No Place Like Home/ PaperArtsy Pink/Orange challenge

Hi everyone, Thankyou to all those who have popped over from the PaperArtsy blog to see a little more of the projects I created for this challenge. Details of how I made the canvas are already explained over on the PA blog here,  but, I did promise to give more details about the PA Fresco chalk paints I used on the canvas. There were lots! I love layers so I tend to use a lot of colours.

The great thing about PaperArtsy is they produce a lot of colours! Pink and orange are my 'go-to' colours when I'm art journaling. These colours make me happy and as my art work does tend to be bright rather than subdued these colours are perfect and PaperArtsy produce a good range of yellows, oranges, reds and pinks. Yum! 

As you see here, I often start with ripping up different weight papers and card and rolling up tissue from my stash to create a foundation collaged layer. There's even a PaperArtsy colour chart in there! These are adhered with DecoArt matte medium. I then gesso over this if using acrylic paints and I just keep going - layer upon layer, blending and dry brushing, until I'm pleased with the result and ready to stencil! Now here is the list of paint colours I used: Snowflake, Little Black Dress, Autumn Fire, Blood Orange, Tango, Tangerine Twist, Butternut, Yellow Submarine, Zesty Zing, Candy Floss, Bubblegum, Coral, Cherry Red and Very Berry. And of course, my all time favourite: Bougainvillea - just a touch.

Now, at the same time I was preparing my canvas, I also prepared this gorgeous MDF heart. I've had this heart for about 5 years I think. I bought it following a fabulous workshop led by the very talented, unsung artist, Sarah Martin when she and her friend, the equally talented, fabulous artist, Tracy Evans, had their own wonderful art/craft shop in Alsager, Cheshire. I miss that shop so much and Sarah's fabulous workshops. Sarah led a workshop using this heart and I loved it so much, I bought two more! This project is inspired by Sarah's original idea to create a notepad on this heart. 

So, in the same way that I completed the canvas, I began by layering up paint. Exactly the same colours as I wasn't sure which project I was going to send off to Leandra! Now, the other wonderful part of this challenge was to use Ellen Vargo's stamp sets. I have them all.  I love Ellen's art work and 

all of her stamps are well used in my art journaling! Can't wait for her next release! However, as I 

tend to add lots of layers in my art journaling, I often cover up the stamping that I do early on. I don't 

mind this, as I know they're there and I love it when they just peep through the more transparent colours! A little surprise each time. 

A few more layers and lots of blending with my fingers to bring all of these luscious colours together. 

Some stencilling and stamping using the same colours as the layers beneath and some wild antics with watered down Snowflake, completed the next layer.

Further stamping in black helped make the colours behind pop. I love the boldness of some of Ellen's stamps and they are great for later doodling in. What isn't easy to see here and a reason for not choosing this project for the PA blog, is the fact I added crackle paint all the way round the edges of the heart. I used Ranger's TH Distress crayons in pink and orange to rub over the paint before adding a final layer of Treasure Gold in Ruby and Copper. As you can see, I also made a template for the notes that I needed to create next. Great fun with Ellen's stamps and a couple of Ranger Archival ink pads: Vibrant Fuschia and Orange Blossom. 

All the pages are fairly similar, just leaving enough room for little reminders and shopping lists. The papers are attached with two little bolts. I only need to attach some pretty beads to some wire and wrap around the bolts so this can be hung up. Of course, no project is complete without some added 

doodling. My final photo. 

Thanks for popping by and if you haven't already, pop over to the PaperArtsy blog, here see details of the canvas I made and information about how you can also get involved in this challenge! Until next time!