A Christmas Bauble

Hello everyone.  Yes, I have finally managed to find my way back to my blog.  It has been neglected lately, and here we are in the middle of December with so much still to do.  Other than more crafty goodies, one of the best things Santa could put in my stocking would be more time!  I daresay that many of you feel the same.

This is my entry for this months Claritystamp challenge, which has the theme of "Trees."  In keeping with the season, I've decided to make a very simple little Christmas project.

Firstly I drew round the outline of my template, then slowly began building up the colour using Faded Jeans Distress Ink with a stencil brush, gently working round and round.  You can see below how it starts out light and gradually builds in intensity.

 

Then I cut out the circle and added even more depth of colour around the edge with the same ink using a mini blending tool.

 

The next step was to create some snow.  This is quite a simple effect to achieve, just flicking water at the artwork and blotting with paper towel.  As you can see, although the technique is easy, it is a bit more difficult to control;  and I have created a blizzard!

 

 

To complete this piece, I used Jo Rice's trick of soaking the mini blending tool with water to lift the ink and make a full moon (Thanks Jo!), then stamped the carol onto shrink plastic, and glued into place once I had shrunk it down. 

 

 

Now it was time to start work on the artwork for the other side.  I brushed Faded Jeans Distress Ink about half way round for the sky.  Using only Olive Archival Ink, I sponged through the Treescape Mask to create a backdrop, then using first, second and third generation ink with the trees from the Bleak Midwinter set I completed the forest before cutting out.

 

 

The two pieces of artwork were then stuck together back to back.

 

 

I then assembled the bauble, adding a few sequin snowflakes to create a shaker effect.  My first intention had been to use some polystyrene beads, but the static kept making these stick to the sides of the bauble, so I had to have a little rethink and move to plan B.

 

 

 

 

Apologies for the quality of the photos;  the finished bauble was difficult to photograph.  If you have time, please leave a comment;  I'd love to know what you think.  Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and many blessings for the New Year.  In spite of all my good intentions, it will probably be 2015 before I get round to blogging again.  Till next time, next year!  Xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seasons

Hello again.  This is my project for this months Claritystamp challenge:  the theme is the seasons, and I have chosen autumn.  I have to say a huge thank you to Maria Simms, as I found this months workshop at Shrewsbury inspirational, and after a few very hectic weeks at work, feel that my creative juices are finally starting to flow again.  Another highlight of the last few weeks was being able to go to Port Sunlight for the first time;  what a fab event.

I used my new 8" x 10" Gelli Plate to pull a simple background print using Buff Titanium acrylic paint and some scrunched up copy paper.

Then I used Potting Soil archival ink to randomly stamp one of the funky leaves all over the background.

 

Then I masked off all the leaves, and used my stencil brushes with Distress Inks in the following colours:  Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Barn Door and Peeled Paint to randomly colour the background.

 

 

This was then used to cover a wooden wreath and the edges blended with a little Vintage Photo distress ink.

 

 

I the meantime, I set up a production line stamping and colouring more funky leaves in the same colours, also adding some extra shade and definition by using the corresponding colour of distress marker.

 

 

All that was left to do now was to arrange and glue the leaves into place.  I also decided to add a couple of twigs and fir cones.

 

 

I had great fun making this, so I hope you like it.  (And I have some leaves left over, so watch this space!)  If you're still reading, I hope you'll take the time to leave a comment, I'd love to hear what you think.  Looking forward to seeing all the other entries this month.  Good luck everyone.  Till next time.  Xxx

 

 

 

 

 

My take on Nature

Hello everyone.  Its a beautiful sunny Sunday morning, but its nearly the end of September, so I just have to make time to blog my card for this month's Claritystamp challenge.

The background was done on watercolour paper using Brushos.  I got the paper very wet, and as well as sprinkling on the Brusho crystals, I also sprinkled on some rock salt.  This moves the colours around and can be brushed off when the piece is completely dry.

 

I then stamped the fish and seaweed into place using Black Archival.  When this was dry, I removed a bit of the colour on the fish by loosening with water and blotting with kitchen towel.  I could then colour in the fish using my Spectrum Noir pencils.

 

 

I added a little colour to the weeds, and highlighted with Glossy accents and a tiny bit of glitter.  Patience is needed for this step, it takes ages to dry!

 

 

I trimmed it back just a little and matted onto some co-ordinating colours.

 

 

I'm really looking forward to playing again with my Brushos and mastering some different techniques.  In the meantime, I hope you like this.  There are loads of beautiful entries again this month;  good luck everyone.  Till next time.  Xxx