Practice No 2

Ah well. I was doing so well - I thought!  I had created what I thought was a quite professional looking post and I haven't a clue where it went.  Hrrrmmmpphhhhh. Serves me right for not saving it.

One area that interests me is stamping.  I find that I particularly like the stamps created by Barbara and her team at +Clarity Stamps.  Barbara's demonstrations on +Create and Craft are very good and she regularly shows us all something new.  I have several of her stamps and I am a member of the club.  I really look forward to the new stamps that are sent out each month as part of the membership.

Before you all fall asleep (sorry, did I wake you?), here are some photos of cards I've made with Clarity Stamps.



Christmas 2012

This was made using Clarity's Partridge in a pear tree set, Berry Corner and Christmas Greeting stamps. I inked the stamps using versamark, dusted over Perfect Pearls mica powder, then buffed. This is such a quick card to do -
I was in a flat panic about my Christmas cards and managed to do 60 of these in about 3-4 hours (including tea breaks).  Lesson learned - pick a straightforward design and easy technique when doing LOTS of cards.











Venetian Mask

If you like gilding flakes, you'll love this. A bit fiddly, but fab effect.
Take a piece of double sided sticky acetate, peel the protective layer off and using an archival ink (alcohol based), stamp the mask in place and recover with the protective wax paper backing.  Turn the piece over.
Using a sharp blade and using the image under the wax paper just cut around the lines (DO NOT remove any of the sections yet).
The golden rule here is that once anything has stuck to the image, you won't be able to get it off.
I started with the eyes; peel off the very small pieces of wax paper covering the eyes; using the mica powder of your choice take a tiny amount and brush it on - blow away the residue BEFORE you remove the next piece of wax paper. I did the mouth next and then the skin. You don't have to worry about your colours running once they are down and once covered with powder nothing else will stick to that spot.
For the headdress, you could do it in several colours, I chose one; but I put a fine sprinkling of glitter down before I added the mica, (you may also want to do the bells in one colour and the headdress another).
Then I took away the rest of the wax paper, again sprinkled a small amount of glitter, then went to town with the gilding flakes.
The colour of your mount will have an effect on the end product. With this I found black worked well. You can now peel away the front piece of wax paper and cover with clear acetate.  Because you haven't 'coloured over your stamp the outline will remain clear.
I also used a gold leaf pen to outline the black card - the dragging method a la Barbara Grey - it's brilliantly simple.  Dig the heel of the broad nib against the edge of the card and just drag the pen down.  It works with promarkers too and the line is exceptionally straight. It didn't seem this complex when I did it - honestly!

Sleep tight folks.

Lesley X

How it all started...

Hi there,
I'm Lesley and I only started crafting about 3 and a half years ago when I joined a coffee and craft club at +Heighley Gate garden centre near Morpeth in Northumberland.  Our inspirational leader is Brenda Charlton who has taught us all so much.  We meet twice a month and there are regularly about 20 people who go. I like the fact that everyone is prepared to exchange ideas and if anyone is stuck, there's always someone to help. 
There is a huge range of expertise and so much talent, yet as a beginner I didn't feel out in the cold or overawed; I am still amazed at what people create when given a challenge! On the odd occasion when Brenda hasn't been able to come, +Margie has taken the reins and while the styles may differ, the ability to bring out the best doesn't.

I find that I like to experiment with different effects and materials and as a consequence often get quite clarty (hence the title - for those of you aren't familiar it means mucky or messy), but by doing this I often surprise myself with my achievements and it's fun! Not so sure the cats like being covered in glitter though.

I also attend a local art group, again surrounded by talent and living in hope that one day I will have the nerve to put something in a frame, on the wall and be pleased to own up to it :-).

I've amazed myself today, by getting up the nerve to start a blog.  I think I'll go and lie down now. 

Cheerio folks

Talk to you soon.