PA Blog 2018 Year in Review: Topics 17-21 with Alison Bomber

PaperArtsy year in review (Topics 17-21)

 

Hello again everyone.

Have you managed to clear all those Xmas food leftovers yet? Well keep at it! here is our final post for the year in review, and then we take a break until the new year when we start sharing our new product releases, well some sneak peeks to begin with! Lets see what Alison loved about the final topics of 2018.

Leandra 

Hello all, Alison here again from Words and Pictures.  As I said in my earlier round-up on Christmas Day, I missed so much this year, so this has been a great way for me to catch up with just some of the amazing work here on the PaperArtsy blog.  Tonight I'm sharing my picks from Topics 17 - 21: Box of Eggs, Stamping Platforms, Tissue Paper, Foiling and Matchbox Art.

Topic 17: Box of Eggs

The Box of Eggs colour challenge was inspired by the release of Courtney Franich, a.k.a. Miss PaperArtsy's new paint colours in July, which included some glorious neutrals and pale pastels, as well as some darker shades to complement them.  They brought to mind the colours you might find in a box of eggs, as long as you include some species other than merely chickens!  

My first pick is this amazing layered collage by Kate Yetter.  She went for the brighter and grungier end of the colour palette - though the duck-egg blue of the Seaglass paint is singing to me from the teacup! - and added in grunge paste for extra texture.  The fussy-cutting of the Scrapcosy images is so worth it for the finished dimensional effect. 

Ruth Mescall went to the other end of the colour scale with this pastel, neutral altered mirror frame.  The delicate colours and textures are so ethereally pretty, and I love how she has balanced the composition - echoing the natural elements with the Urban Snapshots Nature Series images on the Stampbord panels.

Okay, a slight blush as I offer up one of my own creations in this review... but I so enjoyed creating my actual box of eggs using Courtney's Box of Eggs-coloured paints.  Ugly plastic eggs became decorative shelled objects, and I had a lovely time altering some of the newer Hot Picks images to suit my altered eggbox covers.  A crazy idea, but it made me happy.

We had some lovely entries to the challenge (which you can check out here, along with what must surely be one of the prettiest Intro posts of the year!), and one which really caught my eye was this amazing woven panel created by Sue of Sue the Iron, using stamps by Lynne Perrella and Ellen Vargo.  Fabulous!

Topic 18: Stamping Platform Techniques

I love the Techniques challenges because you always learn so much.  I've used my stamping platform occasionally, mainly just to get clear images on tricky surfaces, but the inspiration offered up in this fortnight has me raring to go and experiment more with what is clearly a very versatile tool in the craft room.

Jo Firth-Young gave us a masterclass in inventive stamping techniques to create this delightful summertime floral wreath with her own JOFY stamps.  She included really detailed notes and photos in the post of how to achieve this amazing look... so there are no excuses! 

Chris Dark combined her stamping platform with some gel shapes and Infusions powders to create her (early!) Christmas cards.  The grungy effects of the Infusions/gel shape stamping work so brilliantly with Darcy's quirky Eclectica festive stamps for a really original look.  It was tough choosing which of her designs to share here, so do check out the post to see the others.  

There were plenty of great tips from Keren Baker on how to get a really high-quality finish when stamping on fabric.  She also shared techniques using aperture stamping and slashing the fabric and ended up with this gorgeous textured bag, featuring stamps from several collections - Ink & the Dog, Hot Picks and Eclectica Seth Apter. 

There were some creative stamping platform techniques on show among the challenge entries too, and I've chosen this dramatic Black Widow coaster made by Flo of Florence and Freddie to highlight.  She cleverly masked off the parts of the Lynne Perrella stamp which she didn't need, and created this spooky little treat.

Topic 19 : Tissue Paper

There was another brilliant Intro post for this topic... so many gorgeous ideas for transforming projects through the use of tissue paper.  As always, the PaperArtsy Designers pulled out all the stops to show off what you can do with this humble ingredient.

I loved the use of vintage tissue paper in the form of old sewing patterns in Jennie Atkinson's charming little gift box.  Her shabby chic style and neutral colour palette work perfectly with the Hot Picks stamps to create this elegant altered box, and there's even tissue paper on the inside to keep your treasures safe!

Ellie Knol used tissue paper to create texture as well as paper napkins to provide her main images for her altered cigar box.  There's real delight in seeing how the tissue paper image can get into all the nooks and crannies of the intricate moulded embellishments she made to go on the top of the box.

