Snowman Couple Christmas Card

Most of the time I don't even notice the adverts on TV but last Christmas I totally fell in love with the John Lewis one. It's just adorable (for any readers who are not in the UK, or who just didn't see it, it can be watched here on YouTube) and I never get fed up of watching it.

So when I got the Clarity Snowman stamp I just had to create my own snowy couple. This is another thing that the Splodge Mat has made easier. You stamp straight onto the mat and then put the card on that to pick up the ink. This leaves you with the opposite version of the stamp and you can then position the normal one next to it. I use second generation ink for this so that they end up a similar colour.

To create the frame around the edge I masked off the central panel with Post-its and brayered down from the top. This gives me a nice graduated colour. To co-ordinate with that I stamped the snowflake in 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation ink as I went down the page.

I wonder if he will be buying her a new scarf this Christmas?

Stamps Used

Large Frosty The Snowman

We Wish You

Tree from the Remountable Silhouette Christmas Tree Set

Snowflake from Lesson 14 Winter Wonderland Set

Lynne

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Sketched Lady Gatefold Card

There's not long left to enter the "Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside" challenge on the Clarity Stamp Challenge Blog. Entry closes at 8pm on the 31st July. There's a £50 Claritystamp voucher for the winner, who is chosen at random, so it's well worth entering.

I've just written my blog post for the next challenge which starts on Thursday and I look forward to sharing it with you. Until then I have two cards using the Large Sketched Lady stamp that were on Maria Simms' Clarity Take 2 show.

This is the first one.

Part of the kit on Create and Craft was a mask for the stamp and its mirror image. I made this card to show off that feature.

I stamped the lady onto Theuva card with second generation ink and then used the Splodge Away mat to create the mirror image. I then cut them out with a scalloped Spellbinders die and masked off the ladies.

The background pattern is made with a Butterfly Garden Spellbinders Impressibilities. I placed it on top of the card, with the scalloped die still in place, and sponged Adirondack Mountain Rose ink through it.

The ladies' skin is coloured in with ProMarkers. Her clothes are stamped onto coloured paper, cut out and stuck on. The pattern on her dress is made with the same corner stamp I've used on the card.

I used the same technique inside.

The Large Sketched Lady was the first Clarity stamp I bought about 4 years ago and I still love it. It's a great stamp that you can do a lot with.

Stamps Used

Large Sketched Lady

What Is This Life

Victorian Corner

Lynne

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Jazz Man In the Spotlight

It's not something I know a lot about but I do like a bit of jazz. We were lucky enough to live in Brecon for a couple of years and they have a fab jazz festival there every year.  It was great fun.

About 3 years ago the New Design Club stamp (No. 44) was a ballerina and one of the projects that Barbara did for it was a brayered spotlight. I've been wanting to have a go at it since I got it, but as I've not had anyone to send a ballerina card to I never got around to it. As soon as I saw the Jazz Man I knew that he would be perfect for it and couldn't wait to have a go. 

When Barbara did hers she used a Big and Juicy ink pad in Mountain Meadow. I thought I'd have a go at doing it in black. It took quite a bit of brayering to build up the colour but I was really pleased with how it turned out. It only took one go too!

I used one of my Spellbinders Petite Ovals dies to cut out a mask for the white part of the spotlight and built up the black and grey around it using Adirondack Pitch Black on Claritycard. My Splodge Mat is a great help for things like this.

The sentiment is stamped in Versamark and then heat embossed with silver detail powder.

Once I'd finished that I made a matching background by covering a sheet of Clarity paper with the Jazz Montage stamp.

Stamps Used

Jazz Man

Jazz Montage

May All Your Dreams Come True

Lynne

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Flamingo Reflection Card

I think this was my favourite of my samples from this month's TV shows (it changes between this and my other flamingo card).

I like the colours and I was really pleased at how the reflection turned out.

Like my Flamingo Anniversary Card, I used my Splodge Away mat to do the reflection. This time I wanted it to be paler than the main image, so I used black Adirondack ink on the Splodge mat for the reflection and then stamped the flamingo as I normally would.

I masked the flamingo then created the rest of the scene. I used an Ink Duster to do the water, trying to get a few lines in it to look like ripples. I made this heavier where her legs go into the water.

I coloured the flamingo in with ProMarkers and the reflection with pencils. The grass is done with Adirondack Lettuce and Meadow.

I found some brads and Bazzill Bling card in my stash that were a great match for the flamingo. I think they finish the card off nicely.

I'd like to enter it into the Dream Valley Challenge 57 - Animals.

