PA Blog 2018 Year in Review: Topics 1-4 with Miriam Grazier

 PaperArtsy Blog year in Review (Topics 1-4)

Hello from PaperArtsy HQ,

I know you are all bonkers-busy, but set some time to relax with a cuppa and enjoy the series of posts we are going to share with you over the next week. It is a time to reminisce as we look back on the topics this blog has explored during 2016, and appreciate the gorgeous creative inspiration we bring to you from this blog. 

Did you learn something new this year? Did you achieve a personal goal, or tick something off the bucket list? Were you challenged in ways you least expected? I guess all these things build character, and hopefully enable us to move towards a more fulfilled and content future!

Tonight's curator is Miriam Grazier She has selected some posts to highlight from each of the fist 4 2018 topics. 

Tonight she is sharing her picks from Topics 1-4: ATCs, Seth Apter Fresco Paints, Watercolours and Whimsy. Take it away Miriam!

Topic 1: ATC's

The first topic for 2018 was ATC's.  This caused double excitement for me.  Not only did the year start with a versatile and exciting way to create Art, but Leandra started to tantalise our taste buds by allowing sneak peak of the new products that were being released over the following couple of months.

My first pick is this amazing beauty by Jennie Atkinson.  This was the first post to kick off the new topic and the new year. A very soft and vintage ATC using the new Alison Bomber stamps.  This small piece of art is 'typical' of Jennie's beautiful, shabby chic style.  You can see the original post here.  

And I hope you didn't miss Anneke De Clerck's bright and colourful offering using the newly released Tracy Scott stamps.

I adored how much depth were created through the layers. And the colours were beautifully bright and made me think about the forthcoming Spring, much needed after a cold Winter.  You can see the original blog post here.

I just had to share the ATCs created by Autumn Clark for the challenge.  These showed sneak peaks from Scrap Cosy.  Autumn created so much texture on her ATCs.  Just fabulous.  You can see the full post here.

Additionally we saw all sort of beautiful miniature pieces of art of all forms - bright and vintage colours.  The topic really got the creative juices flowing for the new year - the projects shared by the bloggers was inspirational, as well as giving us a hint of the exciting release to come.

Topic 2: New Seth Apter Fresco Paints

Those of you that know me will know just how much I love my Fresco paints. This release brought the Fresco paint collection to 120 - and we know that it has grown since topic 2.  Every time a new colour is released I get VERY excited!

My first pick is this amazing beauty by Ruth Mescall. A very clever idea with the bobbin book.  It showed the paints and stamps perfectly and is a great idea for a memory 'book' or journal.  Here is the original post. 

I adored how Seth's paints were used for bold and delicate projects.  In my contribution to this topic I showed how I was able to use Seth's new colours with the delicate and detailed Lynne Perella collection.

Additionally we saw all sort of ways that the paints were used on different mediums, including the wonderful coasters created by Helen Chilton, which can be seen here.

As you can tell, it was pretty hard to choose between all of the projects created for this topic.  It really showcased Seth's Fresco paints perfectly.

Topic 3 : Watercolours

Topic 3 highlighted Watercolours.  There are so many types of Watercolours around this year.  No longer are they purely for delicate art paintings and this topic brought out the best!

When I first thought about using watercolour I thought that they were for delicate use - something I seem unable to master.  But actually playing with them and finding 'my style' was really fun and I find them so versatile.  This topic gave me so many ideas to try.  It was so hard to choose some of my favourites from this topic!

And I hope you didn't miss Lynne Moncrieff's wonderful watercolour journal. This project blew me away.  Lynne's beautiful style mixed with watercolour was simply divine.  I almost wanted to reach into the blog post to touch the journal.

My second choice to share for this topic is Autumn Clark's bright and cheerful journal.  I simply love the texture and brightness of this project.  Autumn blended the colours beautifully.

Additionally we saw all sort of cards, tags and books created, showing how wonderfully versatile Watercolours are.

Topic 4 : Whimsy

I knew this topic was going to be a pleaser!  At first it pushed me completely out of my comfort zone.  It's one style then I never thought I could crack.  But this topic really pulled it out of the bag.  The inspiration was amazing.

My first pick is Chris Cresswell's cubes.  Chris teamed Fresco paints, stamps and stencils to create a wonderful 3D project.