This exquisite autumnal page spread by Autumn Clark exploits the layering possibilities of tissue paper stamping.  She shared lots of tips for reverse-painting your images on the tissue paper, and the layering of many Eclectica collections - Scrapcosy, Emma Godfrey, Lin Brown and my own Alison Bomber quote stamps - just adds to the depth and atmosphere she's created.

There was lots of tissuey loveliness in the challenge entries too, but I particularly enjoyed the bright colours and bold shapes in these art journal pages by Rachel of Arty Beginnings.  She combined paper napkin leaves with Ellen Vargo and Kay Carley stamps to make this cheerful spread.

Topic 20 : Foiling

I tend towards the distressed rather than the shimmering end of crafting styles, but I do love the gleam of a metallic hit of foiling when I see it in action, and have been known to indulge in it myself at times.  This theme was timed for the beginning of November - a perfect invitation to get going with some festive makes.

Wanda Hentges picked up the festive challenge and really knocked it out of the park with her colourful collection of cards.  I love the glint of the foiling - especially those fabulous fussy-cut fir fronds - as well as the really inventive way the greetings are done differently on each card.  That vellum overlay is wonderful.

And I hope you didn't miss Leandra herself putting in an appearance with one of my favourite creations of all those I saw this year here on the PaperArtsy blog (and I'm not just trying to curry favour... honest!).  It's an atmospheric piece of abstract art, with scrumptious texture, vintage script, some of my favourite colours and that glorious gleaming gold at the horizon line.  Stunning!

It's a second appearance for the delightful Scrapcosy teacup stamps in these fabulously zingy cards by Josefine Fourage.  It's one of my favourite properties of a metallic shine that it has a now-you-see-it, now-you-don't quality.  The foiled teacups appear and disappear amidst the vivid colours and brayered textures according to the angle of the light - magical!

Quite a few of you took the opportunity to get cracking with your Christmas cards, but the challenge entry I've chosen to feature here has a more autumnal starting point.  Mac Mable of The Sweetest of Peas used a real leaf from her garden and some humble kitchen foil to make this superb card.  Check out that puddle of molten metal - I love it!

Topic 21 : Matchbox Art

So many possibilities in this topic - hidden drawers, architecture and construction, surprises and nooks and crannies... and, as you might expect, there was oodles of imagination and inspiration on show in the projects shared both by the PaperArtsy designers and those who entered the challenge.

You can tell it's a meeting of quirky creative minds when you see Helen Chilton in action with the brilliant Zinski stamps.  This underwater fantasy takes you completely by surprise as BOTH ends of the matchbox open up to reveal more of the scene.  It fills me with glee!

I fell head-over-heels in love with this matchbox house by Corrie Herriman, using some of Courtney Franich's new stamps.  Not only did I love the outside-the-box thinking of adding the triangular roof to the matchbox, but you'll have to visit the post to see her inside-the-box thinking. There's a reason you absolutely can't park on the no-parking sign at the bottom... it's a tab which pulls open a drawer containing an enchanting little mini art journal.  A lovely surprise extra element.

Etsuko Noguchi created an Egyptian treasure trove using this year's new Lynne Perrella stamps.  Her jewel colours are glorious against the textured stone background, and those "exploded" matchboxes frame the exquisitely detailed imagery brilliantly.  Not only that, but they've been done on shrink plastic to fit them into the boxes! Again, I highly recommend a visit to the post if you missed it - there are great close-ups to get the benefit of all the angles of this incredible project.  Oh, and she used my Alison Bomber quote stamps too!!

I'm sorry - I tried really hard to stick to just three designer pieces, but I simply couldn't leave out this incredible labour of love by Chris Dark.  Think of it as your Christmas Bonus!  Her Advent calendar gift boxes are simply glorious... colourful, decorative, an absolute delight.  

By now it was the beginning of December and, of course, everyone gets busy.  There were only a few entries for this theme, but I wish I could feature every single one of them - they were all amazing.  Check them out at the end of the Intro post here.  The one I simply couldn't resist, though, was this utterly captivating little vignette box by Christine of Crafty Endeavours.  Do visit her post to see how those stars on the outside gleam in metallic copper in the right light.

