I am rubbish with a brayer!!

[budgie]

I was so inspired by Barbara on Saturday, that I got out my brayer. I have had it about 4 years and only used it a couple of times (not very well I might add!). Barbara makes it look so easy, so I got it out, and gathered all my bits and pieces together and proceeded to make a right flipping mess! I am not going to give in though, I have got 200 clarity postcards to go at, so maybe by the time I get through them, I might get it right!

I had a brainwave this morning. I am going to cancel my subscription to Cardmaking and Papercrafting magazine and join Barbaras club instead. Costs about the same a month, and I would much rather have Barbaras stamps than the freebies that come with the mags. I can always buy it locally if it is something I really want (like the cute teddy stamps this month).

Off to practice some more, will let you know if I ever manage to produce anything half decent!

[LoobyLou]

I had a brainwave this morning. I am going to cancel my subscription to Cardmaking and Papercrafting magazine and join Barbaras club instead. Costs about the same a month, and I would much rather have Barbaras stamps than the freebies that come with the mags. I can always buy it locally if it is something I really want (like the cute teddy stamps this month).



What an excellent idea....... I have recently cancelled CM&P because they took a direct debit early and didn't inform me and I got cross, so I could use the spare funds for this idea too.

Looby

[budgie]

I have just done it! Can't wait for the first one to come.

[budgie]

I have improved a bit, but not much! I have managed to finish a picture but it isn't anywhere near as good as Barbaras! I didn't have the star stamp, so I used one from one of Sheenas sets, which is a similar shape, but isn't solid, so i had to colour the star in, an I went a bit over the lines. Also, the card isn't as good as Clarity card, I wasted so much today, i decided to use some cheaper card until I get a bit better. Might try again tomorrow with the proper card, see how it comes out.

[Clarity Addict]

The main trick with the brayer is to roll over very lightly to start with and flick the brayer at the end of each roll so that it spins. Watch Barbara carefully and you will see her do this. Doing it like this means you don't get lines (or not so many)
Also make sure that you are doing it on a flat surface, any lumps or bumps will cause strange marks.
It took me a long time to get the hang of brayering, so just keep practising!
Good luck!
Janet

[Phree]

That's not a bad attempt at all bugie, you're being too hard on yourself. The main thing is to not get all uptight about this - be brave when you remove any surplus ink of the brayer onto scrap - that was my early mistake - thinking that if I removed any more the brayer would be too dry. You can always ink it again if it starts to run out of ink, but you can't remove ink from your project once you have brayered it on.

One other thought occurred to me - you have seen Barbara use sponges I am sure - try masking the 3 wise men with some scrap - tear it along a rule for a straight but not too crisp edge - then sponge a tiny amount of ink under the 3 wise men to create a little shadow and a ground line for them to stand on if you see what I mean. The same treatment would work for the pyramid.

[Anne]

I have improved a bit, but not much! I have managed to finish a picture but it isn't anywhere near as good as Barbaras! I didn't have the star stamp, so I used one from one of Sheenas sets, which is a similar shape, but isn't solid, so i had to colour the star in, an I went a bit over the lines. Also, the card isn't as good as Clarity card, I wasted so much today, i decided to use some cheaper card until I get a bit better. Might try again tomorrow with the proper card, see how it comes out.

I can't see anything wrong with your picture at all, budge. And remember that Barbara has been doing all this brayering malarky for years... :)

[Wellington]

Budgie, I'd be so proud of myself for creating that card - it's lovely :clapping: A brayer is something I don't have (ATM) but Barbara certainly inspires you to have a play.

[Mistyblue]

I agree with Anne, I think your card looks great Budgie. I must admit though that Phree does some really beautiful cards with a brayer so she would be the one to listen to. I was really inspired by Barbara as well but havn't gone any further than that lol!! I really want to get more into stamping, brayering etc but have very few stamps, no brayer and very little skill :cheeky:

[budgie]

I think it was seeing her in the flesh that did it. She is such a lovely person, and I like her style. She is funny as well, and so natural. I have seen other people stamping at the show before, but no-one else has inspired me the way she did. I didn't intend buying any Clarity stamps when i set off, yet ended up spending a small fortune on her stall, and today I have joined her clubs as well. I am going to take DVD no 2 up to bed with me, to watch through in the morning before I get up, and go in for round 2!

I did the picture from memory, and totally forgot about shadows until Phree pointed it out. You can tell I am no artist can't you! Not to worry, hopefully will do better the next time, and what is most important, I enjoyed myself doing it!

[fabyon]

Sorry but although Phree got me a lovely brayer last year I've used it twice and can't seem to get along with it....I'll probably have a play with it tomorrow. :)

[Mothership]

What a fabulous card Budgie, :cool2:

[tru-ella]

a lovely card, never even noticed there was no shadows

[Purplepig]

I'd be well chuffed if I'd managed to do such a lovely card Budgie - well done! :)

[Rainbowwand]

you have made a great start, well done :clapping: