Ohhhh { Love these metal birds}

 Before we start...A few words on the rugby...

If you were following me on twitter (@paperartsy) the other weekend you would have seen my blow by blow account of the New Zealand All Blacks playing the English. Yay to the AB's. and yay that Mark and I were able to go along to watch with some other kiwi friends. Getting tickets to go to Twickenham is never easy for games like this, so we got them through the New Zealand Rugby Union verified by our kiwi passports. A great method as the section of the stadium we were in was all black too, so that made it even more fun! Plus a try that was scored (AB's) happened in the corner right in front of where we sat, so we were up and out of our seats with excitement!. We had a great spot: the higher stands protected us from the wind and rain, and the corporate "boxes" we just behind us, so we had the same view as them but way more fun! And of course the icing on the cake was the win.

The best part of rugby is the freindly atmosphere. When the poms scored we clapped, and when we scored they clapped...very sporting of us all and exactly how it should be....oh and the TV ref comes in very handy too!! Fair play all round makes for a great event. Had a few laughs on the train on the way back with other supporters from both sides.  Very very enjoyable.

Spinach Pie Success...

Oh and Patricia emailed me last weekend to say she tried my Spinach pie recipe, and her family loved it...that was funny...I know I put the recipes up there for people to try, but didn't think you actually would! SO I may have to put something else up there soon if you are liking that additional feature! lol Really tickled me that.3 bird roast for Xmas coming soon!!

Gift Certificates......

Mark has spent some time crating a series of VERY cool looking gift certificates. These are perfect for you to give firends or family vouchers that can be redeemed online, over the phone or as a postal order. Check them out here.

Back to the metal working....

After being out and about at a few shows in the last couple of months, I seem to get loads of emails from peeps asking me how I did this that or whatever, or how do they get started, usually that they don't remember a thing of what I demoed and want a blow by blow summary. lol. The shows over here like the NEC are absolutely massive. You are doing well to get around all the stands in a day, and you see soooo much thatit can be a bit of a brain drain. So thanks for taking the time to email and ask for help or inspirational ideas and reminders.

This blog is your first port of call. I do try to put up online the samples I made at the shows and give instructions of how they were made. That way, if you were stood watching, you can remember more easily how it was made. This works well until stuff "walks" off the desk....or people poke your samples so the metal gets crushed before the glue supporting it has set. 

Often I come up with new ideas while demoing, and this time, I had a great idea with some of the bird stamps and the little chipboard arches, and it was all looking awesome, but before the filler had set up, nearly every time I would go to show the sample to the next bunch of people watching, and bang, the blimmin thing was all mangled.  So on the last day of the show i tried to make some samples and hid them so i could blog un-poked items. :-)

I am pretty forgiving - poking raised metal is probably something even I would do lol... I guess we must all have some innate desire to have to just test to see if the metal is supported/strong. And people stood there aren't to know that it's not set hard. The drying process for fillers can be 24 hours, so usually the stuff on my desk is at some stage of drying out, but it certainly isn't fully set.

So let me show you what I was up to. If people are interested in how to stretch metal, then the samples above (fleur de lis) is a classic I do a lot, or maybe I might use a small flower, and stamp with a section that would look good puffed out will work, start with a simple design. 


The process is the same. Here is the same idea using the row of birds from SITT2...love that stamp(above) Or with a dragonfly stamp...this one is from the Squiggly Mini #13 .

1. Substrate. Choose a substrate to work on (this is a mini chipboard arch -we have several new chipboard shapes going online this week) and trace the outline onto a piece of metal and cut out. 
2. Stamp. Stamp the image onto silver, copper or coloured metal in the position you want with stazOn black ink and dry.
3. Outline. Use a teflon pointed tool to gently outline the stamped design on the front. Lean on a wad of paper for this.
4. Puff with paperstump. Flip the metal over, and on the back you will clearly see the outlined shapes. Put the metal onto a soft mat, and use a small paper stump in a circular motion to start puffing the metal inside the design lines. You might find the metal is resistant to you initially, then suddenly the warmth from the friction kicks in and you will feel the metal much more willing to oblige. Don't stop, keep puffing - you need to gradually stretch the metal.
   
