Shelagh Metselaar - Challenge 16

Shelagh Metselaar

Materials

Stamps – Horses and ploughman silhouette, large scarecrow, corn, harvest mouse, poppies, Farmer verse

• Fields stencil
• Inks – Staz-on black; Memento Jet Black; Distress inks – Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen, Peeled Paint, Iced Spruce, Black Soot
• Markers – Distress markers, Micron pen
• Gelli Plate prints

Method

1. I selected the main background from a selection of prints I had made when experimenting with the Gelli Plate – my first serious attempt! I chose this one as the top suggested a dappled sky and there is an illusion of a sun.

2. Using Staz-on, stamp the horses in the centre lower third.

3. Using Post-Its to secure, place the ‘Ploughed Field’ stencil over the image and sponge with Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen on the lower area and Peeled Paint and Iced Spruce at the top right where the hedgerow is. Sweep Antique Linen over the entire area to blend the furrows. Gently add a minute amount of Black Soot under horses and ploughman.

4. This was mounted onto black then Desert Storm before attaching to the card blank.

5. Again with Staz-on, stamp the verse in the top left corner. Outline and shade.

6. I selected another two Gelli prints - the maroon for the scarecrow’s coat and the gold spot for the corn field. (The gold spot was made by printing with a mesh fruit bag.) The scarecrow image was stamped first in Staz-on on the print and secondly in Memento Jet Black on Neenah Desert Storm then cut out. The hat, cross poles, coat-facings, pockets and patch were cut from the Desert Sand image, decoupaged onto the maroon image then decorated using the Micron pen.

7. The corn stalks and poppies were randomly stamped onto the gold spot print in Staz-on and a harvest mouse added before colouring in with Distress markers; the background was coloured using Scattered Straw and Frayed Burlap. These rows were cut out then glued onto the front mountain fold of the card stock before placing the scarecrow to suit.

The ‘Farmer’ set was a ‘must’ buy as my paternal grandfather was a champion ploughman. I remember viewing his gold and silver medals as a child and am lucky enough to have one in my possession. Whatever happened to the remainder, I have no idea but I do know that amongst them, was a very special one, minted especially for him as the ‘Champions champion.’