What a privilege to be part of the incredible team of creative artists and crafters here at PaperArtsy, and what a joy to see how the work shared here on the PaperArtsy blog fires the imaginations of so many more amazing creators out in the wider world.  It may be a little time-consuming to create these end-of-year posts, but it's time so well spent, revisiting these inspirational projects full of ideas, techniques and expertise.  I hope you've enjoyed reading these review posts as much as I've enjoyed putting them together.

Alison x

2018 #18 Stamping Platforms: Art journal with ECF {by Kate Yetter}

 2018 Topic 18: Stamp Platform Techniques

Here's a bonus post for you from Kate who has a completely different take on the 'stamping platform' concept. She has created a fantastic 'guide', and also shares her wonderful use of colour, layers and texture. Enjoy! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, Kate here today,sharing an art journal layout that I made using an improvised stamping platform. While I don't own a commercial platform, I used what I had lying around to accomplish a related idea. It's a useful guide tool.

I sprayed my piece of paper with infusions and cut it to my desired size. 

I used a glass mat with pre-etched squares and graph. I placed a piece of plain cardstock beneath the mat to reveal the lines. I lined my sprayed paper up with the edge of the largest square and taped it in place using washi tape.

I placed my un-inked stamp on top of the paper, lined the edge of my acrylic stamp block up with the corner of the square on the mat and then placed the acrylic block on top of the stamp to adhere it, being careful not to move the stamp.

Now that my stamp is properly positioned on the acrylic block, I inked up my stamp, lined it up on the grid and stamped the corners of my paper.

 For the background, I applied grunge paste through the Scrapcosy 105 Stencil.

Fresco Finish Paints were dripped in the background and a bit of embossing was added to the textured areas.

 

Tissue paper was layered in the background and I stamped using the Eclectica³ Courtney Franich Set 04 (ECF04). 

I also used Eclectica³ Scrapcosy Set 16 (ESC16) for the sentiment, which has been stamped on a tea bag.

Sewing scraps were added from one of my recent projects along with black thread to add a bit of texture.

I loved all of the textures included in this stamp set. They were perfect for my mixed media background.

I finished off the layout with black gesso splatters and doodling around the edges.

At first, I was a little worried about how I was going to incorporate stamping platforms into my journal spread, mainly because I only ever stamp randomly. But I liked that I was able to create a frame for my TH paper doll, using what I had on hand. 

So glad you stopped by the blog today. You've still got time to get you challenge entered!

Kate Yetter

Blog: kateyetter.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/katesscrapyard/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/katesscrapyard/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katesscrapyard
  

To join our challenge and win a PaperArtsy £50 voucher:

Simply make something arty relevant to the topic, and link your creation from any social URL (eg. Instagram, Pinterest, Blog Post etc) sharing your original make to this challenge page.

The current topic link Topic 18: Stamp Platform Techniques will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, 28th October 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

All links go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy £50 gift voucher. Please make sure we can contact you as a prize winner - it helps if you share your contact info from the platform you opt to use.

Good Luck! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

2018 #18 Stamping Platforms: Shift with ECF {by Etsuko Noguchi}

 2018 Topic 18: Stamp Platform Techniques

Wow!! Etsuko has a few platform ideas in this posts, shadows and spaced stamping! Great tips, I'm sure you'll think of many spin-off ideas! And she's ticking the spooky box too, only a few more sleeps! ~ Leandra 

Hi everyone, it's Etsuko My Favorite Things with you today, and I'd like to share with you  my Shift project using Stamp Platform with Courtney's favorite stamps.

I was so exited when Tim Holtz first introduced the Stamp Platform, and before I used a T-shaped tool for positioning but I could not do a variety of work like is possible with this tool. I am using it for most of my work now. Also I am very happy that Lynne Perrella's delicate stamps and stamps can be cleanly stamped without fail.

First I wanted to use it for positioning, so I set a plastic quilting section measure tool down onto the Platform. To use it stamp directly on the sheet and stamp it on the paper.

Next is a method of shifting the paper to make a stamped shadow.

Here I move the paper with the position of the stamp intact, first stamp the orange shadow, move the paper to the upper left, change the color to the brown and stamp again the darker image. To make a shadow of the same width, move the stamp and paper repeats the shift at the same position as shown above.

I used Halloween stamps by Hot Picks, HPHW02, HPHW04.

I used Fresco Finish -- Twilight, Double Denim, Venice Blue, Steel Gray, Glacier Ice.

This is a continuous pattern of the same interval.

