Transparent Paint Dragging with EPA {by Keren Baker}

Hello everyone

Keren here with you today and I'm using an Eclectica³ PaperArtsy set that you might have missed, along with some experimentation using PaperArtsy Chalk Acrylic paints - typically the translucent ones!

I picked a combination of transluscent paints. For any of you that might be newer to PaperArtsy paints, they come in Opaque, Semi-Opaque and Translucent. I've shied away from using transparent colours but wanted to challenge myself with this project. I wouldn't normally use so many paints, and I didn't actually use them all in the end.

I wanted to layer a combination of the paints over each other. I thought I could drag and layer them, so grabbed some watercolour paper, a scraper and some paints.

I thought that the watercolour paper might give some nice texture, but the results were pretty rubbish...

So I went searching on the internet for tips on layering and came across an artist called Laura Fdez . She creates wonderful abstract pieces using a tool that ended up being the perfect solution: Princeton Catalyst tool no.6.

Using a combination of different colours and shapes, I started to try and move the paint. I learned quite quickly what not to do.

Make sure every layer dries completely. You can see what happens when you don't, in the next photo. I also masked off a shape so that I'd get a white frame.

 Here's a little footage showing the process.

As I practiced, the process became easier. Despite the flaws, the different papers that I used all behaved differently. This one was on Acrylic Paper (WHSmith).

One of the things that's helpful to think about is the lighter colours being on the top layers. I also tried using a semi-opaque paint and that worked really well too.

Each type of paper produces a different result. Here's the different end results. PaperArtsy Smoothy does just that- creating a very smooth painted effect!

Now we had a set of backgrounds, I just needed to use the EPA01 stamps and stencil PS448

Grunge Paste always works so well but you do need to go carefully and hold down the intricate parts of the stencil. I only wanted some partial stencilled areas so that I didn't lose the colour and texture from the backgrounds.

Adding more layers needed a little gentle touch. Just like the transparent paints, I wanted transparent layers so stamped on some acetate. As the main stamp set didn't have an obvious focal point, I used the LPC056 set for interest.

I coloured some of the images to act as partial layers. I wanted to cut up the rainbow-esque shape and weave one of the images through; I'll save that technique for another project as it didn't really fit here.

The multiple coloured layers work so perfectly with stamped acetate.

I love the sentiment- I'm not sure I could claim that every layer was magic, but the technique certainly felt that way at points.

Using one of the stamps, I trimmed it down to just one cross; such a versatile image! I added a little stitching and French knots too.

There's so much more to explore using this technique. I love how the combination of colours layered creates the new colours. Thinking about colour theory technique can really help with choosing which colours to layer on top of each other. It's really worth having a go and it's also very therapeutic!

Thanks for reading, see you again soon!

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

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

'Z' Fold Card with Zinski Art {by Martha Ponsanesi}

Hi everyone, it's Martha (@CraftingMartha) with you today, and I'm here to share with you a funny double Z fold card using some Zinski Art Stamps.

Looking through my stash, I found some Zinski Art Stamp Sets, specifically ZA06, ZA13, and ZA40, and I got the idea to create something where all the elements from these stamp sets would be visible... and I almost succeeded! If you look closely, there's only one stamp missing, but other than that, I used them all on a single card :).

Having chosen these stamps with funky houses and  flowers, I thought of creating a sort of landscape background using PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics in shades of blue and green, used along with a 3" x 5" gel plate to create a sort of patchwork look and some found objects to add texture.

For the base of my card I chose PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics in Hint of Mint (FF87), Caribbean Sea (FF94), Aquamarine (FF153) and Aqua Duck Egg (FF199).

For the "Z" element of the card I chose PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics in Limelight (FF48), Slimed (FF137), Verdigris (FF191) and Parakeet (FF225).

Now we can fold the cardstock using the measurements shown in the picture. The blue piece measures 13 × 29 cm, and the green one measures 6 × 18 cm, with the small insert measuring 6 × 6 cm.

To add more interest to the background, I stamped some small circles from the Zinski Art Set 13 ( ZA13 ) tone on tone using Distress Oxide Ink.

And here is the card base assembled and ready for embellishments.

 

So far, I've used the PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics with the Gelli Plate, one of my absolute favorite techniques that I often use. But I also like Mattints, so for the stamped images, I grab some of my favourites Mattints: Glow (MT01), Fern (MT03), Shark (MT04), Dragonfly (MT07), The Pink (MT08), Greenstone (MT09), Ladybug (MT12), Mojito (MT13), Acid (MT14), High Viz (MT15), Bellflower (MT17) and Foxglove (MT18).

After stamping the various elements from the Zinski Art Stamp Set ZA06, ZA13, and ZA40  onto white cardstock, I roughly cut them out.

I love colours, but since I’m not very skilled with traditional colouring techniques, I decided to colour the stamped elements in a very ‘free’ way. I placed drops of Mattint on an acrylic block and then pressed the previously stamped and roughly cut cardstock pieces onto it to pick up the colour. Because Mattint is a tinted glaze rather than an acrylic paint, it allows me to achieve nice, subtle results.

Once my image is mostly coloured, I can pretend to be a skilled artist and finally use a brush, even if only to add colour accents.

I have to say, I’m quite happy with how the cut-out images turned out.

Now that we have the card base and all the decorative elements, it’s time for the most fun part: assembling it all.

What I love about this structure is the possibility of having multiple layers for the embellishments, allowing you to create a sort of landscape.

This is the finished card. Seeing it so full of colours and elements makes me happy. I already love it when it’s closed, with the two houses and the sentiment, but when you open it: an explosion of colour and fun! :)

The beauty of these funky houses is that they can be 'shortened' and elements can be swapped between them, using this approach, you can make a fun, varied village scene.

I had so much fun creating this card and diving into this super colorful little village. I hope you enjoyed it with me… and did you spot which stamp I didn’t use? LOL

Have fun.

Martha xxx

Instagram:craftingmartha

Facebook:Crafting Martha

YouTube:Crafting Martha

Blog:alazyscrapper

Pinterest:alazyscrapper