2017 Topic 15: Pearlescent
Chris is going star-crazy in this post with lots of layers and bling to create some bright and cheerful star-drops...you'll see!
Hi everyone, it's Chris Cresswell from loopsandlines.blogspot.co.uk with you today, and I'd like to share with you a Christmas wall-hanging.
Christmas projects are such fun to make as its a great excuse to get out all those pearlescent and glittery products we store around the house for just such an occasion. Now, PaperArtsy do not produce pearlescent paint (but they do have a pearlescent glaze) so I had to think of various different ways I could weave-in other pearly products for this particular challenge. So, what did I come up with?
As soon as I saw Tracy Scott's new Christmas stamps I knew that I was going to make something 3-dimensional. They just cry out for layering on mini canvases, Christmas wrapping paper and gift boxes and, of course, Christmas decorations.
Christmas projects are such fun to make as its a great excuse to get out all those pearlescent and glittery products we store around the house for just such an occasion. Now, PaperArtsy do not produce pearlescent paint (but they do have a pearlescent glaze) so I had to think of various different ways I could weave-in other pearly products for this particular challenge. So, what did I come up with?
As soon as I saw Tracy Scott's new Christmas stamps I knew that I was going to make something 3-dimensional. They just cry out for layering on mini canvases, Christmas wrapping paper and gift boxes and, of course, Christmas decorations.
I
adore Tracy's stamp sets as they are perfect for art journaling.
However, I felt that these new Christmas images would fit perfectly on
top of a journalled background. The designs are simple so they can be
layered up, stamped over, doodled on, and are easily cut out.
I
found the large, MDF stars during a visit to Port Sunlight Stamp show
and knew I had the perfect substrate for my wall-hanging. Once I'd
applied a layer of gesso, I chose the PA Fresco chalk paint colours I
needed to create an art journal background on each of the five stars. I
have posted a step-by-step of this process on my blog.
As you can see, I used quite a few colours before I was happy with the blending. I made good use of Tracy's limited paints set (FFTS1). I love the Prawn and the Jade is to die for...
...as you can see in the tiny stars on here! The Fresco Chalk paints I've used here are: Captain Peacock, Jade, Southern Skies, Baltic Blue and Snowflake. I used several stencils on these backgrounds from my stash including two favourite PA stencils, one old: PSO21 and one new: PS070, but I deliberately left the backgrounds flat and not too busy as I wanted the stamped images on top to be prominent.
Now it was time to introduce pearlescents!
I grabbed some pearlescent paint colours from my stash (again more details on my blog) and blended them across some PaperArtsy Smoothy 240gms card. This card takes so many paint mediums beautifully. Its not easy to reveal the true shine these pearlescent paints create so I'm afraid you'll just have to take my word for it! Pearlescent papers used to cost such a lot and now we can make our own. Next, it was just a matter of stamping all over the papers.
TIP: Another way to achieve a similar effect is to use Fresco Chalk paints onto your card, then apply a layer of Fresco Pearlescent Glaze over the top of the matte paint, they tadaa - pearly fresco paints!
It's lovely how the open images each catch a rainbow of colour. The next step was to arrange the cut-out stamped images across each of the star backgrounds. After some juggling, I decided on tone-on-tone rather than contrasting one colour on top of the other, although that had been my original plan - it just looked better.
They are so festive layered up. Although I had inked up the edges, I also applied black gel pen around each image to help them come forward. Now they just needed some final bling!
For the 'spots', I mixed some Golden Modelling paste with a little acrylic glaze (further details on my blog). I now think I should have used Golden's Gloss heavy gel for extra shine but the glaze works quite well to provide a pearlescent sheen. For the mini stars, I added Ranger's Liquid Pearls. I've actually used 'Lavendar Lace' but it looks quite silvery in the photos doesn't it? I also dotted some 'White Opal' in various places too. I didn't have a red colour in the Liquid Pearls so I added some bought pearlised gems from The Hobby House instead. I linked the stars together using some Tim Holtz Ideology chain links and Voila! It's ready to hang up!
I usually leave all my Christmas crafting until the very last minute and have been known to be still making gift tags well into the early hours of Christmas morning - I kid you not! But, making this cute wall-hanging and my cards from the previous challenge, I am well into the Christmas spirit now and ready to make more. I'm going to use all the left-over stamped images to make my own wrapping paper and gift boxes next. I think the stars will make a super banner for across the mantelpiece or around a large mirror; and the baubles will make lovely tree decorations... well, as you can see, I'm well away. I hope I've encouraged you to start early on your own cards and decorations this year! Until next time...
