Clarity Stamp Challenge 28

Hi Folks! Once again another month has flown by this year and it is now 1st of June...You all know what that means...Yes the start of another ClarityStamp Challenge over on the Blog  (last month's challenge 'Clocks' brought in some absolutely wonderful artwork....getting tougher each month for us on the Design Team to pick our Top 5 Favourites!!!)

http://claritystampchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/28

This months Theme is: Boys, Boys, Boys!

For my Design Team Sample I have made a Triptych Birthday Card using some Clarity Boy stamps.

So in order to make this card I used the following:

Boy and dog

Boys - Wee Folk 2

Mini Naked Tree

Mini Leaf

Mini Grasses 1

Grasses 5
Oats
Happy Birthday 

Archival - Potting Soil,
Adirondack - Stonewashed,
Memento - Summer Sky

Clarity Stencil Brush
Makeup sponge
Scissors
Post-it Notes
Double sided Foam Pads
Double sided Tape
Craft Knife
Brown Sharpie Pen



I stamped the Boy with his Dog first. As you can see this stamp comes within a frame. Made a mask of this stamp leaving just the edges exposed, inked it up with Archival Potting Soil, as I wanted to make frames for the other two ATC's.

  

I masked off the edges of all the Frames with Post-it Notes and then stamped the other images onto the ATC cards.  I stamped the boys first before masking two of them so that I could do some background and foreground stamping with the grasses and tree.

I had a right old mess going on...glad I had Nail Polish Remover to clean the stamps with!

After all this stamping I began shading the foreground with a makeup sponge and the Archival ink and a bit of torn copy paper.  Then using Memento Summer Sky across the middle of each card, also some Adirondack Stonewashed for the sky and a bit of water.  I applied the ink using my Clarity Stencil Brushes.
I removed the Post-it notes, marked the edges with a Brown Fine Line Sharpie Pen and added the tip of the Leaf stamp to the corner of each card for a finishing touch.  I trimmed the ATC's down to the edge of the Framing on all three.

I stamped the sentiment onto another ATC and used the excess ink on one of my brushes to colour the boxes.  This is a great little set from Clarity Stamp....very useful!  I cut out the boxes, mounted the 'Happy' directly onto the ATC  and mounted the 'Birthday' underneath directly onto the DL card with Foam Pads.

A little private sentiment for the insert later and there you have a finished card!

I hope this gives you a bit of inspiration to join in the challenge this month and I hope to see your wonderful artwork there!!  Remember there is a £50 gift voucher to spend at ClarityStamp up for grabs and a spot as guest designer for the winner too!!

To see the RULES and have a gander at what the other ladies on the Design Team have made, just follow the link below:

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

Happy Crafting and hope to see your wonderful entries soon.

Hugs,

Emma x

Clarity Stamp Challenge No. 27

Hi Crafty Folks! Ist of May today and it is time for another Clarity Stamp Challenge!!

The theme for Challenge 27 is: Clocks!

I am so looking forward to seeing what your take on this theme will be.  I have certainly had fun making my Design Sample and I hope that you all will have fun too, whatever you make.

I have decorated a box with the Clockwork Stencil along with Small Fob and SideView Fob Stamps from Claritystamp.  As per usual with moi! I have a step by step for you.  I hope you find it easy to follow, but if there are any questions please feel free to leave a comment and I will get back to you asap.

(I have placed a piece of black card under the lid to show the details on the glass for the photo)

So I began with this little number that I picked up in a sale at a garden centre.  Its paint was chipped and it was a bit grubby but I knew with some TLC that I could give it a new lease of life!

To recycle this box I gave it a light hand sanding on the outside and used a Stanley Blade to scrape off the paint on the glass lid. Cleaned with white spirit and polished glass with Kitchen Roll.

