2020 #2 A Hint of Spring: Spring has returned with EGL {by Josefine Fouarge}

2020 Topic 2: A Hint of Spring

This is a fresh, cheerful colour combination, that touch of coral is a delight against the blues, and that background is divine! Check out her video in the post to really get to grips with how she creates such wonderful creations!~ Leandra

Hi everyone, Josefine here and I'm so excited to be back. 

How did the first month of 2020 go for you? I hope it started out great! I definitely had some fun playing with some of the new stamps and paints from PaperArtsy. The "Spring" topic was great for playing with two of Seth's new paints, as well as Gwen's new stamp set EGL06. When I first saw her set, I had to think of flowers. Why? You'll hear more about that during my video (see below :) ).

Gwen's new stamps set EGL06 has so many fun patterns and shapes that it easy to use them for backgrounds, but also for focal points. 

For my tag, I used the circles as background patterns, to embellish the petals of the flowers, and to create the stem of the flower. 

Since I was creating a project for the "Spring" topic, I picked a few softer colors. 

I started with two of the new Seth Apter Fresco Finish colors - Blue Bayou (FF206) and Heavy Cream (FF203) - as well as Summer Sky (FF150) for the background. Then I added Mustard Pickle (FF148), Peachy Keen (FF157), and Peach Nectar (FF144) for the flowers.

In addition, I used Allison Bomber's EAB06 set, which includes a variety of Spring poems, to add a sentiment at the end. 

Here is a video that shows you how I put everything together:

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed my tag and the process video and got a bit into the spring mood. Now I'm curious - what would a spring project look like for you? 
If you want to see more spring inspiration, check out the other posts on the PaperArtsy blog - existing and upcoming - and leave all the amazing designers some love.

See you again soon, Josefine.

Blog: www.holylise.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HolyLise
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holylise/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/holylisedesigns

2020 #2: A Hint of Spring: Gentle Journalling with ETS {by Nikki Acton}

2020 Topic 2: Hint of Spring

The effect that Nikki has created here generates a soft, almost blurry feel with texture of the gesso undercoat and the swipes of fresco colours melting beautifully into each other.  I really love how this journal page worked outand the way she has applied the quotes allows them to pop so perfectly!~ Leandra

Hi everyone, Nikki here today from Addicted to Art, sharing a journal page for our current theme A Hint of Spring.

At the beginning of every year I resolve to do more in my journal, so this seemed the ideal opportunity to play with some of the lovely new paint colours along with new stamps and stencils from Tracy Scott.

I used soft green and mauve hues with a touch of blue. The new colours below are Khaki, Globe Thistle, Blue Moon and Mauve - I added a little Guacamole and Periwinkle to the mix too.

My journal is an old book - so I started with a layer of gesso to cover the text and images - you can probably see brush strokes of the gesso underneath the colours. I built layers of my selected colours in patches - until my page was filled. This starts a little randomly but near the end and once it is covered I step back to assess the balance of colour and make changes (add more!) where needed.

I worked with Tracy Scott's new stencil PS169 to add extra paint - stencilling like this over the multicoloured surface helps to bring it all together a little more.

I added some of the wonderful images from Tracy's new stamp set - ETS37 and added colour to some of the elements. 

Finally some quotes from one of Alison Bomber's first stamp release - and still one of my favourites! EAB01.

In the introduction to this theme Leandra and Keren provided some fabulous colour combinations using subtle colours - what better way to try these out than in your journal! The new Fresco colours are gorgeous and Tracy's stamps provide both background interest and focal points to build your composition.

Thanks for joining me today, I hope you have a creative week.

Nikki x

Blog: Addicted to Art

Instagram: @Nikki_Act

Pinterest: nikacton

YouTube

2020 #2 A Hint of Spring: Spring Zing with JOFY {by Chris Dark}

2020 Topic 2: A Hint of Spring

If you've not heard of the Isolation technique, then Chris' gorgeous project will be a real revelation. Combining Jo's fab new stamps and lots of stencilling, she's created a wonderful ribbon bedecked mini album.

Hi everyone, it's Chris with you today sharing a mini album made using a beautiful new floral stamp set by Jo Firth-Young JOFY 91 and her lovely new stencil PS166.

Those black and white elements within the large stamps gave me the idea to make a master sheet using the isolation technique with black around the stamped images. I love how it turned out and it was perfect to make into a mini album cover with contrasting ribbon to tie in the signatures.

I hadn't decided how I was going to use the mastersheet at the start and considering the techniques, I would have been better off using heavier card. In the end it held up perfectly to the Infusions and paint layers plus the die cutting and scoring afterwards, that's Smoothy A4 Regular cardstock for you!

I started off by covering the card with Infusions in Lemoncello, Blackcurrant and Terracotta and spritzing with water.

I dried off with a paper towel and a heat tool.

I used a lot of colours of Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints in a mix of opaques, semi opaques and translucents, the zing you get from the translucents brightens everything up.

I dried off in between the layers of stencilling  which were both vertical and horizontal.

I stamped using the largest stamp in the set all over the background.

Now I started isolating the flowers using a black paint pen which would have been quicker with a larger nibbed pen. I used the white pen for stripes, centres of the flowers and on the edges.

I stamped the smaller cluster flower stamp on the background and then I added some white paint pen splatters.

