in LOVE – Gesso textured cardstock effects on a card.

3:33:00 PM

How are you enjoying the new year so far? Well can you believe we are almost done and dusted with January and skipping right ahead to Valentine’s day in February! So I hope you are ready for it… This week I had fun experimenting with Art mediums and cardstock, and the end result was a quick LOVE themed card.

I started off with a piece of red cardstock from the Chiswick range and covered the cardstock with a layer of thick white Gesso. The thick Gesso has an extra chalky feel to it and when it dried on the cardstock it gave it the most interesting effect.
About Gesso
Gesso is a white paint mixture consisting of a binder mixed with chalk, gypsum, pigment, or any combination of these. It is used in artwork as a preparation for any number of substrates such as wood panels, canvas and sculpture as a base for paint and other materials that are applied over it. It is basically a primer that will help paint and ink stick to different surfaces, but can also be used for interesting effects like i did here on cardstock, and even as an adhesive for layering flowers on canvas and other multimedia projects.
Here’s how I created my textured cardstock effects
step 1 – Apply some Gesso directly onto your cardstock using a palette knife. I spread out most of it into a thin layer but left some thicker patches for added texture and effect.
Step 2 – Leave the Gesso to dry completely – it takes a few minutes depending on how thick your application was and of course weather conditions also play a role.
You can see the beautiful effect the Gesso has on the texture cardstock once it was dry.
Step 3  – Cut your cardstock into 1cm wide strips, as well as a selection of patterned papers. Adhere the strips onto a scrap piece of cardstock about 6×6″ big filling the entire piece with paper strips. Make sure that the strips are flush against each other.
Step 4 – Use a die-cut, or a simple shape and cut a shape out of the strip panel with your paper strips running horizontally on your cut out. I used a die-cut that cuts two petals and then joined them together to form a heart shape.
To complete the heart, use double sided tape to adhere the two petals together at the back.
Machine stitch the center of the heart together using a zig-zag stitch or hand sew it together using embroidery thread like i did. Ink the outside edge of the heart shape using a dark brown chalk ink. Adhere to a folded card and add finishing touches like a bow and charm. Notice how the Gesso highlights the texture on the cardstock.
The Gesso still leaves the colour in tact but lightens it to a nice pink colour instead of red.
I added a light stenciling to the background of my card using ink and a sponge dauber. A nice clean look that showcases the heart shape beautifully.

Should you have any queries or are in search of any products from the Chiswick range, visit our website
Products used
Textured Cardstock 216g 12×22″ Scarlet
Kaisercraft XO Collection Patterned Paper

Until next time…keep on creating!

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