I Cut 2 lengths of Brown Suede to fit sides of Box Base plus 2 lengths at 1cm longer. I left an overhang at the bottom of ALL lengths of about 1cm. (the longer pieces are for the front and back - shorter pieces for the sides) Applying fabric to a box can give a luxurious feel and is very easy to do.

Start at the sides of the box.  Apply Glue (MOD PODGE) to flat surface then lay material gently on top, straighten out top edge, use a plastic scraper and working from middle GENTLY smooth outwards.  This will expel any wrinkles (wish it worked on faces lol). Tuck the Overhang underneath after applying some GLUE to the edge of the base. 

Leave to dry before doing exactly the same to the other side.  Once again do the same to the Front and Back only this time CENTER the Suede in the Middle so you have an overhang along bottom and both ends.  Use a Brush to apply more GLUE for the overhangs.  Any Excess GLUE can be wiped away with a damp cloth.

Tape STENCIL in place on inside of lid (cover rest of box with sheets of newspaper or copy paper - worktop too)  SPRAY on Humbrol White GLASS ETCH.  It dries in minutes so build up the layers to get the depth you want.  Remove STENCIL and clean with White Spirit.

Use Double Sided Strong Tape to make a border with GILDING FLAKES. Use either a Wood Stain or a Permanent Ink to Colour Rest of Lid.  I used Archival Coffee Ink.

For the outside of the lid  Cut 4 strips of Suede effect Paper. Leave an overhang the depth of the lid. Apply Glue to top and edge then apply paper (same as for the suede), crossing paper over at corners. Before Dry use a Craft Knife to cut a Mitre Corner, cutting through both layers on the diagonal.

Use Double Sided Tape to apply GILDING FLAKES to the Center Groove.  Neaten up any excess paper at corners and fit a METAL CORNER for protection.  Turn Box over and cover Base with either a Square of Card or a Square of Material to neaten.  Once Dry Attach METAL FEET with Silicon Glue and Small Pins.
To finish randomly stamp the two FOB WATCHES with Archival Coffee Ink onto the lid.

To make the cushioning for the real fob watches use a Square Die to cut 18 Foam Squares (use 1 inch thick Foam).  Take 9 of the squares and cut out a center using a Circle Die.  Remove the inner circle (can be used for something else crafty) The foam will pop back into shape and if it doesn't give the edges a little flick and this will get it moving. Using a Glue Gun attach the WHOLE squares into each compartment..a single blob will do







Cut 9 Squares of White Satin. Attach the outer edges of the HOLED Square to the edge of the Satin with Glue Gun.  Then Glue the corners of the satin to the UNDERSIDE of the Sponge.  Turn over, Glue into place.  Gently poke the Satin in the middle.  Place the Chains for the Fob Watches (or whatever you want to collect) in middle and sit Watches on top.  And that's all Folks!  One Design Sample and one Present for my Husband for some of his watch collection! I will have to look out for a similar box for the rest of it!!

I hope you all like this and it gives you a bit of inspiration.  

I also hope you will take part in the Clarity Stamp Challenge and I look forward to seeing your wonderful entries

To Enter, See The Rules and to have a look at all the other Design Team Samples go to:

http://claritystampchallenge.blogspot.co.uk

Remember there is a £50 Clarity Stamp Gift Voucher up for grabs to the lucky winner.

Best of luck!!

Emma xx

Elegant Ladies with a bit of Grunge!!

Hi Folks!  Hope you are well!  I am finally getting round to blogging a birthday card that I made back in March. I have been busy with other projects and I forgotten to finish writing this one up...sorry! (I have a few more like that too...note to self - get busy!)

So starting with a Blank Piece of Gelli Card I created this little scene using Grunge Paste, Clarity Stamp Elegant Ladies Stencil (set of 3) a selection of Distress Re-Inkers and some ink pads along with a Brayer.

Tape Low tack Masking tape around blank card to create a white border.  Stamp Easel into place using Archival Ink. Stamp again onto Post-it note for mask, cut out and place over stamped image.

