Clarity Stamp Challenge 25: Anything But A Card

Clarity Stamp Challenge

Design Team Sample for March

Anything But A Card!

Hi Folks! 1st March today.  Time for another Claritystamp Challenge.
This month the topic is Anything But a Card
As long as any stamping is done by using Clarity Stamps Only.

For my design piece I decided to share a project that I have made for myself.

I am going on a hike up Ben Nevis at the end of May and I know I am going to be surrounded by some breathtaking scenery and I would quite like to capture some of it on paper!

So I have made myself an A4 Art Travelling Book...What is that you ask?...

Well let me explain!
(Lots of pictures in this post!!!)

It has 3 hard outer Covers

Which I have decorated with Grunge Paste,  Acrylic Paint, Gilding Wax

Stamping, Stencilling

and  a few other bits n bobs

Why 3 Covers?

Well I needed a back to my book and I needed a front for my book

Which I have attached together using a Zutter Binder and Owire

What's the third one for?

(dragging this out)

Well the third Cover is to hold the things I will need to take with me when I go Up North!

Which I put together using a very practical bit of kit from my crafty stash!

Want to see?

After putting two of the boards through the Zutter Binder then the Inner Pages to create the holes required for binding later, I began to decorate.

Back Cover and Top Cover (Upside Down)

I have stencilled Grunge Paste directly onto the Boards.  But before I did that I attached a piece of NON-SLIP MATTING using BOOKBINDING GLUE.  When dry I then applied GRUNGE PASTE over the top.  I left a gap between the Boards so that I had a wide enough flexible HINGE.   I thought it was quite ingenious myself.  The MATTING only cost £2.00 and it is huge so I can use it for a lot more things, like stopping my pencils and pens from rolling off my work desk!

Want to see the Inside?

I think we should continue with the Outer Covers!
But before that a picture of SOME of the items I used to make the book

9 x 11 TRELLIS, 9 x 11 LEAFY SWIRL, 7 x 7 FLOWER POWER, 7 x 7 MAPLE LEAVES, GRUNGE PASTE, SYSTEM 3 ACRYLICS, ARCHIVAL INK, SPREADER, ADIRONDACK INKS are just some of the items used sourced from CLARITYSTAMP

Other items used were sourced from Drawright in Ayr and The Works

Top Cover

I'm  pleased with the CHAINMAIL effect of the Matting mixed with Grunge Paste and Acrylics.

For this I used the Maple Leaf and the Flower Power Stencils and Grunge Paste.  I then added a few layers of Acrylic paint - Gold, Bronze, Blue, Green and Black ( I wiped most of the Black off before it had dried)  I attached a selection of wooden frames, words and shapes (The Works). I added more Black Paint, wiped more off and then set to with my GILDING WAX - Golden Light, Deep Red Then buffed it all up using some kitchen roll.

I like to add a CLASP to close the books I make and I do this by finding a bit of old Jewellery (Charity Shop) that I can alter or simply take apart.  I measured to make sure the chain would reach the OWIRE ok and that I had enough to leave a bit hanging.  The rest of the chain is hidden behind my Initial (a Metal disk from an Alphabet Set - Drawright) As the Wooden Frame had a recess, I simply placed the excess chain into it and added some Grunge Paste - not too much, just enough to make it set the chain in place.  I left this to dry and added more Grunge Paste then placed my copper disk on top and ...Squished!  I used a small glue spreader to remove some of the excess and flatten the rest.  Once Dry I had to add more of the Acrylic paint and Gilding Wax.

NEXT!

Middle Cover

I have used the same treatment as the top.  Using the TRELLIS STENCIL along with the LEAFY SWIRL stamp (Cobalt Archival Ink).  I applied the stamp before I added BLACK ACRYLIC.  I used MOD PODGE to attach  a couple of Die Cut Swirls (made from the inner foil lid of a coffee can) and a Sizzix Strip Die.  This is where the Sharpie Bronze and Gold Pens came in handy to colour the Foil. More Black Acrylic, more wet wipes...definitely cuppa time now.  I had a bit of bother getting the colour to stay on the foil until I used a Sharpie pen, I was then able to add more colour with the acrylics and waxes.  (if I had sanded the foil a little bit I wouldn't have had any bother).

