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You are welcome to copy any of my designs, as long as you do not take credit for them yourself. I am very happy for you to sell them. If I have used anyone else's design, I always try to give credit where it is due. If I have missed anything, please let me know and I will put things right.


This is intended to be mainly about my crafting stories, as a personal record of what I do. However, I interpret crafting quite widely, not just paper crafting but other things too. I have a butterfly mind and like to change from one thing to another depending on what I feel like on a given day - knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, cards, baking and several others, including my favourite right now, parchment, both traditional skills and Groovi, very relaxing and calming to do.

I have decided to put some structure into my blog so that each day will have something of a theme.
Monday- for Mindfulness; Tuesday - Tidy Up Day; Wednesday - What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday; Thursday - Technique and Tips; Friday - Finish Off Day; Saturday - Start Something New; Sunday - Anything Goes
These themes are not hard and fast and will be changed if I feel the need.

Monday 16 March 2015

Clarity Stamp Challenge March 2015 - Anything but a card

If this theme for a challenge had come up a few months ago, I would just have ditched any idea of taking part.  However, I think many of us are starting to take our card making further into canvases and boxes and coasters, things that we can display around our homes.  We have been encouraged, dragged and kicked down that route by some of the beautiful tools that have been presented to us and all the fantastic inspiration of Barbara Gray and her fabulous Design Team.

I very deliberately avoided looking at any of the wonderful things from the Design Team as I wanted my inspiration to come from within me and I had ideas anyway.

It just happened that my youngest granddaughter's birthday falls this month and I found just what I wanted at an excellent local craft store, Pink Tulip Creations Ltd at Spernal in Warwickshire (just down the road).  It was a little wooden box in the shape of a book.

It also just happened that Barbara Gray had showcased her beautiful Wee Fairies and Elves on Create and Craft at the start of the month.  So for a four year old, the castle and the fairies had to be put together for this project.


It took a while to work out how to prepare and do the initial painting as it was the first time I had done anything like this.  I tried inks but soon came to the conclusion that I would never get the effect I wanted that way, so settled on watered down acrylics, pale blue in the top half blending to pale green at the bottom.  I think I used at least three coats to cover it properly, then I left it to dry overnight.


The following day, I set to work with the Wee Fairies, Elves and the Castle, stamping them with Archival Black.  Because of the slightly rough grain of the wood, I got a slightly distressed effect from the stamping, which I preferred to a smooth version.  The castle in the centre was stamped and inked on Theuva card and put behind the removable glass (designed for a photo).


Once all the painting was finished and thoroughly dried, I used the Crafters Companion Spray and Shine to seal it and give it some protection.  I sat out in the conservatory in the sun with the box balanced on one hand while I sprayed and turned each side in turn to the sun to dry it off.  Good thing no-one came to the door while I was doing it  as I could not put it down until it was dry.


Then I had to possess my soul in patience until the lacquer was thoroughly dry and hardened off before I could put the inserts back into place.  That was hard as I am not a desperately patient person.  I wanted it done right then.


The card was also covered with the castle and fairies.  I already had the background done from when I was filling in time at a class, waiting for everyone else to get to the right stage to continue that project.  

So all I need to do was the stamping of the images and colour them in with Derwent Coloursoft pencils which blend so beautifully.

As you can see, I have just learned to put watermarks on all my pictures to give my designs some protection so I hope you can see everything through them.

Ingredients
Wooden box (Pink Tulip Creations Ltd)
Wee Fairies (Clarity Stamp)
Wee Elves ( Clarity Stamps)
Castle (Clarity Stamps)
Letterbox Stamps (Clarity Stamps) 
Theuva Card (Clarity Stamps)
System 3 Acrylic Paints
Derwent Coloursoft Pencils
Crafters Companion Spray and Shine

Rosie was supposed to get this last Saturday, but the arrangements were changed at the last moment, but I am hoping that she will see it for real later this week.  I am off now to link this post up to enter the Clarity Stamp Challenge before March disappears completely.

14 comments:

Angela said...

What a beautifully decorated box Maggie, the castle and fairies work so well together. I've no doubt Rosie will love it. Thanks for entering the Clarity challenge. Good luck! xx

crafty said...

Nice work do love the fairy s good luck in the Clarity challenge xx

carols handmade cards said...

Stunning piece of art work such a lovely design and such lovely colours you have chosen. Thank you for entering the challenge and good luck. Xx

Theresa said...

oh i'm sure Rosie is going to be thrilled with her gift. it is lovely. so much thought and love have gone into making it. well done, hugs xx

Unknown said...

That's beautiful going to be one happy little girl when she sees this xxx

Shelagh Metselaar said...

What a lovely keepsake for your grand-daughter; she will love the fairy castle theme; a great tutorial too. Thank you for taking the time to enter this month's challenge and good luck!

Jo Rice said...

Maggie this is absolutely adorable,,,and so much work....I must admit like you I am not a very patient crafter, and I hate waiting for things to dry...I am sure Rosie with be over the moon with all your beautiful work...hugs...Jo. xxx

Naomi said...

Maggie, this is just so beautiful. I am sure she will treasure it always. Superb design and beautifully done.

Gill in Worcestershire said...

Hi Maggie, your granddaughter will LOVE that box. What a great project! The fairies and castle are great.

Love Gill x

Linda Page said...

Maggie this is fabulous - your Grand daughter will adore it - lots of patience required but well worth it xx

Unknown said...

Love this beautiful keepsake box Maggie. I'm sure Rosie will always treasure it. The fairies and the castle are a great combination. Thanks for entering the Clarity challenge, and good luck. Xxx

Lesley said...

Well done Maggie, a truly magical box which your granddaughter will love. And thanks for explaining your methods so clearly. Good luck in the challenge x

Amanda Openshaw said...

Love it Maggie! Lovely stamping and colouring.
Thanks for entering the Clarity challenge and good luck.
Hugs
Amanda xx

Emma Burns said...

Smashed it once again Maggie!!!! Love it and you can tell that it was a labour of love too!

Your attention to detail is brilliant. I can just imagine you hovering waiting for it all to dry.

Best of luck in the Challenge xxx