08-06-19 CLARITY STAMPS (June 19, 2008)
We were working with some quite advanced stamping techniques at class today.
Barbara Grey from Clarity stamps - http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/- is a pal of our craft shop and does 2 or 3 big craft sessions a year here for Janet. There was a workshop last Saturday, and the place is still buzzing with her ideas. You can tell when someone really knows and loves their subject - everyone else gets enthused and stays on a high for days after.
She is very into layers. Now, stamping does not take easily to 'layering' - it stamps over everything and looks a muddy mess! So what you have to do is build up layers of 'masks' that protect your work as you go along. It is the opposite of the way I work - I start with a base layer and add elements onto the top in various places until I end up with a design. With stamping - you stamp the top image, mask it - stamp the shadow detail, mask it - stamp the background, mask it - and so on. You are continually building backwards.
The image above is created by stamping the lady image on the card and stamping the same image on a post it note. Then you make a mask out of the post it note by cutting out the dress, bodice and hat shapes. Place the mask EXACTLY over the stamped card image. Then you can stamp a dress / hat pattern in a different pattern - anything really - the one used here was a leaf corner pattern.
The side panel is masked at the side line (so you get a good straight line), stamped with a corner leaf pattern, sponged to soften it a bit and edged with a satin ribbon.
I have to hold my hands up and say I am not a huge fan of the designs in general - or the way the Clarity Stamps work as a group. I find is very hard to hold the stamps comfortably (sorry Barbara - my silly hands) and get good even pressure. I do, however, like the clear backgrounds, and being able to see where I am going with the stamp.
I have signed up for her design course (it is only £20 for the year) and if there was a stamp I particularly fell in love with - well - I would (probably) buy it. But I will stick to my Wood ware ones (MUCH better value) and learn her techniques to do better work.
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