With 3 Things - Owl Journal Collage {by Victoria Wilding}

Hi everyone, it's Victoria with you today for a 'With 3 Things' challenge post. 

This feature on the PaperArtsy Blog is where 3 identical items are sent to 3 members of the PaperArtsy Blogging team. 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 of this challenge is to do something crafty in our personal style with these 3 items. 

We can incorporate other PA products into the mix if we feel it is necessary.

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

Scrapcosy’s vintage designs are always a delight to create with. Stamp set ESC24 provides a great mix of focal and detail elements, whilst stencil PS191 provided some great additional elements to add into my make. 

I decided that I wanted to create a piece using as many of the designs as possible and thought that some sort of collage would be perfect for creating a layered design without the pressure of planning out every aspect up front. I was also excited to see that the colour choice in my surprise package was a blue, one of my favourite colours! The PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic in A Bit Fishy (FF208) inspired me to get out my Dina Wakley Blue Journal which contains denim pages and would provide a nice contrast with the lighter blue paint. 

Lets take a closer look at what I did ....

I started off by stamping out the owl design from Scrapcosy stamp set ESC24 in ‘Vintage Photo’ Archival Ink. This ink provides an excellent and stable base for going on top with wet colouring mediums, such as paint, whilst also transferring precise details of intricate stamps such as this. 

Next I decided to create some trims by stamping on plain card and embossing in gold the border designs. These will be useful in connecting other elements when assembling the collage at the end. I fussy cut around the edge of the uneven strip, to bring out the detail and add more focal interest in the final piece.

I also stamped and embossed in gold on top of a coloured circle. I love how the gold looks on top of the PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic in A Bit Fishy (FF208). 

Lets take a closer look at what I did ....

I used some more coloured circles for background elements, layering extra details on top for more interest. On one of the discs I put PaperArtsy Grunge Paste (GP190) through the four dot stencil pattern, and on the other I added the star stamp.  

I also created a sentiment using a card base coloured with Distress Ink in ‘Vintage Photo’ and more used some more PaperArtsy Grunge Paste (GP190) through one of the stencil sentiments. 

At the end of the project, once all the collage elements were assembled on the page, I went back to the four dot pattern and ran some grunge paste through the stencil direct onto the fabric of the page.

Lets take a closer look at what I did ....

Ever since the start of my creative journey, I have been obsessed with colour swatching and learning more about what my colour supplies can do. I knew that as part of this project I would want to use different strengths of the PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic in A Bit Fishy (FF208), so I decided to use a tag and test out different washes of the colour simply by adding water to my brush. I love how versatile this make your supplies as you get more colours from one product. I added some ink to the background of the tag using Distress Ink ‘Vintage Photo’ again, and added one of the border stamps, embossing in gold to tie into other elements in the end design.

Next I went back to the stamped owl image to add colour. I wanted to use non traditional colours for the owl, so in addition to the PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic in A Bit Fishy (FF208) I added Mattints in Acid (MT14) and High Viz (MT15). Adding some water to the paint reduces the opacity, allowing the stamped details to show through, and the translucency of the Mattints worked well to add some bright pops of colour that didn’t overpower too much. I applied the colours by dabbing the colour in patches to create layers, rather than painting in one wash. 

The final technique I used with the PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic in A Bit Fishy (FF208)  was applying it with a sponge through the circles on the stencil. Once dry I punches out the circles and used with the stamps and stencil to create extra collage elements for the page. 

I played with the different collage elements on the page and settled on this composition for the final journal page. I ended up fussy cutting the owl as it looked better on the finished page without the border of the card. I also added some stitching to the tag and added some loose cotton under some of the card pieces for extra texture on the page. I secured all the elements to the page using a heavy gel medium.

This was such a fun page to put together. I love all the different textures on the page and this no pressure way of creating lots of separate pieces to then collage with, is a great way to play with supplies and make a start, especially if fear of the blank page is blocking your creativity. 

Until next time, wishing you a happy creative week!

Victoria 

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With 3 Things - Wise Moon Vignette {by Ann Barnes}

Hi everyone, it's Ann from @aksbarchitect with you today for a 'With 3 Things' challenge post. 

This feature on the PaperArtsy Blog is where 3 identical items are sent to 3 members of the PaperArtsy Blogging team. 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 of this challenge is to do something crafty in our personal style with these 3 items. 

We can incorporate other PA products into the mix if we feel it is necessary.

