2024 - Year in Review - Topics 4, 5, 6 {on the PaperArtsy Blog}

Hello everyone from PaperArtsy HQ,

We continue taking a look back at some blog highlights for 2024.

2024 was a pretty unpredictable year in many ways, from wet, hot and stormy weather to oodles of elections across the globe, most of us have been impacted by something unpredictable.  Our sense is that people are hoping for calmer times ahead in 2025. 

For us here at PA HQ it has been amazing to finally start the relocation of all our machinery and equipment into the stables - a much slower project than we anticipated it to be a couple of years ago. But if there is one thing we have learnt in France it is how to be patient. Balancing work, family and our quickly expanding social network has been an absolute pleasure this year - all topped off with lots of visits to us here from friends and family from near and far. We are so fortunate to be able to share our little corner of this world with so many people year-round.

Today we look back at Topic 4: Books & Journals, Topic 5: Ink Pads and the designer focus for Topic 6 was Scrapcosy products. 

These topics all have an added touch of mystery, as the overarching theme was hidden. Lots of secrets and surprises to explore within the creative exploits of the blogging team! From subtle secret journaling to interactive, moveable parts. The interpretation of 'hidden' is vast. We left it to our amazing blogging team and their muses to channel this in a way that resonates with their creative style!

Let's take a closer look at some of the highlights from this section of the year.

Topic 4: Books & Journals

We felt it was time to revisit an all time favourite: Books and Journals! If you take a peak at the topic intro post, you can enjoy plenty of eye-candy. You will also notice that we did not limit this topic to making but expend it to altered books, using book parts or even projects about books. Quite an extensive playground for our amazing blogging team!

The talented Kaz Hall (The Maker's Table) shared with us this elegant pocket book made of... books! It is amazing how she pulled the parts together with such a delicate colour palette. Be sure to check her original post HERE for a more involved description of her process as well as views of the lovely interior.

Ellie Knol also indulged in book making, a favourite past time of hers, with this dreamy cover and its lacy signatures. The contrast between the vibrant colours and the delicate lace is just gorgeous! Follow this project developing organically in Ellie's original blog post HERE, and take a peak at the inside!

Did you spot this clever altered book full of pockets by Autumn Clark (SewPaperPaint) made for the 'with 3 things' challenge? She perfectly balances intricate Lynne Perrella stamps, free hand elements and a moody blue palette for a personal and expressive result. To discover a few of the secret layers hidden in this piece, go to her original post HERE.

Finally, I simply can't leave out the fantastic Lady Hara of the Green Leaf by Riikka Kovasin (Paperiliitin). There's so much to feast the eyes on here... A true majestic Lady of the word! A visit to her original post HERE is a must to appreciate all the ways she incorporated the 'book' theme in this incredible rabbit doll!

Topic 5: Ink Pads

This was a slightly more technical topic for a change. Hundreds of references of ink pads are available nowadays and it is not always easy to understand the differences. The topic intro post aims to clarify the main types of ink pads available and their properties, as well as several characteristics that might influence your choice when working on a specific project. It's good to know what t use (or not) in the myriad of mixed media situations you mind find yourself in! 

These sea creatures cards by Claudia Neubacher look deceptively simple but, as per the 'hidden' theme, they both reveal secret messages! Check her original post HERE for all the contraction detail as well as a neat stamp & ink mirroring trick!

We really loved this faux stained glass panel by Ann Barnes. Her post HERE explores transparency and thoroughly explains how to use the Alcohol Lift Inkpad by Ranger. Such a vibrant yet subtle result, perfect to catch sunrays and add a touch of magic to a room!

We hope you did not miss Etsuko Noguchi's exploration of Distress oxides making this delicate mini book with a secret! What a great selection of colours, so dreamy. Be sure to stroll through her post HERE to enjoy all the delicate details of this beautiful make.

We really can't leave out this fantastic journal spread by Liesbeth Fidder-de Vos with her mystery 'with 3 thing' package. Visit her original post HERE to see how she mixes the OG Distress inks with her signature bleaching technique for a colourful yet soft look with highlights.

Topic 6: Focus on Scrapcosy

Since 2017, Raquel Burillo, AKA Scrapcosy, has been regaling us with vintage imagery and intricate patterns. These designer deep-dives allow you to learn more about where her inspiration & creative process stems from and the impact her international background has had on her art. Read this interview in the topic intro. It is always fascinating to see how our fantastic bloggers interpret a designer's work in their own style and this time was no different!

