Shades of blue with NEW Tracy Scott Products {by Nikki Acton}

Hello everyone

Nikki here with you today and I'll be showing you how I created these floral cards using a stamp set and stencil from the new release from Tracy Scott.

I selected the coordinating stencil - PS535 and stamp set - TS110 from the recent release by Tracy Scott along with three Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics - Azure (FF187), Blue Oyster (FF99) and Midnight (FF123).

I decided to create some monochromatic cards using different elements of the coordinating stencil and stamp set, knowing they would work well together. Different shades of blue Fresco Chalk Acrylics were used in varying ways to create contrasting layers.

I wanted to create the card background with different patterns, so created some masks to allow me to do this. I cut a circle from some copy paper, keeping both the circle and paper without the circle, to allow me to mask different areas.

I began by placing the 2 circular masks along the opposite edges of some white card and used PaperArtsy stencil PS535 (by Tracy Scott) and Fresco Chalk Acrylic - Azure to stencil this area.

I carefully masked the painted area with the other paper mask - revealing only the white circles. For one card I sponged Fresco Chalk Acrylic - Blue Oyster into this area.

I then gently sponged (using a sea sponge) Azure over the top to give a mottled effect. Once dry I stamped one of the flowers from PaperArtsy stamp set TS110.

For the second card I used the mask in a similar way, but just stamped the floral image.

With cardmaking it is often beneficial visually to add a matt layer under the main layer to frame it before adding to the card base. I often use some of the paint or imagery I have already incorporated onto the card.

For one card I needed a darker layer for my matt - so used Fresco Chalk Acrylic - Midnight and sponged some watered down paint around the edges of the matt. By watering down the paint and using the sponge it gives this watery mottled effect.

For the second card, I needed something more subtle - so added stamped images of one of the flower stamps.

With the background and matt layer finished, it was time to focus on the flowers.

I began by stamping several of the images in Ranger Archival ink - Jet Black. 

I used PaperArtsy Fresco Acrylic - Midnight to colour the flowers. I used the wet on wet technique, to get some variation in the the depth of colour.

First I added some water to a small amount of paint on my craft mat. I first 'painted' the area to be coloured with water - staying within the lines. I then added some watered down paint to this wet area and allowed it to move a little. I added extra paint or removed some if it was too wet. The paint should only stay in the wet area.

Wet on wet is usually done with watercolour paint - so the results are a little different here as we are using acrylic paint with different properties.

I fussy cut the flowers and leaves and began arranging them on my cards. The larger flower is made up of the leaves shown above.

 

I added a greeting to both cards using PaperArtsy Eclectica³ Mini 18 (by Emma Godfrey). I was looking on my messy desk for some bits of card to stamp onto and found a scrap I had brushed with some paint. 

I love how this came out - a complete accident. The partially painted element sits over the darker matt later, and the blue part of the greeting over the white card.

Thanks for visiting the blog today. 

See you next time, Nikki.

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