2019 #5 Maps & Plans: Documenting Travel Plans with ECF {by Keren Baker}

2019 Topic 5: Maps & Plans

Hi everyone, it's Keren Baker with you today, and I'd like to share with you a piece inspired by Courtney Franich's new stamps and show you how I managed to wrestle them into this topic!!

My initial idea after looking at the set focused on the circle and words stamp that reminded me of when people have maps on their walls and they sometimes have pushpins where they've been or where they want to go. We often traced lines on maps (pre sat nav days!) to show the routes we took and so I decided to use that as the design element on my travel plan journal.

Rather than just drawing lines, I decided to draw and then backstitch in them in different coloured thread, giving the impression of different journeys. I really recommend poking the holes first!! My hand was a little sore by the end. I had stamped the image multiple times using grey ink onto PaperArtsy Heavyweight Smoothy card.

I used Courtney's new set ECF06 and I absolutely love the multiple textures on each image.

You can see the finished stitching below. I used an Eileen Hull die (Journal die) to cut out the tops and also the base of the journal in mountboard and hadn't factored in that I should have cut out the shape FIRST so I knew my sewing wouldn't be cut into. Thankfully the fabric wrap on the spine saved the day and secured some of the unravelling stitches!

I wanted to use something metallic and thought that these cheap copper plant tags would do the trick. They're thin enough to trim on my trimmer and also bend beautifully. I was quite tempted to stamp on them too.

I had an old frame lying around and decided to use on the wrap I had created to keep the journal closed. The whole colour scheme was based on some fabric I'd bought shortly after knowing I was going to do this project. The map fabric is so literal, I wanted to do something a little less expected with the images.

Once I'd added the frame to the wrap, it still looked a little 'bare' so I thought some copper wrapping, wire and a few of the cut out stamp elements to create a little 'movement' in the design.

You can see the spine here- I wanted an easy way of hiding the elastic for the signatures inside and didn't want to sew it. Applying sheets of double-sided adhesive worked really well and by putting the adhesive cover piece downwards, I actually cut it well with my rotary cutter. It also adds strength to the journal with constant opening and closing.

Onto the dodgy bits! I didn't have any wide elastic so had to make do with two pieces and the 'was a good idea at the time' of creating a fabric key fob ended up a bit ugly. I think I'll recreate it but in a flatter way and using one of the other leaves.

The details on the stamps are so beautiful. I wanted to add a cluster of elements at the bottom and used copper and blue inks to add colour.

Using stamps fully and partially in different ways creates so many options. I love being able to trim out elements and use them for detail and this stamp set is so great for that. I want to use these stamps next on fabric. I can't wait to see how they will look on a neutral fabric with bold colours! 

Thanks for being with me today,

Keren x

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2019 #5 Maps & Plans: Far Off Travels with LPC {by Kate Yetter}

2019 Topic 5: Maps & Plans

For her Maps and Plans project, I love how Kate has copper-painted over her map background and the beautiful painted details she's incorporated. Her clever use of fibres again gives the perfect contrast.

Hi everyone, Kate here with you today, and I'd like to share with you the start of my travel themed memory journal.

I have been needing the excuse to start an art journal to document the yearly trips that my husband and I take. Lynne Perrella's stamps remind me of all the exotic places I would love to visit someday so of course when planning my map themed project I chose these stamps as the focal point.

The cover is full of layered elements and I really love the map in conjunction with the Asian character washi tape. I think it gives off a definite travel flair. 

The title page for our first trip is made using a printed map that I altered as the background. I made sure to include the name of the city that we visited as those pictures will be represented in the subsequent pages.

I downloaded several free vintage maps and used my inkjet printer to print them. I used the Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Copper paint to create a vintage look. I love how it created a shimmer to the paper. I also used Mustard Pickle. Gold, Green Patina and Captain Peacock.

 

Lynne Perrella images are very detailed so a vast amount of my time was spent painting the images. I like using the PA Smoothy (Regular) A4 White Stamping Card as the base for stamping and Fresco Finish paints to colour the images from LPC038 and LPC040.

A lot of fabric and paper scraps from my table were used to create dimension and texture.

I used fibres, die cuts and stickers to embellish the pages aside from Fresco Finish Paints and Infusions.

The photos do not show it well, but all the images have a lovely sheen due to the Fresco Finish Copper and Gold paints that were used.

I have always shied away from scrapbooking because I don't enjoy working with  4x6 photographs. But I am particularly drawn to using fussy cut stamped images in my art and I never thought to include these into my memory books. This was the perfect project to combine documented memories as well as layering and stamped images. I will be scattering these title pages throughout the journal to showcase my favorite stamps and techniques alongside my photographs. I hope you are not afraid to mix it up and use your favorite stamps and mixed media techniques in your scrapbooks/memory books.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today,

Kate Yetter.

Blog: https://kateyetter.com/

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2019 #5 Maps & Plans: Vintage Travel Spool with VID/ I&D {by Jennie Atkinson}

2019 Topic 5: Maps & Plans

Jennie's sumptuous spool is a dreamy project showing how just using vintage maps, canvas and some stamping create a miniature art piece chock-full of character.