Our first pick is these gorgeous grungy tags made by Mags Woodcock using her mystery 'with 3 things' package. Mags and Raquel are both lovers of ephemera! Check the original post HERE for all the rusty deliciousness, both 'faked' with paints and Infusions, and real. 

With her '3 things' goodies, Mi Mii created this whimsical spinning card. What a clever ideas, so different! We really loved the contrast of the vintage imagery and fresh colours. In her original post HERE you can see the details of the construction and the other hidden parts of the wheel.

I simply can't leave out this fantastic interactive journal page by Nikki Acton (a2a.craft).  She chose a mash-up of Scrapcosy's and Kate Crane's designs with peppy colours, for a unique look. It almost seem like two completely different pages, but she actually explains her clever use of windows, flaps and sliding parts in her post HERE.

I also could not leave off these funky journal pages by Riikka Kovasin. There are not Riikka's usual style, or what you would expect with Scrapcosy's stamps, but aren't these owl ladies amazing! A great example of transformative and creative thinking. See all the fun layers of these makes in the original post HERE.

We really hope you have enjoyed all the creativity shared today, and the hidden secrets from our talented team. Do not hesitate to visit their posts and pages for even more inspiration! 

Part 3 coming soon!

2024 Topic 5: Ink Pads {by Autumn Clark} on the PaperArtsy Blog

Hi everyone!  It's Autumn Clark from SewPaperPaint here with you today.  Summer days are passing by quickly for me, as I'm sure you can relate.  The current topic, Ink Pads, had me thinking of quick and easy ways to stay creative during the busy summer months.

Creating simple stamped projects with ink pads has always been a favorite way for me to play.  Getting inky just suits my need to make a mess and be expressive with color.  I created a series of cards to give for birthdays and hope they inspire you to get inky too!

I really enjoyed working on these fun backgrounds and love how beautifully these stamps work together for such fun patterns.  The bold flowers and punch of black really makes the finished cards pop, something that is especially fun for birthdays.

It took me a while to decide on a set of stamps, as Tracy Scott has so many wonderful background sets that would work perfectly with this project.  For my backgrounds I went with the gorgeous PaperArtsy stamp set 25 by Tracy Scott (TS025).  I would highly recommend trying stamp sets TS041 and TS085 for similar backgrounds if you have a chance! EM58 has been re-coded now that Tracy is on her own index sheets as TSM02, and EM64 as TSM08

Next, I poured over my Distress Ink Pads to choose three analogous colors in four colorways.  I was hoping to both inspire you in your favorite colors AND to give you several options if you have a limited selection of ink pads.  I hope you like the palettes I picked:  Saltwater Taffy, Picked Raspberry and Seedless Preserves.  Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron and Cracked Pistachio.  Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers and Blueprint Sketch.  And finally, Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet and Seedless Preserves.

You'll notice I tried to overlap color choices where possible.  When using water based inks in this way, it's usually best to pick colors near to each other on the color wheel to avoid making muds when the colors mix.  I cut my four card panels from an 8.5x11" piece of Bristol cardstock so I would end up with four finished creations.

The process for each card follows the same process.  First I tapped the lightest color twice and parts of the two darker colors once, all right next to each other onto my kraft mat.  I spritzed them with water a few mists, then dipped the panel into the colors.

While the panel was wet, I grabbed Tracy's mini stamp 08 (TM08 - formerly EM64) and inked it with two colors at a time repeatedly stamping all over the panel so the wet on wet ink would smear.  If it dried too fast, I spritzed it with more water to encourage the ink to bleed.

It would have been really simple to do an entire sheet of card with one color as a masterboard, and then cut into four panels after.  If that is easier for you, then go for it!

I loved this look right away, but added some additional stamping.  I stamped the crosses and scribble circles over in solid inks without the bleeding technique.

 

Once my inky backgrounds were dry, I overstamped the leaves and added some dots from Tracy's mini stamp 02 (TSM02 - formerly EM58).  

Next, I stamped our the smaller flowers and used my Distress Inks to color them.  I cut them with a small white border to give them a small frame and pop of white.

I used Seedless Preserves for the pink card, Cracked Pistachio for the yellow, Blueprint Sketch for the blue and Wilted Violet for the purple.

This stash building project was loads of fun and I hope the various colorways inspire you.  

The fun part will be picking a color to give specific friends throughout the coming months on their special day.  As we wrap up the Ink Pad Topic, I hope you're encourages with the plethora of ideas for your next stamping project.  Happy inking, Autumn 

Blog: SewPaperPaint

YouTube: SewPaperPaint

Facebook: Autumn Clark

Instagram: @sewpaperpaint

Pinterest: SewPaperPaint

2024 Topic 5: Ink Pads {by Ellie Knol} on the PaperArtsy Blog

Hi everyone

Ellie Knol from PAPER-STAMPS-COLOR here with you today.

