PaperArtsy

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

3 Things - Smile of Spring {by Etsuko Noguchi}

Hi everyone, it's Etsuko Noguchi from My favorite things with you today for a 'With 3 Things' challenge post.

This feature on the PaperArtsy Blog is where 3 identical items are sent to 3 members of the PaperArtsy Blogging team. Typically we will receive a stamp, a stencil and a colour product.

We have no clue what PaperArtsy HQ is going to send, the whole idea of this challenge is to do something crafty in our personal style with these 3 items.

We can incorporate other PA products into the mix if we feel it is necessary.

So let's take a look at what I received from PA HQ ...

I’ve received From PaperArtsy HQ focusing on Alison Bomber’s truly beautiful products which included Alison Bomber stamp set 46 (EAB46), PaperArtsy Stencil by Sara Naumann (PS178) and PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Rose. As a Japanese person, this set is a truly meaningful gift to me. As I write this blog post, the cherry blossoms have already fallen and the trees are now what we call ‘leafy cherry trees’; during this season, when the blossoms last for just a week from the time they first bloom, we gather under blue skies to admire the flowers and celebrate the arrival of spring together.

Lets take a closer look at what I made ....

First, I stamped the cherry blossoms and branches from the EAB46 stamp set using Tsukineko Versafine Clair Nocturne ink on the smooth stamping Card (Heavyweight), and whilst the ink was still wet, I heat-set them with Ranger Embossing Powder (Clair).

Next, to create the master board, I combined flower and branch stamps using Tsukineko Versafine-Clair-Nocturne. As I wanted the colouring to have a watercolour effect, I used PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic – Satin Glaze to achieve a semi-transparent finish, as the PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic – Rose is an opaque paint.

I coloured the entire master board using PaperArtsy Mattint - Mojito, Fern, Greenstone and River Deep. I’m happy with the pale-coloured master board.

Lets take a closer look at what I did ....

I used Grunge Paste to emboss the PaperArtsy Stencil by Sara Naumann (PS178) onto the central card as a background. I also used the stencil for the tags mentioned later.

Lets take a closer look at what I did ....

I used the “Rose” paint supplied by PaperArtsy HQ to stamp the script and stamp designs from the EAB46 and EAB54 (new) stamp set, using Ranger Embossing Powder-white.

The photograph shows almost the entire A4 master board; the light blue areas of sky between the flowers and branches were coloured using Mattints Dragonfly. I cut this master board into pieces and used them.

I cut it to the shape of the card’s outer edge.

I deliberately painted the focal point, created by combining flowers and branches, using blue watercolours.

I’ve added two or three tags to the main card. I’ll use a master board to preserve them as a memento of this spring. I hope you’ll all have a go at crafting with Alison’s wonderful products; as many of you will know, she posts fantastic videos on the PaperArtsy People Facebook page and YouTube. You can find more details about the tag in the ‘Extra Details’ section below, so please do have a look.　

Thank you for visiting today.

Etsuko xx

Blog: My favorite things

Facebook: Etsuko Noguchi

Instagram: Pixienest

Pinterest: Etsuko N

Monday, 4 May 2026

3 Things - Blossom Interactive Journaling {by Jenny Marples}

Hi everyone, it's Jenny Marples with you today for a 'With 3 Things' challenge post.

This feature on the PaperArtsy Blog is where 3 identical items are sent to 3 members of the PaperArtsy Blogging team. Typically we will receive a stamp, a stencil and a colour product.

We have no clue what PaperArtsy HQ is going to send, the whole idea of this challenge is to do something crafty in our personal style with these 3 items. We can incorporate other PA products into the mix if we feel it is necessary and for this project I did.

So let's take a look at what I received from PA HQ ...

The '3 Things' I got from PaperArtsy HQ included the Alison Bomber stamp set EAB46 (Apple Blossom Edition) the Sara Naumann stencil PS178 and a bottle of 'Rose' Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint FF29. This collection immediately transported me to springtime in Paris so I chose to create an interactive page for my Paris art book, making use of a photo I took from the apartment we stayed in many years ago.

Let's take a closer look at what I made ...

Wanting to achieve a 'loose' feel to the painting I stamped the flower/leaf images onto watercolour card multiple times.

You'll have seen before how I love to add Fresco Finish Drying Retarder and water to Fresco Finish paints to mimic the look and feel of watercolour. 'Hey Pesto' (FF49) and 'Chocolate Pudding' (FF42) Fresco Finish paints are already translucent/semi-opaque so it just takes a few drops of water to make these work in the same way.

Let's take a closer look at what I did ...

Add water to the part of the image you want to paint before dropping a little colour onto the same area. Allow it to flow and dry, repeating the process if you want to get a deeper look. To prevent colours blending when wet paint each section in turn, allowing them to dry before moving on. And finally, if like me you are heavy handed with paint application try holding your brush towards the end of the handle for a lighter touch.

I love cutting around images, breaking them into smaller sections so they can be pieced together in a different way from the original design.

Layer one of the budding branches and one of the leaf clumps onto voile/net/muslin, trim away and add scraps of lace/ribbon behind.

Attach these clusters securely to the back of your chosen photo/image.

Add more leaves/flowers to cover the reverse sides so they look as pretty on the back as they do on the front. In the close ups below you'll see how I combined pieces of the stamped images together.

You can also stamp on your chosen photo/image using some of the words in the stamp set.

To create a frame for you photo/image dab a piece of paper into semi-diluted 'Rose' Fresco Finish paint. Stamp the script image from the set into the centre and tear around it, leaving the border intact.

You can stitch around the edge of the Rose frame before adding it to your journal page. Then stick the photo on top.

Lets take a closer look at what I did ....

For a step by step on how to create a collage background like the one on this page see my last blog post HERE. I applied Grunge Paste through part of the stencil, sanding it back when dry to achieve a smoother surface. It's then a simple process of using the the stamped script, leftover leaves and some of the remaining words and images from the stamp set to finish the second journal page.

Here's what my art book spread looks like when completed. And the lovely part is I still get to see the whole of my photo when the floral clusters are lifted up.

And here are some close ups showing how it all came together.

I enjoyed finally being able to use this photo in my art book with the lovely images/words from the stamp set and stencil. Hopefully it has give you some of your own ideas for creating interactive journaling like this with your own photos/images.