Craft Stamper – July 2019

Under

The Sea

Create gorgeous textural backgrounds using

Grunge Paste! By Chris Dark

C

reating textural backgrounds is one of my favourite ways to add interest to

my projects. I enjoy playing with layers of gels and mediums and combining

them with gesso, paints and powders, and this is how my project came about!

I decided to use the whimsical fish designs from the Zinski Art stamp set to create an

undersea backdrop.

Layer on layer is the game here and Grunge Paste is the perfect consistency to cover

up staples and canvas edges and create texture. Following up with Opaque Flakes

and gesso, the result is a lovely bumpy and, in places, cracked texture. I was looking

for the effect of undersea vegetation over a sandy/coral sea bed, so I used colours of

infusions that worked for that and the rest is white for sea foam.

If you haven’t tried the Wobble Spring mechanisms I used here for some of the fish

images, I can highly recommend them, that little bit of movement in a project can

make all the difference!

Designer tip...

Infusions Powders are a

great choice for dying ribbon

and fabric and give a lovely

vintage finish.

Go Shopping!

Stamps, Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics, Infusions, Grunge Paste, gemstones from

That’s Crafty!, http://www.thatscrafty.co.uk, 01708 344146

Tag Dies, Wobble Spring and stickles glitter glue and ribbon from Buddly Crafts,

http://www.buddlycrafts.com, 800 033 7651

Gesso, heavy gel medium and gel pen from Lawrence Art Supplies

http://www.lawrence.co.uk, 01273 260260

Liquitex Opaque Flakes from Amazon, http://www.amazon.co.uk

Materials

Stamps Chris used...

•   PaperArtsy Zinski Art Set 28

Other materials...

•   Six inch canvas

•   Golden: Extra Heavy Matte Gel Medium; Gesso

•   Liquitex: White Opaque Flakes

•   PaperArtsy: Grunge Paste; Infusions Pigment Powders; Fresco Finish Chalk

Acrylic Paints

•   Hampton Art: Wobble Springs

•   Ranger: Stickles Glitter Glue Star Dust; Chit Chat and Clippings Stickers

•   White Gel Pen

•   Self-adhesive gemstones

Meet the Designer,

Christine Dark

“I’ve been crafting, demonstrating and
giving craft classes since 2008 but
have been creative since childhood in
all kinds of arts and crafts activities.
I’m fond of all types of media and love
trying out new products but you can’t
beat the anticipation of ink on new
stamps!”

Explore her work online:
http://www.sketchingstamper.blogspot.co.uk

Project: Textural backgrounds