I've been sorting through my product lately, thought I need to downsize. The question is: do I part with all my pigment ink pads?  

This topic, Inkpads had me thinking about that, and after creating with them I knew I cannot part with my pigment inks; maybe some of them, but not all!
So I decided to even go further: compare them with Distress Oxide inks, which also contain pigment ink in a certain way, and act similar when still wet. 
I'm looking forward to sharing with you what I figured out when playing with them; maybe I prefer the Distress Oxide inks from Ranger; they are more versatile for the way I create. 

Of course a black pigment ink should be in every stamper's collection; they are juicy and are also very suitable for heat embossing. I heat emboss it with a clear embossing powder to make the ink stay put, not smear, and make it even a darker black. Pigment inks take a while to completely dry. 

Cards, five of them... cards are easy to create, as after all: summer holidays are around the corner in our part of the world!

I made swatches of all the pigment inks I have, then chose to use these shown in the picture.

These stamp sets from Alison Bomber, EAB36 and EAB38 (available from a PaperArtsy Stockist) are great to use with these inks, I am sure!

I am a big fan of foliage stamps anyway!

In this section I will share the techniques and products I used for the first two cards: the ones with the pigment ink pads.

I knew I used to love this 'rainbow' of greens. Unfortunately the sponge of the pad is not that spongy anymore; I will have to replace it in the near future, but it still did it's duty this time. 

I inked up the background stamp from Alison Bomber Set 36 (EAB36) and stamped it onto a cardbase.

I knew this would be a gorgeous start, a base, as a backdrop for the beautiful foliage stamps in the stamp sets. 

After drying, I stamped the foliage with a black pigment ink; I mostly use Versafine Pigment Ink Onyx Black and then heat emboss it with clear embossing powder.

I painted the berries with Fresco Chalk Acrylic Snowflake (FF15). Once dry, I colored them with a gold re-inker pigment ink and added extra color to it with a red pigment ink to make them pop. 

Finally I added to the collage,  black-stamped elements as shown, and gold splatters. The label with text was stamped and fussy cut from a separate piece of cardstock. 

So, onto the next card ...

Stamping the background stamp (so versatile!!) from Alison Bomber Set 38 (EAB38) with a reddish purple pigment ink made me wonder whether I made the right choice to use this not so bright (boring?) color.  I went on to finish it off as shown, and to be honest: it turned out so beautiful, very unique!

The second generation stamping with the black ink in the background and white touches, add interest to the collage of elements. A very basic but very useful technique.

In this section I will share the techniques and products I used for the next 3 cards; I made these ones with Ranger's Distress Oxide Inks. O my, they are so vibrant!! lol

Mostly these inks get used by dabbing them onto a craft sheet, spraying with water and swiping the cardstock through the puddles, and repeating the process, also while wet, splattering water onto it etc.

I also chose to go another route: using a gel plate to have more control, and allowing me to create lighter backgrounds (prints). The process for this is basically dabbing the color onto the gel plate, brayering it (two brayers) so it covers the surface of the gel plate, splattering water onto the ink, then pull a print.

 

You can splatter again with water without re-inking the plate, and then make another print on an envelope for a lighter print, or another piece of paper. Brayer the remaining color on the brayers on gel pate to keep making lighter prints from the remaining ink. 

I kept going, with two other colors, less dramatic ones, lol. 

Now finally, a color combination I love, one that I was going to explore more with, also into the theme HIDDEN.

The extra backgrounds made me think of creating an envelope which can go with the card, as a hidden item, in which one can put some money, or a letter, or maybe even some faux postage stamps. My mojo was just taking over!

AND what are my conclusions?
By creating with the same stamps, same process but different inks, AND by going with the flow makes for spontaneous results. I like doing that in my crafty process.

Enjoy the finished cards, all very different.
I want to make some more; especially explore more, using other pigment inks too! Other colors, other brands. 

It was fun to explore with these inks through experimenting.
New techniques are discovered, just by playing! 

Ellie Knol

Blog: http://elliecreahoekje.blogspot.nl/
Owner of: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DutchArtJournal/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllieKnolCrea/
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Pinterest: https://nl.pinterest.com/ellieknol/

The hidden envelope within the card... when the card is closed, it is hidden. Adding something inside the small envelope makes it double hidden. lol