Totally Teal {with JOFY Stencil & Paints & Ellen Vargo stamps by Jo Firth-Young}

Hi everyone, Jo here.  I'm showing you two projects in this blog post because a week or so ago I sat down at my studio desk just to have a bit of 'play time' and half way through thought 'this would make a nice blog project' but (yet again) I had been so busy creating I'd forgotten to take photograph - but that's OK because I now have two projects - happy accidents etc etc etc  The two projects are created with the same process and simple techniques - simple but effective and versatile.

The first project I created was a painted stenciled wood frame (from a well known Swedish home store)

and the second was a wood block I decorated to show how I created the first project:

I wanted to use a limited colour palette for a simple/tone-on-tone effect, so the projects use only Dusty Teal and Chalk from the JOFY Limited Edition paints. I mixed the two together to create a pale teal to use on the base coat - this would allow the 'out-of-the-bottle' Dusty Teal colour to be used as shadowing and flowers later on...

The project uses JOFY stencil PS009 - four bold flowers, different versions of the same flower so they can all be overlayed and used in different combinations.

I've cut my stencil so the flowers are separate - I find them easier to use this way.  In the photo below you'll notice that all the stencils have a blue star sticker - they are stuck in the same place on each flower - this helps me identify which way up the stencil is and how/where to overlay them so that they match up.  The purple flower in the photo (middle left) is a mask of the flower design.  The stamp is Ellen Vargo EEV02

The first layer is a single base flower stenciled with Chalk. When creating a stenciled image the best & cleanest results are created with several light layers of paint rather than one heavy layer.

I masked off the first flower (purple flower below) and stenciled a second flower, again with chalk, overlapping the designs slightly.

Below are the two flowers - the first base flower remains complete (having been masked off) and so the second flowers appears to be underneath it.

At the top of the panel I stenciled flower design three - I've used this 'in progress' photo to show the size of the piece of foam I use for stenciling - approximately 1x1cm.  I like using foam pieces of this size as it means I have more control and I keep within the perimeters of the design.

The photo below shows that the completed flower number 3 has been masked off and a full base flower stenciled in Dusty Teal.

Flower stencil 4 was laid over the base Dusty Teal image and and flower 3 is still masked off (the purple flower, top right):

In this photo the middle flower is shown with its two layers - laying image 4 over the top of the other stencils creates coloured tips:

All the stenciling is done (normally I would create an odd number of images but on this panel I wanted to just show each of the stencils so it had to be four) I moved onto a bit of stamping - using the circle from the Ellen Vargo EEV02 stamp set (great for backgrounds!) stamped in Chalk paint.

EEV02

I added detail - shadow to accentuate the flowers and layering and to make the flowers 'pop' using shades of Dusty Teal.... colouring gently around the flowers, darkening between the petals and where the flowers overlap...

... and more depth was added by using a black watercolour pencil - I use these pencils as I find them softer than normal colour pencils.

I finished the edges of the panel by dragging with Dusty Teal, drawing with White Pen and black pencil.

Here is the finished panel again:

This is probably the prettiest 'reference sheet' I've made - it shows each of the flowers from stencil PS009, and a couple of simple techniques.. pretty and functional!

There will be more techniques using this stencil coming up on my blog over the next few weeks.

I hope this has inspired you...

Jo

A huge thanks to Jo from all at PaperArtsy. A truly fabulous reference sheet, deep undercover and masquerading as a gorgeous piece of art. 

If you would like to join in our weekly challenge with any of this week's guests who have blogged since Sunday night, then join in to link up your creativity HERE you will go in the draw to win PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by 17:00 (London time) Sunday 1st june 2014

New Stamps coming to the {JOFY} Xmas Collection

Well you all know how deeply opposed I am to tackling Christmas too early. I regularly tell magazines and others to shut up on twitter when they start going on and on about Xmas releases in August

For me, it is something we don't need to read about in magazines until mid-October at the soonest, and yet I have already had magazines cover to cover full of Christmas projects come across my desk in recent weeks, which actually annoys me beyond belief. Christmas becomes less of a special family time, and more of a commercial head ache. I object!

We have also observed on the TV shopping channels already exploit the theme in recent months to boost up the summer sales which is generally considered to be a slow time in the Northern Hemisphere calendar for our industry. ummm guys....It's SUMMER!

Surely it makes far more sense to come up with summer relevant products that actually fit the weather, time of year and outdoors vibe in May/ June/ July/ August ??? .... but then, as you know... I am one for stating the obvious! And obviously I am reaching that cynical, middle aged, grumpy phase where stating the  obvious is my professional duty and responsibility ! *slaps forehead*

To me Christmas is a special, enjoyable family time. I must say, after years of hot Christmases in New Zealand (which are kind of odd - but have their own magical up-side...boxing day on the beach is never to be scoffed at!) ....but I admit it.... I really love the freeezing cold, dark Christmases of the Northern Hemisphere where we snuggle up, hunker down, jammies-on-all-day in front of the fire with a belly ho amazeballs dinner, a bit of a panto, spot of singing at a carol service, warm, spiced wine, mince pies and I'm happy as larry. That is the essence of Christmas to me.

