Friday 31 May 2019

Distress Oxide Sprays with Nested Stamps and Stencils: Art Journal Page

I couldn't resist creating an art journal page with these new stamps and stencils designed by Leonie Pujol for Claritystamp.  She will be demonstrating them on Hochanda today at 8am and 12pm along with lots of different shapes and her new sentiment stickers.

Thursday 30 May 2019

A 25th Birthday Card

Our middle son celebrated a quarter of a century on Monday.  His card was delivered in person so it is definitely safe to share.  I used a Distress Oxide combination that I happened across by accident once, but I have used it many times since, as it makes a great background for a masculine card.

Wednesday 29 May 2019

WOYWW 521: Packing for the Crop

For once I am packing light for the up coming WOYWW anniversary crop on Saturday.  Thanks to the leadership of Julia, ably assisted by LLJ, we will be celebrating 10 years of desk sharing via The Stamping Ground this time.  I have decided that, other than a load of tags for swapping and a decent raffle prize, I will only be taking a colouring book, coloured pencils and my pencil blending pens.  For those who don't believe it possible, I have taken a photo of my bag packed and ready to go. 
My actual desk is once again full of projects that cannot yet be shared.  I can show you two of the colours that I am working with for one of the projects though.  The two colours together create a close approximation to Peacock Feathers distress ink.
I can also share some sneaky peeks of my samples for Leonie's shows on Friday at 8am and 12pm.
Looking forward to catching up with lots of fellow deskers on Saturday and of course, cake!

Tuesday 28 May 2019

A Layered Birthday Card

Yesterday was a birthday heavy day.  Four family members and friends share the same birthday and as it was a bank holiday I had to be prepared in advance so that cards that needed posting arrived in time.  This one did, so I can share it today.

Monday 27 May 2019

Paper Piecing as an Alternative to Colouring


Yesterday I shared a tag using paper piecing in place of colouring a stamped image (see HERE).  It was the test piece for this larger scene which became an art journal page.  The designer papers from Claritystamp provide a wealth of choice for this technique.

Sunday 26 May 2019

Mermaid Tail Tag

I tried some paper piecing as an alternative to colouring.  I love the mermaid tail which is part of the Dee's Friends A4 (and A5) Faith stamp set.  I started off small, testing the technique with a tag. 

Saturday 25 May 2019

Pop Out Birthday Card: Funky Foliage: Happy Day, Clarity Day

Just over a year on from when this was first blogged we should have been enjoying the Clarity Open Days in Ditton.  Alas with Covid 19 this is not possible this year.  I wanted to share this project using some of my favourite Clarity designs as a virtual project for you to try if you would like to.  For a change, I decided to make a pop out card.  I was interested to see how the Clarity aperture dies would work with this technique.  As you can see, they were the perfect size and I will definitely be trying this again.  I used the matching stencil on the front of the card.

Friday 24 May 2019

A Clean and Simple Romantic Card


I found a way to use one of the Dee's Friends characters without doing a great deal of colouring as I am still not too confident with my technique.  A clean and simple romantic card, but spot the OOPS!

Thursday 23 May 2019

Brave: Dee's Friends on a Colllaged Plaque

I am still not the world's greatest colourist, especially of people, but I can't stop practising lol.  For this piece, I used the Brave stamp set, designed by Dee Fitzsimmons for Clarity on a collaged background.

Wednesday 22 May 2019

WOYWW 520: Happy 10th Anniversary

Happy 10th birthday to WOYWW.  How amazing that this weekly blog link up has been kept going for so long.  I wasn't there at the start (my blog has been going for less than four years), but I have been joining in regularly since I discovered this friendly bunch of deskers and their leader Julia.  Each week we link our desks over at The Stamping Ground and see what everyone else is up to.  There are plenty of people who don't link up but still like to visit, all are welcome.
As you can tell, my desk is thoroughly staged.  I am in the middle of getting samples ready for three upcoming Clarity shows, so obviously can't share what I am doing yet.  I also have not had time to make ATCs.  However, I thought I would like to give my PIF a chance to see all the tags that are available to be sent so that they can choose their favourite.  The rest (and more) will be coming with me to the 10th anniversary crop so all who attend will get a little something from me.
Yesterday was the monthly JJAMMMA meet up at Stockport.  Unfortunately Eva had a work emergency which required her attention and was unable to attend. 
Guesting on the other side of the desk, Chris was making ATCs, Lou had brought some beading with her and Jane (virtually unrecognisable without her trademark pink hair) was stamping and colouring.

