Cock-a-groovi-doddle-Do!!!!

Cock-a-groovi-doddle-Do!!!!

Hi there.
Good of you to drop in this Saturday!
I’ve emptied the fridge, 
(which was starting to resemble a science project);
I’ve been to Waitrose and filled it again.
So now I’ve had my domestic fix, we can move on!
On Thursday, when I was on HOCHANDA,
I showed you a piece of artwork combining 
Stamps and Groovi work.
Maria’s been doing this beautifully for months;
I just took a while to catch up!
I really like the look.
See what you think….
What’s not to like!
Let’s check out this new-not-new idea, shall we?
Stamp the Cockerel on a piece of A5 parchment, 
using Black Archival,
LET IT DRY FOR HALF AN HOUR.
Then mask it off.
Then out with the new and fabby chequered frame from the
(well worth investing in. Excellent and versatile)
Position your window.
LET IT DRY FOR HALF AN HOUR.
Blot it. That’ll help….
Once the ink has dried, we can get on with the Groovi work!
As always, work from behind.
I just used the plates in the Groovi Starter Kit to create a landscape.
The rays from the sun are made using the straight line on the landscape plate.
This is what it looks like from the front.

Let’s add a fence.
I have used the tree trunks from the tree plate for this.
Single posts,

…then double them up.

Next join them.
Bit wobbly, but would certainly keep the sheep in!

Let’s check from the front again…

Now get the blue mat out, the soft side,
and let’s do some whitework on the chequered border.

Now starts the magic…

Soft feathery strokes with the No. 4 tool, 
to establish where the sunlight is hitting the cockerel.

Flip to the hard side of the blue mat 
and let’s bring this old cock to life!
So to speak….

I combined colouring pencils and Distress markers.
Always work from behind.

Check the front.
I enjoy checking my progress.
It tells me what to do next.
Much like Life really.

Using a Claritybrush and a yellow ink pad, 
let’s add a little haze to the back.

Not too much though.
Or you, like me, can then spend 10 minutes trying to rub it off again!

Cut out the whole piece now, using good scissors.
Take your time.
You know that delicate Picot cutting that parchers do so well, 
with piercing tools and grids and such?
Well, I’ve got a week to master that, 
because I is doin’ it on live TV on Mother’s Day!!!
Yikes!!!!
So back to basics today!
Run 3mm double-sided adhesive round the frame.
And a tiny piece at the root of his tail feathers.

I found an old scrap of copy paper which I hadn’t thrown away, where I was clearly cleaning off the brayer as I worked.
Perfect!

Spray mount this piece to a bright yellow card, for zest.

Stamp up the Cock a Doodle Doo on scrap 
and edge with a black Sharpie.

So you see, you get that translucent and dimensional effect from the parchment, but the crisp stamped image in black.

It may not be traditional parching,
but hey!
It works for me, old stampin’ Annie!!

The sun is shining and I think it’s time for a walk.
Stretch the legs and calm the mind.
Have a great day!
Love always,

82 thoughts on “Cock-a-groovi-doddle-Do!!!!

  1. I've not seen the first show from Thursday, got it recorded ready to go, this looks fabulous, only been groovin since Christmas, but enjoy learning, and already have tried stamping and groovi together, though a work in progress for both. Enjoy your walk, I'll be going for my walk later. Thanks for your daily blog, I always read it, though, don't comment very often. Good Luck for your Mother Day show, I'm sure it will be great as it always is. Janine x

  2. Wow this looks fantastic, I'm still catching up with the shows. Enjoy your walk. I've just been watching various birds in the garden from my kitchen window, the simple pleasures in life x

  3. I love the combination of groovi and stamping together, it works so well. Your demo is particularly gorgeous. Oh my, those dear little roosters are definitely going to be dropping into my basket sometime soon!!!
    Have a lovely walk. I hope the weather is as nice for you as it has been up here in Durham this morning. Although the clouds are gathering as I look out of the window at the moment! Just have to have a cosy crafting afternoon xx

    1. Afternoon Morag it took me ages to get these stamps but now I have I love them. They are a great size too so they are really good as a focal point. We have grey skies here and its so cold. Definitely a craft afternoon in the warm! Xx

    2. Afternoon morag I've just got this set of stamps ready for the calendar challange where are the months going thinking of you lots of crafting hugs xxx

    3. Afternoon to you both. I might just have to put the roosters further up my 'need' list now!
      It's a bit scary to think that we're nearly into March already! But I've sussed it out, for myself anyway!. It's not the time that's going faster…it's me that's going slower haha! xxx

  4. Oh thank you so much Barbara, I can now keep this and refer back to it, I am also looking forward to Mothers Day when you are doing the groovi/parchment, don't worry you will be fine with the scissors………says me who always gets it wrong.

