I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Sunday 28 April 2013

Flutter by, butterfly





Hello all!  Amidst all the exciting announcements, I've got an actual project to share with you!  


(If you've missed any of the news bulletins, the Our Creative Corner one is here and the Artistic Stamper one is here.)


The stamps for this are all from Artistic Outpost... the sentiment from the Typography plate, and the tiny hedgerow flowers (yup, you heard me - hedgerow flowers) from the Generation Redux plate.
















I started with a little papier-mâché hanging board (the small size: just over 5 x 2 inches and half an inch deep), Fresco paints, and a stencil from Magenta, and let it grow from there.











The Magenta stencil is adorable, with these tiny butterflies dancing all the way up.  I applied some Wendy Vecchi embossing paste through it onto the front of the board, and added a few more fluttering onto the edge of the board.












Once it was dry, I started to blend on my paints with a sponge.  Snowflake first, then some Ice Blue and Sky (appropriately, given that's what I wanted it to look like).










The final bit of colour blending was done with Peeled Paint Distress Ink, just to add definition to the edges.













It also gives a bit more of a grassy feel, especially at the foot of the hanging.






I used some tissue paper stampings of the sentiment to decide where and what colour it should be.

In the end I went for a blending of inks onto the stamp, Ranger Cobalt Archival, Memento Teal Zeal and Olive Archival shading across the words from side to side.

And once I'd worked out the position, I took the plunge and stamped it straight onto the board.










The flowers are stamped in Olive Archival; stamping repeatedly from one inking gives you the impression of plants in the foreground and in the distance.









Then it was out with the Distress Markers.  I coloured the butterflies with the brush end, and then added some fine detailing using the firm tip.

I almost think I liked it better before the antennae and dots were there - but there's no picture of that stage, so I'm afraid I can't ask for your input on it!













A simple little hanging then, but one that gives me pleasure... I hope it's done the same for you.

You've still got just a couple of days to join in with the April Referral Programme at Artistic Outpost: just one AO image, and your project will qualify for the prize draw - so come and play!

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  I hope your Sunday has been restful, restorative and has set you up for a wonderful week to come.  See you out there!

Flowers and butterflies drift in colour, illuminating spring.
Author Unknown

The green grass and the happy skies
court the fluttering butterflies.
Terri Guillemets





I'm entering this in the following:
Simon Says Stamp and Show are looking for Colour - from any medium - I've got paint, ink and markers
Country View Crafts have a theme of Butterflies this month
The Inspiration Journal have a couple of days left playing with Marvellous Masks and Spectacular Stencils
And I'd like to hook up to Hels Sheridan's Sunday Stampers, where all you need to do is use Blue

67 comments:

Amanda said...

Really lovely! Love that butterfly stencil.
Love
Amanda x

Fliss said...

Just gorgeous Alison. Such lovely colours and texture and your dancing butterflies look fabulous.
Hugs, Fliss xx

Helen said...

The butterfly stencil is fantastic, I've not seen that before... what a gorgeous hanging this is. Love it.

Astrid Maclean said...

Love those little hangings and this one looks lovely with the texture of the butterflies fluttering up the edge!

Cestina said...

Love this - so gentle and delicate. And appropriate xxxxx

craftimamma said...

I'm a big fan of stencils and this one is really sweet. I love the colours you used too, so evocative of a warm summers day with a gentle breeze (I don't do hot, lol!). Beautiful hanging piece altogether.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

brenda said...

A wonderfully tactile creation Alison and love the kaleidoscope of butterflies.

Sorry I seem to have missed a couple of posts, had my head down with C&C samples, but love the one with the little boy.

B x

Redanne said...

A beautiful and very delicate little hanging Alison, love the stencilling and the wonderful pops of colour. Great quotes today too. Hugs, Anne x

Von said...

Gorgeous Alison just love every thing about it :)
Von ♥

barbarayaya62 said...

Love WEndy Vecchi embossing paste! Beautiful piece!!!!! Hugs BArbarayaya

Claudia N. said...

Veeeery lovely, Alison!

Love your hedgerow passion!!!! :)

Claudia xx

Unknown said...

