Tuesday 10 December 2013

I am creating...

Hello all!  Alison (butterfly) here with a hanging that is nothing to do with Christmas - except for me giving myself the gift of a bit of playtime!  Click on the photos if you want a closer view of the fun I had.


It's full of my favourite things - materials and techniques - and there were a couple of experiments along the way.  I just kept following my fingers...


I started with a piece of mountboard and added torn book pages and lots of texture using both gesso and texture paste.


I applied the paste both freehand and through a stencil to create a less precise, slightly grungy look.


Then I had a play with adding a blob of Fresco paint, spritzing generously with water and then letting the colours trickle around the textures.



At times, I helped the paint along with a paintbrush; at others I just tilted the mountboard and let it trickle.  It's a technique I played with recently and wanted to have another go with, as I loved the results.


It's basically just two colours - Limelight and Inky Pool, blending and re-blending to create gorgeous blue-greens of all kinds.



The book pages ended up getting a bit swallowed, so I added some more, and used more gesso and some Dylusions sprays as well as the Frescos to blend them into the existing background.



In a recent trip to a certain Swedish furniture shop, I leapt upon some jars of coloured sand and chipped glass - and here's the sand putting in its first appearance on a project (the glass is still to come).  Cool texture!


The words are from the new Artistic Stamper plate, Journaling Words #5 (or "journalling" for the Brits!).



They're stamped on gesso'd book pages using Adirondack Stream.  You'll notice some Artistic Stamper Mini Polka Dots and Calligraphy stamping in the background too, done in Archival ink.


I just love these slightly mad fonts.  I added to the wackiness with a bit of extra text doodling using a Sharpie white pen and a green Stampers Big Brush pen.


Even having inked the edges of the mountboard with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink, I felt it still needed a bit more body to the whole thing.  So it was off to my favourite crafting material - a bit of recycled corrugated cardboard!



I inked it with some Gathered Twigs first of all, but that wasn't quite right, so I ended up adding my two Fresco paints to the edges too, and then gave the frame a good coat of Gloss Medium.


It was at this point that I decided to mount the words onto cardboard too, so that all got the same treatment.


It took a few goes, but worth persevering with, I think.  I love the glossy edges setting off the gesso'd central panel.


And I'm so happy with the texture and those painty effects...


It just really pleases me.


Another favourite crafting material, a bit of rough twine, and a couple of eyelets finish the piece off.


I had no idea where we were going when we started, but I do like where we ended up!


Thanks so much for stopping by today - and I'm sorry that it's not more Christmassy here.  Hope you like it anyway... it's always lovely to hear what you think.

Ingredients used:
Artistic Stamper stamps: Journaling Words #5, Mini Polka Dots, Calligraphic Mat #19
Fresco Finish Paints: Inky Pool, Limelight
Distress Inks: Gathered Twigs
Dylusions Sprays: Calypso Teal, Dirty Martini, Cut Grass, Vibrant Turquoise
Adirondack Ink: Stream
Archival Inks: Cobalt, Aquamarine
White Sharpie pen
Claudine Hellmuth Studio: Gesso, Gloss Multi Medium
Twine
From my stash: mountboard, corrugated cardboard, Prima stencil (but there are plenty to choose from here), book pages, Stampers Big Brush pen, texture paste (but this Soft White would work just as well)

37 comments:

massofhair said...

No matter your delightful project is not xmas based, a nice change of pace...

Must try the splodge & water running over the page technique (what a mouthful) myself as it looks fun. Always enjoy seeing your playtime results, this project is fabulous! :-)

Nan G said...

Fab project, butterfly! A refreshing break from all of the holiday stuff out there. Love the splodge n water treatment and soon to be tried by yours truly. And the glossy corrugated...divine! Another fabulously inspiring piece!

Margaret said...

Fantastic and a very cheerful sight (too much snow here...)! I love the paint blending!

Helen said...

I love this project, the colours are divine!

Jenny Marples said...

Love that trickling of colour through the paste on this Alison. A favourite and fun technique. Jenny x

sally said...

No tinsel in sight, not a snowflake to be seen, NOTHING is wrong with that :-) after all, if the shops can do Christmas in July then we can do non Xmas stuff in December!!! I happen to like this textured scrumminess very much.