    Stay safe, healthy and happy, hugs, June Smith xxx

    1. Afternoon Donna happy crafting I've been doing a little more sorting out my craft bits just sent for some craft boxes to match the colour of the decorating in the craft room so they will blend in better resting again now hugs xxx

    2. Afternoon Donna, hope you're having a good craft session. I used this months gorgeous stencil earlier, what a difference the Clarity Card makes. Up til now I've been using up all sorts of different cards for stamping…wrong!!! xxx

    3. Hi everyone, glad you are all having a crafty day using stencils or sorting out. I agree Morag its amazing the difference the right card makes to results. I have been making cards and singing along to the new Adele album. Keep crafting! Xx

    4. Hi Donna
      We were at a craft show yesterday and pretty shattered when we got home so I fell asleep before I had a chance to comment! Hope your Mother's Day card is going well xxx

  5. This is lovely. You well and truly cheered up that old cock. Love the combination of stamp and Groovi. Not really any different to a Parcher tracing and mapping the image – just simpler. Good luck with learning how to prick & snip this week. I always get a sore finger from the ends of the scissors! Hope you've got plenty of time set aside, or plenty of prepared samples (emergency call to DT groovers). Enjoy your day. Love and hugs, Jeanette xxxx

  6. I really enjoyed this project when you did it on TV. I have the hen and cockerel stamps but haven't used them yet. Up here in the Highlands there is not a cloud in the sky, it is a glorious day, my spirits are fairly lifted. This morning I even cleaned the windows outside, easy when you live in a bungalow. This afternoon I intend pottering about and getting into the back room to do some crafting with the sun streaming in. Life is good.

    1. Thanks girls, I had a bit of disaster this afternoon. I had a piece that I had done a while ago with wee boys and the bokeh effect and I decided to finish it off and mount it on a card. I only put it on the base card upside down so it opened the wrong way. I tried to trim it off the card but made a mess of that as well. Oh well, I think I'll get groovi in front of the tv tonight.

  7. Looking forward to the Mother's Day Groovi 'snipping' as I still can't get the picot edges even enough for my liking, so looking forward to some pointers.
    Chequered stamp set due to arrive in a couple of hours time, thanks to the brill delivery service. Yippee!
    Had a chat with Mike when he returned from a PM seminar yesterday as I'd read your Thursday comment to me re the Open Days. Suffice to say, I'll be there!!!! Mega Yippeeeeeeee!

    I'm watching a beautiful little bird – a Blackcap (male is pale dove grey with surprise, surprise a black cap; female is more of a brown with a russet cap) which is over-wintering here in our garden for the third year in a row.

    Enjoy your walk – beginning to dull down here now. ;~}

    1. Afternoon Shelagh your little verse yesterday made me smile done a little more sorting out in the craft room today it will take a while but resting now happy crafting xxx

    2. Gave up watching the rugby and went to my room too. Have a few things to complete for up and coming Mother's Day, birthdays the Easter.
      Still have the bags and boxes – just as well as I managed to tip a big box of little card scraps over the floor this morning. A pity they're too big to hoover up. Lol!
      Enjoy taking it a bit easier now. My teaching maxim was 'tiny attainable targets or 'TATs' if you like and for some pupils seeing progress regardless how little was a great confidence booster.
      Enjoy the rest of your w/end. ;~}

  8. This is beautiful Barbara, I've got the Rooster set but not used it yet, will have to order the Art Set, lovely combination stamping and parchment. Haven't tried snipping yet, think I may struggle with it. Good for you trying it out in TV. My design club envelope arrived this morning yippee, love all three elements. Enjoy your day.xx

  9. Wow! Now we're talking! I'm coming late to the Groovi party – just not really taken to the delicate parchment work – but this combination of stamp & parchment is something else! What I need now is for some Baby Groovi Plate designs that will allow me to give this a try – it was the dinky size that persuaded me to overcome my resistance to Groovi and sign up to the New Design Club – small is beautiful (and less intimidating for a beginner)!