 

Xmas hanging sign by Jo Firth-Young

So I for one do not want to be sucked into its commercialism, spending more than necessary on stuff we don't really need. Yes, give gifts and say hello to friends with simple, cards but we can do all this wisely, and in a considered fashion, and in meaningful ways without having to re-mortgage the house for it.  There can be a real pressure on families to 'keep up with the Jones-es' at Christmas time, and I say lets rebel ! 

Simple, effective Xmas cards by Jo Firth-Young

There are ways to do special Christmas things for special folk without spending a fortune, and without losing a month or two's salary in the process! For example,. look at this fantastic wreath below, made by Jo last year. Its not massive, and a few dies cuts, all painted white, with stars embellished with old buttons, and its gorgeous! I'm sure she picked up the wreath itself for a couple of pounds, and then painted and decorated it.

Elegant wreath by Jo Firth-Young

For me, I would just like families and friends to enjoy each others company. The chance to get together with friends of old, have a lot of good times, plenty of laughs, some good food, and a bit of Christmas tellybox is the magic of Christmas.

Same dies as above, this time with gold accents, and an unusual pennant design By Jo

So as a manufacturer of stamps, we are constantly being asked from June onwards by the shops selling our brand, when are your new Chrtistmas designs coming out? I try not to groan, as I know they are going to need stuff to plan classes, stock levels and so on from early September but in June-August, my grumpy reply, is 'we are not talking about it until  school goes back in the Autumn sometime' ...or... 'when I'm ready' !! LOL

So that time has arrived, where I am slipping in an informational blog post, mainly for our shops, that is Christmas relevant.....

I know many of you adore getting ready early for Chritmas too, and if you are on a budget, then certainly to start some preparation now certainly eases the financial pressure. Take the sample below. The 4x6" canvases are only £2.20 and I bet you have the bits to do the rest and an appropriate Christmas image. As our canvases are chunky, they can stand alone on a mantlepiece, and make a great display to decorate a table, room or hallway. But also these would make great teacher gifts too!

Kraft card, painted, stamped, and simply embellished on a white canvas, By Jo F-Y

I'm thinking our little 4x4" chunky canvases would be perfect decorated this way for table place-name settings too, and the 'people' can take theirs home. You can see all the existing Xmas stamps that Jo released this time last year here, there are 8 large plates (JOFY01-JOFY08), and 8 minis (JM01-JM08).

But of course, the point of this blog post is to announce what is new for 2013 Christmas, so our shops can start ordering, and stock up, and plan their Xmas classes. So I am sure no matter what your opinion of mentioning seasonal 'stuff' at this time of the year, that perhaps you might like a little nosey sneaky peeky of what is coming up??? 

Please note that Jo deliberately designs some images that could be used for other times of the year (presents, hearts, cupcakes etc)

We have 8 new minis (JM25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)

 

 and 4 large A5 plates (JOFY17, 18, 19, 20) 
 

Please, take a moment to leave a comment for Jo, the last 2 days on the blog have been a well deserved tribute to her and her gorgeous unique design-style. She loves to see what you do with her images, and getting all your feedback is also a real buzz.

From Mark and I, a big congratulations with this new release Jo, its our absolute pleasure to work with you and bring your designs to the world. xx

Mark and Leandra

{PS. I know you are all going to immediately ask when, when, when can we get them??? We are commencing manufacture this week. 

As usual, our priority is to supply our trade only customers first over the next few weeks, so please, google for a supplier of JOFY stamps near you.  We ship them all over the world to numerous countries. Ask your local stamp store to contact us, and we will determine if they are eligible to be a JOFY stockist. 

Please note: we only supply VAT/GST registered businesses (or the equivalent of a sales-tax registered company in any given international territory), and we prefer that our stockists have online AND bricks and mortar presence, AND that they teach classes regularly}

Stamped Fabric coloured with {Fresco} Acrylic Paints

It was only supposed to be a 5 minute thing, and when I demo this at shows, that is really all it takes, but I had to choose an image to match the size of fabric, and of course, large images take longer to colour in! Doh! Colouring 101! I got a few boo boos happening along the way, no biggie, but the trouble shooting on that took time...but hey ho, it all worked out well enough in the end.

I certainly enjoyed the experience, hope you do too! Its a very soothing thing to do, and one of those in front of the telly things you can potter about with. You can find Fresco Finish Paints here.

You deffo need a cuppa and piece of Xmas cake for this one...a nice 40 mins feet up...which is why it took about 2 days to upload to you tube!!!

The Lynne Perrella and Jo Firth-Young images are perfect for stamping onto fabric. 

Lynne's because of the way she collages so many elements into the stamps, that there are loads of quirky bits to highlight. I also find that her images really come to life once lots of colours are added, the detail can be lost in black and white, so when you add the colour, the image makes more sense IYKWIM. 

And Jo's because the images are so simple, that often only 1 or 2 colours are all that is required with some soft shading, so hers are perfect for quick Xmas card, particularly if you are doing a production line of card making. But wait till you see her new stuff coming In January....OMG I am going to be doing loads of fabric projects, and so will Jo! Very excited!

We are still filming today, I'm onto the Shabby Chic French Furniture distressed paint effect. One of my favourites at the moment! I'll try to make it snappy so its not a 18 hour upload situation again!

Oh and thanks for all your lovely comments. Much appreciated. My passion as an ex-teacher has always been to share ideas, and for you to twist them/ adapt them, or use them however you wish. It is totally my pleasure to do so. Enjoy.

Leandra