Clarity Stamp Challenge for June 2015 - Boys, Boys, Boys

Once again, I am late putting my entry in for this month's Claritystamp challenge, which was Boys, Boys, Boys.  I put the blame fair and square on Barbara Gray.  Since taking delivery of the new Groovi Plate system, I have not wanted to put it down.  Parchment has taken over my life again.

Fortunately, my class on a Friday used the Clarity Sport set and I just took the brief a bit further. I did do the cut out of the central O (you would have been proud of me, Maria) and used my blade to do it.  Then I masked off that bit while I did the landscape with torn paper and the Clarity mat.  The sky was the Clarity cloud mask.  The whole aim was a misty, faded view, with the stamped images done in second generation ink.

I did darken up the sky and grass in the centre O around the cyclist.  The large Sport was heat embossed in a distress type powder, which does not really show very well.

In additon to the normal Friday class, I went down to the class on Saturday morning at Pink Tulip Creations where we did two cards, as you can see below.  Because we were using Brushos for the second card, and could not all do that at the same time, the two cards were running at the same time.  The first one was using the Stampendous Ranunculus, which I think is very like the Charles Rennie Mackintosh rose as you can see in this illustration.

Most people painted their flowers, but I decided to play with the blendable pencils.  I used the Derwent as I have a small set that fits in my bag and will do most things.    Unwittingly, I matched the colours to the top I was wearing, although the others thought it was deliberate.  

The Brushos were really a taster session for those that have never used them, but it was a very effective technique, much better than this photo shows.  We punched large circles out of the dried off Brusho sheet and then stamped the heads of this Lavinia stamp onto the circles with Archival, and then glittered the open tips of the flowers.  The whole thing was stamped onto the main card and the

flower circles glued on top.

This card is so much more pretty in real life as the sparkle just does not show here.

WOYWW 316

 The speed of the passing of 2015 is positively terrifying.  I am sure New Year was only last week, although I do remember going down to the Crop in May.  I do not seem to be doing very well at blogging this year either.  A quick blink of the eyes and another Wednesday is over and done with.  If you are wondering why Wednesday is a significant day of the week, then I will leave it to our Julia to explain far better than I all about WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday).

I am still trying to get all my stuff back into my craft room where it belongs.  However, that ambition is not helped by certain people bringing out new "must have" products and the NEED to try them out and see just what I can do with them.   These pictures of my temporary desk/picnic table show some of my latest acquisitions.

The major new product is the recently launched Groovi plate system for parchment from Clarity.  Although I have done parchment for several years, this new system, designed for beginners and experienced parchers alike, has been impossible to leave alone.  The little picture was partially done on the Groovi plate, although the central design was transferred from this week's Mindfulness colouring download from Barbara Gray.  I mounted it on a black painted canvas board.

I also went to a demo of Sissix products down at our local craft shop, Pink Tulip Creations, which was excellent.  The demonstrator, Pete Hughes, certainly did a great job and I learned a lot of hints and tips and was reminded of a lot more.  As you can see, I did not leave it at just watching the demo.

 

The Colour Burst powders, still in their packets, are very similar to Brushos, but a little more controllable.  I need to get them out and play very soon, so I am having to be very strong and resist while I finish resorting my stamps again.

How many of you are heading down to Burbage again later this year?  I am really looking forward to that trip and hope to meet up with lots of you then.

Right now, it is time I pointed you in the direction of our hostess with the mostest, Julia, who will send you on round the other desks on show this week.  I hope to visit as many of you as possible during the rest of the week.  Have a great week, all of you.