2023 Topic 10: Tags {by Etsuko Noguchi} with Gwen Lafleur stamps

Hi everyone, It's Etsuko with you today, and I'm here to share with you ' Tag book' using talented designer Gwen Lafleur's lovely and very useful stamps.

When I was child, I loved collecting labels, tags and wrapping papers as you were too. The fun memories of exchanging the items with friends and crafting and playing paper dolls are still the source of my creativity to now.

The large tags are full of possibilities and have been used in various works. Today I use these #10 and #3 tags to make a case with a window and an accordion book with a pockets in it. And please enjoy with me, as I have also included this time themes of 'Tags' and 'Typography' in the project.

First of all, you will see the tools PaperArtsy products used for the case and accordion book, there are still others that are needed but I will be introduced shortly.

I used these tags are ready-made #10 and #3 sizes that I have on hand. 

These tags was coated with white gesso. The #10 tag on the case was painted PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Cerulean and Double Denim using PaperArtsy brayer. The colours were a bit vibrant so I toned down the Snow Flake using brayer.

I then made the collage papers for the surface of the tag case, I added PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Heavy Cream using PaperArtsy Stencil by Tracy Scott PS234 and PS386 stencils on the Cerulean and Double Denim painted copy papers.

Collage and paste those papers onto the painted tag.

I die cut it into an oval shape and made the window for the tag case.

Use the tag case by folding it like this. This photo was taken after this time but I will explain the frame and button band in the image later.

Now I made the accordion book background by painting the front and back pages using stencils onto the Smoothy (Heavy) A4 white stamping card. This photo is the front of book. I then using the PaperArtsy Stencil by Tracy Scott (PS365), I first applied the PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Aqua Duck Egg (199) and moved stencil slightly to apply - Willow (FF178).

Then on the back page, I used brayer to paint Tangerine Twist and Firebird, and tapped Heavy Cream onto the PS386 stencil with a sponge.

Fold the book paper backwards and cut into a mountain shape to make a pockets.

These are to use the papers for the book collage and I adde leftover too.

The Gwen Lafleur stamp set 22 and 23 ( EGL22 and EGL23 ) images stamped in Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black on Smoothy (heavy) A4 white stamping card and lightly coloured with watercolour.

The second thematic Typography had letters SCENE created on a computer and EGL22 image coloured using Ranger Archival and Distress Oxide some inks.

This the entire front page of the accordion book.

Next my typography, I used Grunge Paste and Infusions - Golden Sands, Rusty Car and The Sage on PaperArtsy Stencil by Sara Naumann ( PS297 ) as a background for the tags to give it grungy look.

I was planning to use tissue paper for the focal point of the tags but the acetate I had ordered had just arrived, so I made a double tag. Some alcohol ink was dripped onto a clear block, a little alcohol was added, acetate tag was pressed onto it, coloured and EGL22 images was stamped on the other side with Ranger Archival ink Jet Black.

They are three pairs tags for the each (circle, acetate and typographic).

I also comes with the round tags and is decorated with sari ribbons and small charms.

These are each tags was placed in the pockets like this.

I wondered what kind of stopper be attached to the cover, I looked at the hole in the tag and decided to make a button out of clay and thread an elastic through it to make a band. To make the button, press EGL22 flower onto Sculpey Clay, cut in cookie mould and bake in the oven for five minutes.

Let button cool, I painted with Aqua Duck Egg and a little bit of diluted Double Denim. Once it dried I rubbed with Treasure Gold.

A die-cut oval frame is attached and the EGL23 image stamped onto the acetate  with Stazon Pigment - Snow flake, which is then affixed to the back of the cover to complete the piece.

I made a small pocket on the last page spread and put in a photo slide folder, paper flower and envelope.

I created this tag book by expanding on an idea from Gwen's Facebook free workshop ' Macthbook Minis', Her ideas amazing and always inspired by me and it spurs creativity. 

I first planned out how to incorporate the theme Tags and Typography using Gwen's stamps and decided to use a large tag as a  book cover, sandwich an accordion book in between, and layout the typography on it. In order to create a pleasant atmosphere, I added texture, acetate, Grunge Paste and clay to create a variety of changes. It may not enough yet but I finished it here to leave a topic for tomorrow.