And I hope you didn't miss Helen Chilton's spoon people.  I can always rely on Helen to show projects that I wouldn't think of in a million years.  The way that she used Kim's stamps was brilliant.  I just loved these altered spoons.  So much so I am surprised my wooden spoons didn't disappear from the kitchen.

I adored how Kate Yetter interpreted the topic into a fabric based project with her Tweet Lil' Purse.  This project showed the whimsical and fun nature of Elena Zinski stamps and teamed it with a useable end project - just wonderful!

Additionally we saw all sort of fun and whimsical projects, with flowers, shadow boxes and lots of whimsical faces!  The intro to the topic included great You Tube videos to show how to draw in a 'whimsy' fashion. 

Thanks for joining me on this look back to the start of 2018
Miriam 

It is fun to look back on what our genius bloggers have shared with us over the course of a year. This year seems to have zapped by in a blink, but at least the blog remains as the perfect reference tool Don't forget to save the posts that float your boat on pinterest. No excuse now, you'll hit the New Year with a dozen ideas to crack on with!

Leandra

2018 #3 Watercolours: A little something to read {by Alison Bomber}

2018 Topic 3: Watercolour
A little something to read by Alison Bomber

Watercolours do beautiful things when salt is added to suck away the colour, leaving behind a truly fabulous texture. Alison captures this effect so well, and shares with you a great gift idea in the process! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Alison from Words and Pictures with you today, and I'd like to share with you some salty, watery bookmarks.

I fell in love with watercolours a year or two ago, and have been exploring their possibilities since then.  I thought I'd combine them with my quote stamps to make some bookmarks.  The salt was an afterthought, but one I'm so happy I added!

I love how the pigment of a good watercolour moves in water, and how some colours granulate (the pigment powder floats in the water to create a mottled look) and some are more stable.  I was using Daniel Smith watercolours to create my masterboard, and they have lots of fabulous granulation in some of the colours.

I think it was that granulation which suddenly made me think of adding salt - something I've done in the past with Distress Inks, but hadn't done with my watercolours before.  I think the effects are spectacular, both while the paint is still wet...

... and when you've brushed the salt away once it has all dried.

I cut a section of the masterboard into strips of equal length and width and then sought out some words to fit onto them.

I used two quotes each from EAB03 Music & Silence

EAB07 Dreaming & Doing

and EAB08 Strength & Courage. See here for links to stockists.

On the paler bookmarks, I stamped in Cobalt and clear-embossed the words with Ranger Clear embossing powder.

And where the paint background was darker, I stamped in Versamark and embossed in Detail Fine White powder by Wow.

Some distressing of the edges, and some fine white twine through the punched holes, and now I can keep my place in the several books I usually have on the go at one time...

... and receive a little extra food for thought from reading the bookmark too!

I hope you'll have a go at salting your watercolours or water-soluble inks.  It really is fascinating watching the crystals at work, soaking up pigment and water and creating the incredible organic patterning.  It certainly won't be the last time I craft with added salt!

Happy crafting all!
Alison x

Blog: Words and Pictures
Pinterest: butterfly crafter

We always hope that you  learn something interesting from our blog. 

Our creative team love to read your comments so much, so please take time to let them know you've been inspired!  

You must complete step 1 AND 2 to be entered into the draw. 

To join our challenge:

1. Leave a comment on the Topic Introduction Post and go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy Apron. 

2. 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 3: Watercolours will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, March 4th 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

All links go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy creative apron. 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 #3 Watercolours: Butterfly card with Hot Picks {by Florence Adam}

2018 Topic 3: Watercolour

Gorgeous blending of colours, the feature of watercolours that is so elegant and dreamy, But a ping of gold just takes this to the next level.

Hi everyone, it's Florence Adam today and I'd like to share with you my butterfly card.

I always feel very impressed when I see beautiful watercolour backgrounds, espicially in scrapbooking. I thought to myself: great! this time, I will make a 12x12 layout for this blog post as I love to scrapbook. Believe it or not, I've tried 2 layouts and I was unhappy with both of them, I ended up by making a 6x6 card.

It looks very technical but it's pretty easy. I am sure that you have in your stash a couple of distress inks which will be perfect for a watercolour project. The only thing you have to buy is watercolour paper. That's the secret!  

A bit of distress inks on a acrylic block, spray water on it and place the block on the watercolour paper. Use kitchen paper if there is too much water (or if it's too wet). The paper can be wet first or not.

