"Life is never going to be long enough"

Hi there
I thought I would try to share some more projects on my blog.  I don't always take photos, then when I've finished my artwork, I wished I had!
I had a feeling that this may come out ok, so I decided to take a few minutes while crafting to take some pics.
I watched some tutorials on YouTube for Tim Holtz's Distress Crayons which I'd bought a while ago when they first came out - I hadn't done much with them apart from try them on scrap!
After watching on YouTube, it seemed that I needed some Gesso which I'd seen mentioned many a time on blogs, but in amongst my crafty stuff, this was something I'd never invested in....Order placed!
So the Gesso arrived and I thought I'd have a go to see what I could create.......
Ingredients:
7x7 Clarity Stencil Card
Pebeo white Gesso & palette knife
Tim Holtz Distress Crayons, paint brush & water
Glass Blue & Chalk PaperArtsy Acrylics & Spreader
Olive Green & Black Archival Inks
Boy & Birds Stamp
"Life is never going to be long enough" Clarity NDC Stamp
Clarity Town & Dotty Wave Stencils
White Sharpie Pen & Blue Promarker

First I had a messy session spreading Gesso on several pieces of Clarity Stencil card with a palette knife - left it uneven to add texture then left them to dry. 

I scribbled patches of colour over the dried Gesso and brushed on some water to blend the colours - I may have gone over the top using all the Brights crayon set, but I wanted to try the whole lot.

Next the stamps, Boy & Birds and sentiment stamped in Black Archival - these need to be pressed firmly as the Gesso was quite uneven.  

Using the edge of the blending mat, tear a piece of copy paper and with  Green Archival, sponge a hill in place.

Squeeze a blob of acrylic and dab in the spreader to pick up some of the paint, randomly placing lines on the artwork in each colour (thanks to Sam Crowe for this little tip). 

 

The bottom left corner looked a bit bare, so I used the Town Stencil to add a bit of interest with black archival & a make-up sponge.  Around the edges & middle, I dabbed a small amount of Chalk Acrylic paint through the Dotty Wave Stencil with a blending tool.

I used a white Sharpie pen for highlighting and then edged the piece with a blue Promarker before mounting on an 8x8 blank greeting card.....finished!

Hope you like it and I look forward to seeing you back again soon xxx



http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Mounts-and-Card/17043-/Clarity-Stencil-Card---7-x-7-Inch-x-50-UK-amp-EU-only

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Information/Search/17412-/Boy-Birds-amp-Girl-Balloon---Unmounted-Clear-Stamp-Sets-Multibuy

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Accessories/Fresco-Finish-Acrylic-Paints

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Information/Search/15984-/Spreading-Tool

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Stencils/14897-/Town-Stencil-7-x-7-Inch

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Stencils/13062-/Dotty-Wave-Stencil-7-x-7-Inch

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Accessories/Crafting-Tools/16977-/Mini-Ink-Blending-Tool-amp-Foam-Pack





Clarity Challenge 40 - Masculine (Mid-month Blog)

Hi there - well they say June is set to be the wettest in years, so no excuse not to stay in, keep dry, and CRAFT!
Here's my mid-month Masculine themed card to hopefully inspire and encourage you to join in the fun.......
Ingredients
7 x 4 ins piece of watercolour canvas (or for a different texture use watercolour paper)
8 x 6 ins blank greeting card & contrasting card to frame the artwork
Oriental Lattice Stencil
Clarity Stencil Brush
Paperartsy Acrylics - Zesty Zing, Beach Hut, Inky Pool
Pebeo Patinating Wax - Empire Gold
Ranger Black Archival Ink
Tropical Fish & Coral stamp set
Small fish from the Harbour Scene stamp set
Spectrum Noir Aqua Pens - Kingfisher, Bud Green, Sunflower & Meadow
Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Aquamarine
Used lolly stick
Gathered Twigs & Peacock Feathers Distress Ink
White Pen & Fine Black Sharpie Pen
Short length of garden twine & a brad

Start by sweeping the Paperartsy Acrylics randomly across the piece of canvas - small amounts at a time to give a watery effect.  I used my fingers for this - lovely & messy!

Next place the stencil where you want it and tape it down to the canvas.  Using the stencil brush and a small amount of paint at a time, brush through the Inky Pool acrylic paint sweeping it lightly round the outer edges.  I then used a light touch of dark blue Distress Crayon to add definition in small areas, worked in with my finger and did the same with the wax to give a luminescence.