Thank you so much stopping by.

Etsuko xxx

From here is extra post, I collaged after the tags and decorated it with Alison  Bomber's quotes in order to use enough leftover papers.

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NEW PaperArtsy Products: Eclectica³ Gwen Lafleur {November 2021}

 Eclectica³ Collection {Gwen Lafleur}
Nov 2021 New Product Announcement

A note from Leandra:

 

Another fantastic series of stamps from Gwen, and wow has she been thinking about making sure these chime with other stamps, like her previous ticket release. There is a little bit of everything in this release: Indian patterns and shapes, some geometrics, and the florals give a nice soft touch too. I can't wait for you to see what Gwen has done with them!

 

Gwen will be sharing these stamps live in PaperArtsy People shortly after this post publishes. I hope you can catch the live, but if not the replay will be there. you will want to see how she is planning on using these, there are lots of ways you can go with them! I know she has some outside of the box ideas to share!

 

Remember, these stamps are available EXCLUSIVELY from our approved stockists for the next few months. With freight prices soaring due to fewer flights worldwide, it makes sense to buy local within your country, see the list and links at the bottom of this blog post. 

 

Hi everyone, Gwen here!

I'm thrilled to share my latest release for PaperArtsy which includes three new stamp collections.

As per usual, the stamps in this release have a wide range of influences - everything from Indian block printing patterns to grids that work as part of what I call my "Gwenified Basics" to a new nature-themed Build-a-Collage set. I love how each of these sets can be used on its own to create lots of looks and at the same time, they work beautifully both with each other and with my previous sets.  

  New Stamps

Price: RRP €21.92 +VAT
Size:5" x 6" (13 x16.5cm)
All stamps are individually trimmed onto cling foam, presented in a clear hanging bag
with a laminated storage/index sheet.
  

Eclectica³ Gwen Lafleur Set 22 (EGL22)

 

As with all of my stamps, EGL22 is entirely hand-drawn and this particular set is based on a very specific type of Indian block printing patterns called Ajrakh. I have several pieces of Ajrakh printed fabric in my stash and I love the intricate designs. I took inspiration from some of my favorite patterns to create a set of highly detailed stamps that can each be used individually or which can be combined to create cool repeating patterns - great for backgrounds!

Since Ajrakh patterns are typically found in textiles and clothing, I was inspired to make something a bit fun and quirky where I could use the stamps to add pattern to painted clothing on a figurative bud vase that I made with chipboard, paper clay, and PaperArtsy Fresco Acrylic Paint. (I'm lucky enough to have a view pieces by CeramiConnoisseur and this piece was inspired by those.)

 

Of course, having gone so far out of the box with the bud vase, I wanted to show a bit of a more traditional application for these stamps and used them to make this mixed media piece.

 

I love how the same set of stamps worked to give me two different repeating backgrounds as well as both focal and accent images. I also really like how versatile they are - even though the designs were inspired by Indian patterns, they work perfectly in all different kinds of projects. Repeating the designs creates backgrounds for art journals, scrapbook layouts, handmade cards, and even mixed media canvases while just using them on their own turns them into great focal points. Gotta love a multi-use stamp!

To show some of the possibilities with this set, I put together some sample boards with different ideas for combining and repeating the designs.

I don't know about you, but seeing the different ways you can repeat and combine them makes my fingers itch to go stamp with them!

Eclectica³ Gwen Lafleur Set 23 (EGL23)

EGL23 is the second in my Build-A-Collage series with the idea being that you have all of the elements you need in a single set to stamp patterns, ephemera and collage papers, and focal images. When I was designing these I had recently learned about the concept of Ullassa, which is a Sanskrit term describing the feelings of pleasantness you get from being in nature. I love to walk outside early in the morning in the woods near my house so it's a concept that resonates with me and I carried both the word and the idea of nature into the other elements of this set.

 

With this set I really wanted to convey how easy it is to create a collage with nothing but a substrate, stamps and ink, and maybe something to color with (I used colored pencils for these.) I love how beautifully the images layer and work together on top of these antique postcards.

