Wednesday, 9 September 2026

Hearts & Flowers with Tracy Scott stamps {by Mags Woodcock}


Hello everyone

Mags  here with you today and I'll be showing you how I created an art journal page using a Tracy Scott Lace Booklet, stamps and a stencil.




For quite a while now I've been intrigued by the Tracy Scott Lace books (TSLB04) and wanted to use one. I also love the floral stamp set (TS009). My idea was to combine the two, along with a stencil (PS386). Choosing a quartet of Tracy's Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics would hopefully also allow for some nice contrasts and combinations of colour.


My idea was to create an art journal page, combining all the supplies. As Tracy has quite a distinct style, clean cut and vibrant, with lots of pattern building and symmetry, I wanted to create something with a different style and feel. Bold but asymmetrical, and with a painterly feel.


So lets take a look at how I started



My initial idea was to use the second layer of the Lace Book as a stencil to lay down colour onto a gel plate, but also to add colour to that second layer. The gel plate was great at grabbing the laser cut card of the book, and I used several sponges to apply the Fresco Finish chalk acrylics, Bermuda (FF224), Butternut (FF02), Deep Sea (FF198) and Lily The Pink (FF218). I allowed the texture of the sponge to show in several areas, but also blending the paint in other places.


When I was happy with the coverage on the lace book page, I removed it from the gel plate and set it aside to dry. To pick up the paint from the gel plate I applied a thin layer of Snowflake (FF15) Fresco finish Chalk Acrylic. Whilst this was still wet I pulled a print using a sheet of Smoothy Card (SCA4).


Here you can see the resulting print from the gel plate.


It was now time to work on the top layer of the Lace Book. I wanted a bold contrast to the colours I was using, so Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic , Little Black dress (FF19) came into play.
I placed the top layer of the Lace book onto a sheet of Smoothy card and completely coated it in the black paint, including the gaps. This gave me another stencilled page to use later.




It was now time to create some lovely focal flowers for my page. As I said previously, I wanted a painterly look so I had an idea on how to create that in a very simple way.


I chose a sheet of Smoothy card to work on and using a large brush, applied small amounts of Frescos in a circular pattern. Combining a couple of colours on each circle gave me lots of variety. I soon discovered that a drier brush, with hardly any paint gave better results.


As with a lot of mixed media techniques, the first layers often look very messy, this was very true here. But as I stamped the flowers onto the the painted circles with Versafine Clair Nocturn ink, and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder, my idea began to take shape.


I wanted to add some more details to the flowers and also more contrast, so my trusty Signo Uniball white pen was ideal. It transformed the look of the flowers. The final stage was to fussy cut the hearts, swirls and flowers, leaving a small border around each image.


If I strayed over the black lines with my white pen, A cotton bud soon removed the excess.



Now it was time to bring everything together, but first I needed to add some details to the Lace book layers. I bit of penwork on the black painted layer.


Now I bet you think I had forgotten about the stencil I chose ? Well it was time for it to add some random details to break up the symmetry a little. Again using my white gel pen.
As you can see, I had previously used the stencil to try out another idea, and there was leftover paint still on it.


The final lot of penwork on the layered up lace pages with a  base layer of black cardstock.


Now to the exciting bit ! Adding the flowers and hearts using 3D foam pads and PVA glue.


At this point I decided the page needed a word or sentiment. Stamping Bloom from one of Tracy's other  stamp sets  (TS029) was exactly what was needed and completed the page perfectly.



So let's have a look at the finished page.



Here you can see the completed page


The grouping of the flowers to the left of the page adds asymmetry, and also notice that the page is in landscape format , not portrait , nice and unusual.


The hearts drift across the page to encourage your eye to follow.



The painted, stamped circular swirls are layered over the centre of each flower, adding dimension and a colour contrast to the surrounding petals.


The distressed, painterly look of the hearts adds visual texture and interest.


I hope you enjoyed this blog post and it has given you some ideas to inspire you.

