Amaryllis

Joined a new art class in January but haven't been putting my work on here as they are copies of other artists work rather than my own.  This is my first original piece of work since moving over a year ago.  It is based on a photo of an Amaryllis growing in a pot in our garden. We did actually paint the fences blue in the courtyard area and it is not artistic licence on my part.  Painted in Acrylic I originally used just a palette knife but didn't achieve the look I wanted. I tidied it up a bit using a brush and then added some loose outlines with white paint marker. x

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

Christmas Cards

I know Christmas is well and truly over now but I did say I would try and put up a couple more of my Christmas card designs.  Better late than never I have finally got round to it. Both are straightforward so I am not putting up any step-by-step instructions but if you have any questions I will be happy to answer them if I can. This one uses the Claritystamp NDSC#121 Holly Deer and the Snowflakes stamp set.

My second card uses the Claritystamp Santa and Star corners set stamped onto a Gelli print background. The sentiment is not a Claritystamp but one from my stash, not sure of manufacturer. 

Hope it's not too late to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

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