2018 #6 Bunting: Counting Sheeples with ZA {by Chris Cresswell}

2018 Topic 6: Zinski Sheeple Bunting

Hi everyone, it's Chris Cresswell here from Loopsandlines with you today, and I'd like to share with you my response to the current challenge on Bunting and Banners, using the lovely, quirky, whimsical stamps designed by Elenazinski Art for Paperartsy.

I was really pleased to be given this opportunity to create a banner using one of Elena's new stamp sets as I wanted to make something for the nursery for my littlest grandfairy. She is 18 months old so I wanted to make something bright and whimsical for her room, and Elena's quirky sheep are just perfect! I think she will love it. I hope you do too.Yet again, I started with one idea then added a further idea as I went along.

This ended up so long, more than two metres, that I found it difficult to find somewhere to take a photo of it at full spread. Thus, a quick nip into the garden between showers! I started by die-cutting nine circles. I chose this shape due to the round shape of the quirky sheep. 

The colours I chose to use here are: Granny Smith, Bubble Gum, China and Yellow Submarine Fresco Chalk paints. Lovely, bright colours but not so overpowering that they will take away from the main focal images. That's the beauty of the chalk finish. I then followed this step with some stenciling using similar, but lighter colours from the colour palette. 

It was at this stage that I decided I wanted a more glossy surface, so out came Fresco Finish Gloss Glaze. I haven't used this in ages and I found myself wondering, why not? It not only adds a superb gloss finish but seals the first layers too if you want to stamp or embellish over the top. 

At this point I decided that I wanted to add some different shaped tags to the banner. So, using different colours and stamping rather than stenciling (background stamps from my stash), I cut and created these; Sour Grapes, Amethyst, Beach Hut, Jade, Slimed, Sargasso (all from Seth Apter and Tracy Scott Paint sets).

Again, I wanted to keep the backgrounds simple so as not to confuse the main images. It was hard not to doodle across those backgrounds.I love that Sargasso Fresco Chalk on top of the new colour: Slimed. Delicious. 

The stamps I used were taken from sets: ZA01, ZA07 and the new set: ZA21.

I used Copic Markers to colour the images as I find using paint to colour in quite tricky. Copic markers work well over Fresco Chalk paint and they are lovely and bright and permanent. However, they do not work well with ranger Archival ink pads as the oil in the ink reacts with the alcohol in the pens causing the ink to bleed. So, you need to stamp with a water based dye ink eg Memento ink pad (Tuxedo Black) by Tsukineko. I used PaperArtsy Smoothy 240gms card.  I used Gloss Glaze over these stamped images too. Now, for the fiddly task of stringing them all together.

The bunting ended up being extremely long but, luckily, I had a long piece of gingham to adhere all shapes onto. The cut out images on the triangles are some background images from Set ZA01 that I absolutely adore and often use in my journaling.

I am absolutely sure that my youngest granddaughter is going to love this new addition to her nursery. I just hope there is enough wall space to accomodate its length! We are coming to the end of this particular challenge on the PaperArtsy blog but if you haven't entered your project yet, there is still time. Banners, Flags and Bunting are great fun to make and can help to make any occasion (or any room) very special. I hope I or any of the previous bloggers have tempted you to have a go. You'll enjoy the process and the finished result!

Blog: www.loopsandlines.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: Chris Cresswell
Twitter: artmadnana
Instagram:artmadnan
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We always hope that you  learn something interesting from our blog. 

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You must complete step 1 AND 2 to be entered into the draw. 

To join our challenge:
1. Leave a comment on the Topic Introduction Post and go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy Apron. 
2. Make something arty relevant to the topic, and link your creation from any social URL (eg. Instagram, Pinterest, Blog Post etc) sharing your original make to this challenge page.

The current topic link Topic 6: Banners & Bunting will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, April 15th 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

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Good Luck! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!