I still have the two bonus pages from the project to play with, the gel print and the black stencilled page. Watch out in the PaperArtsy People Facebook page over the coming weeks, and I'll share what I create using those.




Thank you for popping over to the PaperArtsy blog, if you would like to see more of my work or videos using PaperArtsy products please follow me using the links below

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Happy crafting
Mags x

Monday, 7 September 2026

Arty Matte Resists with KC {by Amanda Pink}


Hello everyone
Amanda here with you today and I'll be showing you some 'resisted' multifunctional art panels that I've made with some of Kate Crane's stamps and stencils.




My product choices were very much guided by my plans to do some 'resisting'! I reached for PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52), PaperArtsy Infusions, In the Navy (CS15), Just Walnut (CS25), along with Kate's A5 stamp set 11 (KC011), mini's (KCM14, KCM15) and a couple of PaperArtsy stencils by Kate (PS429, PS467). 


I hope you'll join me as I share the fun I had experimenting with a stamped and stencilled 'resist technique' using these products, plus the art panels I created with the results.



Usually, this part of the blog is dedicated to 'initial layers'. but I came to realise my initial layers actually double up as the very technique I planned to share! So because of that I've combined both into the 'Technique to Try' section below.



I'm not sure if there's an official name for this technique but for now let's call it 'The Stamped /Stencilled PaperArtsy Matte Glaze Infusions Resist Technique.' 

I've used gesso, wax, vaseline, embossing powders with inks and paints before when doing 'resists' but I don't recall using glazes, definitely not PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52), nor PaperArtsy Infusions. I was keen to experiment and curious to see how it would all play out and if when stamped or stencilled PaperArtsy Matte Glaze would 'resist' PaperArtsy Infusions.


Let's try with stamps first.... the 3 larger flowers from Kate Crane's stamp set 11 (KC011). 
As the process was the same for all 3 resisted flower panels I'll share the steps with just one of the flowers. 
I applied PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52) to the flower stamp.


Then stamped it onto PaperArtsy Heavy Smoothy (SCA4H) as the weight is ideal for wet mediums and techniques like this).   
Although in the photo there's no signs of a stamping platform or acrylic block you do need either/ or when stamping the flowers. 


I found my finger to be the easiest way to apply the PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52) to the stamps. I did trial a brayer and a paintbrush but neither with any success. 


Along with the flowers, I also stamped the background with Kate Crane's mini 14 (KCM14) using PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52)
I stamped in a 'broken fashion' which is easier to achieve if the stamp has flexibilty so no need for acrylic blocks/ stamp platforms this time.

Each panel was set aside to dry thoroughly.

 
Once dry I freely sprinkled PaperArtsy Infusions In the Navy (CS15) over the panel making sure some landed on or near the stamped PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52). 


Ready now to activate the sprinkled PaperArtsy Infusions with a few spritz of water and see what happens. 


It was only seconds before the stamped PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52) started to resist the PaperArtsy Infusions and the flower stamp design peeked through! Yay. 

I watched the 'magic' happen for a while and then lightly dabbed some of the excess water spritzed infusions with a paper towel and left the panel to dry.  


So yes, it worked!  When stamped, PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52) does 'resist' PaperArtsy Infusions. 
However, the resulting look is a soft, and slightly stained "ghost effect" (which I love) rather than a perfectly clean white resist.  
I believe this happens because the PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52) dries with a slight tooth that can trap the fine Infusion dye particles when they're activated with water. Also, the walnut crystals can sit on top of the glaze and will leave marks if they aren't noticed and wiped away. 



Here are the other 2 resisted flowers panels using the technique. 



Now let's try with stencils ... 

I used a couple of PaperArtsy stencils by Kate Crane (PS429, PS467).


To lessen the risk of PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52) seeping under the stencil when applied I taped the stencil down to hold it in place and for me a sponged application of the glaze worked best.