Stamps Used

Bent Flamingo

Flamingo Grass

Lynne

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Oriental Scene Card

I haven't made an oriental card for ages, so I was quite excited when this lovely new Oriental set arrived from Clarity. Dad used to keep koi carp so they were great to make for him, but since he stopped I've done different things for his cards.

I had a quick Google to get an idea of what the scene should look like. Mum and Dad had the water idea and the scene slowly evolved.

The temple seems to be pretty symmetrical so it makes the refection really simple. I started off by stamping the water lily in the bottom corner and masking it off. Then I stamped the refection of the temple in second generation black Adirondack. I stamped the main image above using black Archival as this gives a much blacker image. 

I don't know if you recognise it but the tree is actually from the Daydreamer stamp. I thought it was the most oriental looking of my Clarity trees. Once I had worked out where they needed to go I stamped them onto my Splodgemat and then pressed the card down onto the image to transfer the ink. This gave me the reflection, which I matched with the trees above.

I did the water with my Ink Dusters, trying to get a few lines to give the effect of ripples on the water. I sponged the tops of the mountains and brayered the bottom. I also brayered the sky.

I know you're not supposed to be able to use ProMarkers with Archival ink but I did and it seemed to work fine. I did leave the image to dry overnight before I coloured it though. I wanted the reflection to have a bit of colour too so I got out my coloured pencils for that. 

I finished it off with a nice oriental looking frame bought from the Silhouette Store and cut on my Cameo. I did try a few embellishments on the frame but decided I liked it how it was. Since then Mum has sent me a little box of oriental coin embellishments so I'm sure they'll appear on future cards.

Lynne
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Baby's 1st Christmas Bauble

This was another of my ideas for the number stamps from Lesson 13. It also uses the letters from the previous lesson.

The bauble was cut on my Cameo from Centura Pearl Card. I inked it with Dusty Concord Distress Ink on my Splodgemat.  The bauble top was cut in gold Mirri card (that hasn't photographed very well).

The baby in the crib is part of one of the 'Twas the Night stamps. I first saw this done by another member of the Design Team, Janet Pring (thanks Janet). It's great to be able to get more use out of a Christmas stamp. It's stamped on a Nestabilities and mounted onto foam pads to give it a more 3D effect.

The reverse is done the same so it doesn't matter if it turns around.

Lynne
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Clarity Deerscape Card

I always have a favourite and this is November's.

It's my version of a card that Barbara Gray taught at her workshop at the Harrogate show. Fortunately it ended up a lot better than the one I did at the show!

Dad bought Mum and I tickets and although we had a brilliant time, my artwork was a complete disaster. If it could go wrong it did and I was so embarrassed!!!! So when I got these stamps to make samples with I wanted to show that I could do it.

To make it different to Barbara's version I added the reflection and put the words in the moon.

The invention of the Splodgemat has made reflections much easier to do. All you have to do is stamp onto the mat and then you can lay the paper onto that image to reverse it. It's then easy to line up the clear Clarity stamp to complete the reflected image. In this instance I used the brayer though, as I preferred the results I was getting with it.  I have the wider 6" one, as well as the regular size, so I was able to fit the whole image on it.

I think it's always worth having a play when you do things like this. I tried first and second generation ink for the Deerscape and the same with the brayer and Splodgemat for the reflection. You can then decide which you like best for that particular project.

To do the water I got out my Ink Dusters and tried to get lines when I was dragging the ink across. I think this gives a nice watery effect.

The inks I used are Adirondack Eggplant and Espresso.  You brayer the hills in Eggplant, then go over them very lightly with Espresso at the end. The creates an almost misty effect. You want hardly any ink on your brayer for this. As Barbara says, "You can always add more ink but you can't take it away". Someone should have said that to me at Harrogate!  :-)

Lynne
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Sepia Log Cabin in the Woods Card

The first version of this picture was done in colour but I thought it looked too similar to the other Log Cabin card I'd made. Mum had the idea of doing it in sepia.

I used the coated Clarity card and it's all done with an Espresso Adirondack dye ink pad.

Like the previous card, I started off with the cabin and then stamped everything else. The sky was brayered using my Splodge mat and then spritzed with water and blotted to give a snowy effect.

I used the coated Clarity paper to make the background. I originally bought it as a cheaper option to practise my brayering on, but it's also fab for using for backgrounds.  I randomly applied the Espresso ink to it with an Ink Duster and brayer before I spritzed it with water and applied scrunched up cling film.  Once it had dried I stamped the snowflake from the Lesson 14 set all over.

