A new Technique…

A new Technique…

Hi

Went for our flu jab, which was pretty rapid! In one door and out the other! Literally one minute from entry to exit. God bless the NHS. Then went for an early walk up on the forest with Dave, to clear the head. Got to keep it in the day, stop projecting. Serves no purpose.

I decided to clear up my art room when we got back; what a mess it was!

Still hadn’t even cleared away the boxes of stuff from our mammoth birthday weekend a month ago. So thought that might be a smart thing to do. Good for the head, too. Time to reframe, recalibrate, rethink.

And then, I set to, with another demo for tomorrow’s Facebook LIVE TV show, using one of those lovely new Poppet Postcards. They are so cute! I don’t really do CUTE, but these are adorable.

Here’s where I thought of a neat way to make a mask. It’s obvious when you think about it, and most of us have got the gear to hand. But anyway, I’m doing it tomorrow, and I thought I’d share it here too.

Here’s the card we’re working towards…

I needed a mask for the Postcard Poppet. The stamps don’t have masks either, but we know how to stamp an image onto copy paper, overlay masking material and cut out, right?

How to do that with the postcard though…you could paint it with liquid frisket. That works, but 1) it mucks up your paintbrush, and 2) we haven’t got any. So let’s work with what we’ve got!! Blank mask material

..and Tracing Paper! Our daily staple in the SHAC!

Here’s what to do:

  • Cut a sheet of tracing paper into quarters
  • Lay it over the postcard image. Or ANY IMAGE YOU WANT TO MAKE A MASK OF. Secure it with Low-tack masking tape.
  • Trace round it with an 01 Micron art pen
  • Cut a piece of blank material large enough to cover the traced image
  • Peel and stick it over the traced image
  • Cut out.

When you look up really close here, you can see it’s not absolutely perfect. I could take more time, Or I could go to SpecSavers. But at this stage in my life, all I can say is:

That’ll do Donkey!!

It does the job for sure! And, with everything that’s going on in the world right now, I’m not about to sweat the small stuff! Moving on…

  • Pick 3 Distress Oxide colours, and pat them onto the small round Backdrop stamp.
  • Blend with a Spot-on Sponge
  • Spritz with water
  • Plant where you want it on the Postcard and press gently to distribute ink
  • Lift, to reveal lovely orb in the background. Wipe wet ink off mask
  • Peel mask to reveal clean poppet.

Now to colour the Poppet, and make her pop. I used both Pergaliners and Polychromos. We have both options in stock. Perga Liners are a good price and do a great job. Polychromos are professional colouring pencils, deluxe and worth the investment if you love colouring in.

We have some superb sticker booklets in our collection. The latest set is the Pinky Gray booklet. LOVE IT. Team these up with our Companion papers for a perfect finish. We have 4×4 inch double-sided and 8×8 inch single-sided.

Assembly time…

Next time you’re in Smiths, look out for the packs of Marker pens. They do a pastel pack which are fabulous for edging toppers like this.

Now when you look up close, that imperfect masking effort actually adds a quirky, screen printed effect. It ties into the whole whimsy, sketchy design. Well, that’s my argument, and I’m sticking to it!

The point is this: you can make a mask for absolutely ANY image – stamp, magazine, postcard – using tracing paper to transfer outline.

Paul has also done another blog, with all the actual POPPET products and beautiful samples from our oh- so-special Design Team. Let me find you the link..

.HERE.

Now that really IS a treat.

At 8am tomorrow, all the new show products will go LIVE on our website. Claritycrafts.com. So, all you early birds, head on over there and enjoy the additional discounts, introductory offers and all round good energy we are trying to rustle up.

Love always

Barb x x x

31 thoughts on “A new Technique…

  1. Loving all the sneak peeks from the Design Team and this technique looks fab too looking forward to seeing more tomorrow

  2. Brilliant Barbara. Loving those colours too!
    Looking forward to seeing this one tomorrow.
    Love and hugs. Xxx

  3. That’s lovely!

    We have our Covid and flu shots next Saturday – one in each arm I expect…. definitely worthwhile though!

