Wednesday 1 April 2015

The Wee Folk Fairies come out to play...

Hello there!  Thanks to all of you who took up last months challenge and produced some stunning artwork.  Its great to see how much confidence you have in taking on a project that was anything but a card, and how you have put your other crafty skills to such good use.   But now its 1st April, and that can only mean one thing:  no fooling around, its time for a new Claritystamp challenge.  We have decided to showcase the wee folk range of stamps which have been incredibly popular, and no wonder.  If you don't have them yet, here's the link to the Clarity stamp website:  http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/


My project was one of those where I knew the technique I wanted to use, but didn't really have any idea where I was headed!  The technique is one I learned from the uber-talented Maria Simms, and then put my own spin on it:  thanks for the inspiration Maria, you are a star.

Ingredients
8" x 8" piece of mountboard or similar
Grunge paste
Acrylic paint in various colours (I used a creamy yellow, bright yellow, orange red, magenta, purple, cyan blue, black and gold)
Black archival ink pad
Versamark ink pad
Wire
Scraps of gelli card
Gold embossing powder (I used a Frantage one)
Pinflair glue gel
Claritystamp star stencil
Claritystamp wee folk fairies and elves - sets 3 and 4

First, I dragged grunge paste through the star stencil onto the mountboard.  I left it to dry naturally, but you can speed up the drying process with a heat gun.

Then I started to paint.  You can see below how I built up the colours, letting each layer dry, to avoid muddying the colours too much.  I also added the blue around the outer edge, (that was a spur of the moment decision), and I forgot to take a photo of this step.






You need to make sure the paint is completely dry before moving on to this next step.  Have plenty of baby wipes and kitchen roll at the ready.  Now paint the whole piece with black acrylic, then start to wipe it off again.  With this piece we are looking to remove all the paint in the centre, but leave a lot of it round the edges.  Once the black paint had completely dried, I dry brushed a little gold acrylic over the piece;  concentrating on the halo of stars and the darker areas.
 
 
So now we have created a space in which to create our magical scene. 

 
Using black archival, I sponged in a hill and added the bluebell and some foliage.
 
 
Then another hill, and one of the toadstools, so that our little fairy has somewhere to sit.
 
 
Now  you can see that I added some final touches to the scene with second generation ink to give a better sense of distance and perspective.
 
I love it already, but I still wanted more...  The Claritystamp design team produce some amazing work to inspire us, and I have to say that I have been loving the work of Karen Hayselden:  and her wired wreaths in particular.  Thank you for the inspiration Karen:  this is my very humble effort.
 
I used the star stencil to cut out stars from gelli card.  Then I glued these together, sandwiching the wire between them.  I made 3 of these wire rings;  the only thing to watch out for is the spacing of the stars, so that they look right once layered up. 
 
Then I painted the stars:  one wreath in orange red, one in magenta, and one in blue.  These were then overpainted in black the same as the background, wiping off some of the paint, so that some of the colour underneath could be seen.  This time, once dry, rather than dry brushing with gold acrylic, I dabbed the stars lightly with versamark and sprinkled on some gold embossing powder.  Not looking for total coverage here, so, in areas I even dabbed with kitchen roll while the embossing powder was still molten.  Yes, I hear you say, technically very poor embossing, but I do love the result.
 
 
Then I attached each wreath by just one star with Pinflair:  this allows the wreaths to stand out and move.
 
 
Finished artwork, but what to use it for?  A card...  a journal cover...  (I did toy with this idea for a while)  or a picture... 
 
 
 Although its already in its frame, I'd love to hear any of your suggestions, or your thoughts on whether I made the right decision on turning it into a picture.
 