That is absolutely Gorgeous, love those butterflies and i love how there fluttering up the side of the canvas to xoxo

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Love the cascade of butterflies, a great canvas. Chris xxx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Just gorgeous Alison - I love all the details, so much ina small space! The butterflies are fabulous and how brave to stamp direct onto the canvas!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend x

Debbie said...

Beautiful canvas Alison! Love the "how-to"! The butterflies are so very pretty and the colours perfect!

Always delighted!
Debbie
^..^

Art By Wanda said...

Beautiful!!! I love this!!!

May said...

Alison you are so talented, From a plain item you can transform it into this beauty...Gorgeous colours & design... Love the butterflies.. Hugs May x x x ps Congrats on your new teams x x x

toni said...

A lovely wall hanging , gorgeous colours and i love the butterflies. Congratulations on your new DT posts, you are going to be a very busy, but in the best possible way x

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Lovely, full of spring joy Alison!

kind regards, Alie :-)

Keren Tamir said...

Wow Alison this is stunning. I love it so much and would love to get that stencil from magenta as I love butterflies too. Gonna look for it online.

Krisha said...

Thanks for sharing this wonderful little hanging. Love the color pallette and the sentiment.

Dawn Ruth said...

love the cow parsley images and the butterflies so very pretty

froebelsternchen said...

just fantastic Alison! I llove the sofness it´s a fairytale ----

a dream piece!

Anna-Karin said...

This is gorgeous! I LOVE those butterflies, so stunning and they go very well together with that great quote. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show!

Janny Jager said...

Great and beautiful spring canvas Alison.

Greetings Janny

Netty said...

I love those small hangings, bought myself some from Paper Artsy. Beautiful colours and design Alison.
Before I forget, congratulations on being a member of the Artistic Stamper, am sure you will love Jenny,
hugs Annette x

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a great piece of ART, I really love this canvas dear Alison, love the beautiful butterflies and I love the way you painted this canvas and stamped the flovers, I olso love the words on it!!!

Greetings
Maria

Candy C said...

Alison...your canvas is simply gorgeous. I love the simplicity of it! Such lovely, soft colors. That sweet little butterfly stencil is adorable and looks fabulous on your canvas. I love how you have them fluttering up the right side of the canvas! The randomly stamped foliage also looks so pretty on this piece. The blue and green tones are so calming! Love the sentiment, too! Thanks for sharing your lovely piece with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. <3 Candy

Anonymous said...

Beautiful project Alison, love the delicate colours and the butterfly stencil is gorgeous ! Sue C x

ria gall said...

Hi Alison
this is so very pretty it would look so good hanging in anyone's home. I love the soft colours you have used and the lovely little stamps.
Can I ask where I can buy some of the hanging boards from?


Ria

Danielle Champagne said...

So lovely! beautiful colors, and love the sentiment. Hugs.

Annie said...

Gorgeous hanging Alison. The butterflies are beautiful and I love the colours. Great sentiment and the grasses just fit perfectly.

Have a great week

Annie x

Sophie said...

Das ist so schön, so bezaubernd mit den vielen Schmetterlingen, Alison.

Eine schöne neue Woche
Liebe Grüße von Sophie xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Fabulous canvas or paper mâché one anyway! I love those tiny butterflies! The flowers and grasses transform this into a fabulous scene!!! I will get caught up with your blog soon! Thanks for sharing your true colors with us this week here at Simon Says Stamp & Show!

catherine said...

This is gorgeous Alison. lovely colours and love the way you have put all the butterflies.
x catherine

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Alison your hanging looks fantastic, love all the butterflies.

Paper Profusion said...

That's the prettiest stencil I've seen yet - I just have to get me that! This is absolutely enchanting and beautiful Alison - you are a top class artiste. Congratulations too on Artistic Outpost. Have a lovely week Alison. Nicola x

Sue said...

Fabulous hanging Alison, I love this stencil, it's not one I've seen before xx

Hettie said...

Beautiful piece Alison. Love the texture, stamping and colouring. Lushious!
Hugs
xx

Bonnie Irvine said...

This is a beautiful little piece. I love the spray of butterflies drifting up the right side and the ones wrapping around the edge. Gorgeous colours and texture with the embossing paste. The sentiment looks awesome multi-toned.