    I want to say, too, how very much I appreciate the tips you share about how to shade/colour/draw … I've never felt able to draw or paint, but your explanation of where to add highlights or shadows, or how to draw a simple bird on a wire or boat in the water, is always so helpful- you really encourage non-artists like myself to have a go and, following your lead, we can get decent results which encourage us further. So thank you for that

  10. Afternoon Sheila, Diane, Brenda and Dot, hope you are all ok and hopefully getting some sunshine, cloudy here but luckily no rain. Have a lovely day and hope you are able to do some crafting. xxxx

  11. Beautiful Barbara, I am looking forward to learning how to do the fancy cutting. I can't thank you enough for the groovi, I've so wanted to do parchment for so long but could not get a grip on it but the groovi set has really made it so I can and I'm loving it ! So thank you everyone x

  12. What a lovely idea. Can't wait to see what new things you have for us on Mothers Day! I've often thought about the fancy cutting but felt it was old-fashioned (sorry traditional parchers) but combining stamping and groovi seems to be right up to date. Excited!! x

  13. Groovi and stamping make perfect partners. At the risk of making him even more 'cocky' he's a handsome piece of work. That frame is amazing too. I saw your demo the other day where you bent it every which way – brilliant.
    Tonbridge Sue

  14. loved this today and on Hochanda. I too really love the combination of parchment and groovi. So great to hear you have teamed up with Pergamano thats a marriage made in heaven! Can t wait to try out the next steps x x x

  15. Hi Barbara
    A match made in heaven-your lovely stamps and Groovi. I don't have the Chickens yet but I do have the geese. When I have completed some projects that are outstanding I will have a go. Enjoy your walk.
    Hugs from Chris X

  16. Hi Barbara – you sound as if you are in a really good place today, which is wonderful to hear! Well done you! I loved watching you doing the combination of stamping and groovi on tv, and the result is stunning! Looking forward to seeing you again on tv – on Mother's Day! Hope that you enjoyed your walk, Hugs Gilly x

    1. Hi Sheila! I hope that you have had a good day crafting in your newly sorted craft room – or has it been a case of still sorting out? Take care and special crafty hugs are on their way to you, hugs Gilly x

    2. Afternoon gilly yes still sorting a little at a time looking forward to crafting when boxes sorted only one to go now sending you lots of crafty hugs your way dear blog friend xxx

  17. Stunning art work you sound a lot brighter today Barbara hope resting yesterday helped and visiting your parents I tried stamping on parchment after Paul's show didn't work for me but loved how you showcased this on hochanda I've just ordered the jigsaw pieces couldn't resist happy crafting hugs xxx

    1. Hi Sheila good to hear you are nearly sorted with the craft room,, the coloured boxes sound good. Will you be hiring Tom out when you've finished? At a good hourly rate you would be able to afford more craft stuff!!! 😀Xxx

  18. Hope you are feeling more relaxed. Got my Diamond club goodies yesterday – lovely – however I have just had a "memorable moment". Versamark and glitter on stencil, card and fingers! Can anyoune tell me please how to get the sticky off the stencil. I have tried soap and water, baby wipe and stamp cleaner but at least my fingers are clean!

  19. I love this so cheerful! My sister has hens so may have to get them haha!
    My wish list is getting longer by the day. I wonder Barbara if a star nest for the baby Groovi is in the plan at all, or even the usual size? They would be so useful. Have a fab weekend. Xx

  20. Hi Barbara, I loved watching you demo this beauty !! I'm so glad you have blogged the tutorial, thank you.
    I have cut my front grass and done the borders this afternoon, now my back is complaining bitterly, I'm off to soak in the bath now haha. Hope your walk charged your batteries.
    Lots of love from Patricia xx

  21. Hi Barbara, I loved watching you demo this beauty !! I'm so glad you have blogged the tutorial, thank you.
    I have cut my front grass and done the borders this afternoon, now my back is complaining bitterly, I'm off to soak in the bath now haha. Hope your walk charged your batteries.
    Lots of love from Patricia xx

  22. Hi Barb,
    I loved this when I saw you demo it on tv and really pleased I've now got the step by step instructions to follow especially for the colouring in on the cockerel's tail. It really does look like the sun is shining on him. I bought the stamps in the members' sale and was not disappointed. Hope you had a lovely walk. Good luck with the snipping, mine never seems to go right and my fingers tend to hurt – I think they're too fat for the scissors lol! I will persevere though because I love how it looks when done properly. Looking forward to next week's shows. Love Alison xxxx

  23. I'm so glad you've blogged this Barbara. It was my favourite demo as it's a great piece and it has so many techniques I'd like to have a go at. I hope you have a relaxing weekend. x

    1. Hi Lynne I had a quick peak at your website last week as Barbara has put them all on the blog, marvellous, you are so talented even mire inspiration for us, thank you. Xx

  24. Thanks for the great tutorial. Loved watching you demo this and was so happy when you said you would blog it. Hope you had a great day with your parents yesterday. Looking forward to seeing the shows next week and watching how you do the picot cutting. Haven't tried that yet. Just getting into Groovi, although I have quite a library of plates. Anxiously awaiting the arrival of my diamond package.

