Sunday 7 October 2012

By the light of the silvery moon...

The challenge at Sunday Postcard Art today is moonlight, and anything about Halloween is always a challenge for me.  It was late last night, the darkness all around and rain hitting the window pane when I was overcome by madness and my creation was born.....

Step away from the cleaning fluids now!
I didn't know if the idea would work but gave it a try.  I have a Paper Artsy stamp of a ruined monastery with a ghostly figure and I decided to try to stamp it with bleach on midnight blue card stock.  Yes, that's right - bleach!

I made the stamp pad from folded kitchen towel and applied bleach to the pad.  The first couple of attempts were a shambles with either the image being too soaked with bleach or not enough.  I realised it was impossible to get a clean image so I chose one that was under 'done' and used a paintbrush to finish up the monastery, and the moon.

The leaves around the sides and base are stamped in London Fog Gray and StayzOn black.  The moon was enhanced with some very translucent Golden Fluid medium in Zinc White.  The bats are actually swallows from a sea scene but I pressed extra hard on the stamp to make them fatter, voila bats!


There is no texture and I'm not sure this piece will survive very long since I didn't apply anything to prevent the action of the bleach continuing.  If you try this technique, it all depends on the type of paper what your results will be.  When I tried gray paper, the bleach removed the colour back to a pale gold.
Always wash your brushes and stamps quickly to avoid any damage.

12 comments:

  1. your ghost scene worked out perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You've created a real 'spine chilling' effect with your postcard, Liz, fantastic take on the theme!

    ReplyDelete
  3. WOW, what a fantastic result using the bleach, Liz! Good work!

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's fantastic, Liz! The bleach stamping does give a wonderfully spooky effect.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is wonderfully ghostly, Liz!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fabulous creation, the bleach technique makes really a mystery atmosphere, great work!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is wonderful! Great effect! I love stamping with bleach. I have never treated my paper with anything and have cards made years ago that haven't disintegrated, so it should be fine. And your bats are great too! I enjoyed reading about your process.

    Cindy :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ghostly, etheral and fabby! Thanks for the step by steps!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow this is wonderful! What a superb effect with the bleach. Very clever.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Turned out great...what a fabulous effect!! Well done, Liz!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. So beautiful and mystical a wonderful take on the challenge...marvelous artwork!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to leave me a comment, I really appreciate it - Liz