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...

Wednesday 26 March 2014

Birds in the Wood




Hi everybody!  

No Artistic Outpost bloghop this month, but we're all still creating away, so you'll find delights at all the DT blogs should you feel inclined to visit (links are all available on my Design Teams page just under the Words and Pictures heading).

I'm here with this week's AO creation, and I've been having lots of fun with a chunk of wood.











I've long been an admirer of the chunky ATC (the lovely Redanne, for instance, is always coming up with brilliant ones), but have never got around to getting any cut.  

This is not strictly a chunky ATC, as it's just an off-cut and not the right size (at around 5.5 x 2.75 x 1inch it's taller and less deep, I think), but having had such a lovely time playing with it, I'm definitely going to stock up soon!







All the stamping is done with the fabulous Birds of a Feather plate - it's become a springtime staple round here.

The base colour is a mixture of Sage and Honeydew Fresco Paints, and then the first step was to get the stamping in place.










I really enjoy getting things to go round corners and edges, and there's plenty of potential for that with a chunk of wood.














I did some inking through a stencil and clear embossed it for a touch of dewy shimmer.











Next, time for some texture paste. I mixed it with Peeled Paint Distress Stain on my craft mat, and then applied it through the leaf mask.














The two bird stamps are so deliciously detailed, and I love the texture you get from stamping directly onto the wood.






In many ways, the rougher the better, I'd say!















I also stamped the Gothic text from the same set anywhere I could find any spare space...












Final touches - some Idea-ology flowers and Finnabair brads altered with various paints...












... and a few tiny wooden butterflies, also painted and with a touch of iridescent shimmer added (not enough sunlight to really capture it, sadly).












There had to be some cogs and gears too, otherwise the flowers just looked too flowery, if you get me?  












Some twine wrapped around for that earthy, natural feel...













And finally, the sentiment, small in size but so important: Spring is here, attached as a tiny banner over the 7 Gypsies hardware.








Der spring is sprung 
Der grass is riz
I wonder where dem boidies is?

Der little boids is on der wing,
Ain't that absoid?
Der little wings is on der boid.

Known as Spring in Brooklyn - sadly, despite speculation, the author is unknown!




Thanks so much for stopping by.  It seems to be another busy week here at Words and Pictures... lots to get done before March goes out like a lamb (we hope!).  Plenty more to come before April Fool's Day!

56 comments:

Kate Yetter said...

What a lovely canvas! The perfect tribute to spring. Gorgeous stamping with in the background. The flowers and vines are lovely.
Kate

Teresa Abajo said...

Love this Alison! Especially the stamping around corners.

Michelle said...

Beautiful! I love the chunky-ness! And I love the gear with the flowers. I get what you mean about being too flowery. I seldom use flowers for that same reason. You've achieved the perfect balance here. Bravo!

Marci said...

Oh, this is exquisite! Love, love love it. How do you get a detailed stamp like the nest so perfectly round the corner? Amazing! Also, I love the leaves you stenciled. I wonder what stencil or mask you used for them. The whole make is the Spring I'm still waiting for, over here. Thank you, for the glimpse of Spring.

Marci said...

Did I say it is the most perfect color? And, that you balanced all the elements so elegantly? And that I love how you did the flowers and gears and butterflies?

massofhair said...

Glad to see you using a chunky ATC style wooden block. I've only just found this medium despite it being around since 2005 ish.

Your style and palette suit the wood medium, as do your choice if stamps. Have seen you make some wonderful projects but imho this is one of your best so far :-) xxx

Brenda Brown said...

Love this Alison and you have inspired me to grab one of the blocks Ken cut me last year that are sitting on a shelf all forlorn. For some reason I see them as a shape with five different planes for decorating rather than a continuous whole which is why I love this design going round corners. The Spring images and colours are perfectly placed and the touch of industrial with the natural elements is a fabulous contrast. Xx

chrissie said...

What a great idea to use the thick piece of wood as a base for this beautiful piece of art.

Love the little ditty today--my dad used to say it as his party piece :)

Love Chrissie x

May said...