Back Cover

Same treatment with the LEAFY SWIRL and MAPLE LEAVES stencils with Grunge Paste, Acrylic Paint, Gilding Waxes.  I thought at first I had gone too far with the red wax at the top but I am liking it now.

So now we get to the inside (yup there's more!)

 Middle Cover and the Back Cover before binding.

I cut down a couple of 12 x 12 papers, put them through the binder to make the holes and used MOD PODGE to attach to the Boards. I used a scraper working from the middle outwards to smooth it all out.  I didn't do anything else to the Back Cover but I did add a little artwork to the Middle and Top Covers.

Inside Middle Cover

I created a mountainous landscape using a CLARITY STENCIL BRUSH, Makeup Sponge, my own Mountain Stencil (made from thick acetate) and Adirondack - Eggplant, Black, Pesto and Butterscotch Inks to create the brooding hills and skyline. I used Dovecraft - White Pigment Ink to create the snow capped mountain.  I added two lonely trees SMALL LARCH and PINE TREE  (I have added the link for the Pine Tree from the Scotland Set but the one I used here was from the mini collections - ATC Stamps).

Inside Top Cover

For this I used a Layer of CRAFT FOAM. 

(paper would have just shown where the elastic is fixed) 

I have stamped the LARGE and SMALL LEAFY SWIRL in Archival - Cobalt.  I attached two pieces of 2cm Elastic to the corners of the bare board. I then attached 1cm thick Elastic Strips through the FOAM and then coated the Board with BOOKBINDING GLUE and attached the FOAM and left to set. I then made a little Clear Plastic Pouch (salvaged from a bag)and attached to the board with Red Double Sided Tape.

This way I can take with me Water colouring Pencils, brushes and also Chalk, Graphite, Charcoal, Drawing Pencils, rubber, Pencil Sharpener in the other tin.  I can also interchange what kind of pencils or Pens to take with me, or even a small tin of paints.  I am quite pleased with the options that I have given myself...it will probably take me longer to decide what I take in this than what I take in my rucksack!

Once all the Covers were decorated I put my mix of different types of paper along with the boards and Owire through the Zutter Binder  to finish.

There you have it, one Art Travelling Book just for me!

Just a few more pics...I promise

My favourite bit

and there is one more!!!

I also managed to get a couple of background sheets to use at a later date.

These were simply made by taping a bit paper OVER the stencil and brushing all the excess acrylic paint from my brush as I went along.

Phew! I do hope you have managed to stay with me till the end!

Let me know what you think!

Happy Crafting!!

And to those of you out there entering the Claritystamp Challenge

(£50.00 Clarity Stamp Voucher to the Winner chosen at Random)

I wish you all the best of luck xx

Hope to see all your lovely artwork on the Blog

http://claritystampchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

P.S.  I just wanted to add that One of  the bare Covers was taken from a set of blanks I got at a craft show  (everything is a pound stall)  It is the ones that just have the two holes punched already, best bit is that  they come with A4 paper and the two metal rings...bargain.  I hid the holes with the grunge paste. You do NOT have to have a Binding Machine to make a book.

Clarity Stamp Challenge 24: Flowers

Clarity Stamp Challenge

Design Team Sample For February

Hi Folks!  Well we are now in February and most people have had quite a heavy snowfall so  hope you are all coping with it.  We here in Tarbolton only got a few millimeters of snow and it only lasted a day, so my son and I had to go on a walking trip just to get some winter photos.

  

So I am here today to share with you my Sample for this month's challenge which is all about FLOWERS

This card is designed using my most favourite crafting things.  Parchment, Grunge Paste,Clarity Stamps and a Clarity Stamp Stencil. I have used two Clarity Stamps for this design, one being the small Leafy Swirl and the other being a small bunch of Flowers from the Remountable Garden Set. The Stencil is from the New Design Stencil Club from Clarity Stamp.

Right lets get to it!

7 X 7 Gelli Card, Grunge Paste, Clarity Stencil. Post it note mask x 2.  Apply Paste to card.  Once paste is dry place first mask over lady.  Reverse stencil, tape securely in place and apply paste. Remove Mask and using a damp brush (if you wish) smooth out the paste on the face and upper body and arms, you can also put detail into the hair.  I should point out that when using grunge paste it is best to tape your card to a solid surface not just copy paper, that way when you scrape the paste over the stencil you have more control and less movement.

