Creating Corners With Stamps: Autumn

I created a card using the additional stamps which come with the Cherry Green Funky Hare stamp set from Claritystamp.  I clustered stamps in two of the corners.

Hare Today...

I couldn't resist a pun with this Funky Hare stamp set!

Art Journaling With A Tissue Paper Background

I can never resist using a magazine clipping on an art journal page.  This time I worked with some of the background stamps from the Funky Hare stamp set.

Stamping on Parchment: Funky Hare

This is the first time I have tried stamping on the Clarity designer parchment, even though I have seen Barbara Gray do it many times.  I used the new Cherry Green Funky Hare stamp from Claritystamp for my foray into the unknown.

Using Masks to Create a Negative Image on a Coloured Background

For this card I made good use of the masks which come with the peace filigree swirl stamps and the fairies 2 set (Claritystamp) to create a negative image.

WOYWW 538: Off Gallivanting

There has been and will be lots of gallivanting this week.  Yesterday I was up in Stockport at the monthly JJAMMMA (Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art) meet up and on Friday, Eva and I will be heading off 'oop North' for the Clarity Open Day at Leyburn, N. Yorkshire on Saturday.  I had to leave the meet up early, as it so happened that #1 son and his girlfriend were arriving back at Manchester airport yesterday afternoon and I was able to combine catching up with friends with the airport run.

My desk this week shows the new technique that I was shown by a first time meeter-upper, Tom, at the JJAMMMA get together.  It is done with a gel plate.  Dye based ink is spread over the plate with a brayer and then Brushos mixed with water are spattered on top.  A print is then taken.  It's a brilliant technique and you can never predict exactly what you will get.  This was my attempt and I will certainly be playing some more.  Thanks Tom!

As it was also our fortnightly get together, I grabbed a shot of the other side of the desk yesterday morning.  Eva was playing with her new Floral Alphabet stamps from Clarity.
So why am I sharing a view of my desk.  It is of course to join in over at The Stamping Ground with Julia and the rest of the WOYWW crew.  Please feel free to visit desks or even join in yourself. 
No progress on the shed this week.  It has simply been too wet to get anything done since #3 son got over the lurgy.  Maybe next week...

Happy Birthday: Purple Frame

I made a frame and decorated it with the Hope Filigree Swirl stamps from Claritystamp.  The inner part of the frame can be replaced with a photo if the recipient so desires.

A Floral 7th Birthday Card

A 7th birthday card using the beautiful Floral Number stamps from Claritystamp.

Wedding Card: Filigree Swirls

The new filigree swirl stamps from Claritystamp are great for pattern building.  Here I created a frame for a wedding card using the Faith Filigree Swirls.

Panoramic Wrap Round Card

I used all four of the large Panoramic aperture dies from Claritystamp to create this seamless wrap round card.

Front of card

Back of card

Stamping and Heat Embossing over Metal Flakes

I experimented with heat embossing stamped images over a background of metal flakes on this card.

Adding Stamping to a Candle using the Ornate Filigree Swirl Stamps

Maria Moorhouse can be seen at 9am, 1pm and 5pm today  on Hochanda with these ornate swirl stamps from Claritystamp.  The designs are also available as Groovi plates fro parchment work.  For my first project, I decided to decorate a candle.

WOYWW 537: Workshop Review

Whizzday has arrived again at its usual breakneck speed and I am once again sharing my desk via Julia and the Stamping Ground with my fellow desk enthusiasts. 

My desk today shows some of the projects I have created at two workshops over the last few months.  The finished card (top right) is one of the projects that Eva and I worked on at the Clarity retreat at the end of August.  I finished the panel on the day, but needed to mount it on a card.  I decided to keep the surround simple as the panel is so intricate.  The Clarity retreats are certainly well worth going to if you have the time.  They are not the cheapest on the market, especially as they last two days, but are crammed full of techniques, ideas and a chance to learn something new. 
The remaining three pieces are WIPs started at the last workshop with Maria Moorhouse that Eva and I go to each month.  This one is a full day and you leave each time with a minimum of four finished (or in my case almost finished) projects.  Once again, worth driving a distance to go to, although Maria also runs workshops in Preston and Catterick, as well as the one we go to at Hadnall, Shrewsbury. 

This is what was actually on my desk yesterday afternoon.  The makings of a background using the bleeding tissue paper technique for an art journal page.  I can't show any more until after the 27th.

I can show sneaky peeks of the projects that I handed over to Maria on Sunday, ready for her shows on Hochanda this evening and tomorrow.  If you'd like to see them in full, they will be appearing on my blog over the next few days.

As you can see, the shed has nearly got a complete undercoat now and hopefully the top layer will be ready to show you (at least in part) by next week.  I'm not holding my breath though lol.
I'll be round to visit in the morning if I don't make it this evening.  I have a meeting after school so it's a long day.  Happy WOYWW everyone.

Romantic Card

I used Leonie's altered heart stamps in a more conventional manner for this card.

A Country Scene

The panoramic stencils from Claritystamp can be used to create a larger scene or used individually.  I used the One Tree stencil on its own to create a countryside scene.