5. Refine on acrylic mat. Once you have the image puffed out to the depth you like, flip the metal over (puffy side up) and place it on an ACRYLIC MAT. People forget this bit and its the most important. You need to tidy up all the other bits of metal surrounding the puffed design that got mangled or stretched in the process. Use a large paper stump to gently flatten all the areas up to the edges of the stamped design. Don't press hard. Gradually encourage it to do what you want and again it will eventually play ball. At this point you can also place your refine metal back onto a wad of paper, and gently use a small fine perforated dot tool to outline the birds.
6. Filling Metal. Now you need to fill the metal to support the puffed section. You need a product that will set up hard. Not silicone glue which is a soft flexible glue, even when dry.  You need to use either a glue or a poyfiller type product that will set hard. I use glossy accents for small areas, or polyfilla (plaster-like) for larger areas. There are many polyfillers out there, and some are more lightweight than others...which is good for cards that get posted...so muck about and do some tests to see which products you like the best. Apply the product to the recess and let set overnight. Cut a piece of humungo the same size as the metal. Stick the humungo tape to the substrate, then stick the metal to the humungo. Run a patterned wheel around the edge like a herringbone wheel to finish the edge nicely.
   
7. Stamp again. You can add more flourishes, words etc to your piece, and use texture wheels around the edge.
   

These simple tag-shaped pieces make great tags for presents, and of course you can write a message on the back...do that before you stick the metal down for ease, or if you forget, then place metal side down on a soft mat and then do your writing! The backs would look great with some rum and raisin papers on them!!

Oops...here's a poked one! grrrr...

...and a few more samples so you get the idea...note how once the metal is on the chipboard base, you can still outline the stamped lines as the chipboard with humungo tape is soft enough to accept lines made with a teflon pointy tool.

Love this sample below where part of a flower from SIEN2 or use SIEN4 for a larger one.

Here's one with a difference for those of you who want more of a challenge! Love the added colour which comes from the glimmer mists with a dab of paint underneath.

1. Outline. Trace around the tag chipboard shape onto a sheet of silver metal with your pointy tool. Cut out
   
2. Sand. Use your sanding block to sand the metal in both directions (horizontal and vertical) This will give the metal a stainless steel effect, and adds some 'tooth' to the shiny surface....love doing this before stamping in general...but don't do it to coloured metal ..all you will do is sand off the colour! LOL (you knew that already didn't you!!)
3. Paint. Apply paint to the surface...if you want the glimmer colours to be rally strong, then use a pale kaisercolour like white, eggshell, antique white, blossom, coastal blue, or one of those really ligfht shades. Swipe a very small amount of paint on with Cut and Dry foam, and then wipe off the excess with a paper towel. You still want to see the shine of the metal.
4. Glimmer. Paint and sanding the metal gives 'tooth' so that Glimmer mists can stick to the metal. So now you can choose 2 colours of glimmer to use on the metal. Spray Patina onto part of the metal and then dry. Next spray khaki on the remaining area and dry. If you spray loads, you will get 'watermark' type effects. It's a good idea to heat the metal with your heat gun first, and then spray while its hot, this helps the glimmer to dry faster.
5. Stamp. Now stamp your birdcage image from SINM6 in archival jet black ink on top....DON'T use stazon....why? Because stazon is used onto smooth and shiny NON-POROUS surfaces (eg. metal, acetate, acrylic). We just added paint, and glimmer to the metal, so now you want to use Ranger's archival jet black ink or a black pigment like brilliance would also work. These will give a much better black colour onto the painted, glimmered surface.
6. Emboss the image. Puff out the image as before, so outline the image from the front with a pointy tool, then flip onto the soft mat and puff out the birdcage from behind with a paper stump, or for a lage area like this the round teflon tool is perfect!. Carefully refine on an acrylic mat to flaten the surrounding areas, and to finish, use a fine dot perforated wheel around the edge of the birdcage if you wish.
7. Fill the metal. OPTION A: Fill the recess with glossy accents.  You can also apply glossy accents to the rest of the metal, but only a small amount, and you need to smooch it about with your finger so you have a thin even layer. now stick the metal directly to the chipboard. OPTION B: Fill the recess with polyfiller. Let dry overnight. Cut humungo to fit the substrate and stick to the substrate. Stick the metal to the humungo.
8. Stamp. Add more stamping to the edges of the piece or words like those from SINM6. Also edge the metal with a decorative wheel, like the diagonal. You can also sand the edges of the metal after using the wheel to make a nice frame.

