Claritystamp Challenge - Up in the Air

I started this canvas way back at the beginning of the month when the challenge was first announced but it has taken me until today to finally finish it by adding a bit of text. No step-by-step for this one, and I'm not even sure if I can remember what I did, but the good news is that I have found the battery charger for my camera so maybe more pictures for my next entry.

Stamps:  Letterbox Stamp set

Stencils:  Magpie stencils, Oriental Vine

Inks:       Archival Black    

Other:     Canvas board, Acrylic paint, Sharpie pens, gold Stickles

As far as I can remember, I started by painting on the background colour and then stenciled the Oriental vine in shades of blue. I used the Magpie stencils, both inner and outer bits, to stencil the birds and then went over with paint to tidy up and to extend the branches. The gold was added to the darker leaves using Stickles. Then I ran out of inspiration so it sat on the sideboard for three weeks.  With only a few days to go I decided I had better get it finished and played around with some text.  The 'Magpie' has been stamped using the Letterbox set and I wrote the verse using Sharpie pens.  Still think it is missing something but it will have to do for now. 

Hope you like

Lesley x

Claritystamp Challenge - All about the Words

My version of Barbara's design for last month's NDC stamp.  OK, so I used the Heron stamp as a Stork but I think it works with a bit of artistic license. A last minute entry to the Challenge as I had to wait for the arrival of my fifth grandchild before posting.  Paloma arrived safely yesterday just in time for the deadline and the card has been received by a proud Mum and Dad. 

Stamps:       Claritystamp NDC Heron, Grasses, Congratulations from
                   Line sentiments 2
Inks:            Archival Black, Adirondack Butterscotch, Denim and Black
Other:          ClarityCard White Coated, Parchment paper, Alcohol inks, 
                   black pen, Pebeo Drawing gum, brayer, Black Sharpie pen.

• Using the White Coated Glossy card and Black Archival ink stamp the Heron.
• Using a pencil, very lightly draw in the cloth bundle and baby.
• Mask the 'stork' and bundle with the drawing gum. Immediately wash brush in water.
• Using a brayer add Butterscotch to the background then Denim blue to the bottom to create a green colour.  Use some torn copier paper to add some hills while doing this.
• Remove the drawing gum by rubbing lightly with your finger then with a fine black pen go over pencil lines around the baby bundle.
• Stamp the grasses with the black Archival ink. I used some copier paper and the stamps on their sides to add the grasses behind the 'Stork'.
• Curve the sentiment and stamp at the top.
• Edge with a black Sharpie pen.
• Dab your black ink pad onto a craft mat and then using a damp brush pick up the ink and add to the tips of wings to make the heron more stork like.  Add some shading on the bundle and some orange to the beak.
• Mount on green parchment paper that has been dabbed with a darker green alcohol ink.
• Attach to card blank.

Another colour version.  Denim at the top and Raspberry at the bottom.  The grasses are a stamp by Indigo Blue. The background paper is a shaving foam one I had in my box of 'might come in useful someday'. 

Lesley x

Claritystamp Challenge - Flower Power

My entry to the February Claritystamp Challenge, Flower Power. My first outing for my Funky Foliage stamps and the Oriental Vine stencil bought in the Claritystamp Members January sale and I am quite happy with the result. The stamps are so striking I thought it best to keep the design quite simple. Also trying out an art shop sale buy, Derwent Inktense Ink pencils. Here I just used them like I would use watercolour pencils but the effect is much brighter. Will have to experiment further with these.

Stamps: Claritystamp Funky Foliage Set, NDC Time for Something New

Stencil:  Oriental Vine

Inks:      Adirondack Butterscotch, Archival Black

Other:    Gelli plate, Inktense Ink Pencils, Black Sharpie

• To make the background paper use a brayer to load butterscotch ink onto the Gelli plate,
• place the stencil on top and then blot with some scrap paper.
• Remove the stencil and then take a print with the ink left on the Gelli.
• With black ink stamp the seed heads and leaves.
• Colour in with pencils and then blend with a damp brush.
• Trim and add a black border with a Sharpie pen.
• Stamp on sentiment and colour in.
• Mount onto gold and then copper card before attaching to blank card.