Hi everyone, it's Jennie (Live The Dream) with you today, and I'd like to share with you a vintage travel spool, or "snippet roll" as they are sometimes called on Pinterest.

My husband made me some wooden spools from scraps left over in his workshop recently and I thought our current Maps and Plans challenge would be the perfect opportunity to use one. After all we have plenty of maps sitting in a box in the study! However when I went to look through them all they were all lovingly marked with our cycle trips over 20 years and so I couldn't really use them. But I found a really old map lurking in the bottom and it fitted the bill perfectly being vintage browns. Having never been to the Lake District it is not one of mine!

I wanted to combine the map with some stamping on linen and knew that this would involve sewing elements onto the linen after stamping. I have used both linen cloth and some tape for the smaller stamps as it frayed less and stamped with Potting Soil Archival Ink.

I have used a number of my favourite Vintage Ink and the Dog stamps sets:

Vintage Ink and the Dog (IDO2EZ) A5 stamp set

 Ink and the Dog Collection Travel 2 (T2) A6 stamp set

Ink and the Dog Collection Travel 4 (T4) A6 Stamp Set

I started with pieces of the map and my stamped pieces on a strip of the linen. At only 2.5" wide there is not much room so it did require a fair bit of experimentation! And not everything was used in the end. There were some lovely titles on the map which I wanted to use as well.

I stamped onto the linen background before sewing each piece onto the linen ...... actually it wasn't too laborious and I was pleased with the effect.

The hardest bit was stitching the linen to the spool so it is a bit loose! but in the scheme of things both looks and works well.

Finally a strip of map was attached to the back of the linen (hiding all the horrible bits of sewing and threads!). I was impressed at how well the map paper stood up to being sewn like this.

As you can see this is probably a map from the 70's so perhaps the paper is thicker and more capable of being stitched. I don't think I would have been able to stitch the more modern flimsy maps of today.  It is probably worthwhile looking out for older maps in your local charity shop.

The combination of linen and maps works well and means it wraps nicely around the spool. I remembered just in time to add some ribbon between the two layers before finishing the sewing.

The wee chappy is from one of Tim Holtz's Paper Doll sets and I think just finishes the spool off perfectly.

To be honest I wasn't too sure whether this project would come together. Combining the map paper with linen seemed a good choice but did require sewing to hold everything together. The VI&D and I&D stamps were just perfectly sized and it was possible to use smaller pieces of some of the larger stamps as well. 

I think I could get a little hooked on making these little vintage spools .... and they do look so cute!

As always thank you for joining me and happy crafting.

Jennie x

Blog: Live the Dream

2019 #5 Maps & Plans: Home Is Where The Heart Is with ESN {by Miriam Grazier}

2019 Topic 5: Maps and Plans

Some of the best art incorporates places or memories that are special to us and Miriam shares her love for her home town that has translated into a beautiful piece; full of meaning.

Hi everyone, it's Miriam here with you today, and I'd like to bring you a project sharing the love of my home town, Cardiff.

Cardiff will always be 'home' to me, despite having moved away 19 years ago.  As soon as I saw the topic I knew that I wanted to create something using a map of Cardiff and I managed to find some older maps that would work beautifully with the colour scheme that I chose.  I also met my husband in Cardiff when we were students and so this could also work well as a birthday or anniversary card as it would have a special meaning for us both.

I enjoyed creating this project so much.  It actually felt so right; using products and colours that I love and creating something based on a map of Cardiff.  I thought I would struggle to cut a map up at first (a bit like new paper syndrome) but I ended up using two maps.   

For the base of my project I used the scraped paint technique, using the perfectly sized new spatula that comes with the PaperArtsy brayer.  The scraper is great for this but also for Grunge Paste. I used Fresco Finish Acrylics in the following colours: Pea Coat, Mermaid, Buff, Gold and Koala.

As you might know, I love Sara's stamps, and there were quite a few hearts to choose from.  I went for this one though as it is a more 'open' stamp and I was able to use another map.  The texture on the stamp is amazing too.  I used ESN11 and ESN25 and stencil PS092. It fitted with the old maps that I used.

I kept layering paint, stencils and gold drips onto my project.  This added texture and depth even though the project is fairly flat.

The colours that I chose really worked well with the maps.  Not traditional colours that you would use with hearts but I think this worked for me. 

I really enjoyed using old maps.  I have loads of other ideas where I could put the map down first, or bits of maps and then layers paints and collage.  The ideas are endless, but so much fun.  I also loved adding splashes of Gold Fresco Acrylic paint as it just lifted the project slightly.  

I hope that I have inspired you enough to have a go yourselves.  For those of you, like me, who are scared of ripping up a map; do it!  It's really not that hard when you are creating something that has a special meaning to you.

Thanks for joining me this evening.  I look forward to seeing your creations using Maps and Plans.  

Happy Crafting!

Miriam

Blog: Miriam's Creative Dreams

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