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…
·
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
·
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!!!
