Wednesday 10 August 2016

2016 #15 Patterned Gift Box {by Chris Cresswell}

2016 Topic 15: Patterns

Hi everyone Chris Cresswell here joining you this evening with a post about ‘Creating Patterns’ using one of Emma Godfrey’s brilliant stamp sets (EEG17) and one of her minis (EM24). I chose this particular technique because of my love of doodling and creating patterns in my art journaling. All of my art tends to favour symmetry in shape and design so repeating patterns is something I turn to again and again. My attempts to introduce asymmetry into my art make me feel uncomfortable and less happy with the result. So, when I chose this theme I knew that I was going to love it. 

Right from the start I wanted to make a Gift set which could incorporate a Gift box, Greetings card and mini gift tag. There was no problem choosing colours either! Bougainvillea was going to be there for certain. After that, I was just going to play around with some complementary colours. 


Before making the actual items, I decided to play around with an idea that I’d seen Birgit Koopsen use when she stamped straight onto the Gelli plate. Now, I love my Gelli plate so I couldn’t wait to try this technique with Emma’s stamps. More process photos of how I did this can be seen on my blog, but I will show a quick step from a favourite paint combination (Bougainvillea/Captain Peacock) here… 


…to the stamped into version here. I told you I love symmetry - no random stamping here as I was trying to create a symmetrical pattern! I love the way one colour is lifted into the other colour as you repeat stamp across the colours. As you can see, stamping into the paint on the Gelli plate removes it to leave white space. 

EEG17

After several colour combinations and lots of fun stamping into paint, I finally decided to opt for the Bougainvillea/Captain Peacock combo for the Gift box set.

 I started with the Gift box, or rather, the gift box came to me following a lovely day out in the Cotswolds with my daughter and grandchildren. We had ordered Fish and Chips for tea which came laden with bread and butter in a white, cardboard take-out box. So that came home with me! 

I deconstructed it and laid it out flat. Now for the tricky part! Due to its odd shape it was not as easy to press onto the Gelli plate in the way the PaperArtsy Smoothy card had been. But I persevered and was pleased with the outcome albeit not as symmetrical as I would have liked. 


The next step was to select one of the images to overstamp with Ranger Black Archival ink. This really makes the colours pop. I just love this big doodle ‘square’. 


Then, a little more stamping and doodling with my favourite white, uni-ball signo pen finished the design. 


I painted the reverse with Fresco chalk Captain Peacock and used stamps from the main set and the mini set to create a pattern for the box interior. 


Now it was just a case of reassembling it all back together again. I love this close up, showing the merger of the two colours in creating that delicious violet colour. Serendipity! 


Having completed the Gift box, I only needed to use some pieces from the Smoothy Card experiments to create a gift card and tag. With the addition of some pink tissue paper, pink wool, and some raspberry/blueberry cookies, this is now ready for a lovely friend to cheer her up during a difficult time. Hope she likes it! 


Having created so many colour combinations on PaperArtsy Smoothy card, I was able to make a lovely stack of cards and tags using Emma’s brilliant sentiments on her mini stamp. This is a small sample! 

EM24

I do hope I have inspired you to use your stamps to create patterns. Another idea I now wish I’d used was to use PaperArtsy Tissue stock to create my own patterned tissue to go inside the box. I might still do that. This is also a great idea for Wrapping paper or a journal cover. I will certainly continue to make patterns in my art. Happy Crafting everyone, 

Chris Cresswell 

Twitter: artmadnana 
Facebook: Christine Cresswell 
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Wow Chris! I am sure the recipient will adore this gift set. The colours are perfect, punchy, bright and happy and the overlap secondary colour mix is just beautiful. Using large stamps like these is always a winner on the gelli plate as they create a brilliant base on which to build. Looks like you had a blast making them all going by the last photo. ~Leandra

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.

26 comments:

Clare Lloyd said...

Yummy colours and fab projects

Helen said...

Wow, Chris that is fabulous!! First off what a gorgeous colour combination, and I just love the end result... also your other cards and tags too, what a lovely pile of goodies you've made.

Mac Mable said...

Amazing! You are so creative. Love the layouts, the colours and the fun idea. Such a personal gift and loving the card, the box and gift tag as a whole set...magnificent! Thank you for the inspiration x

Lauren Hatwell said...

Oooh! Scrumptious!Lx

Ruth said...

Fabulous, awesome creations, LOVE the colours and patterns!! Beautiful work Chris. Ruth x

Lucy Edmondson said...

Wow Chris, you've given us so much here. I love the colours and how you get the additional mauve. It's incredible how you've achieved something completely symmetrical once it was folded up. So clever.

Lucy x

JoFY said...

oooh thats so lovely!!

Artmadnana said...

Thankyou so much for these lovely comments everyone. You are such a lovely encouraging group!

craftytrog said...

What a fabulous set Chris, and gorgeous colours! xxx

Julie Lee said...

Hi Chris! Sorry I'm late. What a lovely project! The colours are so beautiful and your interpretation of pattern is superb - so clever and attractive! xxx

Unknown said...

Great project Chris! Love the colour combo. :)

Deborah Wainwright said...

Love these Chris, fabulous pattens, and use of colour, hugs Debsxx

PaperArtsy said...

Sooo gorgeous Chris!!! Beautiful repurposing!!

SewPaperPaint said...


This altered takeout box is tops! Way cool and creative!

geezercrafter said...

Fantastic creations, I would be very happy if I had received these!!. Love the colour combination and the clever use of the stamps, just brilliant.

Kaz Hall said...

Gorgeous makes!! love the colour combo too!

Sarah B said...

wow - these fantastic bright colours would certainly cheer anyone up - You've inspired me to get my paints out and have a play xx

Etsuko said...

What a gorgeous the gift box, card and tag Chris!! Beautiful patterns using the Gelli Plate and fab colours combo. I love the fantastic idea. xx

Artmadnana said...

Thankyou so much for all of these lovely comments. Really brightened my day xxx

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Gorgeous creations and I love the idea of stamping on the Gelli plate
Hugs
Donna xx

Maye M.L said...

I am in complete awe with the explosion of color and design in these projects. Brilliant execution of the pattern challenge. Astonishing detail. Thanks for the inspiration. Cheers!

Anneke said...

Love the bright colors, a fabulous set of cards and tags wow!!! Love the box as well, awesome!

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a fabulous way to use that box - such wonderful patterns and colours and the cards you made are brilliant! Chrisx

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a fabulous way to use that box - such wonderful patterns and colours and the cards you made are brilliant! Chrisx

Keren Baker said...

Love the colour you've created with mixing the two colours. The end result is just fabulous- love all the detailing too!

craftimamma said...

Fabulous projects Chris! Absolutely loving those cards as well as the box and gorgeous colour combos. Just beautiful!

Hugs
Lesley Xx