Rizwana managed to make it for the first time this year which was great.  She was making a little wallet using patterned papers to decorate it.  I didn't get a photo of Kaz who was busy making cards, or Angie who joined us for the first time and was working in her journal.  I took a colouring book and pencils with me and think I'll do the same for the crop.  Happy WOYWW everyone,  I'll be round to see if there is cake on any desks after work lol.

Tuesday 21 May 2019

A Notelet Box from One Piece of Card

Yesterday I shared how I created a set of 5" x 5" notelets (see HERE).  Today I will show you how I made the box to keep them in using one piece of card and a scoring board.
 

Monday 20 May 2019

Simple Thank You Notelets Using a Gel Plate


I made this set of notelets using the new Alliums stencil from Claritystamp together with the round gel press petite plate.  They are all different, but by using the same stencil, stamps and colours all connected.  I even coloured some ribbon to match!

Sunday 19 May 2019

A 3D Stamped Scene within a Shadow Box Frame.

I had a great deal of fun working on the layers which make up this 3D scene.  I used a shadow box photo frame from my stash to display the finished piece.
Stamp ‘Faith’ onto a piece of 300gsm water colour card in Antique Linen Distress Oxide.
Mask off and add the tail in the same ink.
Remove the mask and colour the figure using a mixture of Kuretake and Ecoline water colour pens.
Fussy cut the image.
 Stamp the shell cluster and individual shell in Antique Linen Distress Oxide.
Colour using a mixture of Kuretake and Ecoline water colour pens. Fussy cut the images.
For the background, cut a piece of 300gsm water colour card to 18cm x 18cm. Spray lightly with water and add Distress Oxide sprays in Broken China and Mermaid Lagoon. Continue to mist with water until happy with the effect. Dry thoroughly with a heat gun.
Glue the figure to the single shell. Mark out the correct location of the figure within the shadow frame and glue it in place in front of the mount.
 
Mask off the bottom of the background using the Mountains & Hills mask inner, press Versamark ink along the bottom and heat emboss with Golden Sand embossing powder.
Glue the shell cluster into place.
Stamp the jellyfish and bubbles in Versamark ink directly onto the background and heat emboss in silver embossing powder. Add a wash of silver mica paint over the top.
Stamp the sea horse in the same way, but heat emboss with copper embossing powder. Colour with orange mica paint.
Fit the box frame together.
Stamp the name Faith onto the frame in Cobalt Blue archival ink and add a couple of the printed phrases.

Saturday 18 May 2019

Watercolour Figure: How to Cheat!

I am not very good at colouring or drawing for that matter.  That is why I love working with stamped images.  I particularly avoid trying to draw people, so these new stamps designed by Dee Fitzsimmons for Claritystamp were perfect to try and help me get over my fears. I still don't think I am anywhere near perfect, but these images encourage me to keep trying!

