2017 #5 The Shed sign {by Helen Chilton}

2017 Topic 5: Blue and Ochre

Oh wow. It never ceases to amaze me how our bloggers are so flipping fantastic. This topic so far we have had such a range of amazing ideas, and Helen is creating a tile! If I had a holiday home these would be perfect as a border somewhere! She has used it a a plaque, wouldn't this be perfect on someones potting shed?! Now my head is spinning with ideas!
 
Hi there, Helen here on the blog tonight. I've decided to share with you a project stamped onto a bisque plaque. Bisque is unglazed ceramic and provides a brilliant surface for stamping on. These Scrapcosy stamps are very finely etched, yet every tiny detail has come out.

I like having the colour palette decided for me on occasion as the colour of a project is often the hardest thing for me to choose.

I was a bit concerned about the yellow ochre part of the brief as that is a pretty specific colour and I wasn't sure I'd get away with yellow ochre radishes. However as the radish stamp was pretty intense there wasn't much area left to colour! I cheated a bit on the leaves as I had to make them slightly green but I used the yellow ochre and blue to make it so figured that was okay! The blue palette offered plenty of chance to use different shades which was why I used it for the background.

You can see what I mean about the detailed stamping here. I always prep my bisque with a layer of paint before starting and then use a permanent ink pad to stamp.

 (stockist info here)

The right hand image was a bit too dense for me so I just took some of the ink out with a baby wipe.

And then you just happily paint away. I created some texture (quite by accident) by blotting with a baby wipe and decided to keep it like that. You don't need to mask off any images while painting the background as any stray paint will just wipe off.

This removing method makes creating highlights really easy.

The Fresco blues worked well for the background as I could use lots of different shades for colouring, stencilling etc. I love Scrapcosy's stencils which I've used here - they coordinate beautifully with her stamps.

 (stockists info here)

I've made a sign for someone's shed because that was ideal for the stamps I was using, but you can get all sorts of bisque pottery to decorate - tiles, coasters, vases, candle holders etc. Obviously if you're going to stamp directly onto the bisque then a flat surface is easier..After that you can just paint in your images and seal with varnish. If you've never tried it then have a go as you're in for a lovely surprise!

Helen

End signing off with your name, and links to your blog details/ twitter handle etc.
Blog: helenchilton.blogspot.co.uk

You are not the first blogger for this topic to say that ochre is a bit of a challenge, and yet for me  (even though I am a cool-colour-person) I would have to say ochre is one of most favourite colours ever. Partnered with blue it's always a pleaser. I think you have created another gem here Helen! Thanks for thinking outside the box yet again!~ Leandra

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