To add a bit of dimension I've added some charcoal around some of the flower petal layers blended out with a paper stump.

Loving this combo of colours against the black.

A fabulous stamp design by Jo, there are so many ways you can go with it.

The completed master board.

I used up some of my patterned paper stash to make the signatures.

I just happened to have the perfect ribbon to match.

I hope you'll join in with the topic and may be you'll have a try at this isolation technique. I find it very satisfying seeing the flowers pop out from the background just like they do at the start of spring to cheer us up. Colouring around them was very therapeutic too. I think the zingy colours give it that hint of spring, I look forward to bright crocuses, daffodils, tulips and irises and all these flower colours are in the masterboard. Daffodils are just starting to appear in the shops; they're a welcome sight at this time of year and my favourites too.

Thanks for joining me today and I hope you have a creative week.

Chris x

Blog: www.sketchingstamper.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christine.dark.7
Instgram: @chrisd999
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/cdark4163/

2020 #2 A Hint of Spring: Marvellous Magnets with EKC {by Autumn Clark}

2020 Topic 2: A Hint of Spring

Autumn is bringing such a great upcycling idea tonight plus she's sharing a great freebie too. There's some fabulous texture and it makes me want to hunt for magnets to transform!

Hi everyone, it's Autumn Clark of SewPaperPaint with you today, and I'd like to share with you a fun upcycling project using magnets.  

Mainly because I wanted to switch things up a bit from my typical cardmaking, I was searching for an alterable item and came across a stash of unwanted magnets.  I thought what a fun surface they would make for doing some painting with our lovely PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics...

I have used PaperArtsy Eclectica {Kay Carley} Collection (EKC01) over and over again because of the shape of the beautiful petals.  I thought they would be the perfect shaped magnet to showcase some fun mementos on my refrigerator or filing cabinet.  I decided to pair the flowers with dragonflies from PaperArtsy Eclectica {Kay Carley} Collection (EKC06), what a lovely pair!

My concept was to use the magnets for some paint therapy and have a good old happy time playing with colors and repetitive patterns.  I used PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics in Amethyst, Eggplant, Midnight, Winter Green and Concrete for my abstract backgrounds.

I decided to emboss my images in white for a pop.  It was very easy to cut the thin magnet sheets.

I was having so much fun that I brought in a third stamp set, PaperArtsy Eclectica {Tracy Scott} Collection (ETS25) and embossed some of the images in Ranger's Navy EP.  I added some white highlights with a Uniball pen.

A light bulb moment occurred after I was finished with this first batch.  This would be a great way to use up those masses of gelli printed papers we all seem to collect.  Simply glue the papers onto sheet magnets or scrap magnet.  :)  What great little gift sets you could share with friends!

I'd love for you to stop by my blog, SewPaperPaint, and pick up the free downloadable grocery list.  It's been a joy to share with you as always.  Hugs, Autumn.

Blog:  SewPaperPaint

Facebook: Autumn Clark

YouTube: Autumn Clark: SewPaperPaint

Instagram: @sewpaperpaint

Pinterest: Autumn S Clark

I will be partnering with PaperArtsy stockist TopFlight Stamps doing demonstrations at the Stamp Scrap Art Tour in Columbia, SC, United States on February 15-16.  I hope to see you there!

2020 #2 A Hint of Spring: Fresh Art Journal Cover with EEV {by Lotte Kristensen}

2020 Topic 2: A Hint of Spring

Lotte's fab zingy journal is enough to get us all wishing for spring. The book-print background is really effective and the fussy cut leaves give real dynamism to the page. ~Keren

Hey everyone, it's Lotte here again, and I've been playing with some lovely, fresh, spring-like colours for my project - a new art journal, which had a rather boring black cover that was just *demanding* to get colourised!  I had some pages from a recent bout of gelli printing - I know I've said before how great Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics are for mono printing, because they stick much less than other paints, but they really are the best!!  I used Aquamarine, Granny Smith and Limelight mainly, with a few light touches of of Coral for contrast.  Together with the gorgeous Ellen Vargo stamp set, it made a really zingy cover:

So, these are the colours and stamps;

First, I stuck down a variety of old book pages with a glue stick, and then dry brushed all over with a very light coat of Heavy Cream.

Next, I got my gelli pages and Ranger Archival ink pads in Chartreuse, Garden Patina and Paradise Teal,

and then it was on to some stamping: I did all the stamps in all the colours!

Next, I cut out the individual shapes - perfect to do while you binge-watch your favourite show on Netflix :D

So, I played around with the layout a bit, before sticking down with a glue stick.  Let some of the leaves go over the edges, and cut off the excess, for a more natural look.

I filled in some of the gaps with smaller cut out pieces from the stamped images, before adding a bit of doodling with a fine felt tip pen.

And that's it!  I was quite pleased (for once) with the finished result. I love the contrast between the bright colours of the stamped images against the neutral background of the book pages.  I went on to do doodling on almost all of the pieces; it was fun to try and fit in as many different kinds of shapes and patterns as possible LOL!  Plus it feels like I've already overcome the 'blank page syndrome' of a brand new art journal by making this colourful cover, and am looking forward to filling it with lots of new ideas.

Until next time :)

Lotte

Instagram - Alice Overground