STAMPlorations March Challenge

Hi and welcome to a post to announce the start of the March theme/sketch challenge over at STAMPlorations. I have to say it doesn't seem that long since I was here to announce the start of the February one!

According to the Met Office, spring has sprung, well the lambs are in the field, daffs are poking their heads above ground but the weather is not cooperating! What do they say; March, in like a lion, out like a lamb. Well I hope that its true, the rain has been constant this last week. The fields are sodden and the stream down the track is flowing with increased gusto despite 'remedies' from the contractors. (Heavy machinery is due to be brought onto site for the work due to take place over the weekend of the 10/12 March, including overnight pile driving!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a good job we have over 12" thick brick walls.)

Anyway the dainty little snowdrops are managing to show their blooms above the muddy morass at the top of the lane, despite the best attentions of the contractors feet and tyres. They are the harbingers of spring, poking up under the bare hedgerow, snow covered or not, so ideal for this months theme at STAMPlorations.

Here is my inspiration card using Just Because stamp set.

I went with the theme

but you could be a sketch sort of gal

or you might prefer to combine the two, its down to you!

To start I taped a piece of MM paper onto board and masked off the ground with some low tack tape.

Using a green ink for the leaves I stamped the stems and leaves then covered them with paper masks before stamping the flower heads in pale grey. Then using a drafting pen, I covered the stamped outlines with masking fluid. When dry I sprinkled Turquoise Brusho over the left hand side and spritzed it with water and some Prussian Blue Brusho mixed with water. The masking was removed when everything was COMPLETELY dry! I then used my Zig brush pens to colour the snowdrop stems and flowers. The snowy bank was given a wash of various greys then sprinkled with sea salt crystals and left to dry. The salt was removed to reveal a slightly mottled surface.

A white die CUTplorations 'happy' was added along with a white heat embossed Happy Birthday from the Balloons and Banners set on a black strip.

For more fab Spring and Sketch inspiration please check out the rest of the DT and GD here, where you'll also find all the Ts and Cs.

Here are a couple of spring lamb pics I took late yesterday when the newest batch arrived in the trailer.

Sorry this is a little blurred but they were keen to be out and wouldn't stay still!

I'd like to join in over at -

Style - CAS Mixed Media? I never can work it out!