Happy Crafting

Lesley x

Claritystamp Challenge - Animals

Leaving it a bit late but finally got round to completing my entry for this month's Claritystamp Challenge. I have been frantically but unsuccessfully trying to remember where I might have put my camera battery charger since moving house last year. In the end I had to resort to borrowing my husbands camera which I am not used to, so apologies for blurry pics. 

Stamp: Claritystamp Cockerel and Hen set 

Ink:      Archival Black

Other:   Colouring pencils and black pen

• For the background I brayered some yellow and red ink onto my Gelli plate and took a print. Make two so you have one to mount onto as well.
• Straighten out the 'Cock-a- Doodle' stamp on an acrylic block and stamp it four times to make a border. (Keep an eye on the first C. It kept wanting to bend back, as you can see from my stamping at the bottom of the card)
• Stamp the Cockerel inside the frame.
• Lightly pencil in the sun and frame and then go over with a black pen. 

• Doodle patterns inside the black lines then rub out any pencil marks.
• You could stop at this stage ......

• ...but I carried on and added some shading with colouring pencils. The only ones I had at hand were children's ones that I leave out for the grandchildren but they still blended quite well.

• Trim, mount onto red card and then onto another Gelli background. There is some patterning made with scrunched up copier paper on the Gelli prints but it doesn't show up in the photos.

Lesley x

Claritystamp Challenge - Carol Singing and Christmas Joy

Surely one of the most joyous things at Christmas is decorating the Christmas tree, so my entry to the Claritystamp challenge is a sparkly bauble made by adapting the Filigraphy Hot Air balloon. I have made several of these in various colours.

Stamps:  Claritystamp Filigraphy Hot Air Balloon set, Snowflake
Inks:       Archival Black, Adirondack Stream
Other:     Promarker, black Sharpie and black fineliner, Ranger silver and gold Stickles 

NB. As I was batch making Christmas cards I cut my hot air balloon stamp as shown but I am sure if you have more time you could create the same image with careful masking. (The pieces still fit together to make the balloon)

• Place the outer balloon mask, included in the set, onto your card.  Cover up the bottom section of the  balloon and then brush on the Adirondack Stream ink in a circular motion leaving a light section in the centre.

• Remove the main mask but keep the small bit at the base. Stamp the balloon over the top using Archival black ink.

• Remove the small mask and draw in the bottom of the bauble with a black  fineliner.  Any white areas can be coloured in with a coloured pencil.

• Cut your card to size.  Cover the image with the balloon mask.  Lightly brush Stream ink around the edges and then stamp snowflakes around the outside. 2nd and 3rd generation ink.  Ink Blot Plot.

• Now for the top of the bauble.  Stamp two of the balloon baskets with Archival black ink. (Photo shows  a batch)

• Cut out as shown and use black fineliner to fill in the pattern on first one.

• To finish off.  Edge card with Promarker in matching colour and then a black Sharpie.
• Stick top of bauble bits on adding a gold thread through the loop.
• Using Ranger Stickles add silver glitter to bauble and gold glitter to the top.
• Mount image onto card blank. 

If I get time later this week, I will blog some of the other Christmas cards that I have made this year but just in case I don't

Happy Christmas

Lesley x

Claritystamp Challenge - Blast from the past

It's been a while since my last post.  I stepped down from the Claritystamp Challenge Design Team in September so there was no card from me last month.  However I have just managed to complete a card in time for this month's Challenge and I hope it is OK to go back to becoming an entrant to the Challenge.  Last year there was a Challenge to use stencils and as I don't use these as much as I should I thought I would have another go at that Challenge. I must admit to having a lot of the club stencils unused, still in their wrappers. 

