My desk this week is a real mess, but I am having a ball. You can see lots of images in the process of being played with, my red A5 file which is developing into my stamp catalogue, and a lot of other detritus from present projects and past projects.
One of my birthday presents was the large Velvet Lady from Clarity Stamps. Unfortunately, I still don't have the lamp post to go with her, so I had to improvise and use the one from Cute Companions - not quite right but it will do for the moment. After all, Barbara does not say we have to copy her exactly, but if giving us ideas from which our own imaginations should take off. I also used the little spruce tree for the background as I could not think how to create buildings. To get the shading on the snow, I used a scrunched up pad of kitchen roll, inked up and smoothed out. With care, it seems to work fairly well. The lady herself was partially coloured with Promarkers (her skirt) and her jacket and hat were printed and cut from a free downloaded tartan backing paper, which toned quite well with the Promarker.
Then I had a go with the cottage kit, which also involved some use of things that were a little different from the way Barbara worked, again because my stock is of ink pads is not large . The first attempt will end up taken apart and redone, but the second was better, but I suspect the next version will be better still. There are too many trees behind and around the cottage - Geoff said it looked as if it had a beard, so less trees on the next one. I might try putting a lake in too to get some reflections. (EDIT - tried that and promptly chopped it off, didn't work)
My reflections were very variable too with the brayer, but I think they are getting better. My first attempt had the same problem as I have taking pictures of the sea - the water was running out. Never mind, guillotines work wonders to straighten up wonky work. My first one (not shown) was stamped with the black Adirondack and worked fairly well, being quite dramatic. The one on the left here was done with Adirondack Slate which I think gives a softer more misty look, which I quite like. I also really like the blue one (Adirondack Denim). The background hill on both was done with the kitchen roll pad again. the tree reflection on the blue one smudged on the brayer, but I think that adds to the watery feel.I was going to show you the pif I sent to Andria for the 2nd Anniversary, follow the link to her blog at http://andria-drawingnear.blogspot.com/ . Her photos are better than mine. I am glad she finally got it and she says she liked it, so ... result.
Anyway, I think that is enough waffling from me this week and I am sure that you will all have fun by popping over to the residence of our leader, Julia, where you will find lots and lots of fascinating desks with loads of different styles, which you will find at