Chris
As you can see, I used quite a few colours before I was happy with the blending. I made good use of Tracy's limited paints set (FFTS1). I love the Prawn and the Jade is to die for...
...as you can see in the tiny stars on here! The Fresco Chalk paints I've used here are: Captain Peacock, Jade, Southern Skies, Baltic Blue and Snowflake. I used several stencils on these backgrounds from my stash including two favourite PA stencils, one old: PSO21 and one new: PS070, but I deliberately left the backgrounds flat and not too busy as I wanted the stamped images on top to be prominent.
Now it was time to introduce pearlescents!
I grabbed some pearlescent paint colours from my stash (again more details on my blog) and blended them across some PaperArtsy Smoothy 240gms card. This card takes so many paint mediums beautifully. Its not easy to reveal the true shine these pearlescent paints create so I'm afraid you'll just have to take my word for it! Pearlescent papers used to cost such a lot and now we can make our own. Next, it was just a matter of stamping all over the papers.
TIP: Another way to achieve a similar effect is to use Fresco Chalk paints onto your card, then apply a layer of Fresco Pearlescent Glaze over the top of the matte paint, they tadaa - pearly fresco paints!
It's lovely how the open images each catch a rainbow of colour. The next step was to arrange the cut-out stamped images across each of the star backgrounds. After some juggling, I decided on tone-on-tone rather than contrasting one colour on top of the other, although that had been my original plan - it just looked better.
They are so festive layered up. Although I had inked up the edges, I also applied black gel pen around each image to help them come forward. Now they just needed some final bling!
For the 'spots', I mixed some Golden Modelling paste with a little acrylic glaze (further details on my blog). I now think I should have used Golden's Gloss heavy gel for extra shine but the glaze works quite well to provide a pearlescent sheen. For the mini stars, I added Ranger's Liquid Pearls. I've actually used 'Lavendar Lace' but it looks quite silvery in the photos doesn't it? I also dotted some 'White Opal' in various places too. I didn't have a red colour in the Liquid Pearls so I added some bought pearlised gems from The Hobby House instead. I linked the stars together using some Tim Holtz Ideology chain links and Voila! It's ready to hang up!
I usually leave all my Christmas crafting until the very last minute and have been known to be still making gift tags well into the early hours of Christmas morning - I kid you not! But, making this cute wall-hanging and my cards from the previous challenge, I am well into the Christmas spirit now and ready to make more. I'm going to use all the left-over stamped images to make my own wrapping paper and gift boxes next. I think the stars will make a super banner for across the mantelpiece or around a large mirror; and the baubles will make lovely tree decorations... well, as you can see, I'm well away. I hope I've encouraged you to start early on your own cards and decorations this year! Until next time...
Chris
Blog: loopsandlines.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: Chris Cresswell
Twitter: artmadnana
Instagram: artmadnana
Pinterest: Chris Cresswell
Facebook: Chris Cresswell
Twitter: artmadnana
Instagram: artmadnana
Pinterest: Chris Cresswell
It's great how Chris shares her makes with us, it is often the little details in the finishing touches that can make all the difference, and she gets 'star of the class' on this pearly challenge!
We always hope that you learn something interesting from our blog.
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Why not join our 2-weekly challenge by blogging your create response to the current topic and link it here?
Our creative team love to read your comments so much, so please take time to let them know you've been inspired!
Why not join our 2-weekly challenge by blogging your create response to the current topic and link it here?
The current topic link Topic 15: Pearlescent will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, 29th October 2017, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.
All links go in the draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store.
All links go in the draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store.
15 comments:
Love this. Bright and fun and modern. Hugz
Late to the party again. What amazing creations Chris. Love how you put it all together. So bright, cheery and unique! Xx
These are gorgeous Chris!
Gorgeous, love them to bits xXx
Funky Christmas-ness hangings Chris. Bright and cheery on those dull days, would look great also on mdf baubles on a tree.
Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!
Just stunning Chris. I love what you have created with the stamps. Always beautiful ❤️❤️❤️
Tracy xx
These are so cool Chris! I just love the whole clever idea and the beautiful hanging you created!
Jackie xo
Aww! Fantastic project.
Flo :)
These are gorgeous Chris love them xx
Your stars are amazing Chris - great project!
Thankyou all, for your lovely comments. I really appreciate each one xxxx
Lots of fun details and such a creative project. Thank you for the wonderful inspiration x
I'm working backwards again tonight to catch up on what I've missed this week. I did see this lovely project on FB but only just had chance to visit here. This is such a fun Christmas project Chris. What an improvement on the old Christmas garlands! I love it.
Hugs
Lesley Xx
That is gorgeous!!
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