OK so that's your lot for today ..plenty to be going on with... we are mega fast on shipping at the moment, everything is going out within 24 hours, so what are you waiting for!!!

Don't forget that Tim has started his 12 days of Xmas tags today too, so many ideas and techniques to look forward to. I loved his iwred ribbon idea on Tag 1..I'm off to do that with paper!

And please leave a comment with your thoughts on what you will do with these ideas! I love hearing about what you are up to!

Day 3: PaperArtsy 12 Days of Christmas

Day 3: Featuring Linda Brown using Nut and Meg plate 3
Linda is the owner of LB Crafts, one of England's first established stamp shops, and she keeps the shop extremely well stocked with a fantastic range of inks, paints, stamps, papers, and many unusual items for the avid crafter. Linda's classes are amazing, and always sell out fast. People flock to see her demonstrate at shows she attends around the UK becaue they know they will always see her do something new and interesting at each show. Take a look at her blog, or go and visit LB Crafts online. Lin and I have been working together for about 18 months to bring you ArtsyCrafts weekend retreats twice a year. It's been so much fun for us to pool our skills to bring an event we thoroughly enjoy teaching, and in the process we have become great friends too.

 
 

Christmas Canvas by Linda Brown

This is a delightful project, and a really nice piece to have on display for Christmas in your home. The Canvas is set into its own wooden frame (available from LB Crafts) and could be decorated in all manner of ways. 

Lin has covered the wooden frame with metal embossed with texture wheels, painted and glimmer-sprayed, but you could also use the Croco Crackle, or Terra and Ferro textures to create other stunning effects for the edges too.

Paint the canvas with Viva Precious Metal Colours, and over-stamp in Archival ink with the words from SINM8. Tear a piece of paper, overstamp and stick onto the canvas with matte gel medium.

Stamp the tree and baubles onto Pearl Metal. Puff out the tree baubles, and squiggle in between with a Teflon tool. Paint the baubles gold and blue lagoon with Viva PMC paints, and the tree olive.

Repeat this process for the remaining metal elements (presents, baubles, star etc) and decorate with freestyle patterns or texture wheels.

Strengthen all the metal elements with a tape-metal sandwich before securing onto the canvas. Make wire "legs" for the tree.


A big thanks to Lin for sharing this wonderful idea with all our favourite products! 
You can see both Lin and Leandra demoing together on her stand (LB Crafts) at Alexandra Palace for The Big Stamping and Scrapbooking Show, London, on September 26 and 27.


Today we also have a few other contributions, here's one from Julie Harrington, a quick idea with the baubles.

Digital Baubles Card 
by Julie Harrington

For this fast idea, Julie printed a digital paper “Let It Snow”, and over-stamped with SINM3’s baubles in black ink. 

The quote can be found on SINM6 onto a blue background, and framed with an acetate-printed frame. Black ink is rubbed around the edges.

You could also try this idea with the new PaperArtsy Christmas papers  - which funnily enough are in the same colour scheme. Reds and blues with a touch of green. See them here.

And what follows below are some cards I did using these new Rum and Raisin papers which we received from the printers yesterday! They are a delight to work with, and make it fast to put together cards. 

They can be stamped and embossed, or distressed with ink and paint and they match perfectly with Olive, Red, Turquoise, Sea Breeze, Coastal Blue and Pistachio paints from Kaisercraft. As you will see below.