Place a piece of torn copy paper over the top half of the card and use a Brayer along with Adirondack ink Pads to add colouring of choice to the bottom.  Take copy paper, place it over the 'floor' moving it up slightly to get a blank band.  Ink up Brayer and add Denim to the top right corner - coming down and to the left. Ink up Brayer again, this time came in at the diagonally opposite corner - coming up and to the right.  This way you can achieve the look of light filtering through a window.

Remove the Mask from the Easel as the next step is creating the image on the Easel.  Make your own Ink Pad by stamping onto Cut and Dry Foam with Black Archival ink.  Then colouring with drops of Distress Re-Inkers.  The ink will bleed and you can achieve a lovely blended effect.

Let the inks soak in a bit and then stamp a little scene onto the easel.
Use a piece of torn copy paper, makeup sponge and Adirondack inks to create a mini set of hills in the background.
Take a note of which inks and stamps used on a piece of card and put these all together with the stamps in an airtight plastic bag for future use.
You can add in a Dado Rail if you wish at this stage on the upper part of the card.  You can do this by colouring in a band or add a coloured Peel-off.
The next step is to add the ladies with the Grunge paste



Tape Stencil securely into place and add Grunge Paste. Let this dry for about 10 minutes and then go into the Grunge Paste with a fine ball tool to mark of details - hair, clothes and to cut away the grunge paste at the knee.

Once dry add the other lady...I wanted them to be standing closer or I could have grunged them at the same time.
You can colour the Grunge Paste using a variety of mediums from Ink, Acrylic Paint and Pencils.  For these though I used my ProMarker Pens. Add extra shading by taking a Light Gray Pen or Pencil around one side and underside of all images.  You can also at this stage add highlights by scraping away the edge of the Grunge Paste if you wish.

Shading has also been added roughly under the ladies feet with Cool Gray 1 ProMarker.
Remove the Masking Tape from around the edge of the card.  Use a permanent FineLiner to draw a rough edge around image.  I draw around one way and then come back around the other way. Using either ProMarkers with a Fine Nib or Spectrum Noir Pencils colour in the spaces between the lines.
Matt and Layer onto a complimentary background and then mount onto a Card Blank.
Add a string of Flat Backed Pearls around the edge to finish.  I used double threaded dressmaking pearls.  You can attach them using a glue or strong double sided tape.

Apart from the Card Blank, background layer and Pearls all items were sourced from Claritystamp  http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/

Large Easel Stamp, a post-it note mask. Archival Ink - Coffee

Homemade Ink Pad with Distress Re-Inkers - Forest Moss, Dried Marigold, Ripe Persimmon, Crushed Olive and Squeezed Lemonade along with Tree, Mantle and Floral Verge stamps.

Makeup Sponge, Brayer. Adirondack Ink Pads - Denim and Lettuce.

Scrap paper for hills. Scrap paper for Skirting Board and Dado Rail.

Thank  you for popping in and having a peek.  Any questions please leave a comment and I will get back to you.

Happy Crafting

Emma xx

A little bit of Parchment Craft along with Clarity Stamp

Hi Folks! Hope you are all having lovely weather and enjoying yourselves.  I have been busy with cardmaking and a little bit of grungy playing ( that's for another day)  but I have also overdone it a bit on the training for Ben Nevis and managed to mess up a bone in my foot (I am ok but did have to finally give in to painkillers which I hate to take)  So while I was sitting resting my foot (it is hard to sit with your foot up above your pelvis without restraints lol) I decided to have a play with my parchment.  Barbara Gray featured the Floral Corner Set on Create and Craft TV at the beginning of the month and as I already had it I was quite chuffed.  I made two cards both quite different but for this blog post I will share the parchment one and maybe pop a picture on the end of the other card!

On Copy paper. I drew a 6 x 6 square with an inner 1/2 inch border in Black Pen.  I stamped in Cobalt Archival Floral Corner and Flower from Clarity Stamp.

