Saturday 30 June 2018

2018 #11 Enshrined: 'In Flanders Fields' with HP {by Lucy Edmondson}

2018 Topic 11: Enshrined



I'm totally loving the serene blues and greens that Lucy has used in this project, they are such a pretty contrast to the red of the flower! And the hidden drawer is such a delight! Fabulous Lucy! ~ Leandra
Hi everyone, it's Lucy here, from Lucy's True Colours, with you today, and I'd like to share with you a Poppy Remembrance Shrine, using a PaperArtsy chippie niche.

I'd had this chippie shrine in my stash for some time so it seemed a perfect opportunity to use it. Poppies have always been important to me. I love their delicate orange-red faces bobbing in the breeze from the hedgerows, but most of all they remind me of my childhood home of Richmond. Richmond Poppy Factory opened in 1925 in an old brewery building, and is still in that same building today, which I drive past each week. The workforce was originally provided by the injured ex-servicemen from the Star and Garter Home, one of the most stunning and iconic buildings in Richmond overlooking the Thames. I heard a snippet on the news the other week that the oldest poppy seller has just retired aged 103. She sold her first poppy on Richmond Bridge aged six!

So it was a pleasure to use the many poppy and poppy seed pod stamps from the various Hot Picks sets, the soldiers, and the snippets from the poem, 'In Flanders Fields'. But most of all I enjoyed painting the vibrant poppy! If you would like to learn more about the chippie shrines and the process of putting the pieces together, please see the PaperArtsy blog post here.


I needed plenty of pieces of card to cover all the little pieces for the shrine, so I used a simple baby wipe splodging technique with Fresco Finish Paints in Ice Blue, Bora Bora, Dusty Teal, Mermaid, and a little Zesty Zing. I was aiming for a good contrast eventually with my poppy. (Whoops, apologies seem to have grabbed a discontinued, Ice Blue, in trying to knock back my colours a little, try Antarctic).



I used a huge selection of stamps from Hot Picks HP1505HP1605, HP1301, and HP1305, to stamp all over the prepared cardstock in different colours, often using just parts of stamps, and then used the card to cover all the chippie pieces.





My favourite part - the poppy! I stamped it in black archival HP1505. I curved it slightly, as you can see. I held the frame over it so I could get the positioning right.


When I painted the poppy, I carefully used a little watered down Snowflake underneath first so the true colours would shine through, and not be affected by the coloured card underneath. I decided not to do this for the leaves as I thought the greeny-blues would look pretty. Close up the pattern gives a lovely veiny look to the leaves. For the poppy I have used Cherry Red, Autumn Fire, and London Bus, to give some variation between orange and red, and for the leaves I have used Hey Pesto.



To finish, I have stamped the large clock on the back plate from HP1509 to reflect the passage of time since the Great War, the many wars since, and the many Remembrance Days the poppies have signified.



I enjoyed every minute of making this project! I loved the contrast of the blues and greens with the bright poppy, and having such a huge range of stamps to work with, within my theme, and I loved using the ready cut chipboard pieces so that I knew the drawer would slide in and out (no chance if I tried that piece of engineering myself!). I enjoyed reflecting on the beauty of the poppy, its history, and its personal meaning to me. I had intended adding a door to the shrine, but in the end hadn't wanted to have to open it in order to view the poppy. 


If you make one of the chippie niches, do use some masking tape as Leandra suggests to hold the pieces together whilst the glue dries, or you will be doing everything one handed for quite some hours! To finish my project, I found a little knob for my drawer, a Kilner style ceramic beer bottle top bought from a French 'vide grenier', or 'car boot sale'. It was fun to incorporate a little found item to add a personal touch.

Blog: Lucy's True Colours
Facebook:
Twitter: @CraftyLuce

To join our challenge and win a NEW Zinski apron:
Simply 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 11: Enshrined will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, July 1st 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.



All links go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy creative apron. Please make sure we can contact you as a prize winner - it helps if you share your contact info from the platform you opt to use.

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

Friday 29 June 2018

2018 #11 Enshrined: Code Artistry with VID {by Keren Baker}

2018 Topic 11: Enshrined Artistry

 
Well. if anyone can be inspired by DNA, then I guess its going to be Keren! Enshrined in her box, I'd like to think there is a dribble of spit, or a drop of blood or a scrap of hair on the back of each of those 'buttons' on each 'strand...but maybe that's a step too far?? ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Keren Baker with you today, and I'd like to share with you an exploration of some of the thoughts I had from the topic that translated into a piece to inspire me to get going when my mojo is gone!

