Monday 10 March 2014

Dappled Dragonflies

Hello everyone.  Alison (butterfly) here with a lighter than air hanging board to share...

I wanted to play with my new Crafter's Workshop Specimen stencil - and it wasn't until I was editing the photos that I realised the shapes from it echo the concentric ripples on water as the dragonflies dip and skim over the surface.


This is one of the smaller papier mâché icons, which had a good coat of DecoArt Titanium White paint to start with.


Then I blended Distress Inks through the Specimen stencil, merging Peacock Feathers and Peeled Paint.


I also layered in some stamping using Distress Inks with the Mini Polka Dots and Sequin Waste Open background stamps.


The dragonflies, from the Insects and Butterflies stamp plate, are stamped in a blend of Archival Inks - Aquamarine, Blue Violet and Olive applied randomly to the stamp.


And where the wings went over the edge, I stamped the rest round the corner!!


The sentiment, Dragonfly Words, was stamped in Olive Archival on a mop-up tag which was lying around, so I'm not sure exactly what's on that, but I added some Peeled Paint and Peacock Feathers to it too.


I used clear embossing powder over the stamping and stencilling to give it all a watery shimmer in the light.


I spent some time turning it this way and that to try to capture the darting light reflecting off the images.


That's your lot for today - I'm trying to keep it short, but you'll know I'm not very good at that!


Do come and play in our Letters, Words and Numbers challenge this month but, for now, thanks so much for stopping by, and I'll see you again soon.

Ingredients used:
Artistic Stamper stamps: Insects and Butterflies, Dragonfly Words, Sequin Waste Open, Mini Polka Dots
Crafter's Workshop Stencils - Specimen
Distress Inks - Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Peeled Paint
Archival Inks - Aquamarine, Blue Violet, Olive
Papier Mâché Icon - small
DecoArt Titanium White
Wow Clear Gloss SuperFine Embossing Powder

41 comments:

Linda M. Cain said...

Fantastic creations!

Brenda Brown said...

Beautiful and full of the promise of warmer weather to come xx

Marci said...

The speciman stencil looks really useful, and love the dragonfly stamp. Really beautiful!

Michelle said...

Fabulous!
Makes me yearn for Spring! :)

Anonymous said...

Fabulous creating Alison! Wonderful post and appreciate you describing everything so well! TFS!

Unknown said...

The colors you use always capture my eye and I just wish I could touch this Alison. It's so pretty and what a great stencil to work with. :) Hugs

massofhair said...

Beautiful tone on tone project, love the stamp & stencil match it works very well. Great idea to stamp the wings around the sides & highlight with embossing powder. Stunning as usual Alison:-) xxx

Nan G said...

Love the shimmer you've gotten with the clear e.f. Gorgeous dragonfly stamps. Now I need this stencil!

Mona Pendleton said...

Beautiful project Alison! Love the pretty color palette!

Helen said...

had to come for a proper look - it's just beautiful, your trademark colours, I love them!!

Sid said...

Lovely piece !!

craftytrog said...

Beautiful!!! xxx

Rita said...

This is so stunning Alison. The blend of colours enhance that gorgeous Dragonfly. I do love your chosen sentiment too. Enjoy your Day. Hugs Rita xxx

Paula Whittaker said...

wonderful creation.

Kezzy said...

Wow absolutely awesome hanging, I love the colours and all the stencilling plus the stamping and embossing is amazing :-) Kezzy xxx

Pam said...

Gorgeous!

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

A stunning hanging Alison...looking at it...I got happy...amazing :-)

Redanne said...

I love the sentiment and your dragonflies are just gorgeous on this beautiful hanging. Anne x

Tincan Crafter said...

I love how you made the dragonfly wings bend over the side of the canvas - have to say that I love it again, loved reading about all the details in this post!

Astrid Maclean said...

Lovely hanging with gorgeous layering!

lafée said...

hummm une bien belle libellule sur un fond vert d'eau!!!magnique

May said...

Simply Beautiful Alison... Thank you so much for the great tutorial...Hugs May x x

Kay Wallace said...

Just magnificent art, Alison! Love that your used several randomly placed inks to create the dragonfly. Very artistic, my friend. Also, very creative to have your images spill over the sides! A stunner in my book, Alison!

Jennie Atkinson said...

Fabulous (as always) Alison. I love the colour combinations and the fabulous layered stamping x

Carol Q said...

gorgeous Alison!

froebelsternchen said...

fantasic .. I love all about it Alison!

Corrie Herriman said...

Normally green isn't my colour but this is wonderful. FAB !!
Corrie x

Dianne said...

BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT, the colors are fab-u-lous,love the stencil, now your dragonfly is SUPERB, the stamping, perfection, looooooooove ti thanks for sharing.. (((BIGHUGS)))..

Paper Profusion said...

Gorgeously light and fresh Alison. Nicola x

Geraldine said...

Beautiful piece, love the stencil and stamps used. The shimmer and colours are fantastic. Love reading all the details.

Anonymous said...

So beautiful. Gorgeous colours, the texture from the embossing is great & I love how you stamped the wings on the sides.

cathylynn said...

What a marvelous canvas! Love those dragonflies! You've done another amazing job!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Hettie said...

Haa Haa! I was drooling over this so much last night I forgot to leave a comment! As you know I absolutely love this. That background is wonderful and the dragonfly looks like it will take flight again any minute now.
Hugs
xx

Juliz Design Post said...

Stunning tone on tone and layering of stamps and stencils. Julie x

Kyla said...

Oh I love this.
Dragonflies are one of my favorite insects and I love the fact that you stamped round the edge and the shimmery water effect is really effective.

kyla

Julie Lee said...

I love everything about this canvas: the wings that go over the edges; the shimmering colour; the ripples and the sentiment. This is a fresh and springlike canvas: beautiful! Julie Ann xx

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Fabulous! I love the clear embossing you've put hither and thither on your piece. It adds to it. I adore the wings stamped over and around the edge, what a nice touch!

Kelly said...

I love the look of the dragon flies! gorgeous color Alison! Is this one for me! hehe
Hugs Kelly

Jeannie said...

Absolutely GORGEOUS!!

Peace & Luv,
Jeannie

Jools Robertson said...

Beautiful, love these stamp they are so realistic
Gorgeous colours and the iridescent effect is stunning so realistic
Love how the wing tips follow the canvas around too

Jools x

Sue said...

This is beautiful Alison, I love how the wings wrap around your icon, and the clear embossing is perfect xx