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...

Tuesday 28 April 2015

Springtime ATB






Hello all!  Thanks so much for dropping in today - it's lovely to have your company.


Despite squeezing in my Tim Tag and a bit of visiting, I'm still struggling with time, so it's another Calico Craft Parts creation today - one of my Calico Crafts DT makes which hasn't so far appeared here.


Given the happy reincarnation of the Calico Craft Parts, it seems a good time to get my virtual scrapbook of projects a little up to date by posting some of the projects using these wonderful laser-cut wood and MDF designs.












This springtime ATB was constructed out of beermats (or coasters if you prefer!), covered with a stone effect paper from the Kaisercraft BaseCoat Collection.






















I used stiff kraft card to join it all together and give it extra stability.













On each side I added a Calico Craft Parts flourish.













There are lots of flourish designs to choose from, including some fabulously intricate new ones which I'm looking forward to playing with.











I dabbed texture paste onto the flourishes, patting it with the palette knife to create extra texture, and painted it white once it was dry.












The delicious Artemio Summer Meadow stamps provide some of my favourite meadow grasses, stamped in Coffee Archival.












The words are stamped using the Artemio Typewriter Alphabet stamps.

And I positioned them at different heights so that as you rotate the ATB they progressively "grow" upwards.











These are individual letter stamps including multiples of each letter so that even if it's got, say, more than one e in it, you can put a whole word on the acrylic plate and stamp it all in one go, rather than stamping one letter at a time.







I quite like that you get the mysterious deep dark hole at each corner because of the rounded edges of the beer mats.  And of course I inked the edges of the covered coasters for a more distressed look, and to draw the eye inward.










On the top of the ATB is a little springtime bird's nest.















The upright supports are formed of some of the Corner Wood Shapes available (again lots of different designs to play with), glued in place.












There's a bit of Icelandic Moss to keep the eggs cosy, and the eggs themselves have had a soft wash of gesso to keep everything nice and pale and delicate.














The nest is protected with some whitewashed driftwood and decorated with some daisies.











And underneath, some whitewashed cotton reel spools give the whole ATB a little lift!

I hope you like it - remember if you saw it last time around, you really don't have to comment again.  But do hop over to Calico Craft Parts and take a look at the lovely goodies on offer!





By now, I should have been able to repay some visits around Craftyblogland - if I haven't got to you yet, I'm sorry... but I am on my way!!  Happy Crafting all.

There is some of the same fitness in a man's building his own house that there is in a bird's building its own nest.  Who knows but if men constructed their dwellings with their own hands, and provided food for themselves and their families simply and honestly enough, the poetic faculty would be universally developed, as birds universally sing when they are so engaged.  But, alas, we do like cowbirds and cuckoos, which lay their eggs in nests which other birds have built, and cheer no traveller with their chattering and unmusical notes.  Shall we forever resign the pleasure of construction to the carpenter?
Henry David Thoreau

There's still time to join in my little GIVEAWAY - if you'd like me to put your name in the hat, just pop along and say so!


44 comments:

Helen said...

It is always a joy to see projects from you - even if we've seen them before..I think my favourite part is the nest on top!! Thrilled that Calico are back, they have some fabulous "stuff"!

brenda said...

As Helene said, always a joy to see your work Alison, I expect to see this fabulous piece tucked away in the gardens of some very lavish period house.

B x

pearshapedcrafting said...

How lovely to see this again just as birds are getting ready to nest - although the colder weather may slow them down a bit! Your ATB has encouraged your birds to lay their eggs already and who can blame them - they've got the best spot of all!! Chrisx

chrissie said...

This is very beautiful Alison with wonderful ideas for us to follow. I looked around and I can see the very things to make one of these so I hope I can mange to follow it through.

Enjoy your busy time, crafting will be still here when you have more time

Love Chrissie xxx

Redanne said...

I remember this, it is one of my all time favourites of yours Alison - absolutely brilliant!! Anne xx

Unknown said...

Love how vintage this is, the texture you've added is just spot on, it has a secret garden feel to it! hugs, Georgie xx

Amanda said...

Absolutely Stunning! Love all the details you've included and love the fact it is all so neutral
love
Amanda x

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Such a clever and lovely make Alison...nice mixed media block!
Greetings, Alie

Anneke said...

This looks gorgeous. Love the vintage look of it.
Wonderful structure. Very inspiring Anneke

Pamellia said...

Gorgeous Alison and what a unique idea!! Love those flourishes on the sides and the little nest on the top makes it feel like a little garden I want to live in! So beautiful! hugs :)

Nan G said...

Ah yes, I remember this.....loved it then and love it now! Huhs

Nan G said...

Aahhh dang hands......HUGS to you

Unknown said...

Love this project!!! I a sucker for birds eggs.

Lisa Minckler said...