Sally

Maggie said...

Gorgeous hanging great stamps.
MaggieH

Astrid Maclean said...

Love all the textures and effects here Alison and I can just see how much fun you had! Interested to note you have discovered the Big Brush Pens too, they have become a firm favourite of mine...

Julie Lee said...

This project just sings out Fun, Fun, Fun! Good for you to enjoy yourself and create something so inspirational too! Loving all the colours and textures on this! I want to play too! Julie Ann xx

May said...

Fabulous texture Alison, Love the colours & words... Brilliant creation...Hugs May x x x

krcmasterpiece said...

I love it. I have a gesso'd/textured canvas sitting in my studio right now! It had to dry overnight. Was thinking about how I wanted to apply color to it. Going to do your technique. Love it!!

Even love the cardboard showing. Adding the glossy medium really sparks it up.

cathylynn said...

So creative Alison! Girls just want to have fun and it looks like you did with ths beauty. The colors and textures are down right fabulous. I love the glossy look on the edges of the corrogated card board. All wonderful and yummy!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

craftytrog said...

A beautiful project, great texture & gorgeous colours Alison! xxx

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Big smile...see it hanging at your door as a kind of Do not disturb...lovely Alison!

Dawn Louise said...

Absolutely fabulous, I really love how you've created the colours must have a try with this thanks for tutorial too

Terry said...

I can see the fun you had creating this! What a great hanging so full of texture and gorgeous colors! Love it!

Dorthe said...

So much texture, and those juicy and wonderful colours on top makes a wonderful result. Your signs are amazing the way you treated them !!
Such a gorgeous sign dear Alison!!
Dorthe, x

Sandy said...

Alison, the background could stand alone - I love that just as it is!!!! I am eternally grateful for all of your instructions too for I do not have a clue what I am doing. I sure would like to drop in for a cuppa one day - do you make Victorian Sponge cakes?
Sandy

Corrie Herriman said...

Love, love, love the background and the colours you used ! Very creative beautiful project !
Corrie x

Titbelsoeur, mixed-media addict said...

thanks for this tut ! your card is just great !

Anonymous said...

I love it! All the textures look amazing.

Cocofolies said...

I love all the texture, colours (only two?!..), tips and techniques you put into it Alison!!! Love the text too - as you describe the happiness! :)) That's a great piece. Coco x

Words and Pictures said...

Yup... I promise it's just the two colours!! Limelight and Inky Pool... the magic of paint!
Alison xx

Teresa Abajo said...

Love love love! Look at all that delicious texture, and the green seems to glow out of the blue.

Mona Pendleton said...

Beautiful project Alison! Love all the texture and pretty color palette!

Jools Robertson said...

Beautiful, love the colours and the journal words
Will have to acquire those as an early Christmas present!

Hugs

Jools x

Almo said...

Hi Alison, this is wonderful how you have got such a mix of colours from only two paints. I also love the glossy effect on the corrugated cardboard very effective. Hugs Mo x

Gio said...

I love your experiments, Alison, you always push out of you boundaries, and I love it!

toni said...

Wonderful textures you've created Alison, I love the colour streaks and pools in the background. I must look out for the sand and glass next time I'm in that shop ! X

Brenda Brown said...

Beautiful background and wonderful colour mixing.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Artyjen said...

Lurve that texture! Fabulous ;)
xoxo Sioux

mamablitger said...

Just fabolous. Love what you created. You are very talented !! Love the frames and corrugated cardstock... Great effect you achieved..
Hugs from SPAIN

Sandra's Spot said...

Stunning Work Alison x

Anonymous said...

This would make such a fabulous gift for an art friend.
Gorgeous use of colour.
Wishes
Lynne

Jennie Atkinson said...

Just fabulous Alison - the colours are just stunning and all those textures are just wonderful. Lovely to see a non-christmas project x

barbarayaya62 said...

I love textures, colors, words ! FAntastic work as always! barbarayaya

Chris said...

Absolutely gorgeous Alison and I love all that gorgeous texture, I can see you enjoyed yourself! Chris x