Stencil:  NDCS #20 Love tree 

Inks:     Adirondack Red Pepper and Butterscotch

Other:   Gelli Plate and Mega mount, black pen

• Mount your 6x6" Gelli plate onto it's Mega mount.  This really does make it easier to use.
• Using a brayer spread Red Pepper ink onto top half of the plate and Butterscotch onto the bottom half.  They will merge a bit in the centre.  
• Place the stencil onto some paper, or in my case a page in my sketchbook, then place the Gelli plate down on top.  I have cleaned my brayer onto this page as well.  This bit isn't needed now but I will develop it sometime. 

• Remove the stencil from the Gelli Plate and there will be ink left on the plate where the stencil was.  This is the bit I want.
• Place the Gelli plate onto some card and press down to take the print.

• Not sure why I got the blobs, maybe too much ink, but I will work with them.
• Now just take a black pen and doodle around the image.  I added some extra hearts where there were blobs.
• Darken the colours behind the tree with colouring pencils to make it stand out more.
• Mount onto black card then a card blank.

Lesley x

Claritystamp Challenge - In the Garden #2

Another example card for this month's Claritystamp Challenge 'In the Garden'.  I had a special 'Summer' birthday this year as my December 23rd birthday was eclipsed last year by the birth of my granddaughter on Christmas Eve.  So this card is for all those born in Winter who would love to have a Summer birthday. 

Stamps: Claritystamp Branch from Fly Away set,  Skipping, NDC#21 Tree, NDC#? Summer, Happy Birthday 
Inks:      Archival black, Brushos
Other:    Masking Gum, black pen, colouring pencils, gold pen

• Using black Archival ink, stamp the branch, this will later become a tree.
• Stamp the children separately from the dog.  I did this by using masking tape on the bit I didn't want to stamp, inking up and then removing the tape before stamping. 
• Tear a strip of copier paper and use this and the tree stamp at different angles to make the distant trees and bushes.
• If you look closely you will see where I have drawn the trunk in lightly with pencil to help me position the other stamps.

• Add dots of masking gum by putting some on a paintbrush and then gently flicking.  Larger dots at the front.  Let this dry while you are washing your paintbrush out.
• Mix up a small amount of blue and green Brushos by adding water to the granuals.
• Dampen the card above the bushes line and then drop in some blue at the top and let it merge down the card. Dry with a heatgun if you are impatient. 
• Dampen the grass area and drop in the green, more at the bottom this time. Wait for it to dry or use a heatgun.

• Sprinkle on some green and yellow Brushos where you want leaves and then very lightly spritz with water.
• Use a brush to move some of the ink around until you are happy with the effect.
• Remove the masking gum.

• Finishing touches. With a black pen add the tree truck, some extra branches on the tree and some grass under the dog and children.
• Use colouring pencils add further shading and some blades of grass at the front.  Add yellow in the centre of the daisies and some colouring on the children.
• Stamp 'Summer' and 'Birthday, colour in with gold pen.  (I have cut my 'Happy Birthday' stamp into separate words.)
• Trim, edge with a black Sharpie pen and then mount on yellow card before putting onto a blank card.

Hope you like this and it inspires you to have a go at the Challenge.  There are so many different Claritystamp stamps that could be used for this theme.

Lesley x

Claritystamp Challenge - In the Garden

Sorry that I did not get time to produce a card for the last challenge.  Our house move went well and we have settled in now.  The new craft room, in an outbuilding, is all set up and neat and tidy.  The trouble is I don't know where anything is anymore!  Managed to get an afternoon on my own last week and made this card, my first since moving in early July.

Stamps: Claritystamp NDC#101 Agapanthus, Large Dragonfly

Inks:      Alcohol inks, Black Archival

Other:    Claritystamp Card

• I started out wanting to have a play with some alcohol inks and the Clarity coated white card but I could not find where I had put my inks.  I did, however, find some previous examples, so decided to use one of these.  The ink has been dripped onto an applicator and them randomly dotted over the card.  Alcohol inks work so well on the Clarity card.
  
