Take One Stamp!

 

Hello and thank you for visiting my blog.

How exciting it is to be part of Cleverprints Inspiration Week! 

#createwithcleverprints

For my contribution, I have used one small stamp and one stamp only from Jane Royston's 'In the Garden' collection. 

Having a love of stamps and ink, pattern building is another joy and this is the route followed here. 

The project began with one card however I caught the 'pattern bug,' continued experimenting, created a series of cards and a folder to store them - all of which are on view at the end of this blog.

I hope you find the series of photos and explanations useful and that they encourage you to create patterns of your own.  Immediately below is my original card. 

Things I used

Materials:-

Card

• Cleverprints 'Explore the Wild Flowers' stamp set by Jane Royston - small flower
• Stamp block (or stamp platform if preferred)
• Card Square 5 1/4ins x 5 1/4 ins (13.4 cms x 13.4cms)
• Black Ink Pad (I used Versafine Clair as this was at hand)
• Colouring Pencils (Polychromos are my choice of pencil)
• Rule 
• Pencil
• Card Blank 5 1/2ins x 5 1/2ins (14cm x 14cm.)

1. With pencil and rule, lightly draw in the two diagonal lines as a guide. (I used a soft 4B pencil so that the lines may be easily erased.) 
2. Stamp image as shown. 
3. Turn card by180 degrees and stamp again as in photo. 
4. 
   

5.  Continue adding images to create a cross of flowers. 

6. Using the pencilled lines as a guide continue stamping until pattern achieved.

7. Colour to suit.

8. Attach to card blank, adding a border if desired. *(I used a selection of toning Cleverprints papers.)

9. Finished example!

Further examples

*Some left deliberately without colour; the recipient may wish to add their own. 

Folder:-

Measurements:-

Folder Cover

1. Cut card to measure 13 1/4 ins x 7 1/2 ins. (34.8cm x 20cm.)

2. Score and burnish at 6 1/4 ins and 7ins to create book form. (16.4cm and 18.4cm.)

Folder Pockets

1. Cut card square to measure 5 1/2 ins x 5 1/2 ins. (14cm x 14cm)

2. Score at 1/4 ins and 1/2 ins on each side. (7mm and 14mm)

3. Cut square across diagonal, fold in and burnish on each score line. 

4. Trim away excess card at each corner. 

5. Adhere to each inner side of folder. (I used strong double sided tape.)

Cover

1. Stamp pattern on white card rectangle measuring 6 3/4ins x 5 1/2ins (17 1/2cm x 14cm.)

2. Stamp pattern and colour.

3. Attach ribbon across centre of front cover. Secure firmly by adhering decorated cover over.

Many thanks for taking time to scroll through this post as I have greatly enjoyed my return to blogging.

For this week there is a discount code for the Cleverprints website that gives 10% off across the entire site including clearance section. The code is...

IWTENOFF

The customer needs to enter this into the voucher code box before checking out.

Back soon. 

Best wishes,

Shelagh

'The Making Lady'

#cleverprints

#janeroyston

#inthegarden

#createwithcleverprints

 

December 2021 Favourites

Not another post!!! Attempting to relearn the idiosyncrasies of blogging, it is taking time.

A selection from December 2021. 

Blended blue and yellow ink, overstamped with Leafy Swirl and sentiment stamped on the horizon. Mounted onto black and designer paper.

Claritystamp Leafy Swirl and 'God Bless You' stamps

Ginkgo stamp and stencil set stamped on a pigment powder background. Multiple stamping to create narrow border.

Claritystamp Barbara's Ginkgo Spray A5 & A6 stamp. mask and stencil

Heart and circle stamps from Journal Stamps repeatedly stamped to create flower heads and dragonfly. Sentiment from set added. Coloured with Polychromos.

Claritystamp Calendar and Journal Accessories Stamps

Thanks for tuning in. 

Back soon.

Best wishes,

Shelagh

'The Making Lady'

 

Favourite - Chinese Lantern from Claritystamp

Another post - second day in a row. Long may it continue. 

An example from some time ago and a very good reason for a blog post or journal page as I cannot recall how I made the background! Hopefully a rummage through my 'surplus'  boxes will tell all.  

Chinese Lantern

One of my favourite stencils from Clarity - Chinese Lanterns - and memories from the past. My great aunt and uncle had a market garden and as well as fruit and veg plots there were areas of flowers and the like and in a corner by a fence, a huge clump of these lovely, papery gems. As a child, I found them quite fascinating.

 

Back soon.

 

Best wishes,

 

Shelagh 

'The Making Lady' 

 

    Stencil - Claritystamp - Barbara's Chinese Lantern Spray 

 

 

A Little Touch of Magic!

Not a new year resolution but a fervent hope that blog posts are more frequent in 2022!

. . . . And now for something completely different!