I traced a small flower and a couple of leaves using a Blue Micron Pen in one corner. I then drew in a leafy branch. I drew in a few Half Moons around one corner and then changing to a Black Micron Pen I added dots around the outer edge.

Simple, Blue = Embossing, Black = Piercing

Tools:
Lightbox, Embossing Mat, Pricking Mat, Fine Ball Tool, Medium Ball Tool, One Needle and a Two Needle Tool. Tumble Dryer Sheet. Tape, Parchment Grid, Parchment Scissors. White Pergamano Pen, Parchment and a selection of Blue Spectrum Noir Pencils.

I traced the design onto Parchment with the Pergamano Pen. When it came to tracing the outer edge I just moved my Parchment along the design I had drawn. I smooched the back of the Parchment with the Tumble Dryer Sheet. I used a Fine Ball Tool to Emboss.  I then shaded in the flowers etc with the SN Pencils.  I then went back over the Embossing with the Ball Tools to whiten the outlines and to the tips of the Flowers and Leaves.
I turned the Design over and with my Finest Ball Tool, scribed the sentiment, smooched again, with Medium Ball Tool Embossed from the back, coloured the letters then back in again with a Fine Ball Tool to Whiten the outline and shade in the tops of the letters. 

Next step piercing.  I placed Piercing Mat on Lightbox, then Parchment Grid, Pattern, Parchment. I pierced the 8 Corner Holes, removed the Pattern and got on with Piercing using the Corner Holes to guide me onto straight lines. I pierced every 2nd hole apart from the corners where I have a run of 3 consecutive holes on the Inner line and a run of 4 on the Outer line. I shallow pierced, removed Parchment from Grid and then went back and re-pierced deeper with my One Needle Tool.

Next Step Cutting. Using a Two Needle Tool I pierced around all the inner gaps between the Flowers and Leaves, then I cut using Pergamano Scissors.

Next Step Outer Edge.  With my Piercing Mat on my lightbox and Two Needle Tool I pierced around each Scallop and then went back around with my Pergamano Scissors to cut out.  (I couldn't resist a peek at the edge while I was doing it).  I Traced, Coloured, Embossed a separate Single Flower and attached over the one already within the design with Pergamano Glue.

I coloured a piece of Super Smooth (7 x 7) with Denim Adirondack Ink and a Clarity Stencil Brush. Double Sided Tape on the back and mounted onto an 8 x 8 Card Blank to which I then attached the finished  Piece with Pergamano Glue.

Just a few more pics to see the details a bit better (I am not the best photographer)

I decided the next day that the card needed something else and added some flat backed pearls to the opposite corners.  Sorry no full picture as my camera died on me and the card has now been sold...think I will do another one as I did enjoy making this one!

Final Picture!!

The other Card

I think I may be back in my Blue Phase!!

I hope that you enjoyed reading my step by step (I really hope you understand it too).  I have enjoyed sharing it with you all and would very much welcome your feedback.

I'm off to Edinburgh for the Ross Papercraft Show at Meadowbank on Saturday.  Determined to spend my husbands hard earned cash and get in a visit to my Daughter.  

Have a good weekend and Crafty Hugs to All !!!

p.s.  I would like to point out that the Calligraphy Work on my Parchment Design was from a template that I had in my stash. At the time of publishing this post I was not aware that it was in fact a piece of Calligraphy by the wonderful, talented Anne Quinn.  I would just like to give her the credit due for its design.  Click on her name and check out her site where you can see her work and learn more about her.
Thank you.
Emma xx

Clarity Stamp Challenge April 2015

Clarity Stamp Challenge  26 

The theme of this months challenge is
WEE FOLK

Clarity Stamp has brought out 4 sets of Wee Folk stamps recently and Barbara Gray has very kindly given us ladies on the Challenge Design Team two of the Fairy Wee Folk Sets.  (Perfect Timing Barbara and thank you very much indeed) As soon as I had the stamps in my hand my first thought that came to mind was fairies at the bottom of the garden and the old photos that were taken by Elsie Wright and her cousin in 1917.  

