The Daring Adventure of Cirque de Silly with GDer Purnima !!

Today I have the distinct pleasure of introducing Purnima Girouard, a wonderful mixed media artist and card maker. She is a supremely talented artist, a wonderful gracious woman, and someone I look up to very very much. I aspire to be more like Purnima, not just in her free flowing and beautiful art and thought process but also in her every day manner and love for all things. I highly recommend getting to know her if you ever have the chance. Here's a glimpse into Purnima's work through her own words:

 
A BRIEF NOTE ON THE ARTIST
Purnima Girouard comes to you live from Gillette, Wyoming.  She has had artwork that has been published by The Stampers’ Sampler (including covers and Catch Up issues), Take Ten, Stampington Workshop, Vamp Stamp News, and Simply Sentiments.  She has designed stamps for Perfectly Said and Stampington & Company, which features her Storybook Village drawings.  She was formerly on the design teams of Starving Artistamps and Stamp Francisco, and had a monthly feature article in the stamping and scrapbooking e-zine, S. S. Reflections.  Best of all, playing in the art department has provided her with many dear friends out in the Big World who inspire her daily with their very wonderful artwork!
You can see more of Purnima’s artwork at the following websites, so just click!
Stampington
Purnima's Flickr
Purnima's Picture Trail 

Creating a circus scene with Mary Vogel Lozinak’s stamps from VLVS Plate 1401 was a delightfully fun experience!  The quirky character images and versatile background stamp made it easy to get creative.  Prrrreeesenting – the Daring Adventure of Cirque de Silly!  Ready to run off to join the circus?

WHAT YOU’LL NEED…

·        VIVA LAS VEGAS STAMPS!!!  Mary Vogel LozinakPlate 1401

·        Paper:  Watercolor Paper (appr. 7x8”) and scraps, navy cardstock (6x6.5”) and scraps, Cosmo Cricket Cogsmo pad – light blue (7x8”)

·        Mat board mount (7.25x8.25”) and stand (5x5”)

·        Ranger Distress Stains – Worn Lipstick, Wild Honey, Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Shabby Shutters, Bundled Sage, Rusty Hinge, Mustard Seed

·        Ink Pads:  Ranger Archival Ink – Jet Black, Colorbox Chalk Ink – French Blue

·        Pens:  Ranger Distress Markers, white gel pen, fine point permanent black marker

·        Aleene’s Paper Glaze or other clear dimensional glue

·        Die cut:  Sizzix, Tim Holtz Alterations – Small Stand

·        Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type – red letters for title banners

·        Starched flower embellishment from www.Etsy.com seller UmWowStudio

·        Miscellaneous:  spray bottle of water and waterbrush, sponge, doily, 2 copper brads, 1 yellow brad, 1 pink brad, scissors, mounting foam tape, adhesives, white acrylic paint, colored craft wire (9”), packing bubble wrap, scrap paper or tape for masking, heat embossing tool

 

STEP 1:   Get colorful!

Begin the background by thoroughly misting the watercolor paper with water.  Run amok with splotting colors of Distress Stains into the water, keeping in mind that you’ll want some blue at the top and green at the bottom to give a feeling of earth and sky in your scene.  Some random color here and there just adds to the festive atmosphere.  Dry with a heat gun if you are in a hurry.

STEP 2:  Get gardening!

 

 

Mask the left border (I used removable painters’ masking tape) of the floral background stamp from Plate 1401.  Ink it with the black pad and remove the tape.  Stamp it onto the left side of the prepared paper.  Now mask the right border of the image and stamp it on the right side of the background, making sure to bring the two impressions close together.  Heat set.  **TIP:  The images may not come together perfectly, so just use your black pen to tune things up.**  Use stain inks and Distress Markers to add color to specific flowers and stems.  Cover the larger blossoms in the top half of the background with clear dimensional glue and let dry.

STEP 3:  Get some performers!

 

 

Stamp the unicycle rabbit, unicycle bird, ringmaster, several extra flowers from the bottom of the background stamp, “hello world” and “Yee Haw” with black permanent ink on the smoother side of the watercolor paper.  Heat set.  Draw signs around the words as shown in the picture.  Color the images with Distress Markers.  **TIP:  Layering additional color will add shadows and dimension to the figures.  Tattered Rose makes a great flesh tone.**  Fussy cut the images and touch up the edges with black marker.  Attach the colored brads to the centers of the unicycle wheels.  Apply foam mounting tape to the backs of the images, with the exception of the ringmaster’s hands and the signs’ sticks.

STEP 4:  Get the venue!

Doodle a border around the background in black pen.  Trim the paper in a whimsical manner.  Adhere the background to the navy cardstock panel.  Glue a curved piece of craft wire from border to border of the background as a tight-rope and let set. ** TIP:  Gel superglue works quickly and neatly for this, but clear dimensional glue works as well.**  Mount figures and signs to the background as shown, gluing down the hands of the ringmaster and sticks on the signs.  Take a good look at the design against the white mat board and say, “Blah!  This needs another layer with some color!” 

STEP 5:  Get it together!

 

 

Edge and distress the light blue paper from the Cogsmo pad with ivory acrylic paint.  Dab French Blue Chalk Ink on the bubble wrap and stamp randomly around the perimeter of the blue paper to add texture.  Adhere the paper to the white mat board.  Use copper brads to secure the ends of the wire on the picture panel.  Adhere the picture to the mat board construction.  Use the smaller piece of mat board to die cut a stand.  Glue securely to the back of the project.

Step 6:  Get fancier!

 

Lightly sponge the doily with French Blue Chalk Ink, cut a strip and adhere to the top center of the mat board construction.  Create two banners with navy cardstock scraps and tiny red letters.  Add them to the top and bottom of the blue panel with both foam tape (at center) and glue (on the pointed ends).  **TIP:  A small step fold will add even more dimension to the banners.**  Add touches of white to the figures, flowers and banners with gel pen and Picket Fence Distress Marker.  Embellish the whole shebang with a beautiful starched paper flower!  Yee Haw!!!