Thursday 16 May 2019

Wednesday 15 May 2019

WOYWW 519: It's Getting Closer

Only one week to go until the 10th anniversary edition of What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday (or Whizzday as it is starting to be known as the weeks seem to come round so quickly).  Julia started this chance to link up our desks each week back in 2009.  Whether it's your first visit, you've been with the blog hop since the start, arrived mid way through or dip in and out, all are welcome: just visit The Stamping Ground to join in.
My desk this week shows the haul that I acquired at Port Sunlight on Saturday.  I dropped my samples off for Dee and Barbara's shows on Hochanda that will be on on Friday and Saturday and managed to pick up the dies, stamps and stencils that I wanted from the Clarity stall.  I also stocked up on some glue, envelopes  and some chipboard shapes (not shown).
I bumped into lots of crafty friends including fellow WOYWWers.  Doug kindly took a photo of me with Shaz and Chris, there will be another version of this on Shaz's blog today I'm sure, but I have no evidence of meeting Neet and Heather lol.  I'll be round to visit after work tonight and look forward to seeing many of you at the 10th anniversary crop on 1st June.
PS. Maria Moorhouse is on Hochanda at 12pm and 4pm today with some old stamps, new dies and new stencils.  Here are sneak peeks of my samples for the shows.

Tuesday 14 May 2019

Using Perfect Pearls and Metal Flakes on Coated Card

This was my final sample for the recent Clarity one day special on Hochanda.  The shows should still be available on catch up if you wish to see the demos by Lou Withers (Saturday 11th 6pm/8pm and Sunday 12th 9am/1pm and 5pm).  For a change, I worked on black coated A5 card.

Monday 13 May 2019

Stamping Within a Stencil

I decided to use a different substrate than normal for this sample.  I had a chipboard door hanger blank in my stash which worked perfectly with both the stamps and the stencil that I was working with.

Sunday 12 May 2019

There Is Beauty in Simplicity: Mixed Media


The second piece that I created using one of the new Geo stencils from Claritystamp.  Lou will be back on Hochanda with lots of demos at 9am, 1pm and 5pm today.

Saturday 11 May 2019

Geometric Thank You Card

Lou Withers will be with us this evening on Hochanda at 6pm and 8pm bringing a new one day special from Claritystamp.  There will also be plenty more chances to see great demos tomorrow at 9am, 1pm and 5pm.  I had great fun playing with some of the stencils!

Friday 10 May 2019

A Clean and Simple New Home Card

Our eldest son and his girlfriend recently moved into their own home and have been working very hard doing it up, with the help of both families and friends.  I made this card to celebrate them being straight for the first time.

Thursday 9 May 2019

Easier than It May Appear: A Birthday Card

This is the third project made from a play session with some Yupo paper, alcohol inks and one of the new Funky Foliage stencils from Claritystamp.  The shows are still available on catch up (Sunday 5th at 2pm and 3pm) if you'd like to see more demos.  I am proud to say that this piece was on prominent display throughout and looks far more complicated to create than it actually was.

Wednesday 8 May 2019

WOYWW 518: Two Weeks and Counting

Only two weeks until the 10th anniversary of What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday (or Whizzday as Julia has taken to calling it).  I am so looking forward to the anniversary crop on 1st June (for details see HERE).  I will be getting to meet a few more WOYWW friends face to face for the first time as well as catching up with those I've met before.
My desk shows some stamping ready for a project.  When I use water colour pens or paints for colouring, I stamp in Antique Linen Distress Oxide so that the stamped lines blend into the colouring rather than standing out.  It gives more of a hand drawn and coloured effect.  I have been very busy making samples over the last week.  I posted one set yesterday and will be handing over two lots at the weekend in person, at Happy Stampers' Port Sunlight on Saturday and at Maria Moorhouse's workshop on Sunday.
Talking of Port Sunlight, I will be there early as I am meeting up with the Clarity crowd for breakfast across the road.  I know that Shaz and Doug are going to be there on Saturday but is there anyone else that I should be looking out for?  Maybe we could meet up for a coffee at a prearranged time.  How about 1pm in the cafe?  Suggestions and shout outs gratefully received.
I'll be along to visit you all after work this evening.  Please check out other desks via The Stamping Ground; see you there!

Monday 6 May 2019

Sunday 5 May 2019

Funky Foliage Stencilled Layers: A Birthday Card

This is the first of the samples that I made for Barbara Gray's shows on Hochanda this afternoon.  Between 2 and 4pm she will be introducing some new dies and stencils to go with the previously released Funky Foliage stamp set.  I hope you can join her.