Gorgeous creation Alison...Love the background & those stamps are so beautiful...Fantastic flower & gears.. Love it all... Hugs May x x x

Nan G said...

Love your chunk of wood! The stencil ing with clear embossing...fab!

Deborah said...

Love how the images wrap around the sides - what a fantastic chunk of wood it is now!

Astrid Maclean said...

Beautiful piece Alison, what a lucky find! Great format and I love the stamping around the edges! The subtle stenciling in those lovely delicate Spring colours is gorgeous too. Wonderful composition with just the right kind of embellishing, love it!!

craftytrog said...

Absolutely gorgeous! xxx

Unknown said...

Another fab make Alison, and so clever getting the stamping around the sides. Brilliant! Chris xxx

Claudia N. said...

A lovely chunky, Alison.
Claudia x

Lisa Minckler said...

I live in a construction area at the moment and there are heaps of wood just laying around everywhere. I will never see it the same nary again!
I fear I may hoard to my heart's content...LOVE this idea!!
Thank you for sharing :) Your creation is sensational.
hugs,
Lisa x

Redanne said...

I think I like the size of your chunky much more than the size I use and I love that it looks like a continuous picture. The stamping is fabulous and the colour palette is wonderful. You should do these more often Alison, I love this one! Very kind of you to give me a shout out too, thank you. Anne xx

Birscrea4fun said...

Hello Allison, it is fabulios and ohhh the stamping is beautifull. I want learn that from you. But a live to far away. Sorry for my bad englisch
Love from holland Birgit

Netty said...

Beautiful design and colourings. Love your chunky wood project, your nature projects are always the best ever. Annette x

Julie Lee said...

What a fabulous idea! I'm off to gather chunks of wood now! The effect you've achieved is terrific! I love that stamping on wood and Fresco Sage is one of my favourite colours; it says 'spring' to me! I also adore the AO 'Birds of a Feather' plate - or should that be boirds? This is such a gorgeous creation, Alison, I keep returning to the images to take another look! I love that rhyme too: Anonymous sure is a versatile poet! Julie Ann xxx

Mary Elizabeth said...

Alison ... you are definitely an artist that can make even a chunk of wood look good :) Love these chunky ATCs. Such a soft spring look. The clear embossing seriously does add a touch of dewiness to the early spring colors. As always, I'm amazed at how well you can stamp around corners. Just gorgeous my friend. Mary Elizabeth

rachel said...

so beautiful Alison - love Redanne's chunky ATC's and this one is just fabulous - such wonderful stamps - lovely xx

Meggymay said...

Gorgeous chunky project, love your images round the corners.
Yvonne

Candy C said...

Alison...your chunky wood piece looks like anything but a chunky wood piece! It's brilliant! I so love the base colors you've used on this and the Birds of a Feather is one of my favorite stamp sets from AO. You've used it so beautifully here. Such a sweet piece! <3 Candy

Unknown said...

That does it, my hubby is cutting me some chunks of wood this weekend lol. What can I say about this project other than it is a personal favorite for me Alison. I am in love with it!!! Every detail is brilliant and I can't wait for my stamps to arrive so I can play with this awesome set by Tim. Thanks for the inspiration. :-)

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Such a natural make Alison, love the round the corner stamps (is that right in English? :-))

Kay Wallace said...

Another great vintage piece of artwork, Alison! I am a longtime bird fancier, so this one really appeals to me. I love your Brooklyn poem, too! Here's something I memorized as a child: "Spring has sprung. How do I know? I saw a robin in the snow!" Just perfect for New England today!!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

What a block!!! Love all the sides, and the Spring feel! Gorgeous!

cathylynn said...

I love how you wrap your stamps around the sides for a continuous print. Always so clever!! Great design, colors and details. I also adore that robin stamp as I always await their arrival to usher Spring here.
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Love the dewy shimmer Alison and I love how you add imagery to the sides too. This is one of my favourite plates and your piece reminds me Spring is around the corner. Lovely piece and I love the natural element of using a chunky piece of wood. Tracy x

Paper Profusion said...

Beautiful artistry at play here Alison - it looks superb - wonderfully light and springlike. I too especially love your nature themed works. Nicola x

barbarayaya62 said...

