the cards Mini 28 and Mini 58. 

 Mini 28

Mini 58

 Here are the cards, made with the same technique.  

(Mini 61 and Mini 28)

(Mini 61 and Mini 58)

(Mini 61 and Mini 28)

(Mini 61 and Mini 58)

(Mini 61 and Mini 29)

(Mini 61 and Mini 29)

It's so easy to do! 

The most difficult with this technique is to keep the white space white! (grin)

The sky is the limit here: you can choose different colors, stamp with a bigger acrylic block, maybe even a round one, or with a gelatin plate. You could choose to stamp with any other ink or paint; use a stamped image instead of a diecut. 

I've used two diecuts from Memory Box in this post. 

Give it a try! 

Hope you will enjoy this as inspiration to create your projects!

Ellie Knol

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Welcome to the blog Ellie, your style here is just beautiful. Using an acrylic block to transfer the colour is a great idea and gives an element of control. Fabulous layering, so very effective, and a stunning gift to give. ~Darcy 

The PaperArtsy blog challenge is an opportunity for you to play along with the ideas our bloggers present. The current topic is #8: White Space. You can put your own twist on the ideas presented, share or try something totally new. As long as it fits the theme we would love to see what has inspired you! So please join in and link up your creativity HERE to your own blog post.

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