Stamp the fish in Archival Ink, wait for the ink to dry fully before colouring in with the Spectrum Noir Aqua pens.  I also highlighted parts of the fish with a Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen

 

Snap the ends off the lolly stick and use the middle piece for your sign.  Wipe it onto the Distress Ink pad for a variegated colouring to the wood.  Once dry, write "Gone Fishing" with the white pen.

Tie a knot in each end of the twine and glue onto the sign.  Once the glue has dried, make a small hole in the canvas with a sharp point and use the brad to attach the sign in the corner.

After assembling the card, when I was drawing on the bubbles with the black sharpie, I scribbled on what I thought was the scrap paper underneath to check the pen, but it was the edge of the main card!

Doh! 

All was not lost - I guillotined the edge off the card and using Peacock Feathers Distress ink, used the fish stamp and added his tail down the inside edge of the card.  Works ok I think......?

Hope you like it and don't forget you have until the 30th June if you haven't already entered the competition to showcase your artwork and win yourself a £50 Claritystamp voucher.

If you're stuck for ideas, check out the other Design Team artwork for some inspiration.

Good luck xxx 

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Accessories/Fresco-Finish-Acrylic-Paints

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Information/Search/20188-/Oriental-Lattice-Stencil-7-x-7-Inch

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Stencils/13450-/Clarity-Stencil-Brushes-Set-Of-4

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Ink-Pads/Archival-Ink-Pads

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Information/Search/18489-/Tropical-Fish-amp-Coral---Unmounted-Clear-Stamp-Set

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Clear-Stamps/Miscellaneous-and-Travel/18563-/Large-Harbour-Scene---Unmounted-Clear-Stamp-Set

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Ink-Pads/Distress-Ink-Pads

Clarity Challenge 40 - Masculine

Hi there, thanks for visiting today. 

Another month, and the June Challenge is "Masculine" which fits in perfectly with Father's Day on Sunday, 19th June.

So if you're considering making a card, or something for your Dad, check out mine and the other Design Team blogs for some inspirational ideas.  It's always special when you know that time and effort has gone into creating something from the heart, for someone you love - make your Dad proud, or help the youngsters with a project for your partner or hubby on their special day.
Ingredients for my project are as follows:

7x7 Clarity Stencil card

Archival Coffee, Fern Green & Black inks
Rope Frame Scene (post-its for masking)
Ken Oliver Bursts - Yellow Ochre & Sepia
Trellis Stencil
Tea Dye & Peeled Paint Distress Inks
Stonewashed Adirondack
Clarity Stencil Brushes & make-up sponge
Moon mask
Alphabet Word Chains Un-mounted Clear Stamp Set
Black Micron Pen, Yellow ProMarker, Grey Colouring pencil
(See links to Claritystamp website below)

Stamp the rope framer using Coffee Archival ink and the man on horseback using Black Archival.

Mask off the centre of the frame.

 Spritz the card with water and puff the Bursts around the frame.  Dab the colours with kitchen roll and wait for the artwork to fully dry before continuing.

Mask the outer side edges of the frame and stamp the trees in Archival Fern Green.

 Mask  the centre again and place the Trellis stencil over the artwork and tape down.  Brush Tea Dye Distress Ink  through using a stencil brush. Remove the stencil and post-it mask and place a sun mask in the sky.  Brush Stonewashed ink across the sky, then using a make-up sponge and a torn post-it, shape & colour the hills.

 Remove the sun mask and use yellow and red pencils to colour the sun and skyline in between the trees.

Add the greeting and use the grey colouring pencil to add shadow around the rope framer and under the horse.
Finally, edge the card with a yellow ProMarker using a ruler, then mount on an 8x8 blank greeting card = Card for an Awesome Dad!

Don't forget to check out the other Design Team Blogs too for some more ideas........

Have a wonderful day and enjoy creating your entry for this month's Challenge - I'm looking forward to seeing your artwork over the coming month.

There'll be more artwork from the Design Team mid month too if you get time to come back for another visit. xxx

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Mounts-and-Card/17043-/Clarity-Stencil-Card---7-x-7-Inch-x-50-UK-amp-EU-only

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Clear-Stamps/American-Indian/17943-/Rope-Frame-Scene---Unmounted-Clear-Stamp-Set

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Information/Search/14433-/Trellis-Stencil-7-x-7-Inch

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Information/Search/19990-/Alphabet-Word-Chains---Unmounted-Clear-Stamp-Set

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Stencils/13450-/Clarity-Stencil-Brushes-Set-Of-4

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Ink-Pads/Archival-Ink-Pads

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Ink-Pads/Adirondack-Mono-Ink-Pads

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Ink-Pads/Distress-Ink-Pads