As always your works are full of wonderful details! I Love the stencil clear embossing and little flower! And I adore the leaves ! BArbarayaya

Amanda said...

Not just a piece of wood now what a stunning transformation. Spring has definitely arrived with this piece, love it!!
Love
Amanda x

Sandy said...

What a wonderful creation and such a great idea to use a chunky piece of wood. Your design work is really wonderful Alison. Love the continuous bird nest around the block. (not to mention everything else)!!
I really admire Anne - she is one of my favorites and such a sweet lady.
Sandy xx

Dagmar said...

FANTASTIC!!!! I love it so much!

Gio said...

Lovely, delicate, gorgeous 3D piece, Alison! Even the flaws of the wood became a great detail!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Such a fantastic piece of art. So much to see - great details.

Cocofolies said...

Fabulous chunky piece Alison!! I love your delicate inspiration on this, and you're right, this stamps plate is so beautiful!.. Mmm.. Really lovely. Hugs, Coco xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Oh just fabulous Alison - that stamp plate is just gorgeous. Thanks for such wonderful inspiration - my husband is a woodturner, so I am off looking for wood tomorrow! xxx

maj. said...

Brilliant project Alison!!!

Anonymous said...

Completely stunning. I love the images & the layers of stamping & texture look amazing.

Dorthe said...

Dear Alison, I love your not too flowery flowers on the cogs..hihi-and all your wood chunk, is a most beautiful art piece, with those gorgeous stamps and your texture made from texture paste , and stamps together .
Hugs from Dorthe

craftimamma said...

Another stunning project Alison. Gorgeous stamping (especially round the corners) and those teensy butterflies are so sweet. Love the bird images!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wooow Alison this is a real ART masterpiece, , what a wonderfull stamping work its a real beauty !!!

Greetings
Maria

Margaret said...

ATCs on blocks of wood????!!! Mind blown! This is fantastic with the mixture of images and texture! A collection of these would look so fabulous setting on a shelf!

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh! I do love that chunky look for your atc! The texture and the shimmer are fantastic! Love the way you have altered those flowers! Chrisx

Anna-Karin said...

These are gorgeous Alison! Fabulous background and stamping. Love the nature theme. Like you, I never get to go and get some chunky ATCs cut. Instead I was happy to find wooden blocks on sale recently, going to be fun to alter them. I made two already, but manage to find more luckily.

Almo said...

Alison, I adore the colours and the effects you have got on this chunky atc. Who would have thought that simple offcut of wood could turn out as beautiful as this. Mo x

Dianne said...

Hello Miss Alison, holy shinny, this is fantastic, your stamping around corners is PERFECT,I love the chunky piece of wood and you have transformed into a WORK OF ART,such beautiful colors, love all the bits of iridescent shimmer, I bet everyone is searching for some wood now, what an inspiration you are to us all, thanks for sharing..

Jools Robertson said...

Brilliant, 3D ATC, such a cool idea making them ornamental
Love the colour and images you have used and as always gorgeous textures

Jools x

Kasia said...

So lovely! It puts me in spring mood :)

Princess Judy Palmer said...

This is all on a hunk of wood?! It is fabulous. The wood texture is just so wonderful and it suits the birds, nests, and greenery so well. I love that not only do your flowers have cogs and gears so as to not be too flowery, they have screw head middles too!!!

Jenny Marples said...

Love the dimension and iridescence on this Alison. I can imagine this being a beautiful home decor piece. Jenny x

Tracy said...

Gorgeous chunk of wood,love your style Alison.xxxx

Marjie Kemper said...

Lovely! I enjoy making things go round the edges too... your nest is gorgeous and looks like it was practically rubbed on. I need to get myself some wood cuts!

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow absolutely gorgeous stunning creation. I really am loving the soft colours you are using. I really must use mine more often, I have all the fresco paints lol. I love the bird plate and I love the wood, I have been collecting pieces of wood to alter. I have never been able to find chunky ATCS though. I have recently managed to get my hands on Mr Holtz bird stamp set so I reckon these would look great as well. :-) Kezzy xxx