February already, and a new Claritystamp Blog Challenge

Hello there!  I hope you enjoyed last month's challenge;  you have certainly produced some stunning artwork.  Well, are you ready for a new challenge and a new theme? 

For my floral project, I decided to make a farewell card for a work colleague who left in mid- January to pursue new interests.  She collects Moorcroft pottery, and I thought this would be a perfect theme to inspire this month's project.  Beautiful isn't it?

I actually live in Stoke-on-Trent, only about 10 minutes away from the factory.

Main Ingredients

 

Black card and paper

Rose Panel stencil

Embossing machine

Versamark ink pad

Mica powders:  Perfect Pearls Forever Green, and Cosmic Shimmer Blue Sky, Lapis Lavender, Lava Red and Raspberry Red

Paintbrushes

Decorative edge punch

 

First I used the stencil to emboss a piece of black card.  This is the side I will be working on to imitate the tube lining which is so typical of Moorcroft pottery.

 

 

I replaced the stencil, and, working in sections, sponged Versamark through.  Then it was simply a case of brushing on the dry mica powders to 'paint' the panel.

 

Once I took the stencil away, this was the result.

 

The finished panel fits onto a large DL card (that is A4 folded in half lengthways).  I cut the first mat from glossy black card and used a punch to create a decorative edge on the two short sides.

 

 

I used the same edge punch on another two pieces of card, and used the Versamark and mica powder to match the main panel.

 

 

The artwork was then simply mounted onto a white card blank.

 

 

I hope you like the finished card.  I look forward to seeing your ideas and artwork again this month.  Till next time.  Xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A simple birthday card

Hello everyone.  Yes its me again;  two blog posts in less than a week!  What's going on? 

I just want to say a big thank you for all the lovely messages I've received during these last few days since I announced that I am now part of the Claritystamp Challenge Blog Design Team.  Your kind words, and appreciation of my work mean a lot to me.

Main Ingredients (all from Claritystamp)
Gelli card
Brick wall stencil
Stencil brushes
Antique Linen Distress Ink
Frayed Burlap Distress Ink
Slate Adirondack Ink
NDC Stamp 96

This is a very simple birthday card which I've made for my stepson Adam using a technique we've used a couple of times at Maria Simms' workshops:  using a stencil to create a frame for a stamped image.

I attached the stencil to a piece of gelli card with low tack masking tape, then using the palest colour, Antique Linen, I brushed round the edge of the stencil with sweeping circular movements, working inwards and making sure to leave a white area in the middle.

 

This was repeated using the next colour, Frayed Burlap, in the same way,but taking care not to come as far into the centre of the card.

 

 

Finally, I added depth around the edges with Slate.

 

 

Then I removed the stencil and you can see the finished effect.

 

 

Once trimmed back a little, this card was finished very simply with a statement stamp and matted onto black card.  Sometimes things don't need to be complicated.

 

 

Thanks Maria for the inspiration for this card.  Its amazing how the same technique can look so different depending on the choice of colours, stencil and stamp.  I think I'll be using it a lot when I need to make a quick, but effective card. 

 

Thanks for taking the time to pop in;  I'd love to know what you think.  Till next time.  Xxx 

 

 

 

 

Anything with wings

Hello, and Happy New Year to you all.  This is a very exciting start to 2015 for me, having being asked to join the design team for the Claritystamp Challenge Blog.  I hope that my take on each months theme will give you some ideas and inspiration for your own projects.  I can't wait to see what you all make.

Main Ingredients
23cm x 23cm Ribba frame from Ikea
Gelli card
Few vintage book pages
Old Paper distress ink pad
Frayed Burlap distress ink pad
Black archival ink pad
Butterfly tree stamp set
Blending mat
Stencil brushes
Mini ink blending tool
Butterfly tree stencil
Black embossing paste

My first task was to tear some hills from the book pages:  the edge of the Claritystamp blending mat really helps with this and makes it very easy.  I then used the distress inks with the stencil brushes and blending tool to add some colour, working from light to dark.  The book pages are quite delicate:  so gently does it.  

 

 

 

 

Working on a piece of gelli card, I cut a large moon mask from a post-it note and very gently brushed some Old Paper across the sky.  It doesn't look like much until you take the post-it away.

 

 

 

The hills were then glued into place to create the base of the landscape.

 

 

 

 

Then I stamped the beautiful butterfly tree into place using Black archival.  As you can see, I missed a bit, but not to worry;  this can be touched in using a black micron pen, and no-one will know, (unless you tell them that is!!!)

 

 

 

Next job was to make some 3D butterflies.  These were stamped onto the book pages using black archival, cut out and layered up, then some old paper distress ink was added around the edges. 

 

 

You can see here how they were positioned onto the picture.

 

 

In order to give an extra dimension to the picture, I taped the stencil to the inside of the glass, before dragging through some black embossing paste.

 

 

Once dry, it was just a matter of reassembling the frame, and...  voila!

 

 

 

I hope you like my first project, and I can't wait to see what fabulous ideas you come up with, and the artwork you create.  Good luck to you all.  I always like to see how a piece of artwork progresses from start to finish, so let me know if you find the step-by-steps helpful and interesting.  Till next time.  Xxx