Pieces of Paper

Hi everyone. Thank you  for joining me on this (well for me) Saturday afternoon. I hope you are having a good weekend whatever you are up to and wherever you are. I've been busy re-learning the art of paper piecing (initial efforts just didn't meet quality control as I'd forgotten about how to layer correctly - I know! how hard can it be?) It probably doesn't help that I was doing this in duplicate...

I've used some K&Co papers (that have been lanquishing in my stash for eons) to create these masculine cards and my new 'Time Travellers' Stampers Anonymous stamps which have already become firm favourites.

These papers were an easy choice, particularly as the background one already included some street maps within the stripes. Although there was a little colour around the edges I added some DI Vintage Photo to  distress it further. The lime element also seems to stop the cards feeling too dark.

The second background layer was created using DP's Weathered Wood/Frayed Burlap/Antique Linen, blended across the text stamp and then clear embossed after having been applied to a coordinating paper. I do love the way these paints blend so well and they hold embossing powder beautifully without the need for an anti-static bag to stop any overspills. As you can see I made two versions - normally there'd be a favourite but in this case I liked them both.

The suitcase piles were fun. These were stamped with Memento London Fog on some DCWV Serendipity cardstock, chosen as it had a lovely pale leather colour and some texture to it. The ink was chosen to give a sharper image - I always find it can be a bit hit and miss getting this on textured cardstock with some types of ink. Adding decoupaged layers gave each stack more dimension.

On to the bit I struggled with - the paper piecing gentlemen. Patterned papers added a bit of a twist to them and each layer was stamped with Coffee Archival Ink. It is important to think about which layer needs to go on first, second, third, and so on otherwise you can end up with 'indentations' in places that should be more prominent. I did try stamping in Navy but it made this poor man look very gaunt - not a good look for a birthday!

You can tell how far you've come in crafting by looking back/thinking about how you would have tackled something and what you now do. Way back when (well actually a year ago when I started this blogging lark) the cogs/clouds would have been cut from plain cardstock. Now I have cogs/clouds created from white corrugated cardstock that has layers of gesso, Distress Paint (same colours used for the background) Picket Fence Crackle Paint and Antique Lined Distress Stain.


Having birthday card orders coming in I went with the simple sentiment on the luggage tag rather than doing anything more thought-provoking on this occasion.

These are being entered for the following challenges;
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Paper Piecing
Out of a Hat Creations - Suitcase/Travel
Hope you've been encouraged to dig out some old stash and use it/revisit a technique you haven't done in a while (if only to refresh your brain). Enjoy the rest of your weekend, hugs Jenny x