Sunday 13 November 2016

Indigoblu Challenge October 2016

October 2016
'One Stamp, One Colour!'
I was very pleased to have been chosen as one of last month's 'Top Three' so many thanks to the Design Team. Although a lifelong 'monochrome' fanatic (my wardrobe largely comprises black and white,) I have taken a different path and used Sepia tones as detailed below. 
*Above is my contribution to the 'Monochrome' challenge using Indigoblu A6 'Stylised Flowers' and Ranger Distress 'Tea Dye' although the background was made on the Gelli plate using Mini Distress Antique Linen and Old Paper.

*For the background, the Gelli was inked with Old Paper and Antique Linen then blotted with a piece of newsprint paper in places (I prefer it as it is more absorbent than copy paper) before placing over a piece of white 7ins x 7ins card, smoothing over the back of this, then peeling off to reveal a mottled background. the card was trimmed to remove the white edges.

*The Flower stamp was then inked up with Tea Dye and stamped onto the prepared background once, twice and a third time BUT without re-inking. 

Second example ONLY using Tea Dye

*The central flower was inked and stamped around the edge of the second card, again without re-inking apart from at each corner. Each piece of card was edged with an alcohol marker, gems added then the smaller mounted on top of the larger piece. 


*Attach to card blanks.

Et voila! . . . . . and here we have 'One Stamp, One Colour!'

Saturday 12 November 2016

Chocolate Baroque Challenge October 2016

October 2016
'Taking the Plunge'
 Hello and thank you for popping in. It was such a thrill to be chosen as last month's winner. Lucky me - particularly as it was a very late effort compared to usual!
Above is my entry for this month's Chocolate Baroque Challenge. 
*The stamp sets used were from two different sets of Chocolate Baroque Oriental clear stamps which I have had for some time and I felt they fitted the colour scheme nicely! 
*The inked background was done on a Gelli plate which was firstly daubed with Mini Ranger Distress 'Mermaid Lagoon,'Peacock Feathers' and 'Twisted Citron - in that order and top to bottom;' a piece of scrunched-up newsprint paper was then dabbed over this to create a background texture. A 'sticky-note' circle was placed as a moon mask then a print was 'pulled' onto a piece of 7ins x 7ins white card. 
*The stamped images were arranged and stamped accordingly using Versafine Onyx Black then coloured with Faber Castell Polychromo pencils before a moon was added using a foam blending spot and Distress 'Fossilised Amber.' I added a scribbly border with a Micron pen and finished off by edging the card with an alcohol marker before adding Mr Frog to the bottom right-hand corner.
No 3D additions this month - well - there's a first!!!

Et voila! - and here we have 'Taking the Plunge!'

Tuesday 1 November 2016

Clarity Challenge 45 November 2016 'Blast from the Past'

Clarity Challenge 45
November 2016
Blast from the Past
'Boys, Boys, Boys!'  June 2015


Hello everyone - here are the photos for my next blog which was originally meant as my mid-month post and designed as a request for a friend's son. Explanation will follow later as there are quite a few measurements to list, particularly for the football pitch. Meantime - watch this space!!!

Back soon!!!


The Football Pitch:-


1. On scrap card/paper draw a rectangle 8 inches by 5 and 1/2 inches. 
2. Measure and mark 1 and 3/8 inches from each corner of a short side.
3. Measure and mark 1 and 3/8 inches vertically and join together to form the penalty box. 
4. Repeat on other short side.


5. Place A5 parchment over the card and trace the drawn lines. 
6. To form the centre circle and penalty arcs, place the Nested Groovi circle in the centre of the parchment and trace the circle FIVE from the centre. Use the same circle to create the penalty arcs.(N.B. I turned the Circles plate wrong side up to prevent puncturing the parchment.)
7. Using this parchment sheet as a template, place it under the Groovi Plate Mate, insert the Nested Squares and emboss the football pitch on A5 sheet of green parchment. Set aside.

For the Football Net:-
1. Secure an A4 sheet of white parchment over the Plate Mate and the Netting plate and emboss to cover an area large enough to cover the football pitch with an extra margin around the edges.
2. Place the Straight Piercing Grid into the Plate Mate. Using the Clarity single needle tool, pierce each corner of each embossed square as shown above. 
3. Using the Twin Needle tool, pierce along each embossed line as shown both above and below. 

4. Cut into each square to create a picot edge on each side of each square. 


To form the card:-
1. Create a tent-shaped card with mountain fold at the front and an aperture in the centre - the aperture being large enough to expose the football pitch. 
2. Attach the net over the football pitch (I used narrow red liner tape) and in turn, attach this to the reverse of the card aperture.
3. Stamp the football repeatedly to make a three borders, single footballs to decorate the top and colour with Polychromos. Cut out and attach to cards. 
4. Stamp and cut out football images and attach to suit. 

