Parchment Workshop Groovi Butterfly

Hi Folks!  Hope you are all doing ok out there!  Yes, I know it has  been a while since I have posted. Blogger, technology and life in general have conspired against me over the past few months but hopefully I can get through this post without things crashing around me lol!

I have a piece of Parchment White Work to share with you.  This piece was made for one of my Parchment Workshops a couple of months back.  The design I have created including the grid work frame can be taken to different stages to get a finished sample, you can "get off the bus" anytime you want, you don't have to travel all the way to the end!

I hope you like it xx

For this piece I have used a Straight Bold Grid to work out the border Frame, I have used 4 Groovi Plates from Claritystamp Ltd to make up the center image.  These are:  Nested Square, Sprig Background, Netting Pattern and Jayne's Butterflies.  150gsm Parchment, 21cm x 21cm.   

Working on the back of the parchment and using a No.1 ball tool,  I built up the design by embossing the outer lines from the Nested Square then added the two butterflies.  I then used parts of the Sprig plate (using the whole pattern would make it too cluttered ) before finally adding the Netting.

Because of the depth of the lines in the Groovi Plates I was able to get nice crisp lines and curves.

Using small shader and No.1 ball, I added white work to the leaves and butterflies. The additional design on the bottom of the large butterfly is achieved by using a straight bold grid, two needle bold.  Turn the Butterfly so that the tips of the bottom wings sit on the same line in the grid, pierce alternate double holes......see pic at end.

I then made up my grid work border frame, Bold Straight Grid, No.1 Ball, Single Bold Needle.   Embossing the dots on the back of the parchment then shallow piercing on the front.  This gave me the First stage of the design.  You could stop now and mount your piece into a 10 x 10 inch Mount. Or continue with the design.

Next stage:  use a Fine Two Needle tool to freehand Shallow Pierce in and around the Sprig, Butterfly and Netting.  I then used a Single Bold Needle to re-perforate ALL the holes, going deeper. (keep needle upright as it makes for better holes!) You could stop here if you wish!

Next Stage:  Using either Parchment Snips (Perga Cutters) or Parchment Scissors cut away the waste parchment between each hole, within each Diamond Shape that the Netting Plate makes.  (It is easier to handle one Diamond at a time, to stop you missing any holes) For more experienced parchers, you know the drill....!

You can get off here and mount your piece, I have used Black Card for backing, you can use any colour you wish (the darker the better, to show off your white work) or continue to cut out the grid work and then mount.

Next Stage:  Is to repeat the process of piercing, snipping the top part of the inner design until you have it all cut out as in this last framed picture.

Notes:  

There are variations that can be made in the Grid Work too.  It doesn't all have to be cut out to give a nice design.

Be careful when snipping not to put your scissors too far in to the holes, always have points of snips / scissors over the waste.
When embossing, go slowly and gently, remembering to lift your tool up from the parchment at the end of each stroke.

Tilt your head to the left and you will see the grid work on the butterfly.  The spacing is pierce two holes, miss two holes (on the vertical).  Then the line above the space begin again, pierce two holes, miss two holes.  Turn work to the back and using a no. 1 ball gently mark a diagonal line between the top of each two holes to the bottom of the two holes above....repeat for each diagonal.
(it is easier to follow if you do all the diagonal lines in one direction before going in the other)

The gridwork is designed on a Bold Straight Grid. Emboss dots on back of parchment then Pierce holes working from the front.  Build the design out from the corners till you meet in the middle.  You can then decide if you want to leave it as it is or go on to do some Picot Cutting.

Well thats it for now folks, let's hope that my computer doesn't go into shock now that I have finally got blogging again!

Happy Crafting

Hugs

Emma xx

April Challenge

Hi Folks!  I hope you are all well and ready for the next Claritystamp Challenge!

This month's theme is 

MASKING!

My Design Sample for this challenge

Now this piece started out a little bit different from the finished result as you will see from the pictures that follow.  

As I mentioned, the theme is MASKING and I certainly did a bit of that!  I made use of a Clarity Square Stencil for centering my image and I used the innie part of it to cover the central area.  I used the Mask of the Large Postage Stamp underneath to keep this area clear as I had an idea rolling about in my head!

