2021 Topic 2 A Pocketful of ... Happy with ZA {by Tracey Springer}

 2021 Topic 2: A Pocketful of ...Llama Love {with Tracey Springer}

We have a new blogger on the team, meet Tracey from New Zealand. It was a bit of Llama drama getting these stamps to her in time for the blog post, but we did it and wow hasn't she created a totally fantastic post ?! I'm sure you'll look forward to seeing more from Tracey in the months to come! With a tonne of colour and a creatively stitched pocket opening, Tracey has made a pocketful of fun vibrant cards with a tonne of delightful details.

~ Keren

Hi everyone, it's Tracey Springer with you today. I have had the immense pleasure of playing with Elena Zinski's new stamps, and created a 'Pocketful of....Happy!'. 

Making crazy, colourful cards has become my 'Happy' in this insane world we are in at the moment. I hope these make you smile like they have me!

I started out, as I usually do, by just stamping and colouring a pile of images. I am colouring with Copics but slowly bringing more paints in. 

I spent an afternoon just playing with the Fresco Finish paints as backgrounds. I loved the very light watery finish to then stencil over. Backgrounds to build your cards on, really pull the whole thing together. This Jofy stencil - PS139 - really stood out for its versatility. I painted a heavier coat of Coral over the stencil, and then once it was dry I used a black pen to draw around the whole image. 

Next step was having a play with a pocket folder type holder for some cards. I never have a set idea, things just evolve as I go. I used Fresco Finish Bubblegum and mismatched stripes for the front of the pocket. A couple of Coral strips snuck in, then this gorgeous pompom trim handstitched on, combined with pre-stamped and coloured images. Then a bit of sanding around the edges and pen line drawing to finish off. 

I ended up with a concertina pocket with three slots to hold cards. 

Then came the fun of creating cards. I like to use a heavy coat of gesso around the edges of my backgrounds to add a frame. I then start playing around with all of the stamped, pre-cut images, layering them till I'm happy before I adhere them. (I admit to not being able to do minimal; crazy, electric scenes are my happy.)

The black and white background card was something I don't normally do, but the stamps from ZA60 & ZA61, lent themselves to white heat embossing with just a couple of pre-cut images. 

Al Paca Picnic; this card had to have a pocket to hide the 'Peek a boo' Alpaca.  He is such fun! A simple slit cut in the side of the background, distressed edge, and then adhered to the card makes a simple pocket to slide in and out of.

The final card, 'The Lama Queen', she speaks for herself really!

I hope you have enjoyed my play with these gorgeous stamps, and that you have been inspired to play. 'Think outside the box' and just enjoy the creative process.

Tracey Springer.

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