Yes, yes, yes and YES!!! I love this shabby fabby wonderful ATB. The eggs on top are like icing on a cake!! Triple chocolate icing of course, because otherwise, seriously...why bother?
It's GORGEOUS Alison!
Oh and "er ma gerd"...white wash driftwood...I'm in love! So pretty.
Have a good one and here's some hugs too.
Lisa x

JansArtyJunk said...

Oh Alison...Love the natural palette...texture... the sweet bird nest...driftwood...shabby reels for feet...Oh I could go on & on.....I Adore it All!! ..a fabulous spring time project! Hugs Jan x

Kay Wallace said...

This is so full of inspiration, Alison! Calming and elegant color palette to harbor each delicate element. Love the inclusion of the bird's nest and eggs, and the flourishes add so much interest to each of the sides. Love this box!

Juliz Design Post said...

Such a beautiful ATB.
Julie x

S@ndy Diller said...

Totally wonderful Alison, what a great way to use the coasters. I have not seen this before so it is a treat for me.

Terry said...

Alison, your ATB is a springtime delight! Love all the pretty elements and what a great coaster idea! The neutral colors are beautiful! Hugs!

maj. said...

Your piece is amazing, Alison!!!

massofhair said...

Exquisite nest and ATB Alison, such a wonderful project, LOVE it :-) xxx

Meggymay said...

Stunning project Alison, love you colour tones.
Yvonne xx

Chrissy said...

What a beautiful piece Alison..I love the little nest and eggs on top and all the flourishes and stamping...gorgeous.

luv CHRISSYxx

Evelyn Walter said...

Oh, wow, Alison this is so beautiful! Love the natural colour palette and the versatile struktur and texture you made! The top of your little "box" looks earthy and like pure spring!
Have a nice week!
xxx Evelyn

rachel said...

a beautiful ATB Alison - cunning use of beermats lol! clever you!!! I love that nest - brilliant. Big hugs rachel x

Jenny Marples said...

Very you! I love the flourishes and bird's nest. You could use this as a sundial design too! Jenny x

Claudine said...

This is stunning, I love the little next on the top, so beautiful

Deb said...

Alison, that is just lovely, how inventive to use the coasters to create your ATB. A beautiful colour palette and gorgeous texture, love how your sentiments grow as the block is turned! The little nest is the perfect finishing touch, thanks so much for sharing this beautiful piece.

Shirley said...

I love projects more than anything Alison and this looks like a treasured keepsake to me.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

Sue said...

Oooh I remember this one Alison, it's really lovely (and quite costly as this is the piece that made me visit the old Calico Crafts website lol) xx

Jackie PN said...

OMgosh! This atb is just delightful Alison! I love the shabby-ness of it, and I have so many of the coasters, I might give it a go! xoxo

Hettie said...

This is wonderful Alison. Love the softness of the cube. Now how many pubs did you have to visit to amass all these beer mats? Not so many pubs round here use beer mats!
Hugs
Xx

craftytrog said...

Beautiful!!! I love the little nest Alison.
Alison x

Dorthe said...

It is so beautiful Alison, pretty,pretty with the chosen stamps , and the wonderful parts from Calico Parts , which you also altered beautifully. The nest and eggs are the sweetest "top on the cake" and love you used the driftwood ,too.
Hugs, Dorthe

Paper Profusion said...

Fantastic creation Alison - I absolutely love the topper! Nicola x

May said...

Hi Alison, Love this creation, the texture & design is Beautiful, it's amazing what a few beer mats can turn into in the right hands... Fantastic work as always ... I hope you are well... Hugs May x x x

Unknown said...

I love this ATB Alison! It's so pretty!!!

Cocofolies said...

A fabulous project Alison, love it to bits!!! Hugs, Coco xx

sam21ski said...

Fab muted natural colours as usual they all work perfectly together xxx

Tincan Crafter said...

Alison, my life around work has got so incredibly hectic these days that I barely get time to sit down a peruse all the blogs that I love - yours being one of my absolute favourites! This piece that you have done is so YOU and so gorgeous. The other day I was in a store and they had these little trinkets in blues, greens and browns and guess who I thought of - YOU!!!!! Your work certainly has a unique touch to it.

Mrs.B said...

Stunning project Alison, love the soft shades and gorgeous details.
Avril xx

Unknown said...

This is just super-cute! You even made eggs! :) beautiful textures and love the soft natural look! X

Marjie Kemper said...

How beautiful! Love the sweet stamping and those fun feet. Thanks for showing how you reinforced the inside, too.

Mary Elizabeth said...

What an amazing springtime make out of beermats (not a statement I thought I would ever make ... but hey ... creativity takes to places we thought we would never go too) ! The neutral palette lets the objects shine. The ATB, with it's uniform structure, gives such life to the your added "finds" on top. And using the wood shapes to create the upright supports adds height and draws the eye up. Just marvelous :) -- ME