Monday, 24 March 2014

You don't bring me flowers...

Hello all, Alison (butterfly) here again, with a musically-inspired hanging for you today.  (Click on the photos for close-ups if you'd like to see more.)


This happens to me a lot... a phrase or song lyric will go round and round in my head until I'm pretty much forced to allow it to play along.  If you want to listen while you look, You Don't Bring Me Flowers is the song that invaded this creation!


I know this song was triggered by the new toy I was playing with to create the stone urn on this piece... there's something very melancholy about old stone planters in my head, and that dictated how this piece took shape.


Jennie has just added these fabulous Katy Sue Designs silicone moulds to The Artistic Stamper shelves.  There are some really lovely and intricate moulds - and I thought this little trio might have dollshouse potential as well as crafty applications.


I had meant to use some air-drying clay, but when push came to shove I wasn't patient enough to wait for it to dry, so instead I melted some beeswax in a tart tin, using my heat tool, and poured that into the moulds.


I sealed it with multi-medium, and then painted it with various colours, including the marvellous Stone Fresco.  The little mulberry paper flowers are from my stash.


Regulars will know that when I need melancholy, I usually reach for the Gibson Girls, and this woman was perfect for my purposes.


I stamped her in Potting Soil Archival onto some Distress Watercolour Cardstock, and then used a mask to allow me to ink and stamp around her.


I stencilled around her using the new Tim Holtz Doily mask, and stamped with my favourite Calligraphy Mat, but lots of the layers have almost disappeared under the final spritzing of Perfect Pearls Mist in Pearl.


Worth it for the shimmer - though it's hard to capture in a photo.


The book page ivy strands had been sitting around on my desk for ages (created for this art journal page at the beginning of February, but then that needed something darker).


Despite the layer of beeswax covering them, they're pretty fragile, so it's a miracle they've survived this long!


The watercolour panel is layered up over some distressed book pages...


... with some die-cut paper lace tucked under the edges.


Another crack at that shimmer here... with lace and book page and corrugated card and all!


The words are stamped on another piece of watercolour cardstock...


... torn...


... and inked around the edges.


And I used gesso and some Picket Fence Crackle Paint on the corrugated background to create a shabby chic look.


I rather like all the layers of distressed elements, and the masking of the main image which I think really makes her pop.


A couple of eyelets and some pale twine, and it's ready for hanging.


Thank you for stopping by.  There's still almost a week to join in with our Words and Numbers challenge - hope to see you there!

Ingredients used:
Artistic Stamper stamps: Gibson Girls #1, Calligraphy Mat #19
Katy Sue Designs Silicone Moulds - Pots and Urns
Tim Holtz Spring Greenery Decorative Strip Die
Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Doily
Distress Watercolour Cardstock
Distress Inks - Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo
Archival Inks - Coffee, Potting Soil
Fresco Paint - Stone, Snowflake and various others
Distress Crackle Paint - Picket Fence
Gesso
Ranger Beeswax
Blending Tool
Mini Blending Tool

37 comments:

Krisha said...

Funny how your Mojo gets hung up on a tune....LOL

Great piece of art, love all the layers and the details you added. She does look a little sad, and I will be humming that song until I go to bed!

maria's knutselplezier said...

What an amazing project , I really love it, the pot with the flowers but olso the layers and the colours , your lady is very sad because she doesn't get flowers anymore, I don't mind I like to recieve stamps more (lol)!!

Greetings
Maria

Dominike said...

So cute. I like the result.

Belinda Basson said...

Now I have that one line from the song going round and round my head! Love the layers and all the die cuts.

Helen said...

I didn't have time to listen to the song so now I just have the one line stuck!! I love the hanging, it is gorgeous, and you certainly captured the melancholic feel, perfectly. LOVE those molds, I think I have to get them and kick start either my beeswax or clay playtime!!

sally said...

It's so strange how our minds can get fixated with a tune or a saying, it really is a case of just having to go with it - it was often that way for me with embroidery pieces :-)
Your little "stone trough" is delightful and all in all it's a wonderfully nostalgic piece.

Sally

Sid said...

Fab with so much going on !!

rachel said...

I'll be singing that all day now - amazing piece - love it - have just started to use silicone moulds and these look fabulous! A beautiful piece Alison xx

chrissie said...

Fantastic ideas on this beautiful piece of art Alison. Love the urn mould and what you did with it. The sad song is brought out so well with the stamp you used.

