2022 Topic 1: Opposites Attract {with Autumn Clark} Green and Red

Hi everyone, it's Autumn Clark from SewPaperPaint with you today, and I'm here to share with you some simple Valentine card ideas.  I simply adore creating Valentine cards and when the Opposites Attract topic was announced and I drew lucky combo "red and green" I knew right away I wanted to go in a romantic direction.  After all, red is the color of passion and green is the life that is its counterpart. 

I chose this type of project because as stampers, it's always good to find a project that is inspiring and yet easy to recreate.  Also because I hear a lot of creatives say that they are intimidated by gel printing and I wanted to show you just how simple it can be when you're working with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics!  They are MADE for stamping!  The flat finish accepts ink beautifully, so you never need to worry about what you will do with your prints because you can stamp onto them, cut and layer until your heart's content.  

I really wanted to work with red reds and green greens, so I chose a beautiful pair of each of those colors and a contrasting neutral.  My plan was to print "plain" colored paper, which never turns out "plain" because little bits of paint left on the printing plate are pulled with each new color.  First I pulled a sheet of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic in Nougat.  Next I moved onto Pine Grove and Gumboots, brayering them both on the plate.  I pulled one print on plain cardstock, then one on book page.  Next I brayered on a combo of Red Lipstick and Mahogany. You can see how the reds lifted some of the greens, perfect!

 

I have such fun choosing a portion of the print on which to stamp my image, in this case I picked the beautiful blossom from PaperArtsy Gwen Lafleur stamp set 05 (EGL05).  I fussy cut my elements and layered them on matted pieces of my printed paper. 

 

To make the flower centers pop, I used a white paint pen to define the dots.  I gave my stamped flowers and greenery splashes of watery Nougat, and gave my white card panels splashes of Pine Grove. 

 

 

I made one large and one smaller card; the larger more filled with stamped and cut layers and more dimensional.  It will be more of a "hand delivered" type of card and the smaller perfect for the post.  To complete my Valentine cards, I stamped an exquisite sentiment from PaperArtsy Sara Naumann stamp set 54 (ESN54).  I adore this beautiful phrase and have been itching to use this sea themed stamp set since I got it late last summer: win win!  I'm really pleased with this combination and hope that it inspires you as well. 

 

I hope you'll take away just how easy printing can be and try some simple prints of your own for stamping.  You can always add pattern with stamps as you build courage to incorporate stencils and color mixing into your printing.  And please try a variety of surfaces.  I shared HERE more simple prints on hymnals and HERE how to use prints for coloring.  HERE I shared how to use prints from copy paper to make "ribbon" and HERE how to use embossing folders with prints.  My latest post HERE shows simple printing onto cardboard to make a basic journal and finally a more detailed post HERE where I incorporated stencils and more color variety with my gel printing to create a mini album.  Give them a try and I think you'll find yourself knee deep in printed papers and a head that's spinning with possibility!  Check out the full range of PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics and get started.  A new year calls for a new, playful approach to creativity, wouldn't you agree? 

xx, Autumn

Blog: SewPaperPaint
YouTube: SewPaperPaint

Facebook: Autumn Clark
Instagram: @sewpaperpaint
Pinterest: SewPaperPaint