Now its your turn.  I hope that as a team, we have given you inspiration for your own projects, and I can't wait to see what you decide to do with the gorgeous little wee folk.  Till next time.  Xxx 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 



27 comments:

  1. Barbara, What a FANTASTIC piece of art work you have created. You have certainly made it your own! I love it to bits!! I think it looks grand in the dark frame and it can fit on my wall anytime! Lovely tutorial too. Hugs you talented lady!! xxx

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    1. Thanks for your kind words about this piece Emma. I owe it all to the wonderful ideas and techniques that Barbara Gray and the Clarity Design Team share. I'm glad you enjoyed the tutorial; it didn't send you to sleep then... I did wonder if maybe I had gone on a bit too long! Lol! Xxx

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  2. A stunning piece of Art, absolutely beautiful Barbara. Perfect in it's frame and lovely to see you thanking Maria & Karen for inspiring you. I'm sure that this beauty will inspire may more. Hugs.

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    1. Glad you like it Naomi. It would be wonderful if it inspired someone else to produce their own little work of art. Xxx

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  3. Superb, Barbara, a perfect foil for the 'Fairy' stamps. Great tutorial too. ;~}

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    1. You are very kind Shelagh. I'm glad you enjoyed the tutorial: I wanted people to see how easy it is to do something like this and maybe try something similar themselves. Xxx

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  4. Wow stunning I just want to keep looking at this I love it. Xx

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    1. Thanks a lot Carol. I wish you could see it in real life, and how the colours in the background change depending on the light.

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  5. This is FABULOUS! I lts like molten middle earth lol. I must try this xx

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    1. Thank you Miss Maria. I'm thrilled you like it, and honoured that you want to try out my take on your technique. I'm only building on what I've learnt from you. You are a brilliant teacher. Xxx

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  6. You are one clever lady barbara - love it. I would keep it in the frame and let it take pride of place at home

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    1. Thanks Alison. Its so nice to hear everyone's lovely comments about it. Xxx

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  7. I love it , I would hang it or sell,it as a masterpiece ..

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    1. Thank you for the compliment Janice, its very kind of you. Glad you like it. Xxx

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  8. Really love this canvas was very bright to start with but just love what you did to it and colours xxx

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    1. Thanks Julie. I'm so glad you like it. Xxx

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  9. This is gorgeous Barbara. Really love how you've created the cre trial focus and the wired stars around the finished I age is a brilliant idea. I'd certainly hang it on one of my walls. xx

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    1. Thanks Angela. I really enjoyed making this piece, but I have to give the credit for the inspiration to Maria Simms and Karen Hayselden. Thank you ladies. Xxx

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  10. Oh BARBARA this is fantastic - I just love how you have created the backdrop for the fairies - and the star stencil around truly inspirational I love it. thanks for explaining how you have done it . xx

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    1. Oh Linda, thank you so much for your kind words. Wasn't sure it was going to work out, but right from the start I knew I wanted to use the star stencil. When I ran my idea for the wired wreaths past hubby, I listened to everything he said, and then took no notice and did what I wanted to!!! (Just for the record, he hated them) Xxx

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  11. This is my favourite from the design team this month. The background, fairy scene and the finishing touch of the stars are all wonderful. Definitely worth framing. x

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  12. Lesley its very kind of you to say that. I love that we all have our own take on the theme and produce such different artwork: all beautiful in its own right. Thanks again. Xxx

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  13. It's my favourite too Lesley.......
    Barbara, this is a great piece and a fab tutorial, so glad you shared it. I have never been fortunate enough to attend any of the workshops, so to see some of the techniques directly related to your artwork is great.
    If it were me, I think I'd leave this in the frame - it deserves pride-of-place on the wall. If you take it out of the frame to make a card or anything else it would make it less special and with all that hard work you put into this, it would be a shame. It's a beautiful piece xxx

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  14. Carole, its very generous of you to say how much you like this piece. I'm glad you enjoyed the tutorial; a bit long maybe, but hopefully it shows that this effect is not difficult to achieve. It will definitely be staying in its frame now, not sure on whose wall though; I may use it as a gift. Xxx

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    1. Shall I send you my address :-) lol
      But seriously, if I were you, I would be tempted to keep it! xxx

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  15. Love this, beautiful
    The colours and stars are exquisite

    Jools x

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  16. Thanks for visiting, and for your kind comments about this piece Jools. I'm really glad you like it so much. Xxx

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