Once dry cover with masks and tape them together (as in picture below). Stamp in background. In this case the Small Leafy Swirl (Clarity Stamps are that deep that you can stamp right up to the edge of the Grunge Paste).  You can either stamp in Versamark, add Embossing Powder and Heat Set as I did, or you can just simply stamp in ink.  I had added a raspberry ink and roughly wiped most of it off the stamp.  The Versamark re-wet the ink so that it shows up here and there.  I did this to go with one of the ribbons, it has shiny pink and silver stripes through it.

Use Masks as a template for dresses on Parchment. Lightly Trace outline in White Pergamano Pen.  Lightly Emboss on Back. Stamp out floral bunch onto copy paper, Trace within outline of the dresses using Pergamano Pen. Lightly Emboss on back of Parchment. Add shading to dresses with Hockey Tool. Highlight on the Front with Tinta Pearl and mapping pen. Use a Fine ball tool to put creases and folds into design. Cut out dresses as one piece and attach to Grunge Paste with Perga Glue.

Now to the Embellishments.  You can use ready made flowers or you can make your own using Dies..I used several Sizzix Floral Dies and Leaves.  I cut them out on White Coated Paper. Painted them with Tinta Pearl and left to dry.  I shaped them before putting them into my Melt Pot.  Big Tip...use a crocodile clip to hold things with ( I had been using one but it had rolled off my work table.  Result...I have injured my left hand...my fingers actually. Blisters! My own fault! I had over-glazed one of the roses I had made and I completely forgot how HOT it gets and just dove right in!) Yup I can hear you...that was a daft thing to do...I totally agree!!

I used Two thicknesses of Strong double sided tape to attach the design to the backing papers a Silver Pearl and a glittery daisy patterned Vellum and then to the Blank 8 x8 card.  I added small pearls to the corners for a bit of bling!  I used my Pergamano Pen to write out the Sentiment and  went over it with the Tinta Pearl using the Mapping Pen.  I embossed the edges and added Tinta Pearl.  Cut it out and attached with Perga Glue to the Floral arrangement. I attached two ribbons together with double sided tape, added them to the card.  Added the floral arrangement - I used a silicon glue for this. I also added a bit of string pearls to the mix.

You can see on the heads that I have  given some details to them and the hair. 

Close up of the dresses

Close up of the Floral Arrangement

So there you have it!  I'm not sure what I like most myself about the card, the way the parchment dresses worked out or the way the white paper flowers and leaves now have a lovely creamy sheen to them which also shows up the veining.  I hope you like it too.  If you give the techniques a go please let me see what you create, I would love to see what you do. xx

Notes:  When using Grunge Paste have some soapy water handy for washing stencil and scraper.
            Use a Tumble Dryer sheet to smooch over parchment to help tools glide rather than scratch.
            Protect your work surface with a heat mat or a hot glue mat.
            When using Melt Pot....use crocodile clips and have a cup of cold water handy...just in case!

So come on give this month's challenge a go.  There is £50 Clarity Gift Voucher for the winner (picked by Random. Org) and for the Top 5 (chosen by the Design Team) there is a chance to have your work showcased.

  The Competition is open to EVERYONE. 

ALL Stamping / Stencilling must be with Clarity Stamps and Stencils 

If you do not have a Blog then entries can be by email.

Check out the current Challenge #24

http://claritystampchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

And as they say

You Have Got To Be In It To Win It!

Happy Crafting Everyone

Emma xx

In The Pink!

Hi Folks!  I Hope you are all well out there in Craftland!  I have little pink number that I forgot to Blog about but I did show the flower that I had made for it on FB.  So here goes!


I started with a piece of Card that I had used the Shaving Cream Technique on a while back (it is amazing the amount and variety of backgrounds that you can get from this and you can also use any type of card even thick paper).  I cut the card down to a square so that it would fit nicely onto an 8 x 8 " Blank Card.  I chose which Clarity Stamps (my first choice for stamping) that I was going to use.