Kezzy said...

Wowser gorgeous awesome hanging, I love the butterflies so cute but full of texture and the flowers being stamped in full then again for softness beautiful. Many congratulations to all our successes this week, you must feel so proud being asked into some amazing design teams. Happy Crafting :-) Kezzy xxx

Jenny Marples said...

Clear, crisp and gorgeous Alison. Love this (and that butterfly stencil:) Hugs, Jenny x

Brenda Brown said...

Beautiful Alison, so light and fresh and full of wonderful texture.
Have a great week.
Hugs Brenda xox

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh Alison! Such exciting things happening and me unable to comment -at least the signal is holding tonight! I have been able to see some of what you have been up to but get frustrated when trying to comment using my phone! Love this little hanging, especially the subtle colouring, Chrisx

Cinderella Moments said...

I love the way you wrapped those butterfly around the side. It is a beautiful piece!
hugs♥,
Caroline

Nan G said...

Another lovely soft piece of art! Love the butterfly stencil...this one I need to get! And the 'weedy' stamp...that is so my fave. I do agree that with you, think the butterflies should be unadorned. :)

Inkypinkycraft said...

Such beautiful soft colours! Really great hugs trace x

Unknown said...

Oh oh oh! How gorgeous is this canvas!! Love this project so much Alison! You know I love your creations and your blog but I would have to say that this project is my very favourite of everything I have seen of yours so far. Very inspirational xx

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Love your creation, so full of cheerfullness with all the little butterflies makes it a good mood and spring feeling.
Hugs Anja

Barb Cady said...

Loving this, I have used those little hangings and think the way you have brought in dimension is great - a lovely blue piece!

Kim said...

I'm in love with that butterfly stencil! Stunning piece of art!!

Unknown said...

I love the butterflies and the depth they give this canvas Alison. It is very serene and beautiful.

House of Bears said...

This is beautiful, love th way the butterflies are flying up the project. We have an embossing folder very much like that and you've inspired us to actually use it. :)

Heather said...

So beautifully created Alison, wonderful detailing work, stunning inking and such a brilliant image!!

hugs
Heather xx

PetraB said...

Really lovely, beautiful design.

Cathy L. Calamas said...

Beautiful use of the butterfly stencil.lovely, lovely hanging.

Julia S-W said...

This is so pretty Alison and I just love the depth you've created with colour, texture, stamps and those gorgeous little butterflies! Stunning!
Hopefully I can now keep up with posts again. Sorry about the absence.
Must say I'm really pleased to be playing alongside you at OCC too!
Juliaxx

Dianne said...

It's a beautiful small hanger Alison,the butterfly wondering all up and over the hanger are enchanting, look how smart you are, stamping it first on tissue, and moving them around thats a great idea,it truly feel like you are seeing them fly in the sky over a pretty field. I to think I would have liked it without the antennas, just because it would have given it more of a dream like feel. Its still gorgeous my dear sweet Butterfly have a wonderful creative day..

Terry said...

Alison, I adore what you did with this box! What a gorgeous flight of butterflies! Love this and what a great way to start the week!

Chris said...

It's beautiful Alison and very fresh and pretty in those colours. The stencilled butterflies look wonderful fluttering up the side of the panel and such gorgeous stamping too. Chris x

Karen McAlpine said...

Beautifully transformed paper mache.

Chrissy said...

I love this Alison, butterflies,butterflies and more butterflies..gorgeous colours and love the verse..beautiful.

luv CHRISSYxx

Nicecrane Designs said...

OMG Alison love these stunning butterflies,,,and the soft colors here.....wowwwwwwwww.

Mrs.B said...

A beautiful piece Alison, and such a gorgeous colour.
Avril xx

Bärbel said...

Das ist ein wunderschöner Wandschmuck, liebe Alison. Die vielen kleinen Schmetterlinge verleihen dem schönen Bild eine wunderbare Leichtigkeit.
Liebe Grüße, Bärbel

Gabrielle said...

Love this LOTS! I love the texture and the movement - it's just wonderful. Thank you for joining in with the Country View Crafts Butterfly challenge! Gx

Ellie Knol said...

This makes me happy!