Once I've stamped the beautiful butterfly from the HP1602EZ...

I've used some Mixtion Gilding paste on top of the butterfly, in certain places. Let it dry for 15 minutes. Cover the all butterfly with gold leaf (cf. photo below) and remove the excess with a smooth brush.

At this stage, I found my butterfly still a bit "flat", I wanted to add more dimension to it. After gluing some beads, I did the same process as before with the gold leaves. 

I stamped the quote from ESN16 and used some 3D adhesive foam.

As the watercolour paper is pretty textured, it was pretty handy to use the stamping platform (or a Misti) as you can come back as much as you want until your stamping text is perfect. For the first stamping, I used Archival Vibrant Fushia and for the 2nd stamping, I then added Archival Jet Black on some edges. It gives a cool effect I think.

Do you know what would be my wish? To be able to paint a flamingo with watercolour! There is no harm in dreaming...Well I need to think of taking proper drawing classes then! LOL. 

Thanks for joining me tonight!

Florence

Blog: mlledantan.canalblog.com
Facebook: Florence ADAM
Instagram: mlledantan
Pinterest:Florence ADAM

We always hope that you  learn something interesting from our blog. 

Our creative team love to read your comments so much, so please take time to let them know you've been inspired!  

You must complete step 1 AND 2 to be entered into the draw. 

To join our challenge:

1. Leave a comment on the Topic Introduction Post and go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy Apron. 

2. 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 3: Watercolours will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, March 4th 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

All links go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy creative apron. 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 #3 Watercolours with ESN {by Debs Wainwright}

2018 Topic 3: Watercolour

Beautiful splashes of bold watercolours splashed onto watercolour paper creates an awesome background for Sara's stamps. Debs shows us how so effortlessly, and in the process makes beautiful cards into a gift set. Fabulous!

Hi everyone, Debs joining you today, and I'm sharing this little card/notelet set I created using some of Sara Newman’s new stamps which were perfect for what I had in mind. I used ESN 23 &24 . (Stockists list at the foot of this post)

I have always loved those writing sets which were popular when I was a teenager, you know, pretty cards which you would write your letter on with matching envelopes, all kept together in a box which usually matched the cards (... maybe that's me showing my age). There was something sophisticated and grown up about them; remembering them was my inspiration for today's project.

I love using watercolours as the results are often unpredictable which suits my personality, they also lend themselves to spontaneity and freedom which I love to incorporate into my art, the set I used were Gansai Tambi by Kuretake, which are currently my favourite mainly because of the beautiful golds they have which are unusually opaque.

I loved how the colours bled into each other and blended so well. Having wet the surface first with clean water I couldn't predict the outcome, of where the paint would move to on the card, which adds so much fun, and does away with the worry that it might go wrong.

I have a passion at the moment for using gold in my art and these cards were no exception, again it's impossible to predict where the paint will land when you flick it from the brush which just adds to the enjoyment. I also loved how edging the cards in gold worked, I used my non-dominant hand for this, to keep the freshness of uncontrolled colour.

As mentioned earlier Sara's new stamps have a loose style which works so well for me, and were perfect for keeping the uncomplicated look which I sought to achieve. I didn't want anything that looked over worked or too contrived I wanted something anyone could look at and know they could achieve the same look.

Although I used watercolours, you can achieve a similar look with Infusions, by adding water to them in a palette and using them as a paint in the same way, just remember you will get a more vintage look.

The great thing about watercolours is their translucent properties which make them perfect for all kinds of art, whether you want to create a one layer piece or want to build up your layers, or use them in your journals. using them more neat gives a more intensified colour or add more water to increase the translucent properties. Sara’s stamps work perfectly with this style, as there are elements which can be painted and shade added for depth as well as others that can stand alone as part of mixed media or even CAS. 

I hope I have inspired you to have a go with watercolours, there is nothing to be afraid of as the medium is so forgiving, and they work so well with any stamp you want to use with them.

Take care everyone

Hugs

Debs xx

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I'm teaching a mixed Media Project in Tullie House, Gallery and Museum on April 21st 

We always hope that you  learn something interesting from our blog. 

Our creative team love to read your comments so much, so please take time to let them know you've been inspired!  

You must complete step 1 AND 2 to be entered into the draw. 

