Todays blog post is my entry for the Clarity Challenge 26, which was to design a project using only Clarity Stamps and the Wee Folk.
I had lots of ideas going around my head, but as I live in the Highlands just down the road from Loch Ness, I decided to use the father and child stamp, with the Nessie Stamp and some Scotch Pines to create the wee monster tale. My friend Nigel told me that his young foster son still sort of believes in the myth of Nessie, so this card is for William who is coming to visit us for Hogmanay from Australia with his dad and grandma!
The background to the card was created using the gelli plate, with a mixture of Distress and Adirondak inks in blues and purples, dabbing off some of the ink with crumpled paper to create some clouds. Then I used a circular aperture to create the focal scene, making hills with torn paper and additional sponged ink, with a little shading using Spectrum Noir pencils. I added a very faint castle stamp on the edge of the Loch, and stamped the Scotch pines using first, second and third generation inks to take the scene outside of the circular aperture. Finally I stamped in Nessie and the Father and child to complete the scene.
I added some detail with a black micron pen to define the circular shape and the hills, and to tie in with the black ink of the wee folk stamp, and then added a sentiment using some torn paper with inked edges, adding a few second generation nessies to the word monster.
I was really pleased with the final result, and hope that William will like his card too!
Fantastic, Susan - I love how you have adapted the brief to include Nessie oh, and is that Urquhart Castle I see in the background? The colours you have chosen also allude to the Scottish heathery hillsides perfectly, I'm sure William will be thrilled! Thank you for entering and good luck. ;~}
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comments Shelagh. I took a bit of a liberty with the Eilean Donan stamp, and made it look a bit more ruined with a pen outline to become Urquhart Castle!!! Well spotted, Susan x
DeleteWow what a card love your sky the colour the background like your trees done this card so well good luck in Clarity challenge x
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your kind comments - it was my first time using inks on the gelliplate, but I'll certainly be doing it again! Susan x
DeleteThis is fantastic I love the way you have created the background for this card it's a lovely piece of art work. Thank you for entering the challenge and the best of luck. Xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol - it was a great challenge, and the team's artwork was really inspirational, Susan x
Deletea lovely atmospheric card
ReplyDeleteThanks you so much for your kind comment Jomada-Dawn - I really hope William likes his card! Susan x
DeleteA lovely card Susan, such an atmospheric background. I'm sure William will love it. Thank you for entering this month's Clarity challenge. Good luck! x
ReplyDeleteThanks Angela - I was really pleased with how the background came out. Having the gelliplate is saving me a fortune in specialist papers! Susan x
DeleteA wonderful card Susan. I love the way you have drawn around the lighter trees to make them stand out. Great background paper too. Good luck in the challenge x
ReplyDeleteThanks Lesley - it's great to have such positive feedback! Susan x
Deletewonderful card Susan, you have created a great scene here with a very dramatic sky. Good luck and thanks for entering.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda - our skies in the Highlands do tend to be really dramatic which is one of the reasons we love living here - my other half is a landscape photographer! Susan x
DeleteSuper Susan, a great card and a wonderful story. Love the scene you have created and the background works so well. Thanks for sharing your creation and good luck.
ReplyDeleteThanks Naomi - I really hope he likes the card! Susan x
DeleteWhat very beautiful scenery you have created. Colour and composition are lovely. Thank you for sharing and best oh luck in the challenge x
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Emma - hope your foot recovers enough to make it up Ben Nevis as the scenery from there will be breathtaking! Susan x
DeleteHi there Susan. Firstly I just noticed my previous comments landed on your page twice...blogger playing up...but it is worth a mention more than once. Secondly I just wanted to say thank you very much indeed for popping over to my blog to leave such a lovely compliments of my new Design Piece for May. Very nice of you to do so. I am replying here as unfortunately blogger has omitted a reply button (I have two other lovely ladies that this happens too) on my blog next to your name and I didn't not want to reply to you. Big Hugs and still wishing you the best of luck in the challenge. Hugs xx
DeleteWhat very beautiful scenery you have created. Colour and composition are lovely. Thank you for sharing and best oh luck in the challenge x
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this card Susan. You've put together perfectly a great story, great colours, and a great big scary monster too! Thanks for entering the Clarity challenge, and good luck. Xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comments Barbara - Nessie isn't so very scary really, you just have to get to know her! Susan x
DeleteBrilliant card Susan, what a great imagination you have. Just love it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck in the challenge.
Hugs
Amanda
Thanks so much Amanda - glad you liked the design! Susan x
DeleteReally lovely card and well done on getting your blog on the go. I really must try harder :( Oh and I must get my gelli plate out again too. Thanks for the inspiration. Lx
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurane - I struggled a bit getting the blog set up, but I'm sure with a bit of practice and time I'll get it going fully. Enjoy playing with your gelliplate! Susan x
DeleteThis is a fab card Susan - very imaginative and I love the scenery. Brilliant composition and I have a feeling this will be "a keepsake" for William.
ReplyDeleteWishing you luck in this month's challenge and thank you for entering your lovely card xxx
Thanks Mrs P - I really hope he likes it!
DeleteCongratulations on making the Top 5 at Claritystamp Challenge Susan. I was really impressed with your lovely scenic card. Remember to pick up your Top 5 Badge to show on your blog. Well Done Susan. Hugs x
ReplyDeleteOh wow - I am so chuffed! Now I just have to work out how to show the badge on the blog - that will be the hard bit!!! Thanks for letting me know Emma X
DeleteIt is quite easy Susan. If you have any trouble give me a shout on FB. Hugs xx
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