2016 #11 Our Castle and Our Keep {by Lucy Edmonsdon}

 2016 Topic 11: Our House

Hi everyone Lucy from Lucy's True Colours here.

Tonight I'd like to share with you a post about using Stampbord tiles to make the roof of a house, and turning a row of birdhouses into a little street!

When I first heard the theme was 'Our House' I was singing in my head the lyrics to the 1980s song by Madness, 'Our House, in the Middle of Our Street'. The song goes on to sing about 'Our Castle and our Keep' which seemed perfect for the Lynne Perrella stamps with their crowns, castles, turrets, and keys, which suggest the idea of a house being a place of sanctuary and safety and security. I had in my mind's eye a row of houses with the one in the middle being the focal point and being peopled with faces, so it looked like a lively, homely place to be. In contrast, the houses either side are pretty but quiet, with nothing to be seen behind the windows except wallpaper.

To make my street I bought a row of wooden birdhouses from Dunelm and pulled out the perches!

Step One: The front and sides are going to be covered with cardstock, to cover up the hole. I brayered several sheets with Zucchini, Coral, Bougainvillea, and Purple Rain Fresco Finish Paint and then knocked back with Chalk.

Step Two: I then cut out the pieces of cardstock to fit the front and sides of the houses and built up layers of stamping using a selection of Lynne Perrella Collection stamps and the same colours of Fresco paint. I used the crown from LPC007, the text from LPC014, the castles including the one from the top of the lady's head from LPC006, and the crown from LPC003. I then used some Zucchini and a stencil brush through Lin Brown 001 and then for the piece of cardstock which is going to be used for the focal point house, I did the same using the flower stencil which I felt looked like a fleur de lys from Lin Brown 025. I gave everything a watery wash of Snowflake to tone it down a bit. I then edged each piece with Purple Rain on a piece of cut n dry foam to differentiate the houses from each other when the pieces are glued to the row.

LPC003

LPC006

LPC007

LPC14

 

Step Three: Using one of the brayered background pieces, I stamped the large collage from LPC030 using Versafine Onyx Black and then embossed with clear embossing powder. I have mentioned here before that this was a tip given to us by Alison Bomber and I have found it invaluable for giving a lovely clear dark image, particularly with the very finely detailed Lynne Perrella images, and it also helps to avoid going over the lines when painting as you can buff it off. I added a little touch of extra colour in places using the same colours as before.

Step Four: Now for the roof tiles! I used one inch stampbord tiles and for the faces I painted them with Blush first, then stamped them in the same way as for the collage but taking the tile to the stamp, and then added Bougainvillea to the cheeks and some touches of the other colours. I wanted it to look almost like a party in the attic, but the design would have looked too busy if I'd just had the faces so I wanted to break it up a little. For the more abstract part of the design I stippled some of the paints onto the tiles with a stencil brush first. With hindsight, the Purple Rain came through the designs a little overpoweringly although it's a lovely colour in itself. I stamped these tiles in the same way as before, using the text, and the crowns collage from LPC014 and the row of houses from LPC028. I then used a Stampbord scratchtool to do a little highlighting on each tile, for instance the whites of eyes. Again with hindsight, it would have been better at this stage if I had sanded the edges of each tile to differentiate them from each other when they were put together, but as you can see in the later photo, I managed to do this quite easily once they were in situ by running the scratchtool along each of the join lines.

LPC028

Step Five: In this photo you can see the roof starting to come together! Subsequently I painted the edge along the top and at the front of the tiles with Purple Rain Fresco Paint. In the final photos you can see the turreted chimney and in this picture you can see how I started to make it. I stamped and clear embossed the castle on the top of the lady's head from LPC006 several times. I fussy cut them but left tabs so that I could stick the pieces together. I decided it would be better to have the images glued back to back, for strength and also so you could view them from all angles without the white showing. The chimney was oblong in shape so, for the two remaining pieces, I folded the sides in like a three sided box, and glued them into the pieces already in position. As the roof is sloped, it was all a bit fiddly, matching up the turrets as well!

Step 6: I gave the end houses windows cut from the collage sheet prepared earlier, but excluded any with faces as I didn't want these houses to be 'peopled'. I gave them doors made with white/grey board covered with some of the prepared cardstock and buttons painted with the Fresco colours. For the main house I die cut an awning painted with Snowflake with a resin flower painted with the new Fresco Gold. I used the Tim Holtz Pediments die on shrink plastic painted with Gold above the two windows, which are two of the remaining face tiles, from LPC006 and LPC007. The door is an ATC stampbord piece stamped with the lady from LPC010. Her face has been coloured with Blush and some Pearl Glaze and a touch of the other Fresco colours added and a few scratched highlights. I made faux hinges with flattened gold brads and a door knocker with another flattened brad and a pink tassel. I added another gold pediment above the door.

