2020 Topic #19 Future Dreams with ESN {by Miriam Grazier}

       2020 Topic 19: Words Of Wisdom

Miriam has created a lovely tag here using texture from stencilled Grunge Paste along with a beautiful phrase from within the Sara Naumann range.
~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Miriam with you today, and I'd like to share with you a motivational tag that I have created using a quote from ESN25.  I love Sara's stamp sets - there are always so may beautiful quotes that it was difficult to choose one quote.

I chose to decorate a MDF tag as they are great surfaces and are versatile if I want to display my work.  I plan to display this above my home work station as motivation while I work.  The tag is a great size and I was able to use alot of texture and paint without affecting the tag. 

One of the features of Fresco Finish Acrylic paint is the inherent chalky nature of the paint means you don't need to gesso your surface first. Gesso is a chalky base, and these are chalk paints, so that is a totally unnecessary step with Frescos!

You can just see the coverage that the opaque paint gives - and this was the first layer of Koala on a blank MDF tag.

 

PS092 Is the stencil I used. I loved the look of the Grunge Paste through the Sara Naumann stencil.  It's interesting to only use small parts of a stencil too, not in whole blocks

I also learnt that if I went wrong - which I did in the photo above, that all I had to do was paint straight over it - this will only work with the opaque paints but, again, I painted one layer of Koala over the Midnight paint and I couldn't see any trace of the midnight at all.  This really is why I love Fresco Finish Acrylic paint.

 

  

 

The stamp chosen for the tag is from the Eclectica³ Sara Naumann Series, set 25 (ESN25). There are a lot of elements on here to make cards and tags with ease.

PaperArtsy stamps work so well stamped onto paint. 

 

 

 

I wanted my quote to be sat on top of the texture, so I stamped the Eleanor Roosevelt quote from ESN44 (available exclusively from PaperArtsy Stockists) onto 1 ply tissue using Archival ink.  I then tore around it and added it to the tag using matte medium.

I added a few touches of Gold Rush to the raised diamonds and the edges of the tag - I loved how the colour looked regal against the Koala and midnight.  

I layered the feathers to add dimension to my tag.

I was so happy with how this tag turned out.  And the quote is perfect in the current climate to keep me motivated.  

I really hope I have inspired you to create your own motivational tags.  I think we all need some words of wisdom in our lives at the moment.

Thank you for joining me this evening.

Happy Crafting!
Miriam

Blog: Miriam's Creative Dreams

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

Facebook: Miriam's Creative Dreams

2018 #10 Paper Dolls: Forever Yours with ESN {by Miriam Grazier}

2018 Topic 10: Paper Dolls

Miriam is back today, and her frame suits this project perfectly! Lots of texture in the background, and as ever, she shares a few really good tips too! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Miriam  with you today, and I'd like to share with you a faux framed romantic picture, using lots of goodies to compliment the Paper Dolls that I have chosen.  I've used Fresco Finish Acrylic Chalk paints in Spanish Mulberry, Dolly Mix and Sugar Plum, Grunge Paste, Treasure Silver and a mix of old and new Sara Naumann stamps.

I wanted the paper doll image to stand out on my project but wanted to also create texture and so I used a technique that Leandra demonstrated earlier this year which used Grunge Paste scraped onto a background in random areas.  I'll explain more about this later in in the post.

As soon as I saw this Paper Doll image I immediately thought of Sara's early 2018 stamp release ESN23 and ESN25.

Eclectica³ Sara Naumann Set 23 (ESN23)

Eclectica³ Sara Naumann Set 25 (ESN25)

Sara has some lovely romantic images and quotes that work so well with the chosen image.  I had great fun choosing colours and images.  I tend not to lean towards the traditional reds for romance, but found the pinks / purples mix soft and romantic.

I started by using Leandra's technique to scrape Grunge Paste thinly over a piece of Grey board.  This took practise for me as I kept scraping it too thinly, but that was fine as the joy of Grunge Paste meant that I could simply smooth it over again with a spatula and start again. If you are worried about it drying too fast while you work, you can mist it softly with water.

Eclectica³ Sara Naumann Set 02 (ESN02)

Once I had the 'right' consistency, I used my 'go to' script stamp from ESN02 and stamped into the Grunge Paste to create texture.  I love how the simple texture creates a lovely effect on the background.

I'm not great with colour matching, but the Fresco Chalk Acrylics work so well together.  I used Sour Grapes to stamp the music notes and heart stamps randomly over the board.

To create a shadow I drew around the Paper Doll image using a Stabilo All pencil and softened the line using a water brush.  This made the finished project look a bit more 'grounded'. 

The faux frame was simply card, painted around the edges using Pewter Fresco Acrylic Paint.  To make it more realistic and a bit distressed, I then stamped the dense script stamp  from ESN25 which ends up looking more like 'scratches' around the border using Archival ink. And once dry, I rubbed Treasure silver around the 'frame' and buffed it up to give it some shine.

 

I loved how the silver worked so well with the romantic feel of my project.  I felt that it gave it a fairly vintage and soft feel as opposed to a more traditional modern effect.

I really hope that I have inspired you to create a project using Paper Dolls yourself.  They are so fun to use and can give totally different effects and meaning.  And, more importantly to people like myself who do not have any patience, they are already cut out and so there is no fussy cutting (yes, this excited more than you could imagine!).  

I simply loved the Grunge Paste technique - it's so much more interesting than stamping solely onto painted card.  I love the texture and the feel of the stamped Grunge Paste.  I think I could have embellished the project more using, maybe, some pearls and lace.

Thanks for joining me this evening.  And, yes, get out those Paper Dolls and start using them instead of hoarding them!  You can see more about this project on my blog. Do pop along and let me know how you use your Paper Dolls.

Blog: Miriam's Creative Dreams

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To join our challenge:
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2. Make something arty relevant to the topic, and link your creation from any social URL (eg. Instagram, Pinterest, Blog Post etc) sharing your original make to this challenge page 

The current topic link Topic 10: Paper Dolls will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, June 17th 2018, and the winner will be announced 1 hour later at 18:00, because we have some new product announcements starting at 19:00.