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

I was sent PaperArtsy Scrapcosy Stamp Set 24 (ESC24), A PaperArtsy Stencil by Scrapcosy (PS191) and PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic in A Bit Fishy (FF208). At first glance, I knew that I wanted to create a dimensional piece with the three items. I found an old wooden box that was the perfect size to create my Wise Moon Vignette.

Lets take a closer look at what I did ....

I heat embossed a border stamp from PaperArtsy onto black cardstock then cut out pieces to create the frame.

I stamped multiple owl images in archival ink to cut up, watercolor, and layer for dimension.

Lets take a closer look at what I did ....

I used the largest circle opening to stencil PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic in Heavy Cream (FF203) onto the background, creating a base to stamp the moon image onto.

I used the largest circle opening in the stencil as a mask to align the moon stamp directly above the heavy cream circle on ly background ensuring the image stated in the correct location.

The outside of the box is stenciled with A Bit Fishy (FF208) through the dot section (PS191), then I added a silver circle in the center of each cluster to create my own pattern.

Let's take a closer look at what I did ....

I coated a my background paper with a watery layer of PAFresco Finish A Little Fishy (FF208).

When the paint was dry I added a layer of Black Soot Distress Ink by Ranger to give it a night sky appearance.

The Box was first coated with PA Fresco Finish Little Black Dress (FF19) and allowed to dry, then I stenciled the outer sides with the dot pattern (PS191) in A Bit Fishy (FF208).

With a bit of fussy cutting and modification, I was able to incorporate a stick in lieu of the stamped branch. I love how the owl looks perched on the stick with the full moon in the background.

It is always a fun challenge to create with the three items that are selected by PaperArtsy headquarters, especially seeing the variety in project type that each blogger creates with the exact same items.

I hope that you are inspired to grab a few of your supplies and get creative.

-Ann  

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2024 Topic 6 : Scrapcosy {by Amanda Pink}

Hi everyone, Amanda Pink (p1nkart) here with you today.

Since I moved house inaut umn last year I've been trying to get my new place all set up to make it feel like 'home'. I'm slowly getting there and although I have a few pieces of art on display I still feel there's a need for a few more so I thought this Scrapcosy topic would provide me with an ideal opportunity to make a new piece of art for my new place! 

I like creating art 'on the block' as the sides of the block give a bit more creative space. They are also super easy to wall hang or if preferred they can sit on a surface as a piece of table art. So today I'm sharing a mixed media art block that has a touch of 'grunge' combined with some delicate water-coloured imagery!! Two contrasting styles that I think on this occasion came together in harmony!

Our current overriding theme is 'Hidden' so within the overall design of my art block there is a little something hiding away waiting to be revealed to give a second piece of art! 

Hope you'll join me to find out more . 

Scrapcosy has so many fabulous stamps and stencil designs it wasn't easy selecting which to create with but in the end with regards the stamps I opted for Scrapcosy stamp set 31 (ESC31) and Scrapcosy stampset 41 (ESC41). I thought they'd give me a good mix of imagery and words that I could pick and choose from to play around with. Words, flowers, butterflies are always so versatile aren't they?

I could see any of these stamps working well with 'a brick wall' backdrop so I picked out PaperArtsy stencil by Scrapcosy 375 (PS375) which led my 'grungy heart' to reach for my PaperArtsy Grunge Paste (GP190). You can't create bricks (all be them faux bricks) without some grunge, right? Some PaperArtsy Infusions (Just Walnut, CS25) too. Maybe some PaperArtsy Rusting Powder? Mmmm, maybe not ! Although I wanted some grunge, this time I didn't want to go full on grunge!

I didn't initially plan to use PaperArtsy Stencils by Scrapcosy: 374 (PS374) and 191 (PS191) but they turned out to be welcome additions.  

My colour palette was very much influenced by my new place so as it's currently quite neutral/ monochrome I went with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics (Chalk FF83, Stone FF59, Slate FF84, and Little Black Dress FF19) adding in just a splash of colour: PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic (Deep Sea, FF198). 

In addition to these supplies there were the substrates including the large and small Art block  which you'll see and I'll mention throughout this post. 

The background of my art block was to be a brick wall so that's where my creativity began.

I applied PaperArtsy Grunge Paste (FF190) through what I'm calling the 'brick wall' design that's on PaperArtsy Stencil by Scrapcosy 375 (PS375). This design isn't could very easily be used for other things and in other ways.

Laying a stencil down on card and holding it in place on a flat surface is much easier than 'wrestling' with it on a raised surface like an art block so I worked 'off the block' on PaperArtsy Heavy Smoothy.

