2020 Topic #18 Geometric with EEV (by Miriam Grazier)

    2020 Topic 18: Geometric

Miriam is right; geometry creates a satisfying order and her grid formation of stamping makes for a pleasing effect. Repeated stamping takes a steady hand but is a great way to make a creative background for a beautiful card.

~ Keren.

Hi everyone, it's Miriam with you today, and I'd like to share with you a simple but elegant card using a geometric shape to create a modern look.

I love symmetry in my crafting, it creates an order to my makes.  Using Ellen Vargo stamps made creating a geometrical card simple but effective.

I love the carved look of the Ellen Vargo stamps and they work so well with the geometric theme.

I didn't want too much white space in the background and so I painted a layer of Concrete on my panel first.  This still created the look of a blank background without the stark colour of white.

I also tried to add more depth by stamping with Concrete before I stamped the Ellen Vargo carved image.  I liked this, but decided to use the panel that I created without the background stamping for my finished project.  It definitely showed that the panel design could be 'stepped up' in different ways.

I added a border using another of Ellen's amazing stamps, this time stamped in midnight.

I stamped the flower twice and painted using Tinned Peas, Ochre and a touch of Smoke Paprika.  I really liked the touch of Smoked Paprika on the petals.

I found it therapeutic creating a geometric design and I really enjoyed it.  Using the Ellen Vargo collection also meant that I was able to create a background quickly, so this would be great for batch making cards.  With the festive season coming up this would also be a great idea to create a set of gift cards or notecards to give as gifts.  I would also love to use this design on a cushion cover, I think it would look great.

I really hope that I have inspired you to try this yourself.  I think it would look great with all sorts of shapes and plan to try circles next. 

Thank you for joining me this evening.

Miriam

2020 Topic #18 Small journal cover with EGL (by Noguchi Etsuko)

      2020 Topic 18: Geometric

With a little more geometric styled patchwork but with a completely different vibe, Etsuko has poured lots of time and creative energy into this amazing journal cover. She obviously was inspired by Gwen's workshops, so do check those out too.

~ Keren

Hi everyone, it's Etsuko from My favorite things with you today, and I'd like to share with you a small journal cover featuring by Gwen's wonderful art for the current theme.

The 'geometric' theme was a little difficult, but interesting and challenging. The class I took at Gwen's workshop called 'Patchwork Pages' fitted perfectly with this theme so I thought it would be a good idea to make it here.

EGL01

EGL03

EGL06

First I painted the background of each paper with a different Fresco paint and stamped on the Smoothy (Heavyweight) A4 white card. I used Fresco paint are Seaglass, Captain Peacock, Lemon Meringue, Pumpkin Soup, Vintage Lace, Wisteria, and Blueberry, stamps are EGL01, EGL03 and EGL06.

I made the assigned hexagon pattern in Illustrator and cut each piece accordingly then connected each piece together to make these hexagons.

ELB28

I cut some design papers to be a little larger than the original hexagon and stuck it to the bottom of the original hexagon so that it would be the margin. Then I made a circle in the center and finished the hexagonal parts. Also I made large and small paisleys on the Smoothy (Heavyweight) A4 white card by EGL07 for embellishments and painted with watercolor pencil. Next I embossed the ELB28 DREAMS with black powder and cut around it and distressed it with Sepia Archival.

EGL07

JOFY36

JOFY41

JOFY62

Next I made the masterboard for the book cover. I stamped several stamps EGL07, JOFY62, JOFY36 and JOFY41 on the copy papers by Versafine Clair Nocturne ink and also prepared the design paper.

I tore off each piece of the paper, collaged them on the Smoothy (Heavyweight) A4 white card, and distressed them in places with Fresco paint Toffee. I cut the collage paper in half to made the front and back covers.

I laid out the hexagonal motifs, glued the paisley embellishments and the word 'dreams' on the covers then I made the Catholic Stitch Bookbinding with the covers and watercolor papers of the same size.

To make the back cover paper, I painted Fresco paint Wisteria on the Smoothy (Heavyweight) A4 white card and when it dried I stamped EGL03 it all over by Blue Violet Archival.

I glued the paper to the back of the cover and distressed the edges with Sepia Archival to make it look old.

Finally I made a tassle with Kochis charms and beads attached to the spine.

I had a lot of fun using Gwen's stamps and although they take a little bit of work, I find myself getting hooked on them in the process of making them. Please feel free to contact me on using Facebook etc. if you have any questions about my photos or explanations. This idea  was from Gwen's workshop 'Patchwork Pages' if you are interested in this please visit her site as she has more workshops.

Thank you so much for visiting.

Etsuko xxx

Blog: My favorite things
Facebook: Etsuko Noguchi
Instagram: Pixienest
Pinterest: Etsuko N

 

 

2020 Topic #18 Patchwork Patterns with I&D (by Jennie Atkinson)

      2020 Topic 18: Geometric

If you thought that patchwork was old fashioned, Jennie will hopefully shatter those illusions with her cool stamped and rearranged designs. With the simplest of supplies and a load of stitching, you can end up with some super stylish makes.

~ Keren

Hi everyone, it's Jennie (Live The Dream) with you today, sharing some patchwork pattern ideas for our current geometric theme. 

I am not a great lover of creating patchwork with material but I do love experimenting with patchwork patterns using coloured papers. There are so many pattern ideas on Pinterest that you can spend ages looking for different ideas and inspiration. I have kept my designs quite simple for these two cards, but they still look just as effective and make great cards for sewing minded friends.

I have used Ink and the Dog stamps to pattern my papers  looking for some smaller patterns with text and postmarks:

Clocks 1

Words 4

I created background papers using my brayer and some Fresco colours I thought would go well together: Venice Blue, Mulled Wine, Brown Shed and Green Patina. I am in a bit of "brights" mood at the moment with all the lovely autumn colours in the garden, which makes such a change from my usual soft choices. I have just brayered the colour directly onto Smoothy Cardstock.

I have stamped randomly, but not made a masterboard as such. I regretted using black ink initially thinking it was far too dark, but it did work in the end.

For this pattern I have cut 2" squares and then made half and quarter triangles. The design centres around the square in the middle. The base cardstock is 5½" x 5½" and although it was easy to find the centre it was more difficult to make sure the square was straight!

Stitching around the edges of each piece does make a difference and when layered onto two coloured layers really has the feel of patchwork.

I added a sentiment using a quote from Alison's Friends and Friendship stamp set and a little cluster of ribbon and a flower. 

EAB10

My second design used 1" squares cut into triangles and was much more fiddly!

I only needed a 4" x 4" background for this smaller pattern and it was easier to get started from the middle. It is a good idea to have your design set out before you start glueing as it is easy to get lost!

Stitching the smaller triangles was very fiddly and I took a few shortcuts in trying to keep a single run without having to keep stopping. I have used the same sentiment as before and a similar cluster around the tag.

 

I really enjoyed putting together these geometric designs but would suggest that keeping your squares to 2" makes life much easier all round. It was a great opportunity to experiment with colours I might not normally put together and I was also pleased to use some of my smaller text stamps which sometimes get lost on bigger projects. Needless to say I have a huge collection of pins on Pinterest with other ideas for designs, so will not be short of any ideas.

As always thank you for joining me and I hope this idea of using patchwork patterns provides you with some prompts for cards and layouts and provides a different style of creativity for your stamps.

Jennie x

Blog: Live The Dream