To finish off the project I typed the words, 'Our House, In the Middle of Our Street, Our Castle and Our Keep'. I added a touch of the Fresco paint colours to them and arranged them on the main house.

In this close up shot you can see more of the details of the main house, with its rather grandiose occupants ready to party in the attic, with its tiled and turreted roof.

I found it quite tricky making this project, and executing the plan I had in my head and I encountered a few snags along the way. Over all, my favourite part is the roof, so I hope it will encourage you to consider using the one inch stampbord tiles for a house roof if you are making something 3d for the challenge. The other idea I had considered was using the large collage stamp to make my roof tiles, so I think that is what I shall do next! Have fun with the challenge and I will enjoy seeing what you make!

Lucy, Lucy's True Colours, twitter @CraftyLuce

 

What a great song in the first instance to get your inspiration from ... Love the concept of this project and the shabby chic subtle decor. Love the tiled and turreted roof, Lynne's stamps are the perfect choice exquisite Lucy! ~Gillian

We would love to see how you interpret this House topic by linking what you make to our 2016 Challenge #11: Our House, on this page HERE.

All of our bloggers love to see your twist on their ideas,  particularly if you were inspired directly by their post. 

All links go in the draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Our House link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, June 12th 2016. The winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

MORE NEW PA Products {March 2016} Hot Picks, and something a bit different

Hi Everyone, Leandra here with some amazing new stamps by Mark... he has added to the {Hot Picks} Collection with some stunners...

Hot Picks always hark back to the core roots of PaperArtsy as a company, the Vintage Style we have been recognised for since 2004. Mark has his own design style, and these stamps have some of those quirky elements he always likes to add.

Here's a video introduction and some samples using these new stamps for you to check out! A huge thanks to our fabulous sample makers!

So lets take a closer look at the actual stamps...

As ever, we always have some super talented crafts who volunteer to help us work with our newest stamps. These guys, as ever, have done a fabulous job! Enjoy ~Leandra

 

First up we have Lin Brown.
Lin has always enjoyed working with Hot Picks, and I can tell she really had fun doing these! It is always so cool to see what she comes up with, and these are stunning!!

'Art' using HP1605 by Lin Brown

I love Hot Picks stamps and I'm usually drawn to the collage ones. This image has many elements, so I decided that a simple background was all that was needed to showcase this fabulous stamp. Next time I use it, I think I'll cut all the little squares out, it will be fantastic for a mosaic style project.

'Lest We Forget' using HP1606 by Lin Brown

A simple poppy speaks volumes, symbolising our fallen hero's. Poppies are one of my favourite flowers, the intense colour and shape are so beautiful. Of course this poppy does not have to be used as a symbol of remembrance, it will make a fabulous feature on any project.

Home Sweet Home using HP1601 by Lin Brown

I had so many ideas for this stamp plate, too many fabulous houses to choose from!!! For me, old doors are intriguing, makes me wonder what is hiding behind them. A masterboard background is the perfect backdrop for this feature door. You could of course make opening doors, to reveal a hidden secret! 

Fabric Collage using HP1602 by Lin Brown

As soon as I saw this set of stamps, I knew that my first project would be a fabric one, The flowers and the butterfly are great for injecting some bright colours into a more subtle background. I kind of wish I had made a padded butterfly now, embellished with beads. Never mind, I'll do that next time.

Queen of Springs using HP1604

I saved my favourite set of stamps till last. I do love stamps with numbers on and there is a great choice of number stamps in this set for making fantastic backgrounds, but I'm totally in love with this quirky character. As soon as I saw her, I knew she needed some springs for arms and legs. Actually, it's only one leg really....kind of jack-in-the-box style!! Oh my, as soon as I typed jack-in-the-box my head starting buzzing......she would be fabulous jumping out of a box on a spring.

Next it's Helen. Helen Chilton is always keen to do anything with Hot Picks, and this time it was hard to stop her! I requested bright and cheery colours, which are her go-to anyway, so she was really a very happy craft-piggie in mud on this challenge!

'Number Doll' using HP1604 by Helen Chilton

How can you not love this Art Doll image? I've put her on a number catwalk, but you could also make her out of fabric and stuff her to make her 3D. The images are bold and stamp beautifully.

 

 'Home Sweet Home' using HP1601 by Helen Chilton

I just love these Dutch style gable houses, ideal for masking and stamping row on row to fill the background. The detail is incredible. I'm planning on stamping a never ending street to go round the wall.

'Lest We Forget Arch' using HP1606 by Helen Chilton

Those big, bright and beautiful poppies tie in with the Poppy stencil ELB004. I love the poem 'In Flanders Fields' and have cut it up to go round the arch. This set also links up with HP1505.