    I decided to experiment on different 'papers' with the new Craft Artist Mica Magic Winter Jewels. 

    1) Background - Brea Reese Waterproof Panel (Yupo-type paper adhered to board. It may be possible to tape Yupo to stiff card as a substitute but this I have not tried.) 

Peel-off strips attached across board at varying intervals.

Mica Magic (reds and golds) applied over. 

    2) Butterfly - JND Butterfly 'waste' on Craft Artist double sided adhesive sheet with Mica Magic applied over exposed adhesive areas.

    3) Dragonfly - Versamark ink applied over JND Media Plate Dragonfly and stamped onto coloured parchment twice. Having left the ink to dry slightly, Mica Magic applied over. 

Sentiment and gems added. 

Craft Artist Double Sided Adhesive Sheets

Craft Artist Mica Magic Winter Jewels

JND212 Art Deco Butterflies and Sentiments

JND211 Art Deco Butterflies

Brea Reese Waterproof Panels

Claritystamp Coloured Parchment

A simple experiment with a simple outcome but nevertheless it's great to play! . . . . . And find a use for all those peel-offs lurking in our craft rooms. 

Back soon.

Best wishes

Shelagh

'The Making Lady'

 

                                                   Favourites from February 2021

                                                                                              1) 

             

   Materials from Claritystamp LTD

• New Design Club Sentiment Stamp
• Clarity Characters Stamps - Douglas

                                                                  2) 

                                        

Materials from Claritystamp LTD

• Linda's Children Through the Seasons Stamp
• Designer Topper

                                                               3)

Materials from Claritystamp LTD

• Barbara's Passion Doodle Round Stamp 

4)

Materials from Claritystamp LTD

• Barbara's Passion Doodle Round Stencil

          

                                                                 

    

 

 

Favourites from January 2021

1) 

Materials from Claritytstamp Ltd

• A Dash of Dee - Dee's Innocence A6
• Barbara's Happy Alphabet
• Designer Paper

2)

 Materials from Claritystamp LTD

• Woodland Deer Stencil A4
• Barbara's Happy Alphabet

 

  

Easter Bunny 1

Shelagh Metselaar - The Making Lady - 5th April 2020

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS INTENDED FOR ADULTS TO WORK WITH ALONGSIDE CHILDREN AS ADULT SUPERVISION WILL BE REQUIRED WHILST SCISSORS ARE IN USE
Stand-Up Easter Bunny

Whilst thumbing through a book, I saw porcelain ornament with shaded glaze. This gave me an idea for Stand-Up Bunnies, so armed with paper and scissors on Friday 4th April 2020, I fashioned this collection of Bunni-istas! Possibilities are endless and with children at home, it’s only fair to share.

Happy crafting!

Meantime,

Best wishes,

Keep Safe. ;-}

Stand-Up Easter Bunny

Materials:-

• Paper – Black/White/Brown/Newspaper/Magazine Pages/Comic Pages/Left-over Wallpaper/Recycled Envelopes/Recycled Greeting Cards/Recycled Wrapping Paper, really anything that is to hand
• Mini Pompoms/Cottonwool/Wool/Thread/Colouring Pencils etc
•  Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue - PVA, Glue Stick, Tape - whatever is at hand

Template

*Although they look the same, Brown template is slightly larger than White template and likewise, Black template slightly larger than Brown.

How I made the template:-

a)      I free-cut the ‘rabbit’ template on a fold of brown paper to use as my starting point, cut it out to check it looked ok, then used this to make my other templates. This is the original and well-used.

b)      To enlarge the template for the black shadow, place the original to leave a small selvedge at the fold and base and of black and draw around and cut.

c)       To reduce the template for the white centre, place the original slightly over the fold and base, draw around and cut as before. 

 Instructions:-

1.       Draw around smallest template against fold of white card. Cut out.

2.       Draw around middle-sized template on fold of brown paper. Cut as in 1).

3.       Draw around largest template onto black paper. Cut as before.

4.       Assemble by fastening together (glue, glue stick, tape - whatever is at hand) in size order.

5.       Add pompoms and decorate if desired.

Papers:-

1.       Wrapping paper

2.       Envelopes

3.       Newspaper

4.       Magazine Pages

5.       Comics

The list is endless.

Enjoy the activity. Bunny Bunting, Bunny Hunt around the garden (if dry) or house, Bunny Hop Game with dice etc - I'm sure there are heaps of ways to use these Peters.

Have fun whilst keeping safe!

Much love to all,

Shelagh

'The Making Lady'

Jayne Nestorenko Stamps with Fresh Cut Dies Frame

Hello and thank you for your visit. Ages since I last blogged but that's not to say I have given up 'making.' Quite the reverse in fact - as it's the usual Christmas scramble. 

My exhibit today is from the recent Clarity One Day Special on Hochanda - Sunday 1st and Monday 2nd December. I was asked about the frame hence have included a quick pictorial 'how to' below. 