I coloured the outer background of my piece using Adirondack Ink: Caramel and  Cranberry. Applying the inks to the card with a couple of Smoothies, dabbing and rolling, overlapping and using the ink till it was no more!!.  I then spritzed  water onto my fingers and let it drip onto my work, left it for a few seconds and dabbed it dry with a clean kitchen roll.

I then replaced the Square Stencil and using the Caramel Ink I shaded in between the stencil and Stamp Mask.  After removing the Stamp Mask I stamped the owl (Black Archival) into the center and MASKED him (I love that Barbara had Masks made for her stamps) so that I could create a background for my owl. (more caramel and Torn Copy Paper for hills along with Low Tack Masking Tape to protect the outer background)

My owl was coloured using a selection of reds and orangey brown Spectrum Noir Pencils and I finished him off with a Henna ProMarker over his head, wings and body.  A quick polish with kitchen roll and he comes up a treat!  Just  pity the light was too bad to show the shine.

Now at this point I had definitely decided that I had taken a wrong turn with the colour choice for the center frame.  I originally wanted the card to look as though I had framed a stamp of an owl and then mount the piece on a canvas.  But it just wasn't working out for me!  But ever the resourceful crafter, I changed the central frame with the help of a black fineliner, ruler and a Black Sharpie!  

Then of course the central background was too pale for me so I had to play around with that. Low Tack Masking Tape around the center frame, a few Leaves and some foliage, more green (Pesto Adirondack) to the hills and of course blue to the sky. (Stonewashed Adirondack)  I used a damp paint brush to pick up some green ink from ink pad to colour the foliage.  Out came the black Sharpie and Ruler to add a Line around the whole piece.  Then using Strong Double Sided Tape I attached it to an 8 x 8 Card Blank.

Much happier with this!

So now it is up to you to get your thinking caps on and your MASKING Techniques on the go.

As usual you will find the RULES of the Challenge on the Claritystamp Challenge Website (they are very simple).  I look forward to seeing all your lovely creations and wish all who take part the very best of luck.

Happy Crafting!

Hugs

Emma x

All Stamps, Stencils and Masks used to make this card can be sourced from Claritystamp Ltd

To enter the Clarity Challenge, to see the Rules and of course to see the wonderful samples from the rest of the ladies on the design team click here: CHALLENGE 38 Masking

It's All In The Groovi !!

Hi Folks!  Another little piece of Groovi work from me to go along with Groovi Week at Claritystamp.  Check out the Special Offer on the website at www.claritystamp.co.uk/ groovi

So my offering for today is a little Pyramid Gift Box and as the title of this post says.......

It was Designed and Made using Groovi Plates and the Groovi Plate Mate!!!

Warning!!  This is a Step by Step Tutorial and I have added Pictures for each stage,
So it is Definitely NOT a short Post!!

I used the Nested Square, Nested Circle, Netting and the Snowflakes Groovi Plates 

along with the Groovi Plate Mate Kit and Groovi Border Plate 1. 

21 x 21 cm, 140 gsm Parchment, Claritystamp Parchment Embossing Tools, Parchment Scissors, Ruler, White Leaded Propelling Pencil, Cutting Mat, Low Tack Tape, Tumble Dryer Sheet 

two pieces of slim Ribbon.  

(No Glue or Double sided Tape needed)

All Embossing on one side of the Parchment (back)

Tape Parchment to Groovi Plate Mate and Insert the Nested Squares Groovi Plate.

Give Parchment a rub over with Tumble Dryer Sheet 

 Emboss the 7th Square from the middle 

Replace Nested Squares with the Netting Groovi Plate and emboss the area inside the Square

Remove Parchment From Groovi Plate Mate and Place it onto the Hard Side of the Mat

Center the middle lines of the Netting Pattern as in the photo below

You want a center line showing through horizontally and vertically

Take your Ruler and Pencil.  Mark a Dot 6cm out from the edge of Pattern on the Middle line.

Repeat for all 4 sides.

Take Parchment back to the Groovi Plate Mate change to the Nested Squares Plate

Align the Dot on your Parchment to the Bottom Right Hand Corner of the 7th Square

Now Emboss the Line going from right to Left

Do this for all 4 Dots.  You will now have 4 lines all 7 cm long as in photo below

Turn your Parchment Diagonally
Once again using the 7th from Middle Square
Place Corner of Embossed Square to Top Right Hand Corner of Nested Squares
(Left Hand end of Embossed Line to Bottom Right Hand Corner)
as in Photo Below (probably better just to look at photo lol)

Emboss down this Line and your Parchment will now look like this....and No it's not a Windmill!

