2019 #9 Arty Wood Blocks: Enjoy the Little Things with EKC {by Ellie Knol}

2019 Topic 9: Arty Wood Blocks

 

Ellie creates a hanging plaque with a wooden base for her butterflies, but it's not quite that simple! She sets herself a challenge to incorporate many ideas along the way, so how many do you think she fits in? Take a look! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Ellie Knol from PAPER-STAMPS-COLOR with you today, and I'd like to share with you the pleasure I had in creating on .. yes .. a wood block! 

I have thought of making a collage on some house-style woodblocks (3 of them, had them gesso'd already), then thought of using empty blocks from wood-mounted stamps, and also a very rough piece of wood... but in the end, I decided to use the piece of wood you see below as it's already got some structure to it because of the 'lines'.

I wrote down a list of possible techniques I could use, and could check off a whole lot of them while creating.These notes might interest you, I've marked them with an asterisk. 

This is the finished project! I chose to let the photographs do most of the talking this time, along with my notes. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask, please!  

* Use Kay Carley's gorgeous stamp set with butterflies (EKC25). 

* Use smaller blocks of wood too.

* Use embellishments - I found an old necklace I wanted to incorporate.

It took a while to get the chains the way they are now, and to attach them to the wood. 

* Try to incorporate a gorgeous big rusty nail and knob I found during my holiday.  
 

I sprayed it with a sealer first to make the loose parts of rust not fall off. Hope it will stop it getting more rusty too, otherwise it will soon fall apart, hehe.

* Use vellum.

 I stamped the images onto vellum and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. I cut them out, and painted it on the back with Fresco Finish Paints, the colors Green Patina and Granny Smith.  

Because of the wetness of the paints the vellum started to curl a bit... LOVE, LOVE it!

* Use tissuepaper or similar paper (see-through).

I used Deli paper in the end.

 

* Use script in the background.

I've used the words from the same stamp set here and there, peeking in from behind the papers and objects. 

* Use a lot of white paint.  

* Use a drybrush technique with Fresco Finish paints

* Use a whitewash layer

For both I've used Fresco Finish Snowflake, my go-to paint as it's opaque, but also very easy to water-down to use as a whitewash. In addition I've also used two other colors: Green Patina and Granny Smith; the same ones I used to color the butterflies.

* Use a (rusty) chain so the project can be hanged to a wall.

 The chain from the old necklace has been used to be able to hang the project to a wall. 

* Add structure

As mentioned I decided to go with this piece of wood because of its structure. The nail and knob also have structure!

So there you are... a rusty, woody and colorful piece of home decor!

I had to add one extra NOTE :
As I went for the rusty nail and knob, I had a look through my rusty stash of papers and found this one on Deli paper (leftover from the RUST theme a while ago!!). 

I am so happy with the outcome of this project.

These are the notes I did not use: 
- Use crackle paint
- Use the corresponding stencil from Kay (PS128). - Only paint the bottom of the project as a base.
Maybe you can use them on your project.. to join us in the ARTY WOOD BLOCKS challenge!?

Don't wait! Get creative...  and tag us on social media: instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or FB

See you!! Happy crafting!!

Ellie Knol 

Blog: http://elliecreahoekje.blogspot.nl/   http://ellieatcs.blogspot.nl/ 
Owner of : https://www.facebook.com/groups/DutchArtJournal/  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008479362838 
Pinterest: https://nl.pinterest.com/ellieknol/

2019 #7: Turquoise and yellow with EKC [By Chris Dark}

2019 Topic 7: Turquoise

Floaty butterflies painted on teabag paper are the perfect foil to an Infusions bedecked background. Chris has supremely spotlighted Kay's stamps in this turquoise themed treat.

Hi everyone, it's Chris Dark here and I'm sharing my topic 7 turquoise project with you based around Kay Carley's gorgeous butterfly stamps EKC25 and stencil  PS128 which are perfect for bright summer projects.

I had in mind experimenting with some teabag paper bought recently for this project, hoping for a nice floaty effect for the butterfly. I was very happy with the results; the paper held up very well to the paint and Infusions treatments and when dry and cut out was malleable giving a lovely dimensional effect without the need for dimension tape or heavy gel medium to hold the layers up.

I never need an excuse to play with Infusions; they make the most gorgeous and easy backgrounds and that is how my folded tag card came about. I also used them on the base layer for my teabag paper. I eventually ended up cutting out the butterflies but it was nice to see how they worked on that substrate. If you haven't yet tried dying ribbon with Infusions I can highly recommend it, it's a simple one step process that gives you the instant vintage appearance because of the walnut crystals. Previously I would have needed ink from a pad or spray to dye it and then a brown ink pad swiped over after drying to create the aged look. 

I used Infusions in The Sage and A Bit Jaded, sprinkled onto a water spritzed teabag paper. I love watching the process of the crystals melting and spreading.

After drying the teabag paper, I got this gorgeous mottled effect and a much more subtle colour finish. I will have to try allowing it to dry naturally on another occasion to see if there's a difference.

I used the stencil to sponge through mixes of Bora Bora, Beach Hut, Turquoise and South Pacific for the turquoise effect with some Mustard Pickle as the final layer.

 

 

Yummy effects from the stencilling over the Infusions coloured teabag paper.

A gorgeous mix of Infusions here, with that little bit of yellow brightening things up a bit. I used A Bit Jaded, Lemoncello and The Sage.

  

I folded my tag in half to make a card.

The teabag paper cuts out really well without any tearing or fraying.

I've sponged Nougat Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic on the stamp and transferred by smoothing my fingers gently over the butterfly.

I repeated the process with black ink and got some very nice off-set stamping in places.

Dying ribbon with Infusions could not be easier, simply wet the ribbon then sprinkle with Infusions, dry off and crumple whilst still a bit damp. I used Terracotta and Golden Sands Infusions here. 

 

The tag base is stamped with the flower from the stamp set, coloured with pencil and a centre of paint followed by the sentiment in black ink with a white pen outline.

I added a few small Magenta pencil dots in the background and paint dots have also been added to the butterfly on top.I layered two together.

I like how the teabag paper holds its form well when shaped with fingers.

I also stamped the butterfly onto the tag base so that I got all the pretty curly parts of the image that weren't possible to cut out.

Having the butterfly in a solid colour helps it stand out from the busy background.

If you have some teabag paper in your stash I think you might enjoy it as much as I have especially if you like to have some dimension and movement in your projects. I hope you'll have a go at creating with the topic theme, it's a great opportunity to break out all those pretty blue/green paints!

Thanks for joining me today, I wish you a creative week ahead. 
Chris x

Blog: www.sketchingstamper.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christine.dark.7
Instgram: @chrisd999
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/cdark4163/