Sunday 1 May 2016

Claritystamp Challenge - Anything Goes

Seren is a Welsh name meaning 'star'

Why is it when you have wider brief it becomes more difficult to come up with an idea.  This month's Claritystamp challenge is Anything Goes. A lot has been going on here this month and suddenly the deadline for getting my design in was looming.  After a weekend visit by my daughter and her family, inspiration finally came.  I became a grandmother again on Christmas Eve, my first granddaughter, Seren.  She is beautiful, of course.  I have designed this name plaque for her but you could use any name of your choice.

Stamps: Nursery Rhyme Alphabet, Field Mice,  Toadstool from Wee Folk Elves 
Stencil:  Tree Box Frame
Ink:       Adirondack, Lettuce and Stonewashed, Archival Coffee
Other:    Claritystamp Stencil card and stencil brushes, Colouring pencils, fine nib felt pens, sepia pen


  • Stamp your name using Coffee Archival ink.  I used this colour because I wanted to colour in the blackbirds on the letter S and thought they wouldn't show up if I stamped in the usual black.



  • Cover up the name with post-it notes.
  • Tape the stencil to the left-hand side of the card and brush blue ink across from the left taking care not to get a hard edge at the right-hand side  
  • Make a hill mask with copier paper and then brush Lettuce across the bottom. The green will mix with the blue to give a darker green.  



  • Remove the stencil and clean it before turning it over and repeating these steps on the right-hand side.
  • Remove the stencil and then use masking tape to get an edge in the central section.
  • Lightly brush on the inks to complete the frame.



  • I'm afraid this is where I forgot to keep taking photos.
  • Colour in the letters.  I used mainly pencils but also fine nib felt pens for those fiddly bits. 
  • Add a wiggly outline with a sepia pen.
  • Some shading around the frame and tree branches.
  • At this stage I thought it was looking a bit plain and decided to add the mice.
  • Make some masks for the field mice using post-its.
  • Stamp mice and cover with masks.
  • Stamp the Toadstool behind the mice then remove the masks.
  • Gently wet inside the mice and blot to remove the green then when dry colour in.
  • Add some colour to the toadstool and a couple of Barbara's heart birds in the trees to finish it off.


I have temporarily mounted the card on some brown card but not quite sure yet whether to frame it or make it into a door plaque. I will make that decision another day when I am not in so much of a rush.  I love these Nursery Rhyme Alphabet letters and noticed that you can buy individual letters now.

Looking forward to all your entries this month.

Lesley x


11 comments:

  1. Love these stamps like the way you used them xx

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  2. Love these stamps like the way you used them xx

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  3. Love how you have used these stamps. Xx

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  4. Lesley, this is a beautiful piece of art. I love It to bits. It will look great in a frame but also a door plaque....so you still have more decisions to make lol. I am very sure that your grandaughter will treasure it for years to come. Hugs xxx

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  5. Such a beautiful personalised gift, Lesley. Your granddaughter will treasure it, picture or plaque. The great thing is they appeal to boys and girls. (I used these last year for my great-niece's 2nd birthday card and also for my friend's grandson's 1st birthday.) ;~}

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  6. I find it so relaxing colouring in the letters, and they always make great gifts. Thankyou for your kind comments. x

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  7. What a beautiful name and a beautiful way of celebrating it. I'm sure your grand-daughter will love it whether it's a picture or a plaque. x

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    1. Thankyou Angela. Seren was born on Christmas Eve so the meaning of Star is quite apt. x

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  8. Lesley a stunning name plaque, which I', sure she will treasure forever. xxx

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  9. Oh what a lovely piece of art to put on her Wall I am sure it will be a favourite keepsake xx

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  10. What a beautiful keepsake Lesley. I particularly like the way you've framed the name using the tree stencil; just perfect. Xxx

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