    Just got back home from a week in Woolacombe – what a beautiful place and we had great weather, only a bit of rain on Sunday afternoon but glorious apart from that. I do love the seaside – couldn’t live much further from it here in the Midlands……! Some precious memories to treasure! 🌊🏜️🍦

  4. I seriously need a one to one lesson on creating a mask. I needed (urgently) a mask for a Land Rover stamp for an 80th birthday and after an hour, I gave up as I could not separate it from the paper. I am looking forward to the show tomorrow. Sleep well tonight. You know it will be a knockout. Xxx

  5. Superb blog and step by step. Thank you. No crafting tonight. My arms are sore from jabs. Also watching Rugby League semi final

  6. that’s inspired! Going to have to try that for the postcards!
    So looking forward to tomorrow’s shows – every cloud has a silver lining and it will be fab to be able to get early orders in, then just sit back and enjoy the shows
    Have a good evening xx

  7. Wish I had the poppet stamps and postcards at home right now as I feel I could complete this lovely card straight away! So pretty! I hope I remember to look at the Clarity page first thing, so I can order them before the rush! Haha.
    Hope you enjoyed the walk. It’s been a lovely day,weatherwise!

  8. Will be ordering early tomorrow. Made a list of the Poppets I have so I know what is missing and can top up the stash. Really looking forward to the 2 hours of relaxed crafting.
    Have a good nights sleep.

  9. Such a lovely project, and a great tip for making a mask! I hope to watch tomorrow, but have an order list to put in anyway, as I’m doing a volunteer celebration event in November and need supplies for that. Might need some treats for myself too!!! x

  10. Hi Barbara
    Snap we had flu and COVID jabs this morning feeling a bit rough now but not unusual I always feel like this. But it will only last a day or so but worth the pain.
    Love the poppet stamps so will take a look after my walk tomorrow. Hope it all goes smoothly tomorrow XX
    Love
    Ruth & Jackie xx

  11. I have my jabs this coming week, suddenly realised my Covid one is a couple of hours before the Workshop but hopefully I will fine – haven’t had a reaction before.
    Love the hints about making a mask for the postcards which make great art pieces. Only problem is I need some more hours in the day to use all my stash & try out all the ideas that the DT have come up with.
    The Poppets will definitely fly tomorrow – must remember to check the website out early to see all the new products x

  12. We had our Flu jabs this morning too (Covid in a couple of weeks). After, as we live in Bexhill and the weather was glorious we had a walk along the front and a coffee sitting looking at the sea and some large sailing boats: wonderful.
    Looking forward to tomorrow’s FB live and enjoyed the sneaky peak (as Paul says) plus the masking tip.

  13. Also had flu jab today and arm is a bit sore tonight but it will be better by the morning. Will be with you tomorrow at 3pm . Xx

  14. Going to red this again tomorrow, too late to take the demos in now, saw a card today where someone had made a poppet mask.

    We had our flu and Covid jabs today, which arm am I going to lay on in bed !

  15. Magic tip for the mask making, Barb! And the Clarity blank mask material is so much better than the old Post-it technique! 😄
    We’ve got our flu and Covid jabs on Wednesday!
    Great idea to have the new products available early! My order can go in and I’ll have plenty of time to chill for two magic hours of your amazing demos, tips & tricks and artful inspiration! And thanks to Paul for posting the Gallery from the super talented Design Team!
    Team Clarity rocks, and the way you all pull together in time of need is so uplifting.

  16. Well I never would have thought about making a mask for the Postcards, but it makes sense and opens up the ideas for back grounds to really bringing them up to the stamps!! Such an EASY step by step you have provided, great stuff!!!. I had My Flu and Covid together on the 3rd, the Drs used the local Y-M-C-A, more people/less time needed. Looking forward to Sunday, so see you then XXX. Just going back to the link for Pauls Blog. xxxxx

  17. Thank you for the ‘FACTS’ Barbara. A difficult time all round. Clarity does what Clarity does best and that is everybody pulls together. So much appreciated.
    I will have to work at the mask technique but not tonight.
    I am so looking forward to checking on the new stamps and following the broadcast at 3pm. Paul and Barbara together, WOW.
    To all the team, thank you.

  18. I have my jabs booked in for the 17th, I have a cold at the moment, which should be cleared up by then, just thankful its a cold and not covid. Looking forward to the shows, temptation beckons I think, although I really am trying to be good. Great tip with the mask. See you later! xx

  19. Fab tip about using tracing paper for the mask will definitely be using that one. Away from home at present so looking forward to catching up on YouTube. I’m sure it will all be fine as everyone has your back xxxx

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