2023 Topic 01: Shrines {by Etsuko Noguchi} with Lin Brown stamps

Hi everyone

Etsuko here with you today.

It may be a little late, but it's still January, so I hope everyone has a happy and wonderful year in 2023.

The first topic of the PaperArtsy blog is 'Shrine'. Japanese shrines enshrine natural objects, phenomena, and mythological deities-what we call 'Yaoyorozu no Kami' (all things have a spirit). Therefore there are no idols like Buddha statues in the shrine, and it is almost empty. That's like a white paper that we first get in hand, and on which people draw each image in their minds. At New Year's and seasonal festivals they pray for the good health and peace of their families and friends at the shrine. 

And the current theme for the first quarter is 'Tracks'.

I likened the footprints of the wonderful designer Lin Brown works and the introduction from the door to the inside as the theme Tracks. This is my project that fused the topic and the theme.

The triptych with spread material I made here was one of the first goods I ordered from PaperArtsy through a friend's introduction about ten years ago. At the time Lin Brown used her stamps, stencils and dies to showcase her great techniques and art. These footprints are revived every time when I use her creations. This time I wanted to make a shrine that looks like a spirit dwelling in it that I used her stamps and stencils to begin by decorating the gate with flowers and placing to the shrine the birds which commonly found in the gardens of Japanese shrine.

Before I started this project, I worked out ideas about how to represent the shrine, whether it was a physical shadowbox, a matchbox, a tin can with a lid, or an abstract flat surface. Afterwards some searching in my stash, I found this wooden triptych that had been lying in a cardboard box for years, and the problem was quickly solved. Since the container was decided I chose the products for creation. Stamps are: Lin Brown stamp set 17 and  26 (ELB17 and ELB26). Stencils are: PaperArtsy Stencil by Lin Brown (PS005) and PaperArtsy Stencil by Sara Naumann (PS092). The colours used are PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Purple Raine (FF105), Prawn (FF98), Bubble Gum (FF116) and Snowflake (FF15). I often used orange-based pink and green, so this time I used blue-based purple and pink. Snowflake was added to increase the brightness.

The triptych with spread I used for this topic was a good size as shown in the picture and the thickness of the board is 1.5 cm (0.6 inch).

First I applied two coats of gesso to prepare the base so that the work could proceed smoothly.

I realized halfway through that I had to remove the hinges first.

I printed using my gel plate on the shrine interior, using PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Caramel (FF75), Purple Raine (105) and Snowflake (FF15). Unlike when painting with a brush, the wood grain appeared clearly in the mono-print.

I used the PaperArtsy stencil by Lin Brown (PS005), put on the background and applied PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic - Snowflake (FF15) using the sponge.

Then I stamped the Lin Brown stamp set 26 (ELB26) leaves with mixed Purple Raine and little Snowflake so that the first layer pushed back. And I applied splatter with Snowflake to the background.

I put the stencil (PS005) on the shrine's each panel and applied the mixture of the PaperArtsy Grunge Paste and Purple Raine using painting knife.

First Purple Rain and Caramel were spread on my gel plate then PaperArtsy Stencil by Sara Naumann (PS092) was applied with Snowflake to the reverse-stenciling technique Sara introduced and I lifted a print it on a A4 paper. 

Reverse-stenciling; simply brayer paint onto the stencil, mist with water and press it onto your surface using a stencil from PaperArtsy Blog by Sara Naumann.

It was cut into an oval shape and embossed with a bronze colour around it.

The gate and back were also finished in the same shade using Sara's reverse-stenciling  technique, in this case using brayer to the shrine to apply the colours (I mixed Purple Rain and Snowflake ) directly onto the surface and brayered Snowflake paint onto the stencil, mist with water and press it onto the surface.

Once the surface is dry I stamped the Lin Brown Stamp set 26 (ELB26) sentiment with Tsukineko - Clair (Nocturne) all over and push the layer back.

The colour still stood out too much so I washed with Snowflake and splattered with some Snowflake.

I wondered how to decorate the door with flowers. First of all I painted Purple Rain, Prawn and Bubble Gum on a A4 paper, ELB26 daisies embossed with bronze powder using VersaMark stamp pad. I hope it look like a hinge when placed on both sides. 

I cut the daisies in half and arranged them. How does it look?

And it would be nice to have something like a doorknob, so I decided to make the same daisy with clay and paint it.

This is the result.

And here's the full view of the door.

It's been a bit long road, but the spirits are finally entering the interior. First of all Lin Brown Stamp set 17 (ELB17) was printed on A4 paper using Tsukineko - (Nocturne) and Ranger Industries - Clear embossing powder. I coloured these birds using coloured pencils.

The assumption is that there will be messengers to my creative wishes, and there will be a king and queen to bring my ideas to life.

Apply masking tape to all edges before attaching the hinges to prevent smudging of the panel's surface and paint each side.

There were some glass balls that were just right for the final finish, so I decorated them.

I just closed the door of the daisies and this is the view.

My project at the beginning of the year was done using all the tools I had on hand without any difficult techniques. Therefore, I was able to concentrate on the production and fully enjoyed the fun of making it. At first, I wasn't sure how much I could develop with two sets of stamps and two stencil sheets, but when I started making them I realized that there were plenty of possibilities, and think I could create many different designs depending on my ideas. Why don't you all make a work with a goal such as this topic and theme? 

