Wednesday 1 July 2015

Anything goes this month!

Well, where did June go?  At least summer has finally arrived this week.  Thanks to all of you who entered last months Claritystamp challenge on the theme of "Boys, boys, boys."  So many fabulous entries, its getting harder than ever to choose our top 5.  This month, we've decided to give you free rein;  absolutely anything goes, so the only constraint is your imagination.  And of course, your collection of Clarity stamps and stencils and new Groovi stuff too!
 
As this is wedding season, I decided to make a keepsake horseshoe.
 
 
I started off with an MDF blank, and dragged some grunge paste through the dotty wave stencil to add some texture. 
 
 
 
Once the grunge paste was dry, the whole thing was given a couple of coats of pewter paint. 
 



I then quickly coated it with white paint, and wiped off a lot of it, allowing it to remain mainly in the crevices to give an old, distressed look. 
 
 
A tiny amount of gold acrylic was then dry brushed over the surface to add subtle glimmering highlights.
 
 
I die-cut this fancy label, stamped the couple first with watering can archival, then offset slightly with versamark  and gold embossed.  This gives a very subtle shadow;  not too much, or you lose the definition of the figures (yes, I found out the hard way!)  I then gently brushed round the edges with blue distress ink. 
 
 
A very small amount of seedless preserves distress ink was also brushed round the edges.  This required a very light touch to avoid overdoing it.
 
The flowers were repeat stamped with watering can archival onto some paper that had been coloured using Oak House Studio Colour Chemistry sprays.  They were fussy cut, and 3 layers glued togethet in the centre for each flower  
 
 
The leafy sprigs were stamped onto gelli card, VERY carefully fussy cut, then dipped into my melt pot.
 
 


"Forever" from the word chains was stamped first in watering can archival, then offset in versamark and gold embossed to create a shadow.  This was then carefully cut out.


The doves were stamped in grey archival onto gelli card, and in versamark onto some clearly for art modelling film which was then carefully gold embossed.


 
I arranged all the components and stuck them into place with pinflair glue gel.

All that was needed to finish was some complementary  ribbon.
 


I hope you like it, and I'd really appreciate it if you took time to leave a comment so I know you've stopped by;  I love to read your feedback on my work.  Now its over to you;  I am so looking forward to seeing loads of amazing entries this month.  Its always so inspiring to see all your different ideas.  Go on, you can do it!
 
 
Till next time.  Xxx
 
 





 
 
 

15 comments:

  1. A lovely keepsake it's so beautiful. Xx

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  2. So pretty a lovely gift. Great blog too. Love the idea of the foliage in the melt pot, very clever. xxxx

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  3. I'm sure whoever receives this Barbara is going to love it. Such attention to detail too, just beautiful. xx

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  4. this is beautiful Barbara i love all the different aspects and layers you have going on ----oh and the sprigs - VERY fussy cutting --I wouldn't have the patience lol x

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  5. Like your idea any bride would be proud of this x

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  6. Such a delightful keepsake, Barbara and the variety of techniques work together so well. Must remember the melt pot tip - a good excuse to commission it! ;~}

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  8. This is so pretty Barbara, and your patience is second to none cutting all those leafy sprigs. I don't have a melt pot, but your idea may tempt me to buy one and have a go!
    It's certainly a beautiful keepsake for the bride and fits the bill perfectly for the challenge this month

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  9. A lovely bridal gift, Barbara. Did you really cut out all those leafy sprigs, wow, you must be so patient. x

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  10. A lovely bridal gift, Barbara. Did you really cut out all those leafy sprigs, wow, you must be so patient. x

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  11. This is such a special keepsake Barbara, and made even more special by the time and the attention to detail that you have used...brilliant inspiration...hugs...xxx

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  12. Hiya Barbara. Another wonderful creation and a girl with patience too. I do so love my melt pot and it gives such a fantastic result on the sprigs. I am lucky enough to have die cut leaves and sprigs. Great for flower arrangements. Hugs xx

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  13. Hiya Barbara. Another wonderful creation and a girl with patience too. I do so love my melt pot and it gives such a fantastic result on the sprigs. I am lucky enough to have die cut leaves and sprigs. Great for flower arrangements. Hugs xx

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