If you looked closely at the group shot I previously posted, you may have noticed that the topper was on wonky.  The foam pads stuck so quickly to the coated card and I couldn't move it. I was frightened to pull it off incase I ripped the card and ruined all that work. Luckily Dad came to the rescue with a clever idea (apparently he's used to fixing Mum's mistakes!).  I went into the kitchen and sharpened a long knife. I protected the sides with some copier paper (so that I didn't scratch the coated card) and then just cut through all of the foam pads. Simples! I was then able to stick it back on straight with some Pinflair. I should have just used that in the first place!!!!!!

I've since tweaked the colour version and made that into a card too. I will post that on here too.

Peace on Earth is stamped onto a Spellbinders Ribbon Banner die cut and it's all finished off with some Glamour Dust for a bit of sparkle.

Lynne
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Log Cabin in the Woods Card

I have used the Clarity Sprucescape stamp so much and I was very pleased to see the little Log Cabin joining the collection. They work so well together.

I started off by stamping the Log Cabin and built the scene around it. I'd love to be sat next to a roaring log fire in that cabin. It looks so peaceful.

The sky was brayered in blue using my Splodgemat, then I added a couple of other colours to give it a grey snowy look (I really should write down exactly what I use but I keep forgetting).

The snow was done with an Ink Duster and copier paper. I like the subtle effect that they give.

It was looking a bit bare so I added the deer from the Deerscape stamp and some Glamour Dust to finish it off.

It's matted on some Coredinations card that has been embossed with the Bricks and Bark M-Bossibilities folder and then sanded.

Lynne
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A Card for a Dear Friend

For this card I've used the Clarity Meadow Dance stamp and the new Deerscape. They fit together perfectly to make one long image. Now, I have to say that fullscreen on my 27" iMac this card looks a right mess but in real life the marks of embossing powder are not quite so noticeable.

I very rarely use black embossing powder, as even with a dusting of anti-static powder and carefully brushing away stray bits, there are always some little specks that remain elusive. They are especially hard to spot on the Centura Pearl card. However for this card I decided it was the only way to get the effect I wanted. The stamp is so stunning on its own that I wanted it to really stand out. For this reason I also kept the background very simple.

I brayered the background first using Adirondack ink pads and my Splodge mat. Once I had done that I used a sponge to add a bit more definition to the top of the hills.  Then I stamped and embossed the main image.

I did try it with black ink and clear powder first as if you do end up with any stray bits of powder, being clear, you can't see them. However on the Centura Pearl card that I was using it looked really grey. It was hard to get a decent photo of this but I think you can see the difference. It is even more noticeable in real life.

The border is the edge of a Spellbinders Persian Accents die.

Lynne
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Clarity Maple Leaf Stamps

In case there wasn't enough glitter in the last post, I thought I'd share this card today.

This is probably one of the quickest cards I've made but I was so pleased with the finished result.  

I thought the sparkly finish looked really pretty on TV.

I started off with plain Theuva card from Clarity.  I added a light base coat of Adirondack Butterscotch with a brayer and a Splodge Away mat.  Then I randomly stamped the leaves using various autumnal shades of Adirondacks. The edge was inked with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

Once it was dry I patted a Versamark ink pad all over it and then covered it in Stardust embossing powder by Stampendous.  I heated it carefully from underneath so I didn't blow any of the powder off.

I'm going to have a go at a Christmas version when I get the time.  I think it would look really pretty done with a snowflake in various shades of blue, maybe with some lilac and silver.  In fact if it works I think that will be one of my Christmas card designs this year.  If I ever get them started!!!!!!

Lynne
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Clarity Calendar

After watching Barbara's shows today I'm feeling all inspired. I've already had my stamps out and started a card using the Number kit from next month. I can picture what I want to do but I'm not yet sure how to make it into a card, so I thought it would be a good time for a break and a spot of blogging.

This calendar was another of my ideas for the letter stamps.

I used the coated Clarity card as I thought it would make it look like a glossy printed calendar. The grid was made on the computer and printed it out.  I finished it off with the stamped letters. Then came the fun bit, the brayering! Thanks to the Splodge Away mat I am getting more confident at this. It really does make it easier.

The split tree is from the Lesson 3 kit and the horse is from the Remountable Farm set.

Lynne
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In the Classroom with Barbara Gray - Lesson 12

What a fab lesson today on Create and Craft.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and crafted along with Barbara.  The letter kit is so useful.  I'm not surprised that Barbara said it was the best selling lesson kit so far.  I've already shared the first card I made with it, my PanPastel anniversary card, but I also made 3 more things.  I guess that shows how much I like them!

