27 days remaining - a poem to share

Hi folks. Before I talk about this evenings blog entry, I've decided I will be pulling 5 winners of the finished pieces out of the people who have subscribed to my blog. For those of you who may not have been reading since the beginning of this crafty countdown, at the end I will be giving away all the projects (apart from a couple) to lucky winners...how is something I'm still pondering. Apart from 5 of you of course - that's plan number one. So, to follow the blog you simply need to enter your details in the relevant section to the right.

Now, something a little different. I wanted to share a little poem I wrote ages ago. I was going to use this for a stamp, or a paper - I might yet, I'll see what you think. Obviously it's me, so it has to be a little dark and twisty.

I decided to use my gelli plate to create the background. This is the first time I've used my plate!! I've literally had it years. I knew I'd love it - why didn't I give it a go sooner!! Ridiculously good fun and cool..

My first print was a bit rubbish, and I immediately wondered what was wrong with the Gelli plate - naturally, couldn't be something I'd done wrong....duh, I forgot to remove the cover.  Things went much better after that was sorted :)
The clean Gelli plate

The dirty gelli plate.  I applied two colours of acrylic paint, and also a gel medium to allow the paint to stay wet longer. I used a brayer to spread the paint over my Gelli plate

and then, just play.  This is so addictive.  I was gutted I started my blog post a little late today, as I haven't really time to mess about.  There's so much you can do with this.  I used stencils which I stuck into the paint, and lifted back off again, so leave their impression

This is another one I did actually, for this one I used a paper stub and a piece of circular card to add different patterns

I took one print, just using copier paper, and then applied a little more paint.  Not much, just enough to fill a few of the gapes

 This is a couple of the prints.  I must admit, they do look a lot more effective in real life. You can really see the markings and variations in colour

I then decided to write my poem on top, using a design I read in the Somerseat Studio's magazine - I think!!  It's really easy.  Just draw curved lines, and allow your lettering to reach the line.  It keeps the printing "in the lines" so easy to follow, but looks very arty.  I used a pencil and drawing pen

I'll write it again, just in case you have trouble reading the squiggly writing: 

Horace the Spider crept up

and said, 

"Tell me little girl, do 

I fill your heart with dread?"

Lucinda turned round, 

a smile spreading wide

"Why no, dear spider, 

do sit close beside."

Horace, not normally one of woe; 

Felt a chill run down his back, and replied,

"No, thank you, I must go."

The moral of this story, and do take heed

No matter how pretty 

and sweet

a girl may look

Never presume the contents

from the cover of a book

I will finished this off by either putting in a journal or on the cover :)