As this card was a request from friends for their son, there is a personal message on the reverse. The subject matter was also requested, as were the team colours.

Thank you for looking!!

Remember the Clarity Challenge!


Clarity Challenge 45 November 2016 'Blast from the Past'

Clarity Challenge 45 November 2016
Blast from the Past
 Bingo July 2015 – straight line using stamps, stencils, grunge paste
‘Noteworthy’

Hello and welcome once again to the Clarity Challenge. In this one 'Blast from the Past,' you have the freedom of choice to revisit a theme from times past. My first choice is a great favourite of mine - 'Bingo' from July 2015 where from a selection of nine items, a choice of straight line, diagonal, four corners or full house from the following items :-

FLOWERS           GILDING FLAKES           SHRINK PLASTIC
                               STENCIL                    STAMP                   GRUNGE PASTE
                          PERFECT PEARLS        DIES                     GLITTER
The first time round, it had to be a 'Full House' 
'Medusa' from July 2015

but this time I was a bit more circumspect and opted for the middle line - Stencil, Stamp and Grunge Paste. 
'Noteworthy' November 2016

Every year I make little Christmas gifts for my mum's many carers and attendants and this year's offering is the 'Noteworthy' note book; below you'll find details of how I went about making them. 
Now it's over to you and your creative mind!
Looking forward to your projects over the next thirty days!
Best wishes,
Shelagh
'The Making Lady.'

Materials:-
·         Stamps :- Clarity - Wee Folk 3 Fairies, NDC Unicorn
·         Stencils :- Clarity - Oriental Lattice, NDC Twin Trees, Wild Grasses1
·         Cardstock :- Double sided pearlescent card, black matte, Clarity white 7x7 stencil card
·         Inkpads :- Ranger Distress Hickory Smoke, Evergreen Bough, Squeezed Lemonade, Black Soot, Iced Spruce, Old Paper, Ground Espresso; Staz-on Black
·         Mask :- Clarity moon
·         Miscellaneous :- Matte varnish, Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen – clear, Polychromo pencils, modelling paste, silver gilding wax, Goosebumps – sparkling, Alcohol pen, Silver pen, red liner double-side sticky tape.
Instructions :-

Notebook Cover

1.       Cut pearlescent card to measure 8.5 ins x 6 ins .and score at 4ins and 4.5ins along the long side. Round the corners if desired.
2.       Tape Oriental Lattice stencil over this and blend Hickory Smoke all over, moving stencil to fit the pattern and fill the card. Blend some Evergreen Bough around the edge followed by a light dusting of Black Soot.

3.       Turn over and repeat (2) with Hickory Smoke and Iced Spruce.
4.       Spray each side with matte varnish allowing each to dry in between – this seals the ink on the pearlescent card.

Outside Decoration
1.       Cut white stencil card to 3.25 ins x 5.25 ins, secure tree ‘outie’ stencil over to suit and blend over Iced Spruce.
2.       Remove stencil and place moon mask to suit. Tape over tree ‘innie’ and sweep Squeezed Lemonade around circumference.
3.       Stamp fairy onto bough with Staz-on Black and Unicorn in bottom right corner.
4.       Shade with Polychromos and add Sparkle.
5.       Edge with toning alcohol pen, mount onto silver edged card and attach to front cover.

Inside Cover
1.       Cut a strip of card 5 ins x 0.5 ins and score at 2ins, 2.5ins, 3ins. Apply double-sided red liner tape to areas 0-2ins and 3-5ins. Fold to make an inverted ‘V’ at the scores and attach over middle folds of inside cover. (This is the pen holder.)
This is not the actual but a trial with paste and glitter.

2.       Tape Wild Grasses stencil over 3.5 ins x 5.5 ins matte black card. Spread over modelling paste, remove stencil and wash immediately and set card aside to dry.
3.       When dry, apply black gesso and leave to dry again.
4.       Spray over Goosebumps and allow to dry.
5.       Replace stencil and dab over silver gilding paste. (I like Pebeo – it is easy to apply.)
6.       Edge card with silver pen and attach to inside front cover.


7.       Edge another piece of black 3.5ins x 5.5ins and attach notepad 
Et voila - 'Noteworthy!'


To join the Clarity Challenge this month :- 
1.choose a theme from the past, 
2. create a project using Clarity stamps, stencils or Groovi plates, 
3. photograph project 
4. either upload to own blog and link to Clarity Challenge or email to claritystampchallenge@hotmail.com
. . . . And that's it! You may be the lucky recipient of the randomly awarded £50 Clarity voucher.
Best wishes,
Shelagh
P.S.
Hope to see you soon. I'm off to complete my mid-month example. Now I wonder which 'Blast from the Past' I've chosen for it? I'l give you a clue - it was one I had real difficulty with!!!!
shelaghscraftyconcepts.blogspot.co.uk