Art in the Round using HP1605 by Helen Chilton

This set has got everything: the wonderful collaged focal image and that great collage background which is so full of detail, the words, the numbers and the doors. I've stamped it to the full in this sample and thoroughly enjoyed myself!

'Signs of Spring' using HP1602 by Helen Chilton

I've used the text and numbers to cut out extra leaves for my Spring flowers. Some really useful stamps in this set: patterns, text, numbers etc. I've stamped nearly all of them to build up my background.

'Butterfly Dreams' using HP1602 by Helen Chilton

Same stamps but a different look: the stamping is rubbed out on the darker background to give a 'ghosting' effect.

Our third contributor tonight is the beautiful Kaz Hall .

Kaz is a Vintage Queen. She has been on hiatus for a while, and I recently coaxed her out of her slumber and threw some Hot Picks her way in the hope she might make something! I've missed her not blogging dreadfully, and I for one am utterly thrilled to see her back in action. Give her some love!

'Doorway' using HP1601 by Kaz Hall

Kaz says: I adore the shabbiness of this stamp set, I couldn’t wait to get it inked up!  I love the worn look to the door, it’s perfect for new home or new beginnings card. I also want to use it for a journal page about new openings….

'If the crown fits' using HP1604 by Kaz Hall

Kaz says: This stamp set is so much fun! I really love vintage but I also like to challenge myself and to try something that I’m not used to using, this stamp gives you so many possibilities, you can stamp it out several times, cut it up and use all the different elements.

'Lost' using HP1606 by Kaz Hall

Kaz says: This stamp set is just beautiful, the poppy stamp can be adapted to be used with or without the soldiers, the words can also be stamped and cut up individually….perfect for journaling.

'Vintage Art' using HP1602 by Kaz Hall

Kaz says: There’s so many different elements to this stamp set….The butterfly is my favourite, it’s a perfect addition to create any vintage project.

Last up, we have Lauren Hatwell . I think Lauren has become recognised for her attention to detail, ability to think outside the box, an her complete versatility to work within various genres. She is very clever....take a look!

'Home Sweet Home' using HP1601/0505 by Lauren Hatwell

I know you shouldn't have favourites but sometimes you just can't help it and this is one of my favourite sets from this release. I've teamed one of the stamps from HP1605 (the row of doors) with the gorgeous row of houses from HP1601. I love the little square "home sweet home" stamp in the set. It's going to be SO useful! 

'Little Boxes' using HP1601 by Lauren Hatwell

I loved making this little box frame. A few fabulous stamped elements brought together to create a little piece of home decor heaven. 

'Butterfly' using HP1602 by Lauren Hatwell

This is an "everything you need right there on a plate" set of stamps. So many great elements to make really beautiful projects with. My particular favourites in this set are the gorgeous butterfly and those really cool Washi Tape strips. Just great!

'Expert Advice' using HP1604 by Lauren Hatwell
 

Well you just knew I would LOVE this little lady didn't you. There are so many great things you could do with her, but she looks just fine on a fairly simple background with one of those lovely large statements as a soap box to stand on. Imagine the possibilities....

Flanders Fields using HP1605/06 by Lauren Hatwell
 

The poppy is such a potent symbol of Remembrance and I love the images Mark has used in this set and HP1605. They are so beautifully drawn that they work well in black and white or in colour.

Thank you so much to these wonderful wingmen, they managed to turn these samples around for me rickety split, and I cannot believe what they did so fast! They MUST love those stamps!! 

So, it's not quite over yet!

The last surprise I have for you is that we are also releasing some substrates for you to work on.

I wanted things that could be stand alone OR perhaps used on the front of a journal cover.

We have partnered with Clare Charvill who designed these chipboard substrates specially for us. Clare is a very talented teacher, demonstrator. 

Clare is one busy lady, you may have seen her presenting on the TV for a variety of companies, but she also teachers her own retreats, and workshops regularly, often with papers like G45, but now also Fresco and she is rather partial to a JoFY stamp too!

The idea is you can make these into a niche type box to decorate as you can see, with papers, or maybe in a more mixed media way with paints and doodling, or maybe a combinations, as Clare has done here, with stamps involved too. The variations are endless!

These won't be shipping until April, but check out what you can do, for now I am showing you a couple of samples Clare made... aren't they fab! 

...OK, so we might have ONE more major thing...but that I am saving to tell you about in full after Stitches! You might want to keep your eyes tuned to Periscope over the coming few days too!

All tonight's wing-men have detailed step out's explaining how they made their samples on their own blogs tonight, so do drop by and take a look by following the links.

The stamps will start shipping to your favourite PaperArtsy stockist after March 1st, 2016, the substrates in April. As you know,  we urge you to support your local independent retailer by supporting them.

Enjoy! 

~Leandra