PaperArtsy: Rusty Car

Showing posts with label Rusty Car. Show all posts

Friday, 13 February 2026

Travel Journal with EMW {by Floss Nicholls}

I was excited to be introducing Mags Woodcock's first set of mini stamps that she created and so I thought, as they are all based on travel, that I would create a journal that I would take on a journey at some point...I knew straight away that I wanted to use the stamps to make interesting feature pages and each in a multiple way.

So the very first thing I did was to rip some paper to create the pages/signatures and a slightly bigger piece for the journal cover.

I had originally planned to use colours that would represent Mags in her 'true rusty' style that she is renowned for, but when I chose my paints I automatically discarded the oranges, yellows and browns because I was drawn to these three PaperArtsy fresco finish beauties (Blood Orange, Front Door, and Copper) I started making some collage fodder by stamping onto the gel plate knowing that these pages would get ripped and stripped into panels and segments.

I folded the pages in half and measured and punched the holes for binding to start with. My thinking behind this was because I wanted to use infusions to colour a few pages the liquid will pool/puddle in the creases and holes rather than lying flat...I used Rusty Car and Just Walnut Dye Stain Infusions.

I 'rough sponged' the heavier paper that was to become the cover using PaperArtsy fresco finish Front Door and let that dry before using Just Walnut Infusions to add interest to the surface.

The plastic bag I used to protect my workbench had natural wrinkles and folds in it where it had been stored in a pile. This added wonderful texture to the paper where I left it over night so that the depth of the puddles would dry naturally.

I loved how the random plastic folds etc created lighter and darker areas.

I then slotted the dyed pages amongst the blank and music pages.

I painted some close weave calico cotton using Fresco Finish Chalk acrylic paint leaving some areas unpainted. I used this to stamp onto and pull a few prints off the gel plate too. My idea behind this was to be able to create tabs or attention to detail on some of the feature pages.

I used The mini rubber stamp EM149 using Ranger Ground Expresso Distress Archival Ink on printer paper, tissue paper and the painted calico to give me a selection of different choices for the title words. The Ground Expresso was a nod to Mags' rusty browns and was softer than using a stark black. I needed to use my stamping platform for the calico especially as the weave, even though it was fine, made the fine lettering difficult to print.

When stamping the Mini Stamp EM148 onto the gel plate I liked to leave one half without paint rolled onto it so that I could transfer what comes off the gel plate when you press the stamp into the wet paint and stamp it further down the plate to leave the arrows without the background colour...(for those of you who are new to gel plate printing this is so that the colour you lift the print off with shows through heavier in the clear section.)

One technique I like to use when I have got paper that has been dyed using PaperArtsy infusions is rubber stamping with bleach...you must have your windows open (wearing a mask is advisable) to do this. I pour a little bleach into a shallow glass dish; you only need a small amount. There are two ways of doing this...using a flat brush, paint a small amount over the surface of the rubber stamp and press it onto your page or smear a little onto a paint palette and stamp the rubber stamp like an ink pad. When you first press the bleach onto the paper it does not show straight away...it has to react with the pigment in the paper, hence why it works best with inks and stains and not acrylic paints as they generally sit on top of the paper. I used rubber stamp EM145 for the bleached detail on this page ad EM149 and EM146 for the added details. PLEASE NOTE...You must thoroughly wash your rubber stamps after you have used this technique to not only clean your stamp but to preserve the rubber.

You can see how using bleach creates a softer effect than using paint or embossing powders as it becomes part of the page rather than something stamped on top of it. The heavy weight of the paper did not allow the bleach to penetrate through to the other side.

I used Mags Woodcocks Mini stamp EM149 to do the same on the right hand page here and you will see how I picked out a few of the words I printed onto tissue paper to add some of the written detail in for interest.

When journal making I like to add detail through where you stitch/bind the journal together. So after moving the other pages to one side I 'over' stamp where the pages would be joined using part of the rubber stamp EM146, this is so it can be seen from both sides.

I then added bleached and collaged detail to the page that would sit over the typed stamped words. I like the way the bleach is not one solid colour but is somewhat diffused.

When initially tearing my pages in preparation of making my journals, I always leave a few intentionally longer or bigger...this is so that I can create pockets or flaps or margins to tuck other papers into or stitch for further interest. I often use paint to stamp with...make sure you wash your stamp straight after though!

Tearing and sticking in parts of the gel prints made some interesting feature pages...tucking some under the margin fold and then over stamping areas gave the page more attention to detail. I'm sure that when I come to use the journal I am likely to gesso or white paint an area over the music page opposite to write or art onto.

A close up captured the metallic shimmer of the copper...

I love adding little tiny bits off the edges of gel prints for page borders...stitching into this and adding accents of Mags' PaperArtsy rubber stamp EM148 gave an otherwise blank page a nice starting point...it's always easier to add to a page that has already been started...in actual fact I do find it hard to know when to stop when journal making...when does the journal stop being made and the filling it with art start?...now that is a very good question!!!

adding more attention to detail using the calico and stamping straight onto the page...

Pressing lightly, both with part ink stamps and in paint made subtle background pages...

