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

 

 

 

A Feminine Card

Hello Everyone.  I seem to have almost forgotten about my blog during these last few weeks.  Note to self:  must try harder!!  This card is my entry (last minute, I know) for this months Claritystamp challenge.

First, I stamped Madeleine into the centre of a piece of gelli card using black Archival ink.  I masked her off before pulling a background gelli print using buff titanium acrylic paint.

 

I kept her masked off while I pulled another print using gold acrylic and the cogs stencil.

 

 

I masked off Madeleine again, and used make-up sponges to smear colour into the background.  I used stream and wild plum Adirondack inks, and wild honey Distress ink.

 

 

Then I coloured in Madeleine with Spectrum Noir pencils and trimmed the artwork back.  Here you can also see that I have added colour to the paper I used to blot when pulling my gelli prints.  I think this could work in the background.

 

 

In addition, I also brushed the same colours through the same stencil onto a plain white card blank.

 

 

Now it was just a case of mounting everything.  I used charcoal to define some of the cogs and to create a bit of shadow around Madeleine and added "Inspire" from the word chains.

 

 

My other half doesn't quite get this design, he can't see why the cogs should have such a prominent place on a feminine card.  I have to say that this feels a bit like me:  there is so much going on at the moment, the wheels inside my head never seem to stop turning!

 

Hope you like it.. I'd love it if you could take time to leave a comment.  Good luck to everyone else in the challenge.  Till next time.  Xxx