Shaped Card - What a challenge?

This months Clarity Challenge was to create a shaped card. Decisions, decisions, what shape should I do? A rocker card or a diamond spring card, so I decided to have a go at both and then see which one I was most happy with. Only problem with this is I am happy with both as they are each so different. After looking at the other great entries I have decided to blog about the rocker card.

The first stage was to cut the various elements to make the card.

Using Sepia Archival and blending tool I created the backgrounds and stamped the poppy on the middle section.

Change of mind at this point as the section stamped with the poppy appeared to stark so I redid this with a Sepia background and then stamped the poppy which was then coloured with Spectrum Noir pencils. Liquid pearls and glossy accents finished this section. The wee folk were stamped in each of the small quarter sections using black archival. Using second generation ink I used a small floral stamp to create the background and then using a Tattered Lace alphabet die I added the word Remembrance. To finish the card I added some ribbon which I coloured with some Sepia Archival to match the rest of the card.

August Clarity Challenge

Well I have finally got up the courage to enter the Clarity Stamp Challenge. This month the challenge is based on the game of Tic-Tac-Toe. I decided to use the horizontal line, Stencil, Stamp and Grunge Paste. I started by putting grunge paste through the Cracked Box Frame Stencil. Whilst waiting for the Grunge Paste to dry I stamped up a small square of card with the following stamps NDC 102 (Alice), NDC 87 (Pine Forest) and the flowers from the Remountable Home Clear Stamp Set. I used the following Adirondack colours, Espresso, Meadow, Denim, Wild Plum, Butterscotch and Sunset Orange. I started by stamping Alice in Espresso and then masked before stamping the Pine Forest in Meadow. I then added the moon mask and using the cloud mask created the sky with a stencil brush loaded with Denim. The mask was then removed and the sun coloured with Butterscotch and highlighted with Sunset Orange. The meadow area was created using a stencil brush loaded with Meadow. Shadows were then added to the Pine Forest using a cotton bud and Meadow. At this point I removed the Alice mask and stamped the flowers along the bottom in Wild Plum using first, second and third generation. Alice was coloured using the Spectrum Noir pencils. Once completed I ran a black Spectrum Noir pen around the edge. To finish the design I replaced the stencil and using stencil brushes loaded with Denim, Meadow and Wild Plum I inked the grunge paste. In order to create some interest I then rubbed over the grunge paste with some silver Metallic Wax Polish. After trimming the card I then went round the edge with a black Spectrum Noir pen before mounting on a card blank.