Monday 1 August 2016

Clarity Challenge 42

Clarity Challenge 42
‘Fussy Cutting’
Hi and welcome back. It's the 1st August and therefore time for another Clarity Challenge! Great excitement this month as the long-awaited Clarity Retreat is drawing close and I'm so looking forward to it and also to do a bit of catching-up. 
As I often - sorry, make that 'nearly always' - add 3D elements to my projects, I wanted to do something slightly different this month as I hope both projects reflect. (The second will be posted mid-month.) I tried different combinations of the Elephant and Savannah stencils once they'd been cut, eventually deciding to turn the latter upside down in the end. Not every stage has a corresponding photo but I hope you get the gist from the explanation. 

Materials:-
·         Clarity Stencils :- Elephant – NDC 14, Savannah
·         Card :-  Clarity Stencil Card 7x7 – 10 sheets; Black A4 x 2
·         Inkpads:- Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Inks – Mermaid Lagoon, Fired Brick, Squeezed Lemonade, Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry, Carved Pumpkin, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed
·         Micron Pens:- 01, 005
·         Clarity Double-sided Sticky Plastic

Instructions:-
1.     *   (I used my Grand Caliber and added two sheets of copy paper to achieve the expected depth of emboss.)
2.       Ink the elephant image with blending tool and variety of Distress inks so that one colour merges with the next. Using a 005 Micron pen, add a variety of zentangles; colour areas with the 01 pen. Add a tiny piece of sequin waste as an eye. Set elephant image aside.(Sorry, no photos for this part!)



3.       Ink the selected side of the elephant stencil with Onyx Black and place between two sheets of copy paper and onto a sheet of Stencil card before passing through the die-cutting machine. Pull another three or four images without re-inking.
Please ignore the cut areas - these were 'try-outs.'

4.       Select one of the grey prints from (3.) Apply a sheet of double-sided adhesive to the reverse of the coloured and zentangled elephant and proceed to cut out each individual part. Attach each piece as it is cut out allowing the un-inked lines to show. Set aside.
5.       Ink the Savannah stencil and repeat the process explained in (3,) pulling a number of prints onto Stencil card.
6.       Choose two prints – one lighter for the front image, a darker one for the shadow. Fussy cut around the printed images.


To assemble:-
1.       Add foam tape around the perimeter of each Savannah cut-out, peel off backing and apply some glue from a glue stick to allow for some ‘wiggle room.’ Place one over the other but slightly offset to create a shadow.
2.       Apply more foam tape as above and place over the coloured elephant.
3.       Glue to a black backing then make a frame to fit using another sheet of black card. (I used a trimmer to make the frame.)
Et voila! Here we have my 'Elephant Walk.' 
Stencils and stencil card are available from the Clarity website. 
Once again there were beautiful examples from all the participants this month, making Top 5 choices a very difficult task. I'm sure you'll be most inventive in this month's challenge and as always I very much look forward to viewing your projects. Please check out the Clarity Challenge guidelines and remember you could win yourself a voucher to the value of £50 to spend on Clarity goodies! 
Best wishes and happy crafting!
Shelagh. 


14 comments:

  1. So much work has gone into this piece of art work it is beautiful. Xx

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    1. Thanks, Carol. The Savannah stencil arrived right on cue - don't know which other one I'd have achieved the same effect with. ;~}

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  2. As good as always Shelagh I have this stencil not used yet but lot of work with this piece lovely xx

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    1. Thanks, Julie. Another one that took its own direction and evolved over time. ;~}

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  3. I love this Shelagh, such a lot of cutting out! I really like how you've turned the stencil upside down - it's so effective. x

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    1. Thanks, Angela. Flipping the stencil really did make a difference in this case. ;~}

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  4. Love the depth achieved by layering using the foam tape. Your elephant has been coloured and patterned beautifully x

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    1. Thank you, Lesley. Great to have you back - hope all went well with your move. ;~}

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  5. love this Shelagh lots of cutting and clever use of the foam tape. I love the deepness of colour on the elephant x

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    1. Thanks, Linda - good old Distress ink-pads! ;~}

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  6. Love, love, love your gentle giant Shelagh. He looks fab in the undergrowth.
    A great step-by-step to follow.
    Which days are you at the retreat?
    Carole x

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    1. Hi Carole - and thank you. Just had to satisfy my curiosity to the possibility of 'fussy cutting' stencils. We're there on Wednesday/Thursday - not long to wait now. ;~}

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  7. Sooooo much work, but a truly stunning result. Xxx

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    1. Thanks, Barbara. Cutting fingers just about recovered! LOL.! ;~}

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