To help avoid movement/ slip of the card or stencil while applying the PaperArtsy Grunge Paste (FF190) I adhered the card to my work surface with a small piece of Sizzix Sticky Grid and kept the stencil in position with masking tape. 

(Apologies for the two colour tapes! The purple tape is low tack tape which was better to use in places as the stencil design wasn't quite the same size as the card panel so had to be taped to the card as well as the work surface. Low tack tape lessened the chance of the card ripping or marking when the tape was removed !) 

I had to reposition the stencil to extend the brick wall to cover the size of the card panel I was working on but it's design made it super easy.  All I had to do was simply place the design over the last line of bricks I'd created and I was set to continue.

N.B: Be sure to dry the first round of stenciling before repositioning or you'll end up with squished bricks!!!

No doubt you spotted the 'little holes' in the bricks? I like stamping into PasterArtsy Grunge Paste (FF190) using detail stamps but thought this time instead of using stamps I'd use a ball tool. Ok, probably not 'stamping' as we know it...more 'poking' ;). No precision was involved,  My 'poking' was all very random and care free!  A fun way to create some marks in the bricks!  Great for stress relief too !! ;) 

Once the brick wall was dry it was time to paint.

I started with an all over coverage of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic (Chalk, FF83). Using a stencil brush with a pouncing action allowed me to get the paint in between all the peaks and troughs of the PaperArsty Grunge Paste (FF190) stencilling with ease. Quick and easy too !!

As PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics have a drying time of what I call 'Now' (super quick no waiting around) by the time I'd finished painting the panel with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic (Chalk, FF83) I was able to start dry brushing it with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic (Stone, FF59). Dry brushing allowed me to catch the base colour in some places not others to give nuances of colour, light and shadow all be them very subtle. Again quick and easy too!

Painting in the 'cement' was the most time consuming but I didn't mind at all as I find intricate, fine line painting relaxing and focusing. A way to zone in and forget the 'outside noise' so to speak. Using a Rigger brush made it much easier too. If you haven't got a Rigger brush and you want/ like to paint fine lines/ detail/ intricate patterns I would definitely recommend investing in one. I wouldn't be without mine! 

Alternatively, if this kind of painting is not your thing you could always try switching up my order of creativity and paint your card panel with the cement colour first then proceed to stencil the wall. If you did it that way you would need to reposition the stencil over the bricks in order to paint them. The results may not be exactly the same doing it this way round but pretty sure they'd be similar!

I kept within the lines on the whole but didn't stress if I slipped over as I also purposely smudged the cement painting out onto some of the bricks. This helped to make them look a bit more grungy / weather worn and also emphasise some of the brick 'poke holes'.

Although I was pleased with how the brick wall was looking I still felt it needed 'grunging' up a bit more but as I mentioned in the intro not too much. I thought PaperArtsy Infusions (Just Walnut, CS25) would give me just the extra touch of grunge I was after.

With PaperArtsy Infusions being water reactive and the brown and colour crystals they are made up of reacting at different rates I thought they'd allow me to control the level of grunginess. I felt they did !

If the PaperArtsy Infusions (Just Walnut, CS25) were looking too dark I simply added water and / or wiped / dabbed dry. I was also able to drip and move them around the areas I wanted them (primarily the corners and sides of the panel) with ease.

I realised while making the brick wall that I would need another as I was thinking of taking the  wall around the sides of the large art block and maybe also carry it onto the smaller art block too so I hit  repeat to make another that I then cut into strips.

Pleased with how the brick wall panels and strips were looking at this point I moved on to the focal image and the hidden art.

First the focal image for the main art block.

I felt painting some pieces of PaperArtsy Heavy Smoothy with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics (Chalk FF83, Stone FF59) would maintain continuity of colour throughout the project.

While considering the overall design of my finished project I knew I needed a relatively small focal and as I love the 'daisy' on Scrapcosy Stamp set 41 (ESC41) that's what it was to be. 

I thought it would be good to 'spotlight' it in some way as this would help draw the viewing eye in which is what a focal is all about, right? 

The larger circle on PaperArtsy Stencil by Scrapcosy 191 (PS191) gave me just what I needed. 

This stencil gives you both the circle stencil and the circle masks. Either could be used but I used the mask, simply placing it in the middle of a piece of painted card and drawing round it lightly with a pencil.

I stamped the 'daisy' within it ! What a beauty and even before its coloured !

To water colour the flower I carried the brown of the PaperArtsy infusions (Just Walnut, CS25) from the brick wall through to the focal and introduced a splash of colour with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic (Deep Sea, FF198).