Next use the Groovi Border Plate

(Plate with the Dashed Line and Scallops)

Arrange Parchment on Plate, use the Dashed Line to complete the Triangles as in the picture below

Next Groovi Plate in use is the Nested Circles, so place that into the Groovie Plate Mate

and using the Outer Curve of the Circle, Place your Parchment as in the next picture

(Outer Circle touching Corner of Triangle and Corner of Embossed Square)

Emboss the Curve between these points on  all 4 sides and you have a piece that looks like this

Now this is your basic box.

Oh, and as you can see from the next pic, I am using the Snowflake Groovi Plate

Emboss Snowflakes of your choice.  I went for two different sizes

You can of course use any of the Groovi Plates to add your desired decoration

Just remember to ONLY emboss in the Curved area

You all still with me!  Not nodded off to sleep! Or given up because I have waffled too much!

Grand, let us continue!!

The only bit left at this point is to mark a circle on all 4 Curves for your Ribbon to go through

Look at the Groovie Plate Mate, down the Right Hand Side you will see Symbols.  

Emboss the Small Circle.   

You can stop right here and have the basic box - just cut or use a single hole punch to cut out that little circle  for your Ribbon.
You would then cut away the excess Parchment with a Craft Knife or Scissors
You will of course have to read to the end to see how it folds together
(ha ha, you thought you were done! lol)

If you want to have a Fancy Edge then follow the next steps.

Look carefully at the next picture to see the placement of the Design.
It is time to use the Scalloped Edge on the Groovi Border Plate

The Scalloped Edge is in a straight line and I will show you how to turn that into a Curve

(I think the Parchment could be doing with another run over with the Tumble Dryer Sheet)
Place the Parchment onto the Scalloped Edge, (see picture below)
HOLD Parchment in place Do Not Tape Down. Use a Fine Ball Tool to Emboss ONE Scallop
Keep Ball Tool in place

With Free Hand Gently move the Parchment towards you until the top of the next Scallop is touching the Curved Line, Emboss the Scallop.
Repeat the Process until you have Embossed 7 Scallops

Just repeat around the curved edges of your design
 This is called 'In-Line Embossing'

Remove Parchment from Border Plate, Turn it over (Front) and place onto a Piercing Mat.
Using a 2 Needle Tool
Begin by piercing the inside Curve of the Scallop.
Hold your Tool as upright as possible.  

Keep going until all the Scallops are Pierced

 Next Pierce along the Outer Curve of the Scallops

 Taking Your Parchment Scissors Cut between the Holes on the Inside Curve of the Scallops
Insert Scissors, Slightly Turn Wrist (or Forearm) Then Snip.
Turn your work as you go along

Turn Parchment around and Cut between the Holes but making sure you
 DO NOT CUT the Point where the Scallops join together

 As you cut the final bit the scrap Parchment will fall away

 Cut Between the Holes on the Outer Curve of the Scallops, Turning your work as you go along

 Once all the Scallops are cut free from the Parchment, Transfer Your Parchment to a cutting Mat
Using Ruler and Craft Knife Cut along Every Outside Edge
you will be left with a piece as in the Picture below

Turn your work over (Showing the Inside)
Gently Fold inwards the edges of the Square

Fold Inwards along the Dashed Line

  (If you didn't cut away the Small Circle - Do so now)

Bring Two opposite Sides Together and Thread Ribbon through Holes
Tie a single knot.

Your Triangle within the design will sit along the edge of the square
Now bring the other two Sides together and Thread another Ribbon through the Holes
Tie a Bow
And if after ALL of that you need a reminder of what the box looked like
Here it is lol!!

So that's it Folks!
This Design is quite Versatile, especially as Barbara Gray has brought out those Lacy Borders!!!
I will definitely be buying them!
As I said before you can use any design from the Groovi Plates to decorate the box
Doesn't have to be a Christmas Design
And yes you could just cut out with a Die or buy one of the precut shaped boxes
but to give someone a gift with a very personal handmade box is something special!

I hope you all like this tutorial
(as long winded as it was)
I would love to hear from you

Happy Groovi Crafting

Hugs
Emma xx