2016 #15 Botanicals {by Katy Leitch}

2016 Topic 15: Patterns

Hi all – Katy here with my guest post on the theme ‘patterns’. One thing I love to do with stamps is to make them go further. When I buy a set of stamps I always try to think of at least 3-4 ways I can use them; this way I know I am getting value from my purchase. This theme was an ideal way for me to show you how to think outside the box when looking at your stamps. Using parts of stamps is a great way to get a lot more mileage from them – use them as random pattern or to create borders. Stamping tone-on-tone can create depth to your background, and because the image recedes it doesn’t really matter what stamp you use. Here I used a clock stamp for this technique – it doesn’t really go with my ‘botanical garden’ theme but in the final piece the eye doesn’t register the clock image, just the texture it creates.

Step One: For my background I used Fresco Finish Vanilla, Pumpkin Soup and Yellow Submarine paints, mixing them lightly while still wet.

Step Two: I stamped the clock (HP1509) all over with Pale Ochre Archival to give subtle texture in the background then add some stamped pot lids (HP1109) in Archival Tree Branch. This texture will recede into the background so it’s about looking at the shapes of the stamps rather than the images as such.

HP1509

HP1109

Step Three: Using just parts of images is a great way to add pattern or borders. Here I used the edge of the key stamp (HP1509) to make an ornate repeating border along the top and bottom edges.

Step Four: In a similar way I used the top edge of the door image (HP1509) to create a grungy border to frame my design.

Step Five: I stamped the flower (HP1109) at various angles to finish my layered background.

Step 6: I used coloured pencil to shade the flowers and leaves then added detail with black fineline and white gel pens.

Step 7: I again used the door stamp (HP1509) in an abstract way to add pattern to a die cut butterfly. The symmetry of the door stamp works perfectly on a similarly symmetrical image like a butterfly. I painted the die cut with Fresco Finish paints before stamping it with black Archival.

To finish the piece: 

Stamp moths onto card, colour with Fresco Finish Bora Bora and Pumpkin Soup and cut out. Stamp again onto the background and position the cut out moths on top. Stamp the pot lid (HP1109) in Tree Branch onto book paper painted with Vanilla Fresco Finish. Mat onto card to give it some depth then glue to the background.

 Add the butterfly on top and embellish it with a pen nib. Stamp ‘take flight’ (HP1005) onto a scrap of painted card and add behind a bookplate.

HP1005

I really enjoyed challenging myself to use the stamp for this project in new ways and I love the botanical garden feel of the end result. I hope this project has encouraged you to look again at the stamps you have and consider how you might use them in different ways.

Thank you to PaperArtsy for having me today.

Katy x

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Thanks for joining us Katy and sharing your beautiful botanical project. The background layering works so well  to introduce both patterning and texture. Careful choice of colours really helps these melt into the background while still providing support and depth for your focal images. My favourite bit though has to be the patterned butterfly, using the door stamp for patterning was genius. ~Darcy

We would love to see how you interpret this House topic by linking what you make to our 2016 Challenge #15: Patterns, 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 Paper Piecing link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, Aug 21st 2016. The winner will be announced 2  hours later at 19:00.