'Z' Fold Card with Zinski Art {by Martha Ponsanesi}

Hi everyone, it's Martha (@CraftingMartha) with you today, and I'm here to share with you a funny double Z fold card using some Zinski Art Stamps.

Looking through my stash, I found some Zinski Art Stamp Sets, specifically ZA06, ZA13, and ZA40, and I got the idea to create something where all the elements from these stamp sets would be visible... and I almost succeeded! If you look closely, there's only one stamp missing, but other than that, I used them all on a single card :).

Having chosen these stamps with funky houses and  flowers, I thought of creating a sort of landscape background using PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics in shades of blue and green, used along with a 3" x 5" gel plate to create a sort of patchwork look and some found objects to add texture.

For the base of my card I chose PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics in Hint of Mint (FF87), Caribbean Sea (FF94), Aquamarine (FF153) and Aqua Duck Egg (FF199).

For the "Z" element of the card I chose PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics in Limelight (FF48), Slimed (FF137), Verdigris (FF191) and Parakeet (FF225).

Now we can fold the cardstock using the measurements shown in the picture. The blue piece measures 13 × 29 cm, and the green one measures 6 × 18 cm, with the small insert measuring 6 × 6 cm.

To add more interest to the background, I stamped some small circles from the Zinski Art Set 13 ( ZA13 ) tone on tone using Distress Oxide Ink.

And here is the card base assembled and ready for embellishments.

 

So far, I've used the PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics with the Gelli Plate, one of my absolute favorite techniques that I often use. But I also like Mattints, so for the stamped images, I grab some of my favourites Mattints: Glow (MT01), Fern (MT03), Shark (MT04), Dragonfly (MT07), The Pink (MT08), Greenstone (MT09), Ladybug (MT12), Mojito (MT13), Acid (MT14), High Viz (MT15), Bellflower (MT17) and Foxglove (MT18).

After stamping the various elements from the Zinski Art Stamp Set ZA06, ZA13, and ZA40  onto white cardstock, I roughly cut them out.

I love colours, but since I’m not very skilled with traditional colouring techniques, I decided to colour the stamped elements in a very ‘free’ way. I placed drops of Mattint on an acrylic block and then pressed the previously stamped and roughly cut cardstock pieces onto it to pick up the colour. Because Mattint is a tinted glaze rather than an acrylic paint, it allows me to achieve nice, subtle results.

Once my image is mostly coloured, I can pretend to be a skilled artist and finally use a brush, even if only to add colour accents.

I have to say, I’m quite happy with how the cut-out images turned out.

Now that we have the card base and all the decorative elements, it’s time for the most fun part: assembling it all.

What I love about this structure is the possibility of having multiple layers for the embellishments, allowing you to create a sort of landscape.

This is the finished card. Seeing it so full of colours and elements makes me happy. I already love it when it’s closed, with the two houses and the sentiment, but when you open it: an explosion of colour and fun! :)

The beauty of these funky houses is that they can be 'shortened' and elements can be swapped between them, using this approach, you can make a fun, varied village scene.

I had so much fun creating this card and diving into this super colorful little village. I hope you enjoyed it with me… and did you spot which stamp I didn’t use? LOL

Have fun.

Martha xxx

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Flower Moon Art with EKC {by Victoria Wilding}

Hi everyone, it's Victoria here with you today, creating with Kay Carley products. I’m a sucker for a pretty floral, so Kay’s designs are the perfect choice for creating dreamy floral artwork that celebrates colour, texture, and nature. Today’s ‘Flower Moon’ project is all about building simple layers which show how easy it is to create depth using just a few thoughtful elements.

Here are the PaperArtsy products I’m using for today’s project. I choose two stamp sets, EKC59 and EKC68, and stencil PS298. The flowers in these designs should complement each other nicely and provide me with options for creating different flower heights in the piece. I also selected Fresco Finish Acrylic Paints in Chalk (FF83) and Blue Moon (FF170) as my base colours for the piece.

I started off by creating the moon element using a circular gel plate and the Fresco Finish Acrylic Paints in Chalk (FF83) and Blue Moon (FF170). To create some subtle background flowers I sponged some Blue Moon (FF170) paint through the stencil (PS298) onto the gel plate.

Once they were dry, I added a layer of Chalk (FF83) paint on top of the gel plate using a brayer to pull the print. Gel printing is a wonderfully playful process, full of happy unpredictability. It creates fabulous texture, and stencils are invaluable for adding depth and layered detail to your prints.

This is the first pull I made. Whilst I loved the texture, ultimately, when I started to add the stamping, I decided I wasn’t happy with the placement of the stencil flowers, particularly with the large gap between the first and second stems. I therefore end up using a second print, so you’ll notice that the ‘moon’ changes in the stamping steps below. 

 

The main focal point in this piece is the flower stamping. Creating layers when stamping is a simple yet powerful way to add depth, dimension, and a natural sense of composition to your designs. I started off by placing the bluebell style flower from stamp set EKC68 on the left hand side of the moon. I stamped the image using Archival Ink, as I wanted a waterproof base when I got to the colouring stages. 

There’s no limit to the compositions you can create when layering the flowers. This is definitely a project you can return to time and again, with very different results! I used some of the loose flower heads in stamp set EKC68 to extend the florals on each side of the moon.

Then I added some stems and leaves to match the stamp designs and create continuity in the design. 

Next I created a mask for the bluebell type flower by stamping on some lightweight paper and fussy cutting. With the mask in place I stamped one of the florals from stamp set EKC59. Masking is a simple but effective technique for creating dimension in your stamped designs. By covering parts of an image before stamping the next, you can build realistic layers that appear to sit naturally behind or in front of each other. 

You can see in this image the final composition and the stamping layers in the foreground. The silhouette stencil florals and the more prominent stamped flowers create real visual depth.

 

I decided to use watercolours to colour the flowers. The beauty of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylics, is their Matt finish which allows you to use other mediums on top of them and watercolours work wonderfully on top of the paints .

Using watercolours successfully is all about water control. Adjusting the ratio of pigment to water allows you to create everything from soft, translucent washes to deeper, more intense tones. By gradually building colour in layers and letting each one dry if needed, you can achieve beautiful depth while keeping your blends smooth and luminous.

Once the flowers were dry, I created some extra depth using Stickles for a glittery centre on some of the flowers. I enjoy a bit of sparkle in my makes and love how it instantly lifts a project from pretty to eye-catching. Whether it’s a subtle shimmer in the background or a touch of glitter to highlight key details, a little shine adds depth and draws the eye. Used thoughtfully, sparkle can enhance your design without overpowering it, giving your finished piece that perfect finishing touch.

I used the sentiment from stamp set EKC68, nestling it just about the flowers on the moon.

As a finishing touch I decided to add a touch more glitz and glamour to finish the moon and ground the florals. I achieved this by adding a touch of gold leaf to the top and bottom edges, spotlighting some of the outer edge.

Finally, I added some watercolour through stencil PS298 to create two shorter flower stems and fill some gaps at the bottom of the moon.

This Flower Moon piece brings together stamping, watercolour, and gel printing to create a layered design that feels both dreamy and full of quiet detail.

I love how the combination of soft watercolour and textured gel prints gives the flowers a beautiful sense of depth and atmosphere.

Whilst that touch of sparkle really draws the eye into the details. It’s a lovely reminder of how simple layers can come together to create something truly magical.

Until next time, wishing you a happy creative week!

Victoria 

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