Hi and welcome back to another week on the Chrissie Murphy Designs Blog. We’re into a fresh month of focusing on a new tangle pattern, and this month we’re focusing on Nvelope. Nvelope is a tangle pattern originally deconstructed by Alyss Amster, CZT. In Week One we are concentrating on Tangleations and for this week’s Tangle Creative Process Mapping Post, I am going to share how this Stencilled Nvelope Tangleation using Die Cut Florals was put together. So go and grab your old newspapers…
A commitment to use what I already own…
To begin, this technique uses a die cutting machine. There’s many sorts of die cutting machines on the market these days, both electric and manual. I have the DIY Cuts machine by Kaisercraft which is a manual machine. I love it and don’t use it anywhere as much as I’d like to, which is something I’m keen to change.
Last month I shared a Tangle Roadtest of Derwent Inktense Pencils. I had made myself a personal commitment to investigate why I wasn’t using the pencils, as I’d owned them for so long. The roadtest was the results of my investigation. Well…. I’m feeling the same kind of way with my Die cutting machine…. I own it, so why am I not using it?
Let me give you a quick heads up. I plan to incorporate more of my paper crafting tools into my tangling this year. I want to start using the things I actually own, so it’s time to bring them into my tangling.
Die Cut Florals
This tile uses the Sissix Tim Holtz Bigz Die for Tattered Florals. If you don’t have this particular die, you could use any other die or method that creates paper flowers. I love the idea of aged paper and thought newspaper would look really cool as a tattered floral.
I began by layering some pieces of newspaper over the Sissix die cut to run through my machine. The machine cuts the different sized flower pieces, which I then treated with Distress Ink (I used Walnut Stain) using my ink blending tool.
The different sized cuts were layered on top of each other and a drawing pin was inserted through the centre of each piece to assemble and hold all the layers together. I scrunched the paper petals and then set the flower aside to start on the tile.
Applying masking fluid
If you missed last week’s post where I shared about stencilling Flux using masking fluid , head over there now to see how this technique works.
I began by sketching out how I wanted my Stencilled Nvelope Tangleation using Die Cut Florals to look. I decided that I wanted the stencilled areas to compliment the flower, so I left areas that were a nice distance from the central flower unmasked so they could be stencilled. I used a small paintbrush to apply masking fluid over all of the areas I wanted protected.
In case you’re not familiar with masking fluid, it’s basically liquid latex. It smells terrible, but it goes down on the paper quite easily and protects anything underneath it. You can see in the image above, the yellowed-off white colour, well that’s where I’ve applied the masking fluid.
Unlike last week, I allowed plenty of drying time and I’m pleased to advise that I used a Strathmore Artist Tile… and it held up well. Last week I wasn’t sure if the paper AND drying time were the issue for me, or just drying time. I’m fairly sure now that the issue is drying time… you’ve got to allow plenty of time and make sure the paper is bone dry before removing the masking fluid.
I note that my research into this issue says that paper can still be a problem. Therefore, I think that this technique will work best if you try to stick with a smooth paper.
Deciding on colours
The newspaper itself became the source of inspiration for my colour work this week. After I treated it with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, I could see some colours peaking through from the paper. I wanted my stencilling and colour work to compliment these colours.
I applied my stencil over the masking fluid and used my blending tool to apply Distress Ink. I used Walnut Stain combined with Tumbled Glass for the stencilling on this week’s tile.
When I felt that I had achieved a smooth blend between the colours, I removed the stencil and waited again for the ink to completely dry before removing the masking fluid.
The ugly stage – removing the Masking Fluid
After the Distress Ink was dry, I began removing the masking fluid. You do this by gently rubbing the dried fluid with your finger or a soft eraser. I used my finger, and although the ink was dry, just like last week I put smudges everywhere!
I was prepared this time though, and then when my pencil sketching marks disappeared as well, I wasn’t horrified! I simply resketched some areas where I needed guidance for inking.
Inking and Shading the Stencilled Nvelope Tangleation
First up I used a black Unipin Fineliner in an 0.3 size to ink the entire tile. I know, 9 times out of 10 I do hey!
As you know, I’ve been adoring Derwent Inktense Pencils ever since road testing them late last month. If you missed that post, you can read it here. Continuing to use the newspaper flower as my inspiration, I chose browns, earthy greens and a hint of blue to colour the tile. I applied a tiny bit of colour to particular places I wanted heavier shading before activating it with water.
Next I used a water brush to activate the colour. I wanted the colour to be quite intense on the Flux leaves and more muted on the Nvelope Tangleations. As usual, I tried to be careful with how much water I used so there was no chance I’d reactivate the Stencilled Distress Ink.
After it had dried I used my Copics to apply some grey shading. This time I used my Warm Toned grey Copics in W3, W5 and W7 this time to apply shadows to the tile. This is a warmer toned tile, so it called for the warmer toned greys.
Applying even more colour
I then grabbed my Prismacolor Pencils in coordinating colours, these were colours that were similar to the Derwent Inktense colours I used earlier. I added more colour over each stencilled area and then applied some complimentary colours on the Nvelope Tangleations.
I used the following Prismacolor Premier Coloured Pencils for this piece:
- PC 940 Sand
- PC 1024 Blue Slate
- PC 942 Yellow Ochre
- PC 1098 Artichoke
- PC 941 Light Umber
- PC 1091 Green Ochre
- PC 1005 Lime Peel
Reinking, Highlighting and Embellishing the Stencilled Nvelope Tangleation using Die Cut Florals
After applying Prismacolor’s some of the linework had dulled again, so I reinked the entire piece with my Unipin Fineliner. Next I finished the tile by applying highlights and embellishments using my white Signo Uniball pen and Kaisercraft glitter gel pens in coordinating colours.
I always apply some little dots and dashes as highlights and embellishments and it seems to finalise the tile, ground it and make it pop all at once.
I also used some more Walnut Stain Distress Ink around the outside of the tile so it jumps off the page when displayed.
My finished Stencilled Nvelope Tangleation using Die Cut Florals tile
So here it is, my finished zentangle tile. I used a Strathmore Artist Tile (6in x 6in) in white, for this piece. This week though I’d like to share some of my final thoughts….
Even though I used complimentary colouring for this tile based upon the newspaper, I feel the floral die cut became lost in the overall piece. When I reattempt this technique, I plan to use a colour method that supports the floral die cut being a feature on the tile.
I will also use a stiffer paper type for the flower, one that gives the flower greater form. The newspaper is flimsy, and although I really love the “tattered” look of newspaper in a flower, the form of the flower has suffered because of it.
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Until next time, listen to your heart and sharpen your coloured pencils. A masterpiece awaits!
Bless you my friend
Chrissie xx
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