Double Swing Pop-Out Card using the Quarterette Dies

I love how these quarterette dies from Claritystamp work so well with a DL card to create a double swing pop-out card.  A little paper engineering can really give a 'Wow' effect.

Floral Alphabet Funny for A Footie Fan

Poorly as my team are doing recently, this was the first idea which came into my head when I saw which letters I had been sent from the Clarity floral alphabet to make samples with.  Once a fan, always a fan lol.

Stylised Peacock made from Heart Stamps

Having seen a snail in one of Leonie's stamp sets (see HERE), I saw the makings of a peacock in this set (Altered Hearts).

Cameo Floral Numbers: 40th Birthday Card

I decided to turn the Clarity floral number stamps into cameos against a grungy background for this 40th birthday card.

WOYWW 536: No Change in the Shed

Welcome to my weekly link up with Julia at the Stamping Ground, leader of the WOYWW phenomenon which has been going for over 10 years. 

My desk is rather boring this week I am afraid.  I am in the middle of sample making, so can't show you what I was up to yesterday. 

Eva and I did manage to get together earlier in the day.  This year our timetables do not mesh well at all and we can only get together in the shed once a fortnight.  I did remember to take a photo of the other side of the desk at least.  She has been working on a variety of Groovi parchment projects recently that are all WIPs as you can see.
I haven't got an updated picture of the shed.  The poor weather means that nothing new has been accomplished since last week, unless you count some masking tape being placed around the windows.  On the work front, I have now met nearly every one of my new classes for this academic year and a most pleasant bunch they all are too.
I'll be round to visit either this evening after work or in the morning.  Happy WOYWW.

Alcohol Ink and Acrylic Paint Gel Plate Images through a Stencil

This piece is one that I created at the recent Clarity retreats.  I have used alcohol inks and a stencil on a gel plate before (see HERE), but this was a two part printing technique that was slightly different.  Thanks Barbara Gray!

Four Seasons Card using the Quarterette Dies

This card, using the new quarterette panoramic dies from Clarity was fun to make and looks effective.  It was also prominently displayed during all the shows on Hochanda which I am rather proud of.

Brayering Ink onto Embossed Coated Card: 47 Years

Having had an opportunity at the Clarity retreat to practise brayering onto coated card, I decided to use this technique with the new Floral Number stamps for this anniversary card.

Using the Quarterette Dies to Create A Decorated Candle

The new quarterette aperture dies from Clarity aren't only great for making cards and bookmarks, they are great for home decor too.  I used them to decorate a candle in this project.

Mini Stencil and the Waimea Falls Designer Card

The new paper pads and 7" x 5" card sets designed by Barbara Gray are so beautiful.  They need very little adding to turn into a card.  I worked with one of the Waimea Falls designs for this piece.

4th Birthday Card: Floral Numbers

I was lucky enough to have some of the new floral number stamps from Claritystamp to play with in advance.  This was the first sample I created, a fairy 4th birthday card.

WOYWW 535: Hi Ho, Hi Ho...

Well the last week of the holidays flew by and Monday saw me back into work for an INSET day.  Today the pupils are back for their first day of the new school year, so I wrote this post yesterday afternoon so it would be ready for sharing before work.  I didn't want to miss out on What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday (WOYWW).  Please pop over to Julia's place at The Stamping Ground to find out more and find lots more desks to ogle.

I must admit that my desk is staged.  I was so engrossed in recreating the card on the right hand side that I totally forgot to get any action shots.  It was one I made as a sample for a Clarity show in early August (see HERE for step by step) but I liked it so much I decided to make another.

It hasn't been all school work in the last week.  I made time last Thursday for a crafty get together with Eva when I made this journal page.  I totally forgot to get a shot of the other side of the desk though, sorry.  We will only have one day a fortnight that we can get together this school year due to clashing timetables, but I will try and remember to get desk shots every other Tuesday for sharing.  And to finish...

the latest shed update.  As you can see, the undercoat is nearly finished so I am hoping it will start getting its blue coat by next week (#3 son permitting lol).  Happy WOYWW everyone.

Looking at Stamps in Another Light: Creating a Scene

I had another look at the new Altered Burst stamps designed by Leonie Pujol for Claritystamp.  By turning them to different angles I saw trees and the makings of a snail character and decided to create a whimsical scene.

Floral Alphabet: Crazy for You Cornflower

When I saw the Groovi version of the Floral Alphabet designed by Barbara Gray I couldn't wait until it was made into stamps.  I was lucky enough to get a couple of them to play with.  Now I just need the rest of the set!  Don't forget you can see plenty of ideas and demonstrations at 9am, 1pm and 5pm today as well as getting the One Day Special price on Hochanda until 6pm (if it lasts).

New Designer Papers Scandinavian Hearts

Barbara Gray designs the most beautiful papers.  She is introducing her two latest designs today between 2pm and 4pm on Hochanda; well worth having a look on rewind if you miss the shows.  They make beautiful Scandinavian Hearts if woven together.