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A few years ago, I had the opportunity to go to Ireland for eleven days with my daughter and her high school choir. We spent all of our time in the north part of Ireland from Dublin to Galway, and then on up to Northern Ireland and the Belfast area. I wish I had known Bridget, Clare, and Sabrina then!
It was a wonderful trip. One of the highlights for everyone on the trip was the Belleek Pottery tour. No one knew quite what to expect, but by the time we finished the tour we were all mesmerized and enchanted with what we had seen, and every person with the choir purchased something to bring home.
I was absolutely astounded at the careful, detailed work that is done there. If you are interested, you can see some of the other pictures I took here.
Anyway, our challenge today is inspired by that pottery (Growing up in Arizona, it's really more like china and porcelain than what I think of as "pottery.").
We have had a Technique Challenge where we inked up our embossing folders for a negative effect: TLC160 Cuttlebug: The Negative Effect 3/17/08, and this is similar, but there are some restrictions.
We want our backgrounds to look reminiscent of porcelain or bisque pottery/china, so we will be limited in what colors we can use. I have also posted some thumbnails of Belleek Pottery I took to inspire you!
Instructions: 1. Use white or ivory cardstockonly for your background.
2. Choose an embossing folder that has some negative space. Ink up the front or top side (usually where the business logo is) with a light neutral dye ink (you can use pigment, but the result will look different and not as subdued, plus it's harder to clean the embossing folder). Suggested ink colors: Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, and similar colors in other brands. Shadow inks would also work. I used my brayer for even coverage. My sample uses Sahara Sand. No dark or bright colors.
3. Place the white or ivory cardstock on the inside back side of the embossing folder (the non-inked side), close the folder, and emboss using your machine of choice. I used my Cuttlebug.
4. Open the folder, and voila! A nice, subdued, porcelain-look for your background!
5. Try to keep your design focused on the background, even though you will be adding other images and embellishments. In my sample, I stamped my sentiment in Sahara Sand, and kept my lamp image uncolored to not take away from the background.
I was going to make a tutorial for those visual people, like me(!), but then I found this awesome one that Diana Gibbs has done using this same technique HERE.
Remember when uploading to use keywordTLC361 (no spaces).
Have fun!! (And check out their website - the pictures are really neat!)
By the way, the price tag for the third photo I posted was, in 2008, 2190 pounds (about $3500). It was called "Prince of Wales Ice Pail." I didn't buy that.
Wonderful challenge, Judy. Reminds me of the few beautiful pieces of Belleek which I inherited from my Mother. I think your challenge is going to produce some really amazing cards!
Oh my, was this a wonderful challenge! I have never done this technique, but I definitely be doing more cards with this! Thank you so much, Judy!!! Here is my card:
This was my first try at this technique too and I loved it!! I'm not overly happy with the look of my card (had something totally different in my head, but realized that I didn't have all of the pieces to make what I wanted) but I love the way the background turned out. I can't wait to see the gallery!!
What a fabulous challenge today!!! Belleek is so beautiful. I am fortunate enough to own 2 pieces..Thanks for including all your pictures Judy (I went to your blog)..fun to see!
What a fabulous challenge. I have collected Belleek for years ..I love it so much especially the early pieces. I hope to get back later to-day to play. The gallery for TLC361 is simply stunning and it's still early.
For someone who DOESN'T have a brayer...what is the best way to apply the ink to the embossing folder? My first attempt (swiping it with an ink pad) left streaks from everywhere the ink was...Will it look like that with a brayer too?
__________________ Lisa~ Mommy to two precocious farmboys
Oh, this sounds like fun. We went to Ireland in August and I did get to meet Sabrina and her DH. We had such a good time we ALL forgot about taking a picture. :( I didn't get to see the pottery place, but will put that on my list in case there is a next time. This challeng is going to be real fun. Thanks, Judy.
I'm enjoying looking at all the beautiful cards today. I even have a lovely Belleek vase brought to me from a friend when she traveled to Ireland. My card is completed, and my camera has decided to die on me : ( Hopefully DH can figure out what's wrong with it later. In the meantime, I'll continue to view everyone else's lovely creations!
__________________ Claudia Splitcoast Fan Club Member