My first idea was a postcard of Eilean Donan castle.  I stamped the castle and bridge reflection onto Clarity double sided adhesive sheets, then turned it over to do the main image.  This is an easy way of getting a reflection!  The colour was then added with Perfect Pearls powder.  I think it looks really misty.

I was quite happy with it but I thought it might look better in colour.  So I tried again.

This one gave me a lot of grief!  I just couldn't get the reflection right.  In the end I tried using the Splodge Mat to stamp onto and then placing the card onto the ink. This was much easier and I finally ended up with some stamping I was happy with.  Unfortunately there was a blob above the H of HERE.  I couldn't face doing it again so I tried to think how I could cover it up......

Nessie!  Perfect...........well almost!

I know that Nessie doesn't really live there, so I added a P.S. to the back of the card that I had already decorated using the Clarity postcard stamps.  It made me laugh anyway!  :-)

Lynne

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40th Birthday Card - Male

I had such a lovely response to this card on FB yesterday that I thought I'd blog it today.  It's for Hubby's boss so I wanted to see what people thought of it before I give it to him at his party tonight.  Thankfully it went down really well.

These Clarity balloon stamps are perfect for men's cards, especially if you don't know what their hobbies are.

I started by printing the words on my computer.  I used copier paper to check the positioning and when I was happy with it I printed it onto card.  I masked off the middle section and then the fun began!

I stamped the balloons into position first.  As I was going to decoupage them the only bit I masked was the basket on the largest balloon.  I later coloured that in with a ProMarker.  Out came my trusty Splodge Away mat and I then brayered the hills using a torn paper mask.  Before I took that away I added a bit more colour to the top with a makeup sponge.  My cloud template is still going strong, so I got that and an Ink Duster out to do the clouds. I then just needed to add the trees and the background was finished.  I love it when it all goes smoothly!

I think you can see in the photo, but the balloons have been shaped to give them a more realistic look.

I did this on a soft mat using a large ball tool that I bought in a cake decorating shop.  To give you an idea of size, that is the middle sized balloon next to it.   If you haven't got a mat it could also be done in the palm of your hand.

Once the balloons were shaped I filled them up with Pinflair glue gel, so they will keep their shape, and stuck them on the card. 

Clarity Dove and Noel Stamps

The Dove Panel is a really intricate stamp.  When you first look at it, it looks like a beautiful swirly pattern.  It's only when you look closer that you see the doves.

The first thing I did was stamp the image onto some scrap paper and look for all the doves.  I coloured them in (very roughly) so that I could see where they all were.  I had a few one winged ones to start off with but I eventually realised that they all have two visible wings.  So that's my top tip for this stamp - check that all your doves have two wings!  :-)

For my first card I used them as they were intended and made a bright blue Christmas card.  I stamped the image onto some white card then cut out little masks of all the doves.  This took a while!  I then masked off the two panels and got out my Splodge Away mat.  I brayered over them with Kaleidacolor Blue Breeze.  For the co-ordinating mat I used a sponge and randomly applied the different blues to the card.  It was looking a bit bare, so I added a couple of decoupaged blue doves to finish it off.

For my second card I decided to use the doves to make a wedding card.  It's done with Centura Pearl  card in Snow White and matted onto gold mirri.  The colour I've added is from a Distress Ink pad in Antique Linen.  I used some Cut-n-Dry foam to apply it to the centre strip, then I used a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder to give it some texture.  Cut-n-Dry nibs were used to apply the colour to the doves and church.

I just couldn't get a decent photo of it so I've added a couple.  One shows off the detail better, the other the embossing.   I need to improve my photography skills!

Scarecrow and Poppies

This card uses some of my favourite Clarity stamps, the Scarecrow, Poppies, and What Is This Life.  I think What Is This Life is probably my most used Clarity verse stamp.  It just seems perfect for so many cards.

I also used my new Splodge Away Mat.  I'm so impressed with it.  I brayered the grass using a Lettuce Adirondack ink pad.  As you can see it went on really smoothly, with no lines!

The sky and sun were done with Distress ink pads.  I used Tumbled Glass with an ink duster for the sky and Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed on a sponge for the sun.  That is also how I did my new blog header.  More on that at a later date, as it's actually a sneak peak at a sample I've done for HSE 24.

The poppies were coloured in with ProMarkers.  I must say colouring is growing on me and I rather enjoyed that part.

The scarecrow's jacket started off as a piece of patterned paper that looked like hessian.  I added some colour with ProMarkers and then added some Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  I thought he'd probably look a bit distressed after standing out in a field all day.