PaperArtsy: 2019 #9 Arty Wood Blocks: Monster Mash with Zinis {by Chris Dark}

2019 Topic 9: Arty Wood Blocks

Chris brings these new lovelies our to play in a wonderful project which includes them all, of course, they are up to their tricks, as you would expect of any cheeky Zini! THe expression Elena brings to each face is absolute gold! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Chris Dark with you today, and I'd like to share my project for this lovely new topic of arty wood blocks.

These are a lot of fun to create and there are so many ways to customise them! I didn't have any suitable fixings to embellish my block, I think they look better if they have legs of some kind and something on top to finish it so I popped in to the local DIY store. I bought some inexpensive small plastic door knobs, I used one for the top simply glued on with PVA. I also found some little plastic spacer fixings which made great feet, it's surprising what will work and cost very little.

As soon as I saw Elena's fantastic new collection of Zini's (stockists list at the foot of the post here), I thought of Dr. Seuss; green Eggs and ham, the cat in the hat, the Grinch etc., so I knew I would be using bright colours and straight away colour blocked my ATC sized Wood Block with Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics.

I painted each side of the wood block with a different bright colour after first giving it an all over coat of Snowflake. I worked with Slimed, Banana, China, Cherry Red, Beach Hut, Midnight, and Bubble Gum. The China isn't visible as it's on the bottom of the block, in theory I could have left it white but at that point I wasn't sure which side would be at the top. I stamped in a similar colour of ink over the top for a tone on tone effect.using the monster sayings stamp set ZA12, I'm fond of the sentiment 'whatever it is I didn't do it' which reminds me of my boys when they were little, apparently Mr. Nobody was the culprit when any naughty stuff happened in our house :D!

Here is my favourite! Love those goofy teeth and big eyes and he looks as if he's about to jump up! He is stamped onto Smoothy Card then coloured with Inktense and coloured pencils. I knew straight off that he would be swinging in the air above the block suspended on a strip of acetate.

It fitted that this little chap on the left would be looking up at the elevated character, he's my second favourite!

I love all the expressions, Elena is the master of giving her characters personality! This chap is just taking it all in his stride!

This is the opposite side of the block and we have the adoring couple looking at each other.

Suspended above, the cat is looking unamused or may be he knows he's about to take a tumble!!

I had some chipboard hearts in my stash which I painted and then covered in glitter glue. This chap is just smiling at it all going on :D.

May be she's reaching up to catch the cat above! I added dots of paint around all the edges, it seems to be my answer when something doesn't feel quite finished.

I had to think about how I photographed as I took my pictures outside and there was a lot of reflection on the acetate strips so I bent the acetate and character down behind the block, photographed it then turned it round to the other side and repeated the process.

It's always happiness working with Elena's images, these new Zini's are just lovely and I wonder which are your favourites?

I hope you'll join in with us this fortnight and create your own arty wood blocks, there are so many ways you can go with them as you'll see from all the projects to come.