• Stamp the Agapanthus over the splodges of colour using an Archival black ink.  It is better to use second generation ink on Clarity card as otherwise it can slip. I forgot this and my first stamp, at the bottom, was blurry. I also dropped the ink pad onto the card which you can also see.  Never mind, it will be cut off later.

• Colour in the flowers using water-based pens. I used two colours to match the background.

• Stamp the dragonfly onto a piece of the alcohol inked background paper and cut out the wings.
• Stamp the dragonfly again onto a square piece of card.

• Trim the background and edge this and the Dragonfly with a Sharpie pen.
• Attach the second pair of wings and shape to add dimension.

• Finally mount onto a blank card.
• Tried this way first .....

• ... but decided I liked it better like this.

A simple design, but it got me back into the swing of things after a few weeks crafting break.  Looking forward to seeing all your entries.

Lesley x

Claritystamp Challenge - A day out

Another month goes by.  Can it really be July.  Hopefully I will be able to update you on our move soon. This month's Claritystamp challenge is "A day out" and what better than a drive in the countryside.  I am sure Santa won't mind me adapting his vintage car.

Stamps: Santa's car NDC#97, Tree branch from Fly away, Grasses 2 and 3, Small 3 trees
Inks:     Adirondack, Peach Bellini, Lettuce and Stonewashed, Archival Black
Other:   Spectrum Noir pencils, Black pen, Pebeo Drawing Gum

I did remember to take photos en route but some appear on my camera but not when I put the card in the computer and the ones that do are decidedly blurry but I'm sure you will get the idea. 

• To get Santa's car without the Christmas tree, cover the tree with some masking tape, ink up with black, remove the tape and then stamp onto your card.

• The missing lines will be drawn in later with pen but for now just lightly pencil them in. (On my first attempt I found the masking fluid and the pen blended, not what I wanted)
• Paint masking fluid over the car, but not the windows and allow to dry.  Rinse your brush immediately with water. 

car with blue masking fluid

• Using some torn copier paper as a mask brush on the inks to create your landscape.
• I used a cloud stencil in the sky but later trimmed this off.
  
• Stamp the tree branches at the top and the grasses at the bottom.  First and second generation ink for the grasses.
• Remove the masking fluid and colour in the car with pencils.

• Trim the card and edge with a black Sharpie pen.
• Stamp on some small trees to give perspective.
• Emphasise the hills and road with pencils.
• Draw in the interior of the car.  Probably too small to see but I added a couple of little faces peering out of the back window. (Pre seat belt regulations)  " Are we there yet?"

• By this stage I had got inky finger marks on the front of my card blank so decided to make a matching background paper to cover it.
• Using the same inks as on the card randomly splodge some ink onto a craft mat, lightly spray with water, and then place on some cling film and move around.
• Remove the cling film and lay down some copier paper onto the ink.
• OK result but too dark for this card so I placed the still inky clingfilm onto some card and I liked this much better.  Looks like dappled light shining through the leaves of a tree. Much greener in real life than the photo shows.
• Cover the front of the card with the background card and then stick on the main picture.

Looking forward to all your entries this month.  Keep crafting.

Lesley x

Claritystamp Challenge - Masculine #2

Not really masculine, but neutral, so I think it will be acceptable as my second Clarity card this month. Still in the process of trying to move house here so I have cheated a bit and used a Zentangle I did way back when I first got this stencil.  Think I can just about remember how to do it, but no step-by step photos for this one I'm afraid.  Hope it gives you some inspiration for your entry this month if you haven't already done one yet.