So, even though I have shared numerous pages with you, without a video here, it is very difficult to show the whole finished journal...there will be a video that you'll see on the PaperArtsy social pages and a full slower reveal on a reel on my Instagram page. I will announce that in my stories this week so watch out for that if you want to see the whole thing.

It would not be my art work without some kind of added machine stitched details...on the margins

Or the pockets...

or by hand on the tabs...the black ink was marking out where the stitching was to go...I use a Pilot Frixion pen which disappears when heat is used and so with a quick blast of the heat gun all ink is gone.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog as much as I have enjoyed making it and using the new stamps...this is just the beginning of what will be a fun journal to work into...oh and a cover to still decorate when I know the date I will use it.

Floss Nicholls: Mixed Media Artist and Tutor

Website: flossWORKSHOPart

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floss.workshop.art

Instagram: floss_WORKSHOP.art

I'm scheduling classes for March and April shortly...If you are interested in a doing a mixed media in person workshop (East Sussex UK)

please drop me an email...info@flossworkshopart.com

Friday, 30 January 2026

Tracy Meets Grunge with TS {by Autumn Clark}

Hello darlings! It's Autumn Clark here today, with such joy to be back on the PaperArtsy blog and to share the excitement of the new Tracy Scott launch with you!

I've had a total blast playing with these gorgeous stamps and have created several project ideas for you to get your creative juices flowing, from tag book to bookmark to journal page, I hope will spark a play session of your own...

I almost always start a project with a gel printing session and went with earth tones to show how Tracy's stamps can go both bright and rustic, which I hope you will agree. I used a combination of PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics in Nougat, Terracotta, Rusty, Sargasso (TS), Jade (TS), Chocolate Pudding and Toffee. Later in the process I pulled out my Infusions powders and chose A Bit Jaded and Rusty Car.

I used Tracy's entire collection for these projects, including the stamps TS104, TS105 and TS106 and the stencils PS497, PS498 and PS499. Find a stockist HERE. And if you didn't catch Tracy's FB live, make sure to join the PaperArtsy People FB group HERE to stay up to date and catch all future lives.

You might have noticed from the photo of my Infusions box on my table that it was an extremely sunny day in my little art room. I could not find my smaller gel plate, so I had to use the monstrosity and with the sun pouring down on it, I found my paint was drying at rocket speed. But I am always fond of this half printed effect because I love the impartial prints and faded portions of the stencils mixing into the paint. Part of my process includes blotting through the stencils onto prints. Below shows how I did that with PS499. Later you will see a fun idea I came up with to make the most of the white spaces in my prints...

I printed heavy duty plain cardstock and both sides of several premade large tags by Dina Wakely. I used the floral designs from PS497 and PS498.

I cut my favorite sections of the prints into card fronts. I folded the tags in half with one end meeting the tag reinforcer on each of the three tags, then glued them together to form pockets where each tag met the next. This concept was inspired by a Fodder Challenge 2023 project.

While the tags were clamped together to dry, I worked on each card panel. I began spritzing water on the white spaces in the gel printing and sprinkling on my Infusions in Rusty Car. Because I had used normal cardstock, the Infusions seeped into the paper, rather than sitting on the surface like it would with Bristol or watercolor paper. The great thing about this is that the paint still sits on the surface and the effect is really unique.

To make the pieces a bit more intense, I coated them with Mattint in High Viz, which also serves to seal the Infusions. Next I colored two scraps of Bristol paper with Infusions in Rusty Car and A Bit Jaded so I could use them as a stamping surface.

Here's a sampling of the panels, which remind me of torn wallpaper. What fun!

I stamped so many of the images from Tracy's stamp sets TS104, TS105 and TS106, first onto Bristol paper for watercoloring with Distress Inks, then onto my dried Infusions stained papers in different colors of ink and off white embossing.

I fussy cut these images to give me a variety to pick from to complete my tag book and cards.

I layered the images onto my tag book and used Distress Ink in Rusty Hinge to sponge some of the white spaces to complete the backgrounds.

I used the leftover gel prints to cut smaller tags to fit into the pockets and to cut tag reinforcers for those.

Here are the front and back of my completed tag book, finished with sentiment stickers, sari ribbon and twine...

With my leftover fussy cuts, I began to complete the cards. I really had fun with this and tried to hone in on the trademark mandala loving Tracy Scott style by using geometric repeats in the cards. Often, I cut the flowers in half to achieve this effect.

I was craving a little white contrast for these pieces and thought a bit of text would be just the trick, so I grabbed Eclectica³ stamp set 54 by Sara Naumann (ESN54), which had some great jumbo text that worked beautifully with the butterfly theme. I used off white embossing powder for this, which finished my cards and bookmark nicely.

I had one large piece of gel printed paper left and several of my fussy cut images, so I pulled out my floral journal. I've shared numerous projects over the years on my blog with Tracy Scott and Jofy stamp in this journal. I thought adding another from this project would be a great way to remember these fun projects and color palette.

The spiral journal is filled with watercolor paper, so I was able to use the Infusions in A Bit Jaded to add some color on each side of the page, then I tore the edges of my gel print and glued it down the middle. I used some leftover stamped flowers from set TS105 as leaves for the focal flower and a smaller gel printed tag, which hadn't found its way into my projects.