Friday 10 January 2014

Always and Forever Changing!

Hello all!  Alison (butterfly) here with my first Artistic Stamper post of the New Year.  I should probably have made a resolution about trying to write shorter posts, but I didn't, sorry!  I've another photo-heavy marathon for you (and remember you can click on the photos for a closer view).


I started with one idea in my head with this one, went via a completely different possibility and ended up in an utterly unexpected destination - but one that I'm very happy with.  In fact, it may be one of my favourite makes.


I'm afraid I don't have many photos en route since most of the way along I was pretty sure I was going to bin it.  Very glad I didn't now!


I started with one of the papier mâché icons and some PaperArtsy crackle glaze, but that's long lost under some heavy gesso and loads of ColorWash sprays.  What I can tell you is a little bit of how the background shaped up once I'd gesso'd over my first idea.


I started with some text, stamping the botanical definitions from Katy Fox's Encyclopaedia Botanica plate in Potting Soil Archival (just as well I picked Archival with everything that then happened).


I stencilled Walnut Stain Distress Ink through the Harlequin stencil - it's really pale because of being over the gesso - and then clear embossed it, using only a light covering of powder.  (Again, just as well I kept it in place with the embossing - it wouldn't have lasted through the spritzing.)


At this point I had a gentle neutral affair on the way - white background, dark brown stamping, and I was still planning to stamp one of Katy's flowers directly onto the icon.  But, in my usual fashion, I had more than one thing on the go, and chance intervened at this point.


I happened to use a kraft tag to mop up some white paint from the mat, and suddenly wondered how the flower would look stamped onto that instead... the answer was "lovely"!  This particular flower is from Katy Fox's latest Botanical 2 release, and it's stamped in Potting Soil.


But then it started looking a bit bland to me.  I thought I'd like just a little hit of colour in the background... hmm!  I got out the ColorWash sprays, with their yummy earthy, natural tones, and tried them out on a nearby tag which gave me lovely spray patterns and some gentle blending and dripping.  But when I sprayed them onto the gesso, they behaved very differently and I ended up with really full on colour going on - not what I'd intended!


However, thanks to the embossed Harlequins, there was a lovely resist effect in places that toned in with the whitewashed kraft tag, so I decided to persevere.


I stamped the Artistic Stamper Messy Art blots and splashes (Katy Fox again!) in Fresco Snowflake...  I hadn't used these before and, oh, how I love them now!


I added a couple of spritzes of Dylusions White Linen too...


... and dry brushed some Snowflake around the edges of the icon too.  Obviously, all this is being carried over the edges as usual.


I stamped one of Tim Holtz's Simple Sayings in Potting Soil onto another whitewashed kraft tag and cut it out and distressed it.


And I added some Idea-ology Linen Ribbon to the top of the tag.


My final brainwave was to add some "Diamond Confetti" chipboard from the UmWow Studio, and highlight it with a dusting of Snowflake Fresco brushed up from the bottom corner.


I'm really pleased with how these drift across the piece, echoing my embossed Harlequins, and adding a touch of dimension to the composition.


So that's me for today.  Thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope you'll come along and play in The Artistic Stamper challenge this month - Love is in the Air - we'd love to see you there.

Ingredients used:
Artistic Stamper stamps: Katy Fox stamps - Encylopedia Botanica, Botanical 2, Messy Art
Tim Holtz Simple Sayings
Papier Mâché Icon - large
Adirondack ColorWash sprays - Meadow, Stream, Denim
Distress Inks - Walnut Stain
Archival Ink - Potting Soil
Gesso
Fresco Finish Paints - Snowflake
Clear Embossing Powder
From my stash: Diamond Confetti by UmWow, Idea-ology Linen Ribbon (find similar here), small kraft tags

38 comments:

  1. Wow! So glad you persevered!this is fabulous. Love everything you've done. And, cool diamond confetti.

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  2. Awesome Tag! Enjoyed reading your journey with the sprays & the inks etc. Never seen the diamond confetti before, it adds dimension & texture!

    A beautiful cleverly constructed piece of ArT:-)

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  3. absolutely stunning Alison! Those textures are simply fantastic and the whole composition is GORGEOUS!!!!!
    The solors are as always a DREAM!

    xxx
    Susi

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  4. Thank goodness you carried on - this looks fantastic! I love the contrast of the blue with the brown/cream colours and those harlequins are a must have!

