Flower Power

In a previous post, I mentioned that I would do a series of mini tutorials showing you some ideas for my new stamps. I am going to try and post one of these each week for you but first I just want to answer a few questions that I have been asked recently.

1. Where did I get the decorative frames that I used in my last class (these were featured in my last post)?

A. They are laser cut wooden frames that I purchased when I was in Paris. The website is
www.scrapdesirs.com I have ordered from them online and they provided a great service. Their website is in French but I used Google Translate and it was easy!!

2. Will I be at the NEC show next month?

A.Sorry, no. Leandra decided not to book a stand there this time around, she has quite a heavy schedule at this time of year.

3. Where are my stamps available?

A. As my stamps are not likely to be available from the PaperArtsy retail website for a week or two (Leandra does this so that other retailers have the opportunity for sales before they go on her own website, which is brilliant as you should support your local stamp store) Here is a list of places that  either have them in stock now or their orders will be arriving with them today.

www.thecraftbarn.co.uk
www.artisttradingpost.co.uk
www.thefruitpixie.co.uk
wwww.colemans-online.co.uk


OK, with all that information out of the way, let's start the fun stuff!!

I used plate no. ELB01

 

 

 

To start you will need two of the new colours of Fresco Finish paint, Stone and Mud Splat and a piece of corrugated cardboard which I die cut into a tag using theTim Holtz tag & bookplate die. I peeled away a few scraps of the top layer of paper to reveal some textured areas underneath. Don't be tempted to rip away too much as it will not leave you with much of a flat surface for background stamping!

 

 

Base coat the whole tag with Stone and either allow to dry thoroughly or dry with a heat gun. Then, using quite a large and stiff bristled brush, dry brush a tiny amount of Mud Splat around the edges of the tag and on top of the ridges. The trick to dry brushing is very little paint, taking out all the excess on kitchen paper before brushing on your project.

 

 

 

 

Next up...Honey Dew, Tinned Peas and Green Olives, the trio leafy stamp, and some cut'n'dry.

Pour a small puddle of each colour onto your craft sheet and start by applying a nice even layer of Honey Dew over the whole stamp, this colour is opaque. Take a new piece of Cut'n'Dry foam and sponge a small amount of Tinned peas (semi - translucent) around some of the edges to try and create some shadows and shading. If you apply too much, simply dab over with the Honey Dew sponge.

 

 

Repeat this for the third colour, Green Olives (semi - translucent) and then clean your stamp straight away....try not to leave the paint on your stamp too long, it's much easier to clean it now.

 

And print onto your painted tag. I have a fantastic tip for you at this stage. If you are printing an image with paint onto a painted surface, providing the surface is completely dry, you will be able to wipe the stamped image away with a baby wipe if you are not happy with it.....this is worth remembering.....the bonus of using paint....you can't do this with ink!! Having said that, I then used my Jet Black Archival ink pad!!! I used some script from Sara Nauman's ESN03 and the music from ESN07 to add some more interest to the background and I also sponged a small amount of the ink around the edges of the tag.

 

I recently discovered that Fresco Finish paints look stunning on black card!!! Now as you know, some of the colours are translucent and would not show up terribly well on a black surface so here is how you make it work. Refer back to the trio leafy stamp instructions where I explained about layering three colours onto the stamp and print on black card. I know that this makes no sense as to why or how it works, but it does!!! You would think that you would need to layer the colours on the stamp in the opposite way but no.....this works a treat.....I have no idea why or how but I am very happy that it does!!!

 

 

Trim with scissors, leaving a narrow black border, the colours will just jump right off the card!!

 

 

For the flower head, I used Vintage Lace, Very Berry and Claret. Again, layer up the paint starting with Vintage lace, Very Berry and Claret and print two of these on black card.

 

 

I did find it a little tricky to apply paint to the centre of the flower with a square piece of Cut'n'Dry so I dug out some finger daubers and it worked a dream!!

Before assembling the tag, I stamped the Art In Bloom phrase with Black Archival ink as it looked a bit bare in that area. I also added a few ribbons at the top of the tag, a bit of lace and washi tape as embellishments.

 

Finally, a few little pearls in the centre of the flower make a nice finishing touch.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this little ditty enough to give it a whirl yourself. My aim is to try and post a flower tutorial each week if I can, using my stamps.......can't have you running out of ideas now, can I??