I removed the stencil so I could add some PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52) broken stamping to the panels too. I used Kate Crane's mini 14 (KCM14) with PaperArtsy stencil by Kate Crane (FF429) and mini 15 (KCM15) with PaperArtsy stencil by Kate Crane (PS467).  


Once dry it was sprinkle and spritz time with PaperArtsy Infusion In the Navy (CS15) and water.


Just as before the 'resisting' was almost instant! One of those creative 'wow, look at that' moments! 


I dabbed away the excess water spritzed infusions and set aside to dry. 


So it was another big YES! When stencilled PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52) does 'resist' PaperArtsy Infusions.
Such a cool, fun technique that creates unique, interesting results. Just love that 'ghost effect'. 



I introduced some background stamping to all 6 resisted panels. I thought this would add detail and interest as well as further enhance / accentuate the PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52) resist stamping and stencilling. All the stamping was done in a broken 'fashion' without an acrylic block.
For continuity across all 6 panels I used some of Kate Crane's line, cross hatch, dots or circle stamp designs and either Ranger Industries - Distress Archival (Ground Espresso)or Tsukineko Versafine (Nocturne) ink.

Kate Cranes mini 15 (KCM15) stamped (in brown) in and around, here and there. 


Kate Crane's mini 14 (KCM14) stamped (in black) over or near the PaperArtsy Matte Glaze (FF52) resist stamping of the same design. 
The black dots you'll see on the flower panels are stamped with some of the dots from mini 14 (KCM 14) stamp design. Look to the top left of the photo below .. they are the ones! 


To join the dots some open circles. The circle stamp is from Kate Crane's stampset 5 (KC005) It has lots of circles within the design but I only wanted to stamp a single circle here and there so I just isolated one by 'flexing' the rubber before inking it up (in black) and stamping. 



The stencil panels would need a focal so I reached for the 3 flowers I'd used for the 'resist' and stamped them onto Heavy Smoothy (SCA4H) with Tsukineko Versafine Clair (Nocturne). Although a permanent ink it is quite a wet ink so I set aside to dry thoroughly before colouring.
I used PaperArtsy Infusions, In the Navy (CS15) and Just Walnut (CS25) spritzed with water  to watercolour the flowers. 


The flowers after painting and fussy cutting, although one ended up being switched out which you will see later. Can you guess which one?




Here are the art panels I went on to create. 





The first thing you may have notice from seeing the finished panels was which of the painted flower's I switched out? I wonder if you guessed correctly? 
When I positioned the one I'd painted I felt it was a little dark so fortunately I had this one waiting in the wings to take the stage. It had been sprayed lightly with PaperArtsy Infusions, In the Navy (CS15) so I just 'grunged it up' a bit with PaperArtsy Infusions, Just Walnut (CS25).


Both the centres of this flower design were embellished with eyelets.

I very loosely tracked around the edges of the resisted stencilliing and stamped flowers with a black Micron pen to add depth, contrast and definition.


PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylic, Snowflake (FF15) splatters found their way onto each of the panels. I love to splatter :) 


Each of the panels were assigned a word/ quote from Kate's stamp sets 2 and 11 (KC002, KC011), Kate's mini 6 (KCM006) too.
I cut the longer quotes that feature on the flower resist panels to suit their placement.


As I share the quotes you'll also get a closer look at some of the details on each of the panels ...or as the quote from Kates stamp set 2 (KC002) suggests 'look for the beauty within'. 



'Come and join the arty party' is one of the fun 'wordy' stamps from Kate's mini 6 (KCM006).




'Bloom' and 'Love' were both cut away from longer quote stamps. 


'Bloom' from the quote "Bloom and Grow' that's on Kate's stamp set 11 (KC011). Love from 'Sharing the Love' on Kate's mini (KCM006)


To finish 'Never Give Up' from Kate's stamp set 11 (KC011).


I've really enjoyed experimenting with this resist technique and hope sharing the fun I had, what I learnt, the projects I made may have offered some inspiration for you to take away and use in your own way in your creativity. 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by. I really do appreciate ♥
Arty hugs
Amanda
x



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