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  5. I can see why this is a favourite and wow! what a lot of 'happy accidents' along the way. Such a beautiful mix of media and stamping/embossing. Love this too Alison. Jenny x

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  6. Wonderful ideas Alison

    Love Chrissie x

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  7. So glad that you hung in there...it's a gorgeous result..well worth persevering and no wonder it's become a favourite...love all the texture and those super cute little diamonds just finish it off beautifully...hugs kath xxx

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  8. I love it when something doesn't turn out as you plan and you like it much better happens to me all the time. Fab final piece x

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  9. Really love this & so glad you didn't bin it! Thank you so much for sharing how you worked through it - a little bit of inspiration for me to keep going not always give in if I'm not happy with my projects. Really liking the diamond confetti too - may have to look for some of those....... :)

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  10. Too gorgeous to "bin" Alison enjoyed reading your creative journey.... don't you just love it when a project comes together lol!!

    MaggieH

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  11. Just fabulous Alison - amazing effects and I love the stamping on the tag. I love that you shared the creative journey with us - it makes be feel alot more confident about carrying on! Have a lovely weekend x

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  12. Wonderful hanging Alison! The multi layered background looks amazing and I love how the whole piece came together in the end!

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  13. So gorgeous Alison,
    all the layers of colours ,stamps and plaster, gives it a fantastic background, and the diamonds in 3-d makes it allive, and so beautiful, dear .
    Hugs,Dorthe

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  14. This canvas rocks and that's a good thing! Love that confetti and the colors and textures are dreamy. Of course the tag is awesome and makes this canvas phenomenal.
    Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

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  15. I can see how this has become one of your favourite makes - not only does it look beautiful now it is finished but at each stage you must have been thrilled with the way it was turning out! Hugs, Chrisx

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  16. I too, can see why this has become a favourite, it is so, so beautiful. I love the gorgeous colours, the harlequin pattern and those fabulous diamond shapes. I love that flower stamp too. Wow! Hugs, Anne x

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  17. That diamond confetti looks stunning...a great coloured tag with gorgeous details Alison

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  18. Thank goodness you didn't give up on this, it is completely gorgeous. And I love the diamond shapes.

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  19. Simply Gorgeous Alison, so glad you did not give up....Love it... Hugs May x x

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  20. An absolute stunner Alison with amazing texture and shabby chic beauty.
    Hugs, Fliss xx

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  21. So beautiful, everything fits together so well.

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  22. fabulous project! I enjoyed reading about your art process.

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  23. Hang on in to the very end I always say! The many steps ended in a perfect bit of arty goodness ;)
    xoxo SIoux

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  24. Stunning project Alison! Love the mix of beautiful colors and the metallic diamonds! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  25. Fabulous project Alison! Love the diamonds and the layers you've built up are fantastic! Sue C x

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  26. Fabulous canvas Alison and I loved reading about how the process went along and changed....a really beautiful result. Chris xx

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  27. WOW Alison, I understand well why you love it, this is a fabulous canvas!!! Your background is just amazing, with so many layers and different textures.. And the addition of these chipboard diamonds is fantastic!! Hugs, Coco xx

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  28. That is such a beautiful stamp and works so well with your colour palette.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  29. Wow Alison..your sneaky peak was beautiful and the full project is stunning..gorgeous layers and textures!
    Xxxxx

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  30. Oh my Alison, this is STUNNING, the background is fantastic, I love how it stamped on the tag, those diamonds look fabulous, what a GORGEOUS piece of art, thanks for sharing, I looooove it too..

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  31. I LOVE this Alison, I can certainly see why you persevered. The diamonds are wonderful, you know some seriously cool websites xx

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  32. Love this, gorgeous colours my favourites!
    I always love to see the stamps you use and the quality of your work and images is always impressive x

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  33. This also is a PIECE OF ART. Love the background, thanks for your explanation. Anneke.

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  34. Wow absolutely gorgeous make, I love the resist look of the background and the pops of white really brings in the tag, such a wonderful creation. :-) Kezzy xxx

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