Created with Clarity Stamps products:-

• Clarity Stamps :- Jayne Nestorenko Winter Scene Stamps
• Card/Paper - Kraft; Matte Black; Theuva
• Ink Pads - Archival Black
• Colours - Polychromos
• Dies - Fresh Cuts Nested Squares Die Set

Instructions:

Scene

1. Stamp chosen scene using Archival Black or similar.
2. Colour with Polychromos.

Frame

Step 1

Using chosen Nested Square Dies, cut two frames in contrasting colours.

Step 2

Cut away two corners on the diagonal and attach to frame.

Step 3

Trim further pieces from frame remainder.

Step 4

Glue in place.

Step 5

Trim to suit.

This was done in haste and the original took rather longer but you can see from the photos the general idea. 

Hoping you return to this blog soon. Many thanks for your attention.

The very best of seasonal wishes to you all. 

Shelagh

'The Making Lady'

A Litle Bit of Wood!

A Little Bit of Wood!

Hello and thanks for looking at this post. This little creation has been languishing for almost two weeks, a few bits missing thus stopping it from looking complete. Enter the new Fresh Cut Floral Picot Dies and an idea formed. A short explanation follows. 

1.  Stamp Bird of Paradise stamp onto card with a permanent ink. Trim. Set aside.
2. Place Leafy Strip Stencil on card, spray over Vintage Photo and Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxide Sprays, blot, spritz, cut out and repeat twice more. Set aside.
3. Die-cut medium Floral Stellar die twelve times from designer paper. Form into flowers using four cut images and curl each petal. (I used the point of a pokey tool to wrap each petal around.)

To assemble:-

    4. Attach three long wired flowers/berries to wood slice. (I bent around three centimetres at the foot of each wired flower to an 'L shape' and used Glossy Accents with tape to secure to wood.) Allow glue to dry before next step.

    5. Trim Oxide fronds into three or four adjoining leaves; arrange and glue over wires at base. 

    6. Attach flowers to suit. Glue bird onto one of the flower wires using Glossy Accents. 

(A few strands of stamens were added to the centre of each flower here.)

Et voila! A wood, wire and paper sculpture. 

Hope the details are helpful and encourage to 'have a go.'

Meantime - I have five more sets of dies to try out. Wonder what will come next?

Many thanks and best wishes.

Shelagh

'The Making Lady' 

Stamps, Dies and Stencil used:-

Extras:-

• Wood Slice
• Distress Oxide Sprays - Vintage Photos, Spiced Marmalade
• Designer Papers of Choice
• Card
• Wired Flowers
• Permanent Ink Pad
• Water Spray

    

One Tag is Not Enough!

Thank you for visiting. By far the most complex in the collection, this tag took a bit of time to compile, mainly giving time to allow glue and gesso to dry. Stamps, stencils, dies all appear. 

Materials:-

·         Stamp – Bird; Mixed Media Journal; Word Chain 17

·         Stencils – Chain Link, Diamond

·         Fresh Cut Dies – Marigold and Friends; Nested Dome Tag

·         Ink Pads – Archival Black; Permanent - Green, Turquoise; Picket Fence, Faded Jeans

·         Stencil Card; Turquoise Card

·         Polychromos

·         Gesso, Book Page, Black Fine-liner

Instructions:-

1.       Cut large tag from turquoise card; randomly sponge black ink through stencils.

2.       Die-cut dome tag from stencil card, glue on scraps of book page. Add brush strokes of gesso. Dry.

3.       Apply Picket Fence, Faded Jeans, Black inks.

4.       Stamp images from journal set. Stamp sentiment.

5.       Attach marigold die-cut.

6.       Stamp bird onto designer paper scrap. Colour. Attach to dome tag and add this to large tag.

7.       Add paper ribbon.

Spread the love!

Hello - another Cherry Green Bird example, stamped onto designer paper off-cut and mounted onto a stencilled image - the latter a trial for Distress Oxide Sprays and of which I only possess a few. 

Materials:-

·         Stamp – Bird

·         Stencil  - Leafy Heart

·         Ink Pads – Permanent Green, Turquoise

·         Distress Oxide Sprays – Walnut Stain, Fossilised Amber, Spiced Marmalade

·         Polychromos

·         Cream Card; Designer Paper Offcuts; Kraft Card; Dark Brown Card

Instructions:-

1.       Stamp bird onto designer paper scrap; colour; trim.

2.       Tape Leafy Heart to cream card. Spray oxides randomly, beginning with lightest. Blot. Spritz with water and blot again. Allow to dry.

3.       Trim stencilled image. Layer onto chosen card.

4.       Attach bird and sentiment.

Many thanks for looking at this blog post.

 Happy stencilling!

See you soon.

Best wishes,

Shelagh

'The Making Lady'