Make a measuring tape that calculates the pattern and spacing. Stamp with you paper in the normal start position top left corner of the platform, next move the paper by one graduated space to the right, stamp again, and keep moving the paper to the next marked line each time, then repeat stamp on the paper.

This is a process of making the stamp fixed and pink heart.

It is a simple technique but it is difficult to stamp many time in the same place without the tool.

The background is darker than Peach Nectar Fresco, so firstly I used Snowflake and Peach Nectar Fresco on it, added the little distress and finished with Seth's bee wax baked texture.

I really enjoyed this project with Courtney's images. Stamp Platform is very convenient tool and it is an innovation in the recent craft sector. I think there are still techniques to use this tool as much as possible. I am looking forward to seeing everybodys blog challenge.

Thank you so much and see you soon.

Etsuko xxx

Blog: My Favorite Things
Facebook: Etsuko Noguchi 
Instagram: Pixienest
Pinterest: Etsuko N

If you teach: add venue, dates, booking info with links here for the next 2 months 
 

To join our challenge and win a PaperArtsy £50 voucher:

Simply make something arty relevant to the topic, and link your creation from any social URL (eg. Instagram, Pinterest, Blog Post etc) sharing your original make to this challenge page.

The current topic link Topic 18: Stamp Platform Techniques will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, 28th October 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

All links go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy £50 gift voucher. Please make sure we can contact you as a prize winner - it helps if you share your contact info from the platform you opt to use.

Good Luck! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

2018 #18 Stamping Platforms: Spooky Halloween Cards with EDY {by Josefine Fouarge}

 2018 Topic 18: Stamp Platform Techniques

Josefine not only creates painted backgrounds, but then has bravely chosen to stamp her feature images with paint too! Quite a skill ...well...a stamping platform will assist you no end! Take a look! ~Leandra  

Hi everyone, Josefine here and I wanted to share a few Halloween cards with you. I grew up in Germany and Halloween was not as big there as it is in the US, were I live now. And I have to say, it's so much fun. All the costumes, the spooky decorations and so much more. I really fell in love with Halloween since I live in the US.

That's why I chose Darcy's EDY24 Halloween set. It's adorable and I couldn't wait to make a few cards with it.

I started with some mono printing. Usually, I print many more backgrounds than I end up using in my projects, so I picked a few lighter colors...

Vintage Lace (FF18), Seaglass (FF139), Stone (FF59) for some lighter backgrounds 

...and for a darker background Midnight (FF123) and Winter Green (FF118) . I then picked the two that I thought fit best for my cards.

Once the backgrounds were dry, I used one of the dark ones, mounted them into my MISTI stamping platform and aligned the 'mummy' from the EDY24 set so it is more on the left side. Then, I applied paint to the stamp with Glacier Ice (FF132) using a brayer and stamped it onto my background. 

The first impression was a little light, so I stamped it a second time. The reason why I used a stamping platform, besides having the ability to stamp it onto the same spot over and over again, is that I also find it much easier to stamp with paint. Paint can be quite slick and slippery, and it's happened to me more than once that I have ruined an image because I slipped with the stamp with the traditional acrylic block method.

I did the same with the little witch. Instead of stamping her onto the background, I used one of my clean up pages and stamped her on those using the Seaglass Fresco (FF139).

I fuzzy cut the little witch and adhered her onto one of the lighter backgrounds. That background needed a little bit more, so I stamped the spider to her hat, the circles around the borders and outlined the border with a darker ink pad. After a few scribbles and doodles, I was done with my Halloween cards.

Aren't these cards just spooktastic? They are not in traditional Halloween colors, but I thought that the mummy and witch are not "typical" either, so they deserved something special.

Halloween is in just a few days, so get your spooky decoration out if you haven't already and create some cards for yourself :)

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Josefine

Blog: www.holylise.com
Facebook: HolyLise
Instagram: @HolyLise
YouTube: HolyLise Designs

To join our challenge and win a PaperArtsy £50 voucher:

Simply make something arty relevant to the topic, and link your creation from any social URL (eg. Instagram, Pinterest, Blog Post etc) sharing your original make to this challenge page.

The current topic link Topic 18: Stamp Platform Techniques will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, 28th October 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

All links go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy £50 gift voucher. Please make sure we can contact you as a prize winner - it helps if you share your contact info from the platform you opt to use.

Good Luck! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!