Joyful Christmas

by Leandra Franich

 Stamp the baubles onto white card with Black pigment ink, emboss with clear powder, and colour with a waterbrush dipped onto Broken China Distress ink. Build up the colour to be darker at one side. Overstamp with the words from SINM8. Cut out.

Position the baubles onto the red paper from Rum & Raisin as shown, then emboss the quote in the centre bottom. 

Lay the red paper onto pale blue, and accent with brads. Secure to Navy blue card.

We Three Trees

by Leandra Franich

Trees like these ae easy to work with. Glossy accents dimensional galze (Ranger) or Stickles glitter glue works well on the dots, or try punching them out to let the layer behind peep through.

Paint a piece of old book paper with kaisercolour Coastal Blue and Pistachio. Dry. Stamp and emboss the tree 3 times in clear with Black Pigment ink. Repeat for the star 3 times. Cut out and save the presents from under the tree for the Family Stockings Card.

Arrange the trees onto the white background, and place a piece of striped paper to the right hand side. Stamp and emboss Christmas Cheer at the bottom of the card in black with clear EP. Place a poinsettia flower on the card with a brad to secure.

Lay the card to pale blue, then navy card.  

Family Stockings 

by Leandra Franich


Every Christmas we hang up the kids stockings on the mantlepiece, and each has one I made back in the day when I was a keen quilter.  They all love their stockings, and this card reminds me how they look. I love having a winter Christmas after many warm ones in New Zealand, it's great on Christmas Day to be snuggled in front of the fire, but I do miss the NewZealand boxing day when we head off to the beach with our chicken and ham sandwiches.

 

Stamp in pigment black ink the stockings 3 times onto the pale white paper from the Rum and Raisin paper pack. Emboss with clear embossing powder. Colour with Peeled Paint and Broken China Distress Ink using a water brush swiped across the ink pad. Dry. Cut Out.

Draw a "line" to hang the stockings from onto a blue background, and stick the stockings to the paper. Lay this layer to blue, then white backgrounds. At the foot of the card are presents leftover from the "We Three Trees" card. Arrange across the foot of the card.

Layer to Pale blue then Dark Blue Card stock. It's a nice touch to swipe the edge of each alyer of card with either Broken China or Peeled paint Distress Ink.

A Copper Christmas  
by Leandra Franich

Paint a chipboard panel with Kaisser Colour paints (Sea Breeze, Antique White, Turquoise) blending the layers as you work. Overspray with walnut gold Glimmer Mist. Edge the panel with jet Black Archival Ink.

Stamp up a panel on turquoise card with the background words from SINM8 in black ink, and edge with black. Lay both these onto a square panel of card as shown.

Onto copper metal stamp the tree and baubles in black stazOn ink. Outline the baubles on the tree with a Teflon tool, and from the reverse side, use a ball and cup to puff them out (remember to puff on a fat embossing mat, then refine them with the cup on the acrylic mat). Use a paper stump while the metal is on the acrylic mat to smooth out in between the raised baubles.

Make a tape sandwich with the stamped metal, humungo tape and card. Outline the design lines on the tree presents, and on the baubles you can add freestyle squiggles. Apply black paint to the squiggled baubles and rub off the excess paint to leave some in the design. Cut out all the metal elements and arrange on the card. Stamp Happy holidays in black on the painted panel. Assemble as shown.

Well that lot should get your minds spinning for today! Sunday is a great day to be creative, so we hope this will inspire you to think about what you might do for a creative Christmas this year. Please share our blog feature on your own blogs and spread the word about our fantastic Design Team and what they are doing over the next 10 days.


We shall be announcing blog winners shortly for days 1 and 2 and the prizes will be in the post this week! Thanks for all your fantasti comments.


Leandra (PaperArtsy)

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PaperArtsy Blog Giveaway: Please leave a comment and we’ll randomly draw a name to win Nut and Meg Plates 3 and Nut and Meg Plate 6 on EZ Mount worth £18.80. This offer ends midnight GMT the day of this posting (06 Sept 2009), and is open to all players worldwide. 