So I decided to create a scene of my own using the FILM STRIP STENCIL and the Fairies to represent the photos.

Tree Branch,  

Word Chain #5, 

Fairies, Mushroom from Wee Folk #3, 

Flowers from Wee Folk # 4

The first thing  was to make a mask of the FILM STRIP.  I did this by inking up the STENCIL with Coffee Archival Ink Pad and a BRAYER, then putting it through an embossing machine, transferring the ink and the outline to a piece of paper. I cut out the holes for the sprockets with my craft knife before cutting around the outside of the mask.

inked stencil

stencil mask

I re-inked the STENCIL and placed it centred on an A4 sheet of  Super Smooth paper and put this through my BigShot. I cleaned the stencil using Nail Polish Remover.  I taped the FILM STRIP MASK over this 1st PRINT.  I re-inked the STENCIL again, placed it ink down OVER the MASK at an angle, Placed a piece of copy paper over the top and used a BRAYER to roll over adding pressure, thus transferring the ink to the 2nd PRINT.  I then repeated the process once again, leaving the FILM STRIP MASK in place and turning the actual STENCIL to a different angle to get a 3rd PRINT

The reason behind this - when you put the stencil through an embosser, it leaves the outline marks that you want,..but if you move it and put it back through the machine you would now have more outline marks but these would be crossing over what you have already embossed and that would ruin any scene that you want to create as you would end up with scored lines everywhere which would show up when stamping or brushing with ink.

Keeping the FILM STRIP MASK in place I set about stamping in my WEE FOLK.  As you can see from the picture I also made masks for them too. I used MOONLIGHT WHITE - ARCHIVAL BRILLIANCE INK to stamp my FAIRIES into place. (unfortunately the flash on my camera prevents you seeing the detail in the fairy wings). I lifted the FILM STRIP MASK, covered the FAIRIES with the post-it note MASKS, then taped the FILM STRIP MASK back in place over the center piece of FILM STRIP.

I used COFFEE ARCHIVAL INK, 1st and 2nd gen. Along with OLD PAPER and ANTIQUE LINEN - DISTRESS INKS to stamp the FLOWERS, TREE BRANCH and MUSHROOM also for the shading to give the 'aged' look.  I used more post-it notes to protect the other pieces of the  FILM STRIP.  I also made sure to stamp through the sprocket holes so that I would get the layered look.

All I did to create the 'photo's was just to simply move the STENCIL to the strip I was working on and protect the edges with the post-it notes and cover the next layer with a mask.

Once I had finished stamping and shading I then darkened the edges of each strip by using the edges of the Post-it notes either side of the straight lines and using a makeup sponge and the Coffee Archival I just dabbed until I got the effect I wanted.  (I used large Post-it notes from WH Smiths)

I used SLATE - ADIRONDACK to add shadow around the each of the FILM STRIPS. I also re-used the post-it notes once again to mask the strips so that I could stamp in the TREE BRANCH and the WORD STAMPS in the background.  Finally I used a CLARITY STENCIL BRUSH and COFFEE - ARCHIVAL INK to give a light shading to the background.

This piece will now be fixed onto the inside cover of an art journal that I have been asked to make for a Children's Illustrator. Mmmm, I think I will use the ELVES for the inside back cover!

Well I hope that you like it and that it gives you a little bit of inspiration. I also hope that it encourages you to take part in the Clarity Stamp Challenge this month too.  Pop in and check out all the lovely designs from the other ladies on the Design Team.

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

Challenge 26

Wee Folk

Stamping and stencilling must be with Clarity Stamps and Stencils

£50 Clarity Stamp gift voucher for the Winner

Best of luck to everyone

Happy Crafting

Emma xxx