Explore the Wildflowers Cleverprints project using masking technique and a muted colour palette

 Hello crafters!  For today's DT post for Cleverprints I wanted to create a card with a muted and simple colour palette to showcase the beautiful designs within the stamps.  I chose to use the large flower design and sentiment from the  Explore the Wildflowers stamp set, two of the smaller background stamps from the  Floral Twist stamp set and the Shape Fun stencil.

To start, I stamped the main image in the centre of a piece of super smooth card using VersaFine Clair ink in 'Nocturne' which is a very true black.  I then stamped the image again on to a sheet of mask-it, cutting it out and placing it directly over my stamped card. This is so that I could create the background without any of the colour transferring to my stamped image as I wanted to keep it white.

Next, I chose my colours for the background and starting with the 'Worn Lipstick' Distress Ink, I blended around the masked image using a blending brush.  I then repeated the process using 'Gathered Twigs' Distress Ink, going very gently so as not to put too much colour on the card.  

Still keeping the mask in place, I laid the stencil over the top and stenciled through it with 'Tea Dye' Distress Ink.

To finish, I stamped the background stamps in black over the top.  I then removed the mask, stamped the sentiment and mounted on to Kraft Card.  I was really pleased with how the background makes the lovely stamp design pop.

Angel Heart

I had great fun in creating this mixed media piece using papers, stamps and a stencil, all from Cleverprints. I enjoy working with the different collections, putting them together to create fresh, new pieces. 

Cleverprints Floral Crackled Hanging Sign

 Hello crafters!

I really enjoyed creating this mixed media hanging sign using the new 'Blooms Framed #1' dies from Cleverprints.  

Here is a list of what you will need:

'Blooms Framed #1' dies,
A wooden substrate of your choice,
Crackle medium of your choice,

Spatula,
Acrylic paints.  I used Paper Artsy chalk paint in 'Moon Light', Dylusions 'Crushed Grape'
Dolly Dimples mixed media card stock,
Spray inks.  I used Dylusions 'Blue |Lagoon', Laidback Lilac', 'Jade' & 'Teal', and Distress Oxide in 'Kitsch Flamingo', Mica Stain in 'Snowflake' and 'Hocus Pocus,

A cardboard box to protect your work surface,

Heat gun,
Gilding Flakes & glue,
A purple & white crayon,
decorative ribbon,
Glue,

The first step was to apply an even coat of my darkest paint to my wooden sign.

Once the paint was dry, apply the Crackle medium.  I used a spatula.

Whilst I was waiting for this to dry thoroughly, I started to make my flowers using my spray inks.  I placed my card in my cardboard box and  sprayed one piece of card with the blue and colours and another piece with the pink and purple colours.  I used a heat gun between layers to stop the colours from blending together too much, but encouraged drips and splodges!  I kept all the flower centres to use in the design, too.

Next, I repeatedly cut out the flower shapes from the die.  Cut out more than you think you will need as you can always use them on another project if you don't end up needing them all.

Once my wooden sign was dry, I painted over it with my lighter paint.  The colour of the darker paint underneath would then show through the cracks.  When this was dry, I highlighted the cracks further by going over them with my purple and white crayons, rubbing it in with my finger.

Now it is time to create your composition.  I didn't stick anything down until I was happy with the design, plus I would then know where I wanted the gilding flakes to be.  I took photographs at sach stage of the composition so that I could refer to the images when I was ready to glue.

 

I then applied my gilding flakes and adhered all my flowers, and wrapped a decorative ribbon around the string.

I hope you like this project, I certainly had great fun in making it!

Happy Crafting!

Art Makes Me Happy

I really enjoy going through my stamps and playing with images I've not used for a while and combinining them with new items. For this card I used the cute 'Polly Petals' stamp and 'Abstract Geometry' die set from Cleverprints with my new Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers. The sentiment, which is part of the same stamp set, was perfect for this bright and cheerful design. 

Take Time to Smell the Flowers

Hello crafters! Today I am sharing a bright and cheerful card using some of the beautiful stamps from the new 'In the Garden ' range by Cleverprints, one of the new stencils and Distress Oxide sprays and ink pads.