Viva Paint Ideas

I had a lot of fun demoing at the Craft Barn for their June demo weekend, so thought I'd show you a few pics of some of the samples I made before I send them off to Sandy for her to put up in the shop.
I got to demo so many supplies that my desk was a treasure trove of all kinds of goodies. One of the most popular techniques people enjoyed was using the viva decor ferro texture paste. You can use a splodger (spatula/ credit card) to spread it and then stamp into the paste with a damp script or pattern stamp. I used MN44 (french text), and SM08 (squiggly scroll). Leave that to dry (15 mins) and then you can apply Precious Metal Colour paints all over to highlight the texture.

Ferro is available in several rusty colours, so if you want the colour to show, then choose contrasting shades to use on top. I like Gold Iron which is a rusty chocolate colour. Golden orange and Silver Ferro are lighter shades that contrast nicely with pinks and blues. If you opt for a shade like Golden green, it works well with greeny blues like the sample shown here to the left, it's a forest floor type effect.


In this swirly sample you can see more clearly the texture and how I used a few different shades of precious metal colour paints: blue lagoon, green gold, bronze and a touch of violet.

To apply, make sure the paint is well shaken up, place a piece of 'cut and dry' foam over the top of the bottle, then tip the bottle up and back down. Now you will have a spot of colour on the foam and you can easily drag it across the ferro texture lightly. It dries really fast, so you are not waiting around for this at all, it's very instant! I just used a heavy piece of card as the substrate, but you could use grungeboard, chipboard, wood or canvas. The texture is quite flexible, so it won't crack.

This pink sample is on a chipboard base, and then coloured with pink, gold, rose-pink and lilac precious metal paints.

To embellish these samples, I prefer to stamp images from Squiggly Ink Crowns and Castles collection onto copper metal. It's nice to outline the stamped image from the front with a teflon-tipped tool (from the Basic tool set or teflon tool set), then you can flip it over onto a soft mat, and puff out the image with a paper stump. Once you are happy with the depth, fill the metal recess with glossy accents, press onto card stock, and once dry you can cut out the metal image and secure with glossy accents, foam pads or gel medium onto the chipboard as an embellishment.

On this dragonfly sample you can see how the ferro was spread over 3 sections of the card, stamped with the scroll SM08, then painted with precious metal paints in pinks, and highlighted with bronze.

The dragonfly SITT3, and small flowers SITT6 were stamped onto periwinkle and copper metal, layered to card and humungo tape, and then embossed with the pointy teflon tool, and sprayed with glimmer mist. Note how the patterns on the petals catch the glimmer mist. I love how working with metal allows you to give shape to wings and petals. It makes the embellishments so interesting!
On the mini castle sample you can also see the texture of the flowers. The copper was also lightly sprayed with a glimmer.

TIP: If the ferro is too thick when you stamp into it you will get a peaky-frosting effect when the stamp is lifted off. To avoid this, clean your stamp (an old wet toothbrush helps!) thin and smooth the level of the ferro with your spatula and try again. I think it also helps to stamp while the rubber is damp, but the great thing about ferro is you can stamp and smooth until you have the effect you prefer. You do need to clean up that stamp quickly!

This green/brown sample also uses periwinkle metal for the stamped bellies, but they were more heavily sprayed with glimmer, so the colour is less purple and more green/blue. You can also see that I used the croco crackle (gorgeous colours!) around the edges....and I love how once 'cracked' you can see through to the metallic paint underneath beautifully.

Well I am sure you have enough information to give this technique a go! All the paints, stamps, metal and tools are easily found in the shop by following the links in this post.....now all you ahve to do is choose which colours to buy!! My advice, start with 3 shades: a light, medium and dark, and 2 of those should contrast...oh and don't forget to get a metallic accent shade for the peaks.... like gold, silver-gold or bronze.

I still have some other techniques I want to show you with metal and the paints, so I'll post those over the coming few weeks.

Have fun and remember...its more fun to get messy than clean the house!

Leandra

PS. You can now follow me daily on twitter @paperartsy . I promise to tweet interesting facts ... not boring drivvle! LOL .....