Anything but a card

Well here we go again!  The beginning of another month, and that can only mean one thing:  its time for a new Claritystamp Challenge.  This month, we are asking you to make 'anything but a card' and we hope that our design team projects will give you plenty of ideas.  It was really exciting to see what the rest of the design team came up with, and I can't wait to see all your fabulous creations. 

Main Ingredients
Small drawer unit from Ikea
Americana Décor Chalky Finish Paint in Everlasting
Americana Décor Ultra-Matte Varnish
Golden Open Acrylic Paint in Pthalo Blue and Nickel Azo Gold
Black Archival Ink
Grunge Paste
Black Micron Pen
Glue Pen
Glamour Dust Glitter
Jo's Bubbles Stencil
Flower Stencil
Wee Folk Stamps
Word Chain Stamps

It was my youngest niece's 16th birthday in February, so I decided to make something special to mark the occasion.  A set of drawers for her dressing table to hold her make-up and other bits and pieces seemed perfect.  First job was to paint the drawer unit with white paint.  This needed a couple of coats.

 

Now for the fun part...  I did a rough layout of what I wanted to do before I started.  I often do this as I find its a great help when I need to visualise how the finished project is going to look.

 

The first task was to sponge and blend the blue and gold acrylic through the bubble stencil.

  

 

 

Now for the stamping.  In the end, I went for a combination of meaningful words chosen from the word chains and some of the little girls chosen from the wee folk.

 

 

 Then, little by little, I added in some flowers using grunge paste through the flower stencil, sprinkling on a little bit of glitter while the grunge paste was still wet.

 

I have to admit that at this point, I was feeling a bit unsure about how it was all turning out.  Somehow for me, it just wasn't coming together.  Still, I'd come too far now and had to persevere.  I sanded back the grunge paste to take away some of the bling from the glitter.  Then I did a little bit of doodling with a micron pen.

 

I felt that just this little touch made it look so much better.  I heat set the doodling before varnishing, as a trial piece showed that without heat setting the micron pen, the wet varnish made it bleed.  Phew!  that could have been a disaster.

Well, the birthday girl, Emily absolutely loved it.  Here she is with me, and my husband Martin on a family night out to celebrate.

 

 

Just as a little footnote, I thought you might like to see Emily's card too.  Done in a similar style, but brushing inks through the stencil to create a background rather than acrylic paint.

 

I'd love it if you could take the time to leave a comment and let me know what you think.  Now its your turn.  Clarity stamps and stencils are so wonderfully versatile, and I can't wait to see what you are going to come up with.  Its all so very exciting.  Till next time.  Xxx 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some bokeh artwork

Hello everyone.  I thought I would share with you my efforts at this technique which Barbara Gray showcased on her blog on Friday.  here is the link to see how it should be done.

http://barbaragrayblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/so-sorry-im-latehad-important-date.html

First, I tried a couple of pieces using the following Distress ink pads:  Squeezed Lemonade, Worn Lipstick, Tumbled Glass and Cracked Pistachio;  and then using a White Brilliance ink pad through the Claritystamp stencil:  Jo's Bubbles.

This was the first one;  ok, but I was a little bit heavy handed with the white.  Let's see what I can do next time.

 

This was my second effort:  better pleased with this one. 

 

 

Then I decided to try out some different colours to give the effect of an old sepia photograph.  So this time I used the following Distress ink pads:  Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo.

 

 

 

 

 

Then I added the circles as before, using a white Brilliance ink pad.

 

 

Really love this stamp, and the sentiment seemed really appropriate too.  I used Potting Soil archival.

 

 

All I needed to do was to simply mat the artwork on some matching dark brown card before  sticking  to an 8" x 8" card blank. 

 

 

I hope you like it.  I've really enjoyed giving this technique a go, and I love the effect it gives.  I'll definitely be doing it again.  Till next time.  Xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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