I started musing on the word 'enshrined'. I began to imagine something small and intricate housed inside a resin piece then remembered I didn't have resin, nor have a clue how to use it, so that led onto thoughts about things that are kept or enshrined in something else. Because I think oddly most of the time, it wasn't long before DNA came into my mind; the very basis for who we are and our innate characteristics (including artistic capabilities) are enshrined in this code. So as I went searching through the annals of Ink And The Dog, I came across some wonderful stamps that would help me construct an ode to DNA! ;-)

My Science-y daughter disparagingly commented that it's not DNA, there's no double helix. I tried to explain that it was a representation of it, but she wasn't convinced. To create the code 'enshrined' in a box, I first created the strands using my Silhouette Cameo, and then cut them out of cardstock 


I'd found some perfect stamps for attaching to the top of the strands 




It was easy to create the background using some Heavy Smoothy and stamping the beautiful background created by Backgrounds 5



It was stamped 3 times and then I positioned the pieces of DNA raised up with a layer of foam tape. In order to make it look enshrined within the project, I created a higher layer of foam tape and added a frame created using another Ink and The Dog set.




In order to give it a bit more interest, I wanted a sentiment I could cut apart to add to the bottom of the frame and this little stamp was perfect. I added some multi colours of inks to the larger 'but' to help bring emphasis to the quote.




Creating something that has resonance with you doesn't require much in the way of products- just some inks and using images of different sizes and textures. Starting with a word and finding a concept that you use images to produce really encourages creativity. Maybe our double helix has enshrined this ability in us, or just perhaps it's as the sentiment says- we just need to get going!
Thanks for being with me tonight,

Keren x

Blog: Kerenbaker's Blog
Facebook: Keren Baker
Twitter:@craftstampink
Instagram:@craftstampink
Pinterest:craftstampink

To join our challenge and win a NEW Zinski apron:
Simply 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 11: Enshrined will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, July 1st 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.


All links go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy creative apron. Please make sure we can contact you as a prize winner - it helps if you share your contact info from the platform you opt to use.

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

Wednesday 27 June 2018

2018 #11 Enshrined: Protecting secrets with ESA {by Josefine Fouarge}

2018 Topic 11: Enshrined


Adorable shrine box from Josefine! I;m sure you will enjoy this one! ~ Leandra 

Hi everyone, it's Josefine, and I'd like to share with you this little box - actually, it's this Octopus' lair and he's protecting his treasures. 

I had this little wooden box laying around for a while and I was waiting for the perfect project for it. With the topic "enshrined" the moment was finally here. My husband printed this little Octopus for me with his 3D printer, so I decided to decorate his home with PaperArtsy paint and stamps.


First, I gessoed the entire box. Then I adhered some old paper all around it, including a few pieces of dry wall tape (the one with the holes in it). Next, I colored everything in Glacier Ice FF132, Blue Lagoon (from Seth Apter set 3) and Jade (from Tracy Scott set 1).



Now I stamped several of the smaller stamps from the Eclectica stamp sets ESA07 and ESA08 all over the box using Black Archival Ink. 





But I also used parts of the large stamps as they have a very interesting pattern that is perfect for partial use.



Once I was done with painting the box and adding stamps, I picked a napkin with a variety of fishes, cut them out and adhered them inside and outside of the box. Then I had to wait for everything to dry.


For his treasures, I adhered a variety of stones to the bottom of the box - I used little clear stones, sea glass and sea shells. At the end, I adhered the Octopus on top of the box, so he can now protect his home.


Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed my little project using Seth Apter's stamps and these gorgeous Fresco Finish paints! It was very interesting for me to incorporate one of the 3D figurines that my husband constantly prints. Maybe something to keep in mind for future projects :)


I hope I'll see you soon! Josefine

Blog: www.holylise.com
Facebook: HolyLise
Instagram: @HolyLise
YouTube: HolyLise Designs


To join our challenge and win a NEW Zinski apron:
Simply 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 11: Enshrined will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, July 1st 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.



All links go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy creative apron. Please make sure we can contact you as a prize winner - it helps if you share your contact info from the platform you opt to use.

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

Monday 25 June 2018

2018 #11 Enshrined: Traditional Shrine with LPC {by Chris Cresswell}

2018 Topic 11: Enshrined


Well, she might have taken the long way around, but Chris always has such an enjoyable time getting there! I adore the bright colours of this shrine, and Lynne Perrella stamps are always a delight to use! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Chris Cresswell here from www.loopsandlines.blogspot.co.uk with you today, and I'd like to share with you my interpretation of the current theme: Enshrined. 

