Journal Page {with Lynne Perrella Stamps by Helen Mazengarb}

Hello, it's Helen here,  from Down Under, I’m very happy to be on the PaperArtsy Blog once again. When Darcy asked me if I would like to do another guest spot I jumped at the chance. I chose a set of stamps from the Lynne Perrella Collection #LPC028 to play with and decided to work in my small Dylusion’s journal.

To begin with I prepped the page with gesso and then applied grunge paste through a Prima stencil. Following this I adhered some tissue paper and then applied a coat of Mushroom Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic.

 As some of the tissue paper was sticking up where I didn’t want it to so I spread some more grunge paste in random spots. Then I added some more paint layers using Candy Floss mixed with Mushroom, then Candy Floss.

Using the script stamp from the LPC028 and Plum Archival Ink I stamped some images randomly through the background. Then using the long flowerpot stamp I stamped some images using Magenta Hue Archival Ink. Following this I mixed Claret paint with  glazing liquid, (you could use matte,satin or gloss depending on the look you are going for).to create a glaze which after painting it on I let it sit on the page for about 2 minutes then wiped it off with baby wipes.

Lpc028

Now to start working on the foreground, I stamped the house stamp along the bottom of the pages in black ink. Then I stamped the large lady on the right hand page and then once again on some art paper. I mixed some Blush paint and glazing liquid to make the paint more transparent and painted the dress and hat of the lady. I cut out the main shape not worrying about the dangly bits as they are already on the page from the first stamped image. Then I glued it over the first stamped image. On another piece of paper I did some second generation stamping with the last stamp from the set and then over the top I wrote, “she remained true to herself”, trimmed and inked the edges and glued on the page. To finish off I spritzed some Peacock Feathers marker around the page and inked the edge of the page with black ink.

The lighter paint brushed lightly over the darker shade creates great depth , especially over and around the textured areas. 

I hope you enjoy my journal page and find some inspiration to try some of these techniques yourself. 

Happy crafting, Helen.

A huge thanks to Helen from all at PaperArtsy HQ. We love how this page is totally transformed from one layer of colour to the next. The final layer is full of light and truly brings the page alive. 

If you would like to join in our weekly challenge with any of this week's guests who have blogged since Sunday night, then join in to link up your creativity HERE you will go in the draw to win PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by17:00 (London time) Sunday 25th May 2014

Tulip Canvas {with ELB Tulip Die and Vintage I&D stamps by Helen Mazengarb}

Hello everyone or should I say G’day! My name is Helen Mazengarb and I am an Australian crafter who loves texture, stamping, stencilling . . . well actually anything that helps me alter the surface that I’m working on. I started scrapbooking 12 years ago and in the past 2 years I have branched out into mixed media. I am lucky as I get to teach art journaling at my local scrapbook store.

Last year on my holiday around Britain I purchased the Tulip #1 Cutting Die from Leandra. I have always been fascinated with tulips, they are my favourite flowers and I was even called ‘Tulip’ for a number of years (I am half Dutch) plus my front door has two tulip stained glass panels in it. This was my inspiration for today’s mixed media piece.

I decided to make a ‘Welcome’ canvas for the wall near the front door. I hunted around my craft room and found a 10 x 10 inch canvas board that I had previously glued paper pieces onto and coated with gesso. To begin I used a piece of Cut-N-Dry foam plus Mermaid and Bora Bora and dipped it into both colours and swirled the paint over the canvas mixing as I painted. 

Following this I stencilled the Reversed Chicken Wire with Archival Aquamarine ink in random spots.

I then mixed some Aquamarine Treasure Gold and Beach Hut with Grunge Paste and stencilled through the Mini Bricks stencil. 

To add some more interest to the background layer I used the script stamp from the Vintage Ink and the Dog collection ID01 and the Aquamarine ink plus the smaller postmark stamp and Archival Cornflower Blue ink.

Time to begin the tulips. I used some heavy art paper, GrungePaper is also ideal for this idea too, and die cut 3 sets of tulips from the Eclectica: Lin Brown Tulip dies. 

Using Candy Floss, Orchid and Claret to create a Hot Pink, I painted the petals and then edged with Royal Amethyst Treasure Gold. When piecing together I used some dimensional glue to hold the back two layers apart, which seems to accentuate the layers nicely. I curled the thin petal with my paintbrush for added dimension at the front. I painted the inside of the thin petal with Candy Floss and then stamped the script stamp, the one used earlier, with Claret. 

Using some vintage music paper I cut out some stems and leaves, these got painted with Limelight and Tinned Peas. After adhering the flowers to the canvas I used some watered down Beach Hut to shade around the tulips and leaves.

In my stash I found some canvas letters and adhered them on with gel medium. I coloured them with Treasure Gold Limited Edition #5 (Limited Edition TG is generally only available from PaperArtsy at the shows they do), buffed them up and then outlined them with a black PITT pen. I found some butterflies in my stash and coloured them with Treasure Gold: Copper. Finally I used my Cerulean Portfolio soluble oil pastel and edged the canvas and voila it’s finished.

I hope this has sparked your creativity, and inspired you to get out your PaperArtsy dies. 
See you again later in the year, Helen.

A huge thank you  to Helen from PaperArtsy HQ.The individual layers here, of paint, paper, paste and diecut shapes, all complement each other so well. This is a wonderful canvas, high impact but easily achievable, the perfect motivation to get out all those great PaperArtsy dies.

A little bit of a secret, but I've heard that the powers that be at PAHQ might be releasing some pretty stamps to go with those ELB dies in the next week or 2! shhhhhhhhh you didn't hear it from me OK! Just keep it between us!

If you would like to join in our weekly challenge with any of this week's guests who have blogged since Sunday night, then join in to link up your creativity HERE. You will go in the draw to win PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by 17:00 (London time) Sunday February 2nd 2014