Here is what you will need: 

Cleverprints stamps: 'Explore the Wildflowers', 'Where the Wildflowers Grow' and 'Floral Twist', Cleverprints stencil: 'Flower Fall', 

Mixed Media card stock - I used Dolly Dimples cut to 6.75" x 4.75",

a 7" x 5" card blank, 

card stock for stamping, 

a colour wheel, 

Distress Oxide sprays: 'Scattered Straw', 'Kitsch Flamingo' and 'Salvaged Patina', 

Distress Ink pads: 'Squeezed Lemonade', 'Kitsch Flamingo' and 'Salvaged Patina', 

blending brushes, 

a journal or journal paper, 

Alcohol pens - I used Promarker pens choosing similar shades to my inks,

a white gel pen, 

Scotch Removable tape, 

two small pieces of acetate - to use as masks so they only need to be a little bigger than your card stock, Memento ink in 'Noir', 

a paper trimmer, 

a stamping platform, 

ruler, 

pencil and rubber,

foam pads, 

glue, 

an old cardboard box, 

a heat tool 

a water spray bottle. 

For this card I wanted to work with a triad of colours, similar to the primaries, but I wanted more pastel tones, so I chose a pink, pale yellow and a soft blue/green. If you are not sure, colour wheels are really useful at seeing which colours work well together.

To make the background I measured along the long edge of the mixed media card stock, making a light pencil mark at each 2.25" point. I then lightly drew a line down edge to edge to mark the three equal sections to use for each of my colours.

This is where the acetate and removable tape comes in. This is optional, but I chose to use this as I wanted my three colours to not blend in to each other. Starting on the left side of the card, place the acetate over the middle and right sections you have marked and apply the tape down the pencilled line, so only the left of the three sections is uncovered. Laying the card flat in an old cardboard box, spray the top part of the card with your first colour and then tip it up to allow the colour to drip down. Have a journal or journal paper underneath to catch the drips and sprays; this can be the start of a future journal page and doesn't waste any ink.

Carefully remove the tape and acetate and dry with a heat tool, you can create splatters with water once dry to activate the oxide. Clean the acetate to remove any ink and dry. You are now ready to do the second colour. Repeat the process with the acetate and tape, but this time, use both pieces of acetate so the left and right sections are covered and the middle section is exposed. Spray your second colour and allow it to drip. Again, remove the tape and acetate and dry.

You are now ready for the final section, repeat the process covering the two coloured sections. Once completely dry, gently rub out any pencil lines and place your stencil over the background and apply Distress ink through the stencil with blending brushes, being careful to apply the ink colour tone on tone, this will create a very subtle effect. Then edge around the card in black ink.

Colouring your Images Stamp and colour your images using your chosen colouring mediums, I did each one twice. I often do this as it gives me options for either future projects or to decoupage an image. In this project I decided to decoupage the centre parts of the two smaller flowers and the centre leaf on the larger flower. To create shade, blend two shades each colour, I find it easier to start with the lighter of the two colours, then blend the darker colour and then go back over the whole area with the lighter shade again. Use the white pen to create highlights.

Once you have finished your colouring, cut out your images. I often play around with composition before sticking anything down, including laying the sentiment stamp on to the card to see where it suits the design. Don't be afraid to cut your stamped and coloured images, I did this to create the hills.

Once you have found a composition you like, it is a good idea to take a photograph, that way you can still move things around without the worry of forgetting a design that you liked. Once I have found a composition I like, I place my card in my stamping platform and stamp my sentiment. If stamping directly on to a card, I always use a stamping platform, that way if I need to go over it again I know I can and get the stamp in the exact same spot. Stick down your elements and secure to the card blank. I hope you have fun making this card, working in threes with colours is so much fun!

Happy Crafting!

Gabrielle, the Papercrafting Pixie

Spring Inspired Birthday

Like many people, I'm thoroughly looking forward to the coming of Spring and this card was inspired by the season. I used three stamp sets from Cleverprints LTD Misfitspart1 collection. For the main image I used the glorious 'Truly Happy' stamp decoupaged with flowers from the 'Not a Weed' stamp set, coloured using Promarkers. I created a delicate background using the 'Brave Rose' stamped with Memento Dewdrop in 'Angel Pink' and Happy Birthday stamped in Adirondack 'Pool' . 

Choose Kindness and Laugh Often

Hello there! Today has been a day for staying in the warmth and Crafting, so I decided to create a colourful mixed media canvas.

Firstly, I stencilled on to the canvas using the 'Something Different' stencil by Cleverprints and resist paste from Pretty Gets Gritty.

Once dry, I sprayed the canvas using ink sprays from Dylusions and Ranger. 

I stamped the heart and flowers from the Misfitspart1 collection 'Not a Weed' from Cleverprints and inked them using distress oxides.

Once cut out, I layered them on to the canvas adding a bit of thread for texture.

Happy Crafting!