Hello from PaperArtsy HQ,
At
this time of the year, we take a look back at some highlights of the
2021, and the amazing projects our bloggers have shared with you.
I
guess we could all agree that 2021 has be a year of living life a lot
more 'virtually' than we normally do. Systems are more automated,
education and online classes have become more accessible to us all. Did you learn something new this year? Did you achieve a personal goal, or tick something off the bucket list?
It
has been a tricky year for many of us. Less travel, less contact with
loved ones, and a lot less hugging and physical contact! Were you
challenged in ways you least expected? I guess all
these things help us appreciate what we do have, as well as those we
have lost, or things we can no longer do so easily. no one thought it
would all go on this long, yet here we are. It is amazing how resilient
we can be when we have no choice.
I
suggest you grab a mug of something hot, some leftover food from
yesterday, no doubt we all have some of that, and settle in for the
first of a few days of review posts.
Today we are sharing my picks from Topics 1: Stamp Mash-Up {France Paipllon, Courtney Franich, Seth Apter and Ink & the Dog}, Topic 2: A Pocketful of... and Topic 3: The Creative Laboratory.
Today we are sharing my picks from Topics 1: Stamp Mash-Up {France Paipllon, Courtney Franich, Seth Apter and Ink & the Dog}, Topic 2: A Pocketful of... and Topic 3: The Creative Laboratory.
A big thanks to Dounia for curating these posts.
~ Leandra
Topic 1: Mash Up {FP, ECF, ESA and I&D}
We
started the new year with a new concept: stamp mash-ups... Lots of us
often mix designers when creating, but this time, we are doing it on
purpose! We tried to select distinct and different styles that we could
see working together, from France Papillon's clean details, Courtney
Franich's collaged textures, Ink & the Dog's vintage layers and Seth
Apter's grungy abstracts. This topic is all about looking at those
stamps (and stencils) to find out how they might interact differently,
and maybe stepping a little outside of the comfort zone of your usual
style to have some experimental fun!
My first pick is this amazing project by Nikki
Acton which I feel really represents the mash-up concept on one small
tag. Each collection is recognizable and has a place to shine, while
still creating a cohesive whole. Playing on geometry, Seth's circles
work really well with the I&D clock, despite being pretty much
opposite styles. Nikki's explanation of her process is also an
enlightening read, give it a go (link to original blog post)!
And I hope you didn't miss Corrie
Herriman's very mad project (her words...). A true undertaking! On
striking, striped backgrounds, the stamps coordinate beautifully, helped
by the consistent use of the same background stamps and the careful
choice of focal images. The recurring pointy hats really emphasize the
fun vintage circus vibe. Corrie's attention to detail is amazing, so
check the original blog post to see all sides of this gravity-defying project.
Now
for something truly out of the box ... Keren Baker decided to paint a
violin (and not for the first time either)! This is truly a study in
layers, from the subtly crackled 'sky', to the transparent leaves and
the number-stenciling across the focal images. The limited colour
palette really makes the stamped images stand out and the pink really
'pops'. Be sure to go to the original blog post for more detail pictures of this project, as it is difficult to do the post justice with just one image.
Topic 2: A Pocketful of...
This
topic was originally inspired by pocket journaling. It is quite a
long-serving trend and several of our designers enjoy bullet
journalling, or mini journals and have created stamps perfect for this
theme. However we purposefully left the topic vague enough that other
interpretations could be explored, from actual fabric pockets to a
'pocket of time'. Our idea was mainly to explore the relationship
between the outside and the inside, the exposed and the secret. Our
bloggers were sometime a bit mystified by this title but rallied quickly
with wonderful ideas on how to squirrel secrets into pockets of all
sizes.
Carol
Fox obviously got the pocket journal inspiration for gorgeous tag book
in sunset colours. Sara Naumann is a fan of journaling and pockets
herself, making her stamps perfect for this type of project. Carol's
balancing of warm and cool colours is masterful. Her careful layering of
stencils and stamps results in backgrounds soft enough for her to record her vacation, yet striking enough to add and complement her photographs too. (original blog post)
Now, pockets do not have to hold cards or pictures, for Leandra Franich they
can also hold... paper artdolls. Frankly I suspect Leandra really
wanted to make the dolls and then made her pocket dollhouse to fit the
topic. Art dolls and Lynne Perrella stamps is a concept that goes
hand-in-hand from years ago, in fact most of what Lynne designs are a
form of Art doll, but earlier this year it became a bit of an Instagram
craze thanks to Meghan Whisner-Quinlan. With
Leandra's make, we can still appreciate how transparent layers create
both softness and complexity, while the recurring use of script in
different forms allow the girls to link to each other while each has her
own personality. Check the original blog post to meet them!
Topic 3 : The Creative Laboratory
Another
one of those open-to-interpretation topics... Aren't we creative each
time we craft? So, let's bring some science in our creativity! This was
an invitation to play around with scientific imagery but also to
experiment. Maybe it is the occasion to try a new product or to
attempt a unusual technique, to compare brands or contrast processes to
get just the result you want, and maybe discover other things you like
along the way. Of course, like our precise bloggers, you need to write
your experiments down, that's what makes it science!
First
up, Jenny Marples played with clean colours and the science-inspired
2021 Hot Picks release for this striking pocket book. It is a gorgeous
example of layering and balance of colour, as well as a great use of
white as a contrast. This booklet is also filled with everything a
little chemist might need, so do not hesitate to check Jenny's original blog post for more pictures.
Autumn
Clark went with the 'experiment-and-discover' interpretation of the
topic. You might call it a happy accident process! Following the
scientific method, she theorised that the resist effect of Vaseline
against paint could be applied to Infusions, then proceeded to very
thoroughly prove her hypothesis with extensive experimentation, with
amazing results! Truly a must try on your next 'lab' day, so go over to
her original blog post to learn all the details.
I loved how Miriam Grazier reflected on the topic and built this 3D piece referencing school experiments. It melds science and craft beautifully, with the France Papillon DNA image and the magnifying glass along side the detailed shrunk animals and layered background. Miriam, like a scientist, also thinks beyond the obvious and employs ingenious upcycling. Her original blog post is an insight into her creative process, with its twists and turns and flashes of inspiration.
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 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