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Etsuko xxx

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2023 Topic 01: Shrines {by Jennie Atkinson} with Vintage Ink & the Dog stamps

Hi everyone

Jennie (Live the Dream) here with you today.

It is always wonderful to be able to share a project that means something to me personally and so the Shrine I am going to share with you today celebrates my life long love of sewing, along with my creative love of breathing a new lease of life into an object that had seen better days.

And my Tracks (our quarterly theme)...stitches, sewn on the machine and by hand.

The picture frame has been given a complete make over with Crackle Glaze, Fresco Paints and Infusions but I am particularly pleased with the idea I had to extend the frame to make a shadow box in order to create the depth for the all the individual elements in the shrine. I wasn't too sure whether it would work...but it did and I hope the details I share later will inspire you to look at picture frames in a whole new light!

I have chosen two Vintage Ink and the Dog stamp sets for my project. ID03 which is very much sewing themed, but also ID02 as I wanted a female focus to represent myself in the shrine. 

At this stage in the project I tend to "go shopping" in the craft room (!) pulling out drawers of fabrics, flowers, lace, papers, embellishments, buttons... just in case I might use them. I make myself a "kit" to use although I might not use everything. It also means that when I start to work on the project I am not distracted by looking for things.

I had intended to keep my colours muted in a vintage style with PaperArtsy Infusions Rusty Car CS17 creating the main colour focus, everything else being the support act.

The frame was purchased from one of our local charity shops for 50p as it had no glass but it did have the back. The PaperArtsy Crackle Glaze FF22 process works well on this type of substrate.

It is a three part process and needs a little time to dry once the Crackle Glaze is applied. Leandra has a very good demonstration video for Crackle Glaze on the PaperArtsy YouTube Channel. I used PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic - Taupe (base layer) and Chalk (top layer).

The tips are as follows:

1. Use 2 opaque colours

2. You only need a thin layer of crackle glaze, if you sponge it on you will get round cracks, if you use a brush you will get linear cracks. Let it dry before proceeding.

3. The thickness of the top coat determines the crack size, so be generous. 

4. Apply the top coat fast and with one stroke, do not go back over areas that are painted, or you will fill in cracks without realising it.

I wanted to keep the frame quite grungy looking so was a bit "slap dash" with my painting of the final layer!

The next step was to add PaperArtsy Infusions - Rusty Car CS17. Now this didn't go quite to plan as I was expecting to water the Infusions down and paint them on but although this worked well in the indentations on the frame it didn't work so well on the frame as a whole. So I resorted to dropping a small amount of Infusions on the frame and then spritzing with water and dabbing the excess off. I have kept the cloth in the photograph so you can see how much was removed!

In this detailed photograph you can see how well that worked and I got some of the lovely red/pink colours as well as the walnut stain in a light covering.

The final part of my preparation was to make up a small "water bath" of the Infusions to dye various bits and pieces (lace, ribbon and a little piece of calico) which I hoped would add some subtle colour to the collage I had in mind. Again at this stage I had no idea whether they will be used.

I was pleased with the frame make over but was still anxious as to whether the shadow box element would work!

 

On the reverse of the frame where the glass would normally fit there is an indent. I cut some strips of mountboard 1½" wide and then trimmed them to fit. I then scored a 1/4" to allow the strip to sit in the indent.

Hopefully the photograph below will show how well it worked when glued .... I surprised myself! The downside is that you have to hold it together until the glue has adhered and of course keeping it all straight!

I was then able to adhere the back of the frame (which I had covered with text paper) and paint the inside.

I could now start thinking about how I would fill my Shadow Box Shrine. I like to collect bits and pieces together to see how well they co-ordinate as well as trying stamped elements directly onto the fabric and those which will need to be stamped on cardstock.

I loved the colour of some of my dyed elements but at this stage was wondering how I might incorporate them. I also had a thought to make a small pin cushion to fit into the frame, so used a (very small) die cut over the button stamped fabric.

My main focus is the fabulous dream girl from VID02 - she is a favourite of mine and crops up in many projects! I decided to dress her up a bit with some of the dyed ribbon.

So she would stand I ensured there was a flap at the bottom of the image to fold under and also added a small piece of card for sturdiness.

This little sewing machine charm was just perfect for the top of the cotton reel but was the wrong colour. It was a bit fiddly but I gave the whole piece a coating of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic - Chalk FF83 and once it had dried "splodged" some PaperArtsy Infusions - Rusty Car CS17 on top.

It was then the perfect colour to match the rest of the project. I also did the same with the silver metal sentiment and added a little gold wax when it was dry.

This is my favourite part of the project! With the main elements in the frame I enjoyed trying out my gathered embellishments and working out what works together.

Muslin can be used for great effect - filling in the gaps and helping to hold things in place. These little rolls of paper didn't really have anything to adhere to, so they are held in by the muslin.

I knew some elements would be on the outside of the frame and the little pin cushion worked perfectly as the base for this little cluster. The flower and ribbon are hiding a very dodgy bit of sewing as I was stuffing the pin cushion as I was sewing it on the machine!

The finished shrine which sits nicely on a wooden easel.

What I have really loved about this project is how it made me think about the photo frame, how I could use PaperArtsy products to make it look completely different but more importantly how I could get some depth into it. This technique of turning a flat frame into a shadow box will I hope inspire you to look at frames in quite a different way.

As always, thank you for joining me on this creative journey which has been fun and a lovely celebration of my life long love of sewing.

Jennie x

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