2020 #5 Mark Making: Subtle or Bold with ECF {by Nikki Acton}

2020 Topic 5: Mark Making

Nikki's wonderful cards are testament to the fact that with small changes in technique and a completely different palette, you can end up with strikingly different pieces. Her mark making doesn't detract from the layers underneath, they just augment the texture.

Hi everyone, Nikki from Addicted to Art with you today sharing 2 ideas using these fabulous stamps from Courtney Franich.  I just couldn't decide between subtle tones and bold colours - so went with both.

I knew straight away these stamps would be great on a gel-plate and for making masterboards - so this is where I started, with my subtle theme....

I made these 2 little A7 cards with some of my masterboards - which use the mark making stamps from stamp set ECF11. I used Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics in Blue Oyster, Chalk, Guacamole, Elephant and Koala.

I added a couple of colours to my gel-plate and used the large text stamp from the set randomly to remove colour before taking a print. I repeated this with different colours building up colour, sometimes over the top of another one.

You have to look closely to see the wonderful effects this gives - lots of depth with hints of text and blocks. 

The band down the middle is a print on some screwed up tissue paper, adding an extra layer of depth and texture. You might recognise the wonderful leaves from ECF06 which I embossed onto vellum.

For my bold masterboards I took a couple of different approaches, firstly using a credit card to scrape colours into my card before stamping with paints over the top. I then returned to my gel-plate, again I added colours and stamped off the plate with the large script stamp but then stamped onto the plate with the other stamps in different colours. I allowed this to semi dry on the plate and then added some Chalk paint, brayered over it then finally took my print.

Again I turned these into little cards - mixing the colours to create some bold, patterned cards! A few die cut letters and a little flower finished these off nicely.

From my experiments these stamps are a winner! Great for gelli plate work and creating masterboards. I can also imagine using the smaller stamps for adding detail to the edges of projects (think Seth Apter style) or for creating wonderful texture stamped into grunge paste.

Enjoy!

Thanks for joining me today, I hope you have a creative week.

Nikki x

Blog: Addicted to Art

Instagram: @Nikki_Act

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