PaperArtsy: Martine Dubé

Showing posts with label Martine Dubé. Show all posts

Monday, 28 September 2026

3 Things - Traveler's Notebook {by Martine Dubé}

Hi everyone, Martine here from @martined.crafts with you today for a ''With 3 things'' challenge post.

For this challenge, PaperArtsy sends the same three items to 3 people from our blogging team. It is really interesting to see how each maker comes up with different ideas and techniques with the same 3 items. Typically we will receive a stamp, a stencil and a colour product. We have no clue what PaperArtsy HQ is going to send, the whole idea is to do something crafty in our personal style restricted to these 3 items.

So let's take a look at what I received from PA HQ ...

When the PaperArtsy package arrived with the ''with 3 thing'' materials, I was surprised to find the Holiday!/New year Theme stamp set ZA35 from Zinski Art, a Rusty Fresco Finish paint and a snowy stencil PS245. It was still summer when I received the kit, so I wasn't ready for winter yet ! That's when I decided to create something totally not holiday themed.

I also used other Fresco Finish paint colours in my project in my project. They are Buff, Magic Moss, Prawn and Snowflake, to complement the Rusty.

Lets go look at what I made.

The first thing to do is prepare the paper for the size of journal you want. I use a sheet of copy paper folded in half and cut my other papers the same size. 300gms watercolor paper is used to make the cover and the copy paper, the grid paper and the 200gms watercolor paper are used for pages.

Now I have to decide what design I will make for my covers. I choose simple, clean shapes.

On the first one, I decided to do hand drawn lines in Fresco Finish Rusty. It doesn't have to be perfect lines.

I added some black pen lines for more definition and texture.

On the second cover, I went with circles of all sizes to cover the page using Prawn. I will add some stencilling and black details to this one.

On the third journal cover, I used a paint brush to make some marks with Magic Magic Moss.

I also added some black line details with a marker later. I outlined the shapes and sprinkled dots for more interest.

Next I prepared the fabric for the traveler's notebook cover. I cut 2 pieces that are about 1.5 cm or 1/2inch bigger then the papers for the journals. I created a template for the oval shapes I wanted to add. This helped me evenly distribute and align them.

I used the same 3 paint colours, Rusty, Prawn and Magic Moss to do my fill the shapes.

I use the stencil on the Prawn circle journal to make dots by using different parts of the stencil. You can even make some outside of the circles like I did.

I also added free hand black outlines to help make the circles look finished and tie the covers together.

With the journal covers ready, the next step is to create the booklets by folding everything in one go. This includes the cover and the inside paper pages. You then need to put something heavy on top of the booklets over night so they stay flat.

When I folded the booklets, the edges became uneven so we need to trim them. I cut them to 20cm x13.5cm (about 5.25 x 8 inches).

Before sewing the booklets, we need to pierce holes using a craft pick. I made a template for easy spacing!

The last step to finish the booklets is to sew them!

Now, for the main cover. Using my 3 colors, I stencilled the ovals with different densities of dots using different parts of the stencils.

I love the different effects it creates, while still being cohesive.

Instead of using a black marker on the fabric, I sewed some black lines around my ovals to create texture.

Don't forget to prepare the pockets before sewing around the cover! With all the structure done, I was then ready to work on my focal elements.

I stamped and coloured my images using the same colours of Fresco Finish paints. I know my stamping look bad, but I will stamp again once they are all colored. Stamping this way ensures the lines will be on top of the colours and the images will look nice and sharp.

The 3 bears worked perfectly for my 3 journals and the Fresco Finish Rusty makes a great bear fur color! Then I fussy cut my images and placed them on my 3 booklets.

For the fabric cover, I wanted a fabric embellishment. This step is always fun to do. I used one of the images I have coloured, scanned it and printed it on fabric with the help of freezer paper. Freezer paper can be found in sheets or rolls, it's used by quilters for paper piecing quilting. Since mine is a roll, I cut a piece the size of my copy paper and iron my fabric on it. I then put a piece of tape at the end going in the printer to help it stay put when printing, otherwise it will get stuck in the printer.

Before printing, I set my printer to enlarge the image 40%. I felt the bigger size worked better with the ovals, and made it different than the inside one.

Before sewing the contour of the cover, I sewed the bear on it. Since my cotton was on the thinner side, I used some double sided adhesive (for fabric not for paper) to secure my fabric to a second piece of cotton, ironed both piece together and then stitched it all around.

Here's my traveler's journal with 3 little booklets made of different kinds of paper! You can sketch, paint or write and in the pocket you can collect tags ,ticket, stickers and much more.

I hope this project will inspire you to create your own and for anyone that is not into sewing, you don't have to made the cover out of fabric, it can always be made out of cardstock.

Meet the bears!

Thanks for stopping by hope you enjoy!

Martine

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Friday, 3 July 2026

A TRIO OF TULIPS with ELB {by Martine Dubé}

Hello everyone, Martine here! Today I wanted to create different project using the same image and background. I will be making a couple of art journal pages, a card and some ATC all made with PaperArtsy stamps set by Lin Brown and some infusions and a few more supplies.

Here are the stamp sets and supplies I've used to create this project. The stamp sets are ELB23-ELB24-ELB30-ELB33, the infusions are Terracotta and Emerald Isle and the Fresco Finish chalk acrylics used is Little black dress.

I love working on loose pages, I find it easier than working in a book. the finished project can become a book by sewing a spine to my pages or with book binding ring.

I started by preparing my infusions, be careful not to add to much if you want your background to be somewhat light. They can get dark very quickly if too much pigment is used.

Then I applied my first color of infusions with a brayer with a very light hand just to make a few marks of color but not cover the hole page. I left some white space where I will add more layers later, repeated the same process with your second color. You can add more colors if you wish.

Next I added some splatters using one of the colors..

To finish the base part of my pages, I added another layer using a stencil with some matching distress oxide ink.

I chose some small circle and text stamp to create layers by stamping them randomly on my backgrounds using the same matching distress oxide inks.

I then went over some of the marks with water to activate the ink to create a darker contrast.

The last step for my backgrounds was to add some black splatter with little black dress fresco finish chalk paint and a black marker.

Next, it's time to stamp the chosen flowers. I went for the tulip since it's one of my favorite flowers. I've stamped several since I'm making a few projects at the same time.

I started coloring very precisely but then realised it wasn't necessary. I was going to be fussy cutting everything after. I also colored the edges of the cut images, it helps polishing the final look of your project. You can do it with either a black marker or using matching colors like I did.

Next, I prepared some ripped pieces paper that where colored on both side with infusions and created some stripe paper using tape to add on my journal pages and my cards.