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.

The sewing part is always one of my favorites; it always adds a little something to a project!

Here I'm showing how the spines for my journal pages are made.

Now it's time to put everything together and create pages and cards.

I used black cardstock to create a frame behind some of my background before gluing them on my card base and journal page.

To add dimension, I've use some 3d foam tape on the flowers.

And to finish, stamped and cut the sentiments for my finish pages.

Here are my assembled pieces showing that, with the same background, you can make a variety of different projects.

Here are some up pictures of the final projects.

Tanks for stopping by hope you enjoy!

Martine

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Make it Count with EMW {by Amanda Pink}

Hi Everyone, Amanda (p1nkart) here with you today sharing a project I've made using some of Mags Woodcock's new release.

This is Mag's debut release of A5 stamps and stencils and she has put together a fabulous mix of versatile designs and having been lucky enough to have some play time with them I feel sure they will lend themselves to a cross range of creative styles. So something for everyone! 

Infact, Mag's herself demonstrates this with her eclectic mix of gorgeous samples over on her launch post so if you haven't already be sure to stop by sometime. You'll also find links to all the stockists of Mags new designs at the foot of the page .

Here are Mag's new stamps and stencils. I used all 3 stencils in some way or another and stamps primarily from Mags stampset 002 (EMW002) but I couldn't resist pinching a few from  stampset 002 (EMW002) and 003 (EMW003) aswell.

I have to admit I dithered over my choice of colours this time so pretty much pulled out a few that I'm ordinarily drawn to, played around with different combinations of them and settled on this one: Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics - Niagara Falls (FF205), Eggshell (FF138), Blue Lagoon (FF131), Terracotta (FF125), Space Cadet (FF68).

It's very rare when I don't include some black and white in my makes so by default PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Little Black Dress (FF19) and Snowflake (FF15) joined the mix too.

As is often the case with me, when my creativity began I had no set plan of what my end project would be. All I knew is that whatever I created was going to have lots of painty layers and this time I'd set the brushes and brayer to one side and rekindle my enjoyment of painting with palette knifes.

Whenever I'm creating painty layers no matter the application tool I tend to either work with a darker colour, then a lighter colour continuing in that way or I switch it up and work the other way round - lighter colour then darker colour.

I find working this way helps build layers of colour, create a sense of depth and also lessen the chances of the colours 'muddying'.

So the 'order of play' was: PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Niagara Falls (FF205). 

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic: Eggshell (FF138).

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic; Blue Lagoon (FF131).

Looser, dare I say 'sloppy' application can give some lovely painty texture.

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic: Terracotta (FF125).

With this colour being translucent it allows for some of the other colours to show through while also offering pops of brightness.

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic: Space Cadet (F68).

Application of all the colours was with a wide edged plastic palette knife, dragging/ scraping the paint on/ down the card in a very loose and free flow way. 

Here's another way I like to use a palette knife to apply paint, one that I find creates some fabulous painty texture and visual interest.

I thought the painty panel needed knocking back a bit with a lighter colour so I went all out with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Snowflake (FF15). 

For this technique I use a slim palette knife, load it up with paint and rather than drag/ scrape the paint on/ down the card this time I 'pat' the paint on to the card. 

  

It's fun and easy to do and the results can really be something special!  

For me, it was this 'patted' layer of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Snowflake (FF15) that brought the background to life and gave it the texture, visual interest and energy that I now realised it needed. 

With the painty layers all complete it was now time to add some stamping detail. 

This is where some of Mag's detail, texture stamps came out to play. From Mag's stamp set 002 (EMW002) I stamped the 'x's' stamp in Ranger Industries- Distress Archival Ink (Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade), the 'ledger numbers' in Tsukineko Versafine- Onyx Black. The  'o's' stamp from Mag's stamp set 003 (EMW003) was stamped in Ranger Industries - Distress Archival Ink (Mermaid Lagoon). 

Below you can see all three stamps layered over each other without losing any of their individual clarity- something I find that tone on tone stamping coupled with bolder stamping allows, especially with fine detail stamps like these of Mags.

Layered stamping also creates a sense of depth which in this instance enhances and further accentuates the depth created by the painty layers. 

Stencil detail next and I go back to basics first and simply draw round the circles of the PaperArtsy stencil by Mags (PS506) with a Sakura Micron Pen (Black). 

Then with the same stencil and some PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Little Black Dress (FF19) I created a few outline paint prints of some of the circles. 

To do this I rubbed PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Snowflake(FF15) around some of the stencils circles which allows some of the paint to seep through. 

Keeping the stencil the same way up I placed on my background and applied pressure around the 'painty' circles with my fingers.

I then lift the stencil to reveal paint printed circles.  

As this is one of my favourite ways to use stencils I'd thought I'd add some paint printed numbers too using PaperArtsy stencil by Mags (PS508). 

I was really happy with the resulting touch's of graphic drama the black stencil printed numbers added to the background :).

Not every print was perfect but that's what I like.

Perfectly Imperfect!

To help 'lift' the black stencil printing I added some highlights with a white Posca pen

So from having no real project plan at the start I moved on to thinking along the lines of maybe an art panel but that idea ultimately morphed into a journal page and with a few additional extra's here it is ...

The large focal star is courtesy of PaperArtsy stencil by Mags (PS507) and PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Little Black Dress (FF19). It's embellished with a smaller star from the stencil that I drew round, cut out and painted in the same way as the background. The number 3 is one of the 'bingo counter numbers' from Mag's stampset 002 (EMW002) tinted with PaperArtsy fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Terracotta (FF125).

The focal star sits on some wooden skewers painted with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Little Black Dress (FF19)), the edges caught with a white pen. They not only allow the focal 'Star' to sit proud of the background but the way they are positioned helps draw the viewing eye in.

The finishing touch being the quote from Mag's stamp set 001 (MWA001)... 'Make it count.' 

I'd had so much fun painting with palette knifes and working with Mag's stamps and stencils that I wasn't ready to call it 'a wrap' so I rustled up a trio of ATC's to not only offer an alternative project idea but also to show that there's plenty of mileage in Mags new designs.

On the whole I pretty much followed the same creative steps as I've already shared....Palette knife painty backgrounds.

Tone on tone and black ink stamping. 

I switched a few stamps out from Mags stamp set 002 (EMW002) and replaced with others from set 001 (EMW001).

Can you spot which?

Only circle paint printing this time.

Mag's doodled flower stamps from set 001 (EMW001) and set 003 (EMW003) as focal's instead of star's. They were delicately watercoloured with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics- Terracotta (FF125) and Blue Lagoon (FF131) the centre's touched with Ranger Industries- Glossy Accents.

A few snippets of ephemera detail thanks to one of the stamps on Mag's set 001 (EMW001) added here n there.

Some light splatters of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic- Snowflake (FF15) and to finish one of the words from Mags set 001 (EMW001 and set 003 (EMW003) assigned to each of the ATC's.

Bloom

Flower

Grow

I think I can now safely say 'that's a wrap'! What an enjoyable creative time I've had. Thanks PaperArtsy and Mags for some terrific new stamps and stencils and for everyone that's stopped by today. I hope you enjoyed seeing and reading and that something I've shared may have sparked your own creative ideas.

Amanda x

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