Love Chrissie x

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Stunning layers and the molded pieces are gorgeous Alison

Dorthe said...

Dear Alison, what a beautiful hanger, -you captured so many wonderful layers and tecniques in this piece, and the feeling of sadness is right there, with the Gipson girl. I love all the papers and the pot with flowers, popping up all over your collage !
Hugs,Dorthe

Astrid Maclean said...

Fab hanger Alison!! Love the effect on the mold! Unbelievable to think there is beeswax beneath it! It looks so realistic now! Will have to check out those molds..

Unknown said...

This is a fabulous hanger Alsion, love how you've created this! The use of the moulds and beeswax is very kewl. Chris xxx

Anneke said...

Wonderful project. Love the color and the look of it. Anneke.

froebelsternchen said...

AMAZING Alison.. stunning and absolut masterly!

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful Alison...I may have to get that mould! xxx

Dianne said...

A-MA-ZING, I can stop looking at it it's all so fantastic creative, superb work, I'll be back after water fit to see it again, THANK YOU for sharing, it's a fabulous way to start my day, eekkksss...

cathylynn said...

What a beauty! I love the mould! I also just listened to the song that I have not heard in years. Pretty sad when a relationship dies. But... you did a marvelous job!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Deborah said...

Wow, I love that beeswax urn, Alison. I know what you mean about their melancholy air - the link with graves perhaps?

Sandy said...

Wonderful Alison - I do love that urn but it is sold out right now. I can think of tons of things to do with it especially at Halloween!
Sandy xx

Princess Judy Palmer said...

This hanging is gorgeous and so much detail and thought went into it. I love the stone urn that looks like stone and the dried dead flowers in it, but that one white one gives us a taste of hope.

Paper Profusion said...

Brilliant piece Alison and I am mightily impressed by the fab urn. Have to say that I dread seeing those Gibson girls - always know there is a downer ahead!! She is perfect for your gorgeously crafted hanging though. Nicola x

Unknown said...

Oh Alison, that's really gorgeous... I love these moulds also and the way (very clever) you have used it with beeswax!! Great make and tutorial as usual, thank you. Coco xx

Lisa Minckler said...

SENSATIONAL!!! I love that song so much and your rendition of it is fabulously crafted. The flower urn is incredible!
Thank you for always inspiring me. :)
hugs,
Lisa x

Jools Robertson said...

Fabulous, so much gorgeous detail
love the urn, really need to get those great Idea to use beeswax

Jools x

massofhair said...

So much love has gone into your Tag Alison! Thoughtful little touches and inspirational processes have definitely produced melancholy... STUNNING Tag:-) xxx

Anonymous said...

Wow! That's wonderful.

Brenda Brown said...

Beautifully put together Alison. You have created a very rustic and textured hanging with amazing details that are harmonious and eye catching. The recurring text paper adds great interest, especially the waxed leaves and I adore the little moulded urn and flowers. Xx

Amanda said...

So much to look at on this one, all makes up a great make.
Love
Amanda x

Redanne said...

The Gibson girl was made for this creation Alison, I feel so sad for her! You have an amazing ability to take a piece of paper and age it to perfection as you have done here. This is the most wonderful hanging and that little urn looks like real stone - I can see it being used in the dollhouses too. Anne x

Mary Elizabeth said...

Love this shabby chic project. So many wonderful details. Oh ... and by the way ... that song will not stop inside my head not. It's driving me crazy!!!!!! :) -- Mary Elizabeth

Kay Wallace said...

Of course, you are fully aware that I will have this tune going round and round in my head all day! But, still, it is so worth it. Love your hanging today, Alison! Neutral palette, but such amazing detail! You rocked it!

Unknown said...

Huge Neil Diamond fan here. :) I knew you were a cool chick Alison. Another inspiring creation and I love the urn. It's so realistic and I agree about them giving off a melancholy feeling. Kind of like they've been around forever. ;) Fantastic tag!

Rosetta Savage-Jenkins said...

I give you virtual roses everyday for this work of art and sing you Barbara Streisand songs, too! What a delightful mixed media showcase! You hit this one out of the ballpark!

lilyandthelotus.blogspot.com said...

Oh wow! stunning and fabulous art. I love the molds..now I want them
hugs
susan s

Lucy Edmondson said...

Oh wow I love those Urn moulds! Off to have investigate!

Lucy x

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow absolutely gorgeous stunning hanging and those molds are awesome:-) Kezzy xxx