To join our challenge:

1. Leave a comment on the Topic Introduction Post and go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy Apron. 

2. 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 3: Watercolours will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, March 4th 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

All links go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy creative apron. 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.

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2018 #3 Waterolour Zinskis with ZA {by Chris Dark}

2018 Topic 3: Watercolour

An absolute feast of ideas tonight from Chris. She made some fantastic samples for Elena upon her new release, and now I can see how she created her amazing backgrounds: oxide inks and infusions and a gel printing technique that looks like so much fun! Plus a grunge paste bonus too! You are in for a treat tonight! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Chris with you today and I'd like to share some watercolour projects using the new Zinski Art Stamps by Elena from her fantastic latest release.

I love watercolour so this was an obvious topic for me, I like the traditional kind and also the gorgeous array of water based products on the market these days including powder, pencil, crayons and markers but I also love water based inks, similarly there are pad, pencil, crayon and marker forms of these, there is a lot to choose from and I have to admit that I have chosen most of them over the years!

Have you used watercolours with a gel plate? You would think that being water based and having been spritzed with water they would bead up and not print well but they do spread out perfectly for quite a solid result similar to using paint but with the transparency you get with water based mediums.

I used a small gel plate with Distress Oxide inks in a patchwork style to create A4 sized master boards to turn into an Art-Zine (you can see below how to cut and fold) but I could go on creating master boards like this for a whole crafty session as I enjoy the process so much. You can see below how I used the extra master board I created. I also broke out my PaperArtsy Infusions which can be put to use on the gel plate but this time I layered them over the top of the dried gel prints, you get interesting textures this way.

I'm delighted with how this little art-zine turned out, it's such a great way to try out a new set of stamps but I really wish I had added some extra stickers and made the title 'sheeple I know', I might do that later!

Here you can see how the mono printing progresses, I varied the angle to get the patchwork effect. You can make marks before you print too, I made a concertina of paper and dragged it through the ink before making the print!

Now it gets more interesting with the addition of the Infusions.

Adding some text stamping in the same ink colours creates a harmonious background and PaperArtsy Glazes are marvellous to give a play on matte and shine, here I used Fresco Finish Metallic Glaze mixed with Magenta Infusions stencilled through the Kim Dellow 048 mask .

To create the Zine fold the master board in half width ways, fold each outside edge into the centre (gatefold), open out then fold in half lengthways. Cut as shown above on the length between the two outer sections and push those outer sections in to form the Zine pages. 

I used Inktense pencils for colouring which are water based ink in pencil form that you activate with water, it's similar to watercolour pencil but is a nice vibrant ink.  A bit of  Fresco Finish Gloss Glaze over the top of the sheep gives subtle extra shine.

All the hearts and flowers within the sheeples are slathered with glitter glue, I like to have some twinkles.

I like to stamp the sheep upside down too, it looks as if they're bouncing around in the air! I also added some white pen and Inktense pencil doodles to lift the background a bit.

With the extra master board I made ATCs using some gorgeous Zini's again coloured with the Inktense pencils with lots of doodles and mark making in the backgrounds.

Infusions are also fantastic for mixing into grunge paste, the water in the paste activates the colour and here I created a lovely greeny blue colour. I also coloured the ribbon with the Infusions, that's such a great way to colour co-ordinate your project! The background is Infusions and Inktense pencil watercolouring here and there and this amazing chef is also coloured with them.

Here you can see the inktense pencil watercolouring a bit closer where I've painted in a very loose style on the Chef's whites and the cake.

I had a lovely day of creative play and as you can see watercolour can mean pretty much any water based colouring medium. I've used a few here for some ideas so even if you just make a background with infusions you've had a watercolour play and can enter! Every time I play with infusions I enjoy them more and more, they are so versatile and next time I will definitely try them on my gel plate as the base layer. 

Thanks for joining me tonight and I hope you have some creative time this week.

Website: http://sketchingstamper.blogspot.co.uk/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/chrisd99/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christine.dark.7
Instagram: chrisd999

We always hope that you  learn something interesting from our blog. 

Our creative team love to read your comments so much, so please take time to let them know you've been inspired!  

You must complete step 1 AND 2 to be entered into the draw. 

To join our challenge:

1. Leave a comment on the Topic Introduction Post and go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy Apron. 

2. 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 3: Watercolours will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, March 4th 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

All links go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy creative apron. 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!