I was used this opportuniy to explore my large collection of Lynne Perrella stamps for this project which I think is perfect for such a theme. I already had a little ATC box shrine that I bought from www.calicocraftparts.co.uk some time ago but I knew I wanted to create a larger piece  to justifiably display these wonderful stamp images. 

When I think of a 'Shrine' I have a set of mixed images in my mind ranging from the religious shrines of Christian pilgrimages to Mother Shipton's strange cave of petrified hanging artefacts in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. Yet, the image that really stuck with me for this project was taken from my memory of the Hindu temples and Shrines I visited in Sri Lanka a few years ago. I was struck by their vivid colours and beautiful floral displays. So, I decided that my shrine would also be bright to echo the colours I witnessed there. I hope you agree that brightly coloured shrines can work too.   
.

I decided to adapt a large wooden tag from my stash to create a simple shrine shape. I collected all my pieces together and gessoed them before painting and assembling. I had no idea what I was going to do at this stage. I never have a finished result in my head. i just go with the process and choose each step as I go along.


To make it look less like a tag and more like a Shrine I had to create an Apex. Much more fiddly than I thought. I used greyboard for this, simply cutting two triangles and covering  the gap between with thin strips of greyboard.  


With the ATC shrine and label box in place I measured the width of the sides and gaps in order to make panels for the stamped images. Now, anyone who knows me knows that if there is a long way round to do anything, I will find it! For some reason I felt it was a good idea to first create greyboard panels before cutting the same sized panels using PaperArtsy 240gms Smoothy card. All greyboard panels were then gessoed before painting around the edges. Although this gave me more depth for each panel it really wasn't necessary.


The next time-consuming idea I then had was to cut each panel to size from the brayered Smoothy card before stamping the images. This was such a crazy idea! It was soon obvious to me that it would have been far quicker and far easier to stamp the images I intended to use on the brayered background first and then cut them to size! I used Vanilla, Haystack and Pumpkin Soup PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk paints for this initial layer. 



After cutting each panel to size (I had already decided on the sizes by selecting specific images from the stamp sets and measuring them) I added further colours: Smoked Paprika, Coral, Bougainvillea and China Fresco Chalk paints to the panels by dry brushing. 


They were now ready for the stamped images but how fiddly was this going to be to fit the carefully measured stamp images to fit each accurately cut panel exactly? Never again. I live and learn. I managed, but only with the help of a stamp positioner.You can find the stamps here.

 

Although, to be fair, my choices were limited to the size of the panels. The Elizabeth 1 quote is not a PaperArtsy stamp, just one from my stash which blended in well with these images. I stamped using Ranger Jet Black Archival ink. I love how the background colours come through the images and the contrast of the black ink against these colours. I originally intended to add colour to the images but, after stamping, felt it wasn't necessary. However, bright colours needed to be added somewhere!


I started by embellishing the main image (from LPC031) with all sorts of beads from my stash, some German scrap and Applique strings that I've collected over the years. I painted some flowers using Bougainvillea Fresco Chalk paint around the outside of the ATC box to contrast against the layer of China Fresco Chalk and drew around these with a Sharpie fine point white paint pen. Now for the flowers.


I have lots of these little roses in various colours in my stash. I think I bought them from www.thehobbyhouse.co.uk a few years ago. I love the way I was able to wind them around the frame before gluing it to the ATC box. With the addition of a few more acrylic gems and Ranger White Opal Liquid Pearls, the Shrine was complete and ready to be inserted into the niche I had left inside the stamped panels.


More German scrap, Applique trims, metal flowers and a few gems completed the Apex of the whole shrine. I love the contrast and richness of the bright gold against the purples and the blue painted Shrine. It works for me! I hope you like it too.

These Shrines are fun to make and give you opportunities to rifle through your stash to find all sorts of things to adorn them. Stamped images are great to use for something like this, perhaps stamped into clay to create even deeper panels or stamped onto stampboard perhaps? I do know that when I make my next shrine, I will not make the same long-winded mistakes I made with this one. Until next time, happy crafting.

Blog: www.loopsandlines.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: Chris Cresswell
Twitter: artmadnana
Instagram: artmadnana
Pinterest: Chris Cresswell

To join our challenge and win a NEW Zinski apron:
Simply 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 11: Enshrined will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, July 1st 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.


All links go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy creative apron. Please make sure we can contact you as a prize winner - it helps if you share your contact info from the platform you opt to use.

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