I went a bit left field mixing up what would probably be the expected colours of the flower and the leaves but that's what's so 'liberating' about creativity isn't it? If you want brown flowers and blue leaves, stems, flower heads that's ok!

More than happy with my painted flower I felt the surrounding areas of the circle were looking rather 'empty' so some subtle stencilling using one of the designs on PaperArtsy Stencil by Scrapcosy 374 (PS374) in the same colours as the flower helped resolve that.

Usually I would really think about/ consider my choice of stencil but in a bid to free myself from my 'overthinking' I just went on a whim that it would work ok with the flower. I think it did ! Are you an over thinking creative too?

A black micron pen helped emphasise the previously drawn 'spotlight' circle.

To finish the flower focal panel I adhered it to matt board to give it some rigidity, added some faux Micron pen stitching for a touch of extra detail inside the 'spotlight' circle and distressed the corners and sides very lightly with Tim Holtz Distress Oxide (Black Soot).

The Hidden Art!

My overall design was such that a small square art block would sit centrally on top of a larger square art block. The flower focal would cover the top of the small art block hiding what was beneath and in order to reveal what was hiding the flower focal needed to be removable but at the same time it needed to stay firmly in place until removed.

So I trialled an idea out to see if it would work and it did. 

As the smaller art block would be reversed and used as a window frame I measured the dimensions of the window, took those measurements to card to draw out what would in effect when cut and scored be an open top box.

I painted the open top box and a MDF panel which it will be adhered to with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic (Little Black Dress FF19) in keeping with the colour of the large and small art block.

So what do you think might fit into the window of a small window frame ? Why a butterfly of course! ;). 

I always welcome the opportunity to feature or include a butterfly in my creativity and as butterflies are said to signify hope, love and new beginnings I thought it was a perfect choice given this piece of art is for / inspired by my new place.

She was watercoloured with the colours used so far: PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic (Deep Sea FF198) and PaperArtsy infusions (Just Walnut, CS25) along with some delicate touches of PaperArtsy Infusions: Rusty Car (CS17).

I thought some of the words on Scrapcosy Stampset ESC41 (ESC41) would be great to include somewhere on my project.   

The stampset comes with the words all partially joined together so they can either be used as you see them on the carrier sheet or a simple scissor snip will allow you to use each of them on their own. That's what I did as I wanted a couple of long strips of words: 'Live, Love, Laugh' aswell as some single words: 'Pause', 'Breathe', 'Relax'.

I know I'm going to be reaching for these words a lot in my creativity - a great selection in a general, versatile font that I reckon would lend itself to any style of creativity.

The tiny small diamonds on PaperArtsy stencil by Scrapcosy 374 (PS374) helped fill in the gaps between the words on the long strips, also offering the suggestion to 'pause' when reading the words.

I was now ready to start bringing everything together.

The large art block in situ already makes my new place feel more like 'home'! 

Now for some close ups starting with the flower focal. 

This was adhered to a back matt board panel then mounted onto the black MDF panel/ open box 'insert' I'd made. It fitted snugly within the window of the small frame to hide what's beneath. 

Some script stamp triangles topped with some Tim Holtz Ideology hitch fasteners decorate the corners of the black MDF panel/ open box 'insert'. They also help when removing the flower focal. 

Carrying the brick wall down and around the sides of the main art block aswell as up and around the sides of the small art block help bring the 2 together and gives continuity throughout the whole project design. 

The 'Live love Laugh' word strips covered one row of bricks perfectly both above and below the flower focal.

(I hadn't realised that when I was cutting the strips . Serendipity, hey? ) 

Let's lift the flower focal to see what's hidden beneath....

A butterfly of course .... giving a second piece of art !  

The script stamp from Scrapcosy stamp set 41 (ESC41) stamped very lightly in Ranger Archival ink (Jet black, Coffee) nestles in the window complimenting the background colours.  In the centre a small black disc on which the butterfly rests, her thorax embellished with some pieces of Tim Holtz ideology .

The single words placed around the frame with the addition of part of a quote from Scrapcosy Stamp set 31 (ESC31):  'Pause, Breathe, Relax with the Butterflies'!  Oh how I'd love to! 

I really have enjoyed making this artblock/s and I'm happy with how it all turned out. 

I love the idea of having an hidden element behind the focal which in this case gives a second piece of art. I may have used a stamped butterfly to hide but that could easily be switched up for something else: a treasured photo or a precious keepsake maybe, or how about using the hidden space as a place to keep something like keys safe??

Thanks for stopping by today/ tonight
Creative Wishes
Amanda

x

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