Only using  Adirondack Ink: Raspberry. I Stamped Lily and then covered her with a Mask so that I could work on the back ground a bit more.  I put in a bit of shading for hills and I used the Small Leafy Swirl to create a framework.




I removed the Mask, edged the card by gently pulling the card along the inkpad.  I attached this to my blank card (double sided tape).  I then stamped the Birthday Sentiment around this.  It was then that I decided that it needed a bit more even though I was still going to add the flower, so I decided to  colour in the buttons of her dress, shoes and her hair using a ZIG Wink of Stella Pen: Dark Pink.



This wasn't enough so I then decided to do a bit of embossing.  Now I can already hear you all say...should't you have done this first!  Well yes I should but I had that lovely mask which comes with an 'innie' and and 'outie'.  So using the 'outie' I placed this back onto my artwork exposing Lily only and then as the mask is cleanable I had no qualms about using my Embossing Ink directly onto Lily and the mask.  I then removed the mask and placed it onto a bit of copy paper (I did go back and clean it with a wet wipe). I then used clear embossing powder and I of course had to heat set it from above.

I didn't mind setting it this way as what it did would produce a more dimpled effect on the dress.  All that was left was to add my handmade Gerber Daisy!

So this was the finished card...........only the day after it was sold I remembered that I had had a little pink ribbon with 18th to add to it!  Note to self:  Remember to actually check list!  This was a quick card to make as I already had a stash of flowers and background paper made and having the mask for the stamp was brilliant, so thank you to Clarity Stamp for making them.  

P.S.  The Masks are sticky backed and need to be de-tacked a bit before using them.  They can be stored on copy paper to be used again and again and I have to say they are reasonably priced too.

Hope you like it and Happy Crafting everyone!

Hugs xx

Emma

Butterfly Montage

Hi folks!  Hope you are all well out there in Craft Land.  I am keeping busy myself.  Two family birthdays next week, one being my husbands 50th...he is catching up with me!  The other being my youngest daughter's 26th.  I have hubby's card in hand and I am just about to make my daughters but I thought that I would get this post done of a last minute card that I was asked to do ( someone forgot to get his wife a card and went off to work...just as well he knew about me as the poor man was working till way past shop closing and his wife was coming to pick him up).

So with only a little time at my disposal I decided to use a very lovely stamp from Clarity Stamp, the Butterfly Montage.  This is it stamped just in Archival Plum on white paper. (poor lighting)

I decided to stamp onto Pale Peach Parchment (the kind used for letter writing)  It has a lovely mottled effect.  I cut out a square from the parchment, taped the edges up with masking tape and then I stamped the Montage in Archival Plum. With my Clarity Stamp Stencil Brush I shaded around the outside edges (I covered the top end of the butterfly wing that sticks out over the edge as I wanted the Peach colouring to show through.

I removed the masking tape and stamped the Happy Birthday flourish on to the parchment. I used a
Brilliance Ink Pad - Pearlescent Crimson

(This stamp comes set at this angle)

Next step was to outline my Square and to add some detail to the butterfly. I used a Sharpie Pen - Berry for the edge and a Marvy Le Plume II - Cherry for the butterfly.  I laid my work out on my blank card and decided it was best at an angle but still a bit sparse.



So out came my Heat Resistant Acetate, Brilliance Ink Pad Pearlescent Crimson, Clear Embossing Powder and heat gun.  I stamped my Large Butterfly - which goes with the Montage - dusted my powder, used heat gun to set it and then cut out the butterfly.  I put a kink at base of each wing, attached it to the Montage with Clear Glue.

This still wasn't enough for me so I added the Small Leafy Swirl using  Brilliance Ink Pad Pearlescent Crimson to two corners and then set my Parchment back on its angle and attached with double sided tape onto an 8 x 8 inch cream satin card blank.

I could have also ran an edge along the shaded part to make it look like another layer but I didn't want to mess things up at this late stage.  I stamped the Leafy Swirls, "blotting before plotting" in the same position on the insert leaving space for the man to write his own message.

Glad to say his wife was very happy with the card...the excuse for her not getting it earlier - he was asking the staff he works with to sign the card too!

Hope you like it too.  

Happy Crafting


Emma xx

P.S.  I have just noticed that the Peach Parchment now looks Pink but on its own it is Peach...has to be the way I take photos. x