  25. Love the groovie chicken love them stamp got the geese to today do need to play with them and groovi meet stamps had great day at clarity East Midlands made four cards using garden stamps xxx

  26. Hi Barbara, thank you so much for your advice yesterday in directing me to Hochanda.com – I have found it and am one happy bunny. Now I have your lovely tutorial today and can watch as well. I am a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to technology so thank you all for helping, I have really missed watching the shows!
    Love this idea of stamping and parchment,looking forward to having a dabble. 🙂 xx

  27. Wonderful, glad you mentioned about leaving to dry for half an hour, I tried stamping on parchment last week and found out it did not dry very quick. I had a lovely design on my embossing mat but like the white lines it wiped off with baby wipes. You will master the picot edging, I find it so relaxing. I shall have to record shows as I am at a wedding fayre with my future daughter-in -law. Will be glad to put my feet up when I get home and catch up. xx

  28. Hi Barbara
    Gorgeous piece,think I must have these stamps
    I share your blog with my partner most days,he love what you do and enjoys watching you when your on TV,he likes the way you explain how each step is made.He really likes todays piece of art.

  29. Love this piece. The frame is just amazing. Just back in from my friends where I did a craft party for her daughter's 8th birthday party with 12 girls. We did shaving foam canvases with a word from the word chains. The girls were all amazed at their pieces of art they created. We also painted t shirts and filled jars with coloured saltchalk. It was fabulous to share craft with the girls and see the joy they got from being creative.
    Just going to get a glass of wine and watch some TV to chill out for a while. Hope everyone else is having a good weekend.

  30. Love this piece. The frame is just amazing. Just back in from my friends where I did a craft party for her daughter's 8th birthday party with 12 girls. We did shaving foam canvases with a word from the word chains. The girls were all amazed at their pieces of art they created. We also painted t shirts and filled jars with coloured saltchalk. It was fabulous to share craft with the girls and see the joy they got from being creative.
    Just going to get a glass of wine and watch some TV to chill out for a while. Hope everyone else is having a good weekend.

  31. Hi Barbara loving the stamping groovi combo havnt had any internet all week and was having severe withdrawal symptoms till it was eventually fixed today, have spent the day catching up on the blog and Thursdays shows thankyou thankyou Hochanda for the catchup button.
    Congratulations on your awards very well deserved for you Dave and the team.
    My Diamond parcel came today as well the stamp,stencil,groovi plate are just fabulous so glad I joined worth every penny and more.
    Glad to be back…Dot..xx

    1. Hi Brenda how yi doin how did the boiler day go hope you managed to cope ok and not be to stressful for you was thinking about you yesterday.
      Lovely sunshine here my side today but spent most of it looking out the window for the virgin guy. anyway here is an extra squishy cuddle coming yir way…xx

    2. Hi Dot lovely to see you back, did miss you, wondered where you were, now I know. Blinking technology we're lost when it doesn't work aren't we. I didn't get on here for a few days either my Kindle wasn't playing ball, I think Amazon did an update on it a few months ago, it's been playing up a lot since then. Sending you a big hug as you haven't had one all week.xx

  32. Hi Barbara
    I'm playing catch up as we were shattered when we got back from the Farnborough craft show yesterday. It was great to see Paul there spreading the Clarity word, he looks really well so the move to Clarity must be doing him good ( hello Paul I'm the random lady that came to speak to you!). There were a lot of people interested in groovi and it was great to see it alongside traditional parchment. Today's piece is stunning, I love the stamping with the groovi, it looks amazing. Thank you for the highlight tips, I can never get that bit right, but it comes with practice I suspect!
    Love Diane xxx

  33. What a lovely piece of artwork – I keep toying with the cockerel stamp set, and it pops in and out of my basket, but the more you use it, the more convinced I am that I need it, and a set of distress markers! Shame I've just had my birthday…Susan x

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