2019 #17 A Vintage Christmas: Christmas Village with I&D {by Helen Chilton}

2019 Topic 17: A Vintage Christmas

A whole Christmas scene unfolds as Helen works her way through decorating a Christmas village with Ink and the Dog stamps ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Helen with you today, and I'd like to share with you my Christmas Village. I'm using I&D stamps which have a lovely vintage feel and was going to make some tree decorations but then remembered I'd got the Tim Holtz little house die from a couple of years ago. The stamps are just the right size and scale and I've added a picket fence by Darcy and some of Scrapcosy's trees. I like making things with lots of detail and this is going to sit on my mantelpiece this Christmas.

Starting with the finishing touches, these are the stamps used for the fence and trees...

I've gone for a grungy, textured look for the houses, brayering Frescos and Infusions together.

I've also stamped with the Infusions, here in Sleight Blue and later with Are You Cerise. I like the watery effect it gives.

These are stamped onto the tissue paper (I use the stuff that PaperArtsy orders often arrive wrapped in). I coloured on the back.

The walnut crystals are starting to show in the stamping here which is great for a vintage effect.

I built up the stamping and used a pen to emphasize the windows

The braids and ribbons just finish it off

I've added trees and a fence plus snow and berries and mossy bits!

It's fun using stamps from different designers in the same project - so often I stick to one designer, and therefore one style only, but I've enjoyed mixing it up a bit. Vintage Christmas is a lovely theme and something like this can be brought out year after year. You don't need the die to create these as the design is quite simple - you could add to your village with taller and smaller houses, birdhouses, lampposts, snowmen, people, gardens - you'll find them all somewhere in the PaperArtsy stamp sets.

Helen

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2019 #3 Mail Art: Hidden Pockets with EDY {by Etsuko Noguchi}

2019 Topic 3: Mail Art

We all love how Etsuko is so creative in such an imaginative and interesting way! This mail art with its stunning contents would be such a wonderful treasure to receive! A wealth of stamps have been used, and numerous fun techniques too! Enjoy! ~Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Etsuko My favorite things with you today, and I'd like to share with you Mail Art Envelope with ATC pockets project using fabulous Darcy's stamps.

I think Mail Art Envelope is a good idea to store ATC. And it's fun to make and fashionable don't you think?

I started by the model of an envelope and these are them size. The dotted line is the folding line and the diagonal line is the margin to paste.

On the outside of the envelope design. I collaged a piece of book page on the A4 Smoothy white card, clear gessoing over the surface, and I dropped on Caribbean Sea, Limelight, Chocolate Pudding and Claret Frescos with water. 

After cutting the sheet of paper and making it into the envelope. I stamped the character stamps of EDY20 and EDY23 on washi paper, painted with watercolor paint, stuck to tear-off envelope. I stamped with HP1006 and roughly painted white gesso. To finish, I sprinkled Chocolate Pudding with water. The string tie closure I used backside paper and embossing by EDY09.

On the backside, I using the  Gelli Plate, the first layer was made with Green Olive (discontinued), Green Patina and Chocolate Pudding and Caribbean Sea Frescos. 

The second layer made by using Caribbean Sea through the Tim's stencil. 

Then I added EDY20 HP1006 by Archival Jet Black, and Lin Brown's ELB31 stamp with some off-white embossing powder.

Then I stuck the pockets.

I also made ATC cards and coins to the pockets using various Darcy's stamps, EDY20, EDY23, EDY05, EM02. EM04 and EM14.

My first thought in Mail Art is a handmade picture postcard, but it would be possible to create works with a wider way of thinking. I enjoyed a little convenient ATC case and made it, but I could not be satisfied a little because the inside design was bit heavy this time. 

I think you have more wonderful ideas, I'm looking forward to seeing them.

Thank you so much stopping by.

Etsuko xxx

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