 

The pattern I included with this set was inspired by a woodblock in my collection originally made for printing African mud cloth. The text was taken from a page in an antique Buddhist prayer book that I happened across several years ago. And the postage stamp was inspired by a combination of images and ideas from different stamps I collected in China during one of my visits a few years ago.

 

 

Stamps, ink, a bit of masking... et voila! Fun little collages ready to frame, add to my art journal, or even send off in the mail.

Eclectica³ Gwen Lafleur Set 24 (EGL24)

  

 

I call this set Grids Gone Wild - Squares... I really wanted to start to add some more textural patterning stamps into my line. I feel like this fits perfectly with my "basics" (including my labels, tickets, alphabet, and frames.) You can mix and match the stamps in this set to get backgrounds, borders, and embellishments - it's so fun to play with and I just adore the grid of squares filled with images inspired by vintage Spanish bus tickets and Zentangle patterns.

 

You can see here how just changing the colors of the stamp inside the grid can completely change the look of the design.

I love the patterned squares peeking through the center as part of the focal point - adding some color gives yet another totally different look to the same design that's used in multiple places on this canvas.

I decided to go a bit out of the box again with this stamp to showcase how fun it can be to create decoupaged elements using different combinations of stamps from this set with pops of red. I made this little trinket dish from chipboard and I love how the transparent layers of stamped tissue paper worked to turn it into a cool little piece. Below you can see how it looks laid flat and hosting my funky little bud vase:

I put together another sample board for this set to demonstrate how the stamps can work individually, together, and repeated. (Pro tip: stamp the grid first and then center the filler pattern over the stamped grid design - it gets them aligned really well without a lot of fuss.)

Project

For my project combining all three stamp sets, I was inspired by a trend that I've been seeing in the bullet journaling world - register tape collage! It's such a fun and easy way to use your stamps (with or without additional products) to create your own collage fodder.

First, start with your register tape. (If you don't have any, you can just use long strips of copy paper and tape them together if you want a really long piece.) I pulled out some lighter colors of Archival Ink and stamped the two open grid designs from EGL24 randomly across the whole length of paper.

Next I pulled out some slightly darker inks and stamped the grid filler patterns (putting some inside the grids) as well as some of the more background-type elements from EGL22 and EGL23.

Then I started to get some darker inks and more focal type images from EGL22 and EGL23 and randomly added those on top. One of my favorite things about working this way and going light to dark as I add layers is that you can get distinct images that play beautifully together without having to do any masking.

I used a few other colors of ink to fill in with more stamped shapes and kissed over top with the Sansrkit text stamps, then called it good. You can really go as short or as long as you want with these collage strips - it's such a versatile way to work! When you're done, you can just roll them up and store until you need them (I use a paper clip to keep it from unraveling.)

Once the register tape collage is done, you can store it away to use as needed or jump right into a project. Just unroll and cut off the length that you need and then put the rest away again for another project.

Here I just cut off a piece 3-1/2" long to use on an ATC. I adhered it to a piece of 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" cardstock, added some washi tape and stickers, and in about 5 minutes I had a finished ATC! (Not to mention a pretty good-sized strip of stamped register tape collage left over for later.)

Whew! That's it for now... I'm absolutely loving working with these new sets and mixing them in with my other stamps. I hope you're just as excited to use them! 

Thanks for joining me in my excitement for this release... I can't wait to see how you all use these as they get out into stores and your studios. 

Socials...

Website: https://www.gwenlafleur.com

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/GwenLafleur

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gwenythlafleur

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwenaval

Teaching Schedule:

Just announced! I'm joining for the 7th year in a row as a teacher in Creative JumpStart 2022 - registration opens on November 29th, but you can head over now for details.

March 15, 2022, Art & Soul Retreat, "Paper Prayer Flags"

March 16, 2022, Art & Soul Retreat, "Flip Art Folio"

March 18, 2022, Art & Soul Retreat, "Stitches + Glue: Mixed Media with Fabric & Paper"

I also have several online workshops available on demand. Those and future workshops are all listed on my website.

Below is a list of the retailers who have already got these new releases in stock ready for you to buy NOW!