Stamps: Happy birthday from Line sentiments 1
Stencils: Whirlpool NDSC10
Inks:      Various Adirondack, Archival Black
Other:    Small Circle punch, Black pen, Sharpie pen

• Using a pale yellow ink (sorry can't remember exact colours) brush through the stencil. Wipe clean the stencil with a dry cloth while still in place.  This helps emphasise the edges as well as cleaning the stencil.
• Replace stencil in different position, flip over if you want to, and repeat with darker yellow ink.
• Repeat last step again using a green ink.
• Edge the whirls with a black pen, deciding where they go under and over each other.
• Add Zentangle patterns to the whirls.
• Crop and then cut into three pieces.
• Edge with a Sharpie pen.
• Mount on matching card.
• Punch three small circles from waste bits and edge with Sharpie pen.
• Stick on circles.
• Stamp sentiment with archival black.
• Mount on blank card.

Well that was a quick card but only because I had already done the stenciled background and Zentangle months ago and put it away in a draw.  Do have a go at this month's challenge if you can. I think we all need a bit of inspiration when it comes to designing masculine cards and your entries certainly inspire me.

Lesley x

Claritystamp Challenge - Masculine

This month's Claritystamp challenge is to design a masculine card.  Why is it that we find masculine cards more difficult?  Even shop bought cards for the boys seem to be stuck in the fishing, golfing, cars, football etc mode. 

My design for this month just evolved, at the start I had no plan whatsoever of where I was going.  My other half grunted approval at the finished card, so I think it worked out alright.

Stamps: Claritystamp Happy Birthday from Line sentiments 1, Man from Wee folk #1

Stencil:  NDSC #5 Torn Shapes

Inks:     Various colours of Adirondack, Archival Black

Other:   Stencils brushes, black pen

• Using the stencil, brush on various coloured inks to make a random pattern for a background paper.

• Outline the shapes with a black pen.
• Colour in small intersections with a black pen.
• At this stage I cut the paper in half and looked for inspiration.
• I vaguely saw a sort of climbing frame so stamped a wee man looking very chuffed at himself. Look, no hands! (Memories of the two eldest grandsons at Pensthorpe adventure play area last month)

• Then added the sentiment, slightly curved,  continuing the black lines with a pen to tie it onto the uprights.
• Trimmed and mounted onto black and then lilac card. 

Can't wait to see what everyone is going to come up with for this Claritystamp Challenge.

Lesley x

Claritystamp Challenge - Anything Goes #2

I've been really busy here this month.  In the process of buying and selling a house, so forgive me if I have been a bit distracted.  This is my offering for the mid-month reminder for the Claritystamp Challenge Anything Goes.  No step-by-step photos for this one I'm afraid, but fairly straightforward.

Stamp: Claritystamp NDC #102 Alice

Stencil: NDSC #22 

Inks:     Archival Watering Can

Other:   Watercolour paper, masking fluid, Brushos, White sticky labels, Spectrum Noir pencils

• Stamp Alice with Archival Watering Can ink onto watercolour paper.
• Cover Alice with masking fluid and also use the fluid to make a sun.
• When the masking fluid is fully dry, tape the stencil to the paper.
• Sprinkle a very small amount of the Brushos onto the card. I tried to place the colours to make grass, leaves and sky.
• Lightly spray with water. I sprayed a bit too much at the bottom and the colour ran under the stencil but I quite like the effect.
• Lift the stencil off and dry the artwork with a heat gun or just leave to dry if you are more patient than me.
• Remove the masking fluid.
• I started colouring in her dress with watercolour markers.  Not a good idea as the Brushos re-activated and bled round the edges.  So I stamped Alice again on a label, coloured in the dress, this time with pencils, cut around the dress and stuck this over the one I had messed up.
• Finish colouring Alice and the sun with pencils.  
• Cut a circle in a blank card and stick the artwork behind this.
• Finish off with some Faux stitching.

If you feel inspired to enter this month's challenge pop along to the Claritystamp Challenge blog.  Looking forward to all your entries.

Lesley x

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