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 16 December 2012

Take Flight

Hello all, and a happy Sunday to you... I hope you've got some of the lovely weather we're having today - it's one of those deep blue skies of winter sunshine, and absolutely glorious.  

I'm sharing some more inspiration for using some of the delicious goodies you can source at the eclectic Paperie online store.  I started with a very basic 5 x 7inch canvas that I picked up very cheaply at The Works, and set about zhuzhing it up! 



I'll be sharing a tutorial for this piece over at the eclectic Paperie blog soon (will give you the heads up when that is), so I won't go into too many details for today, but all the product details are at the foot of the post.  

That'll also mean that you (and I) can get back to the last-minute Christmas prep which is now assuming slightly scary proportions!





The background of the canvas was created using papers torn from the absolutely lovely Serenade paper pad from Basic Grey, gesso, inking, and some stamping using the coordinating Hero Arts stamp, Serenade Music Background.



The butterflies you can see are all created using the Crafter's Workshop template, Mini Mariposa.  It's a great template, with seven different butterflies on it.













Some are stencilled on using Gathered Twigs and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.  I tried to position them so that they would go over papers and bare (or at least gesso'd) canvas, so that the texture would vary under the ink.




The textured butterflies are created using a texture paste (such as Wendy Vecchi's Embossing Paste) smeared through the same template using a palette knife.









Once the paste was dry, I applied some embossing ink and then used the glorious Liquid Platinum embossing powder from Ranger - I love its subtle lustre.














I also used the embossing powder on one of the Idea-ology bookplates, so that it would tone in with the butterflies.  



You do have to be careful embossing onto metal as it gets very hot, and takes longer to cool down than you might think. 



I decided not to colour the long attachers, as I rather liked how the brown picked up the colour of the stamped sentiment (Coffee Archival and my trusty little £1 alphabet).










The large wings from the Tim Holtz Layered Wings die were cut out of Grungeboard, and after inking and painting, I used the Liquid Platinum again to emboss the TH flourish onto them.


















Whenever I do a canvas, I like to make the most of its dimensionality, so I let the designs and motifs "overflow" down the sides.  I do love the texture the canvas gives you under the stamping, stencilling and inking.



Do click on the pictures to get a closer look...







So there you have it: a butterfly canvas ready to take flight into the wild blue yonder...  I hope you like it.  


Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by - your incredible support and generosity really does make this Butterfly's heart take flight.


For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.
Leonardo da Vinci


I've always thought of music as something that gives the words their flight and their wings.
Neil Diamond


They seemed to come suddenly upon happiness as if they had surprised a butterfly in the winter woods.
Edith Wharton



I'm entering this in the following:
Simon Says Stamp are asking What's Your Favourite? - well, I'd have to say it does vary, but stamping and embossing remain at the heart of it - and my current passion definitely seems to be for neutral tones!
One of the Reader Art Quests at Unruly Paper Arts is to use 4 or More Patterned Papers
Addicted to Stamps have one more week playing their lovely Bingo board. I'm playing diagonally again: Favourite colours, Embossing, No Flowers
And at Basic Grey Challenges they are playing Anything Goes, using at least one Basic Grey product 




33 comments:

Anonymous said...

A stunning piece! Thanks for questing with us at UPA!

Lisa Minckler said...

Your canvas is sensational and I for one am LOVING the look of the embossing paste! That creates a fantastically textured piece of eye candy. Beautiful work.
Lisa xx

sam21ski said...

Stunning canvas, great colour combo and I love how you've photographed it, in a tree isn't it!!

What a massive difference a bit of sun makes this time of year. Makes you feel like getting on and doing something doesn't it!!

Sam xxxx

Anonymous said...

Stunning transformation of this canvas with that beautiful background and texture achieved.
Gorgeous.
Wishes
Lynne

Redanne said...

Love the texture you created on the butterflies and that dragonfly in the top corner is gorgeous in muted brown tones. Your layering effects are beautiful and the angel wings and book plate are perfect finishing touches Alison, this is a beauty (I love butterflies so, so much). Hugs, Anne x

Sarah said...

You zhuzh so beautifully! And I love the natural backdrops for your photography. I must get some of that platinum ep...you make it look so good.

Annie said...

Hi Alison.........stunning background and I love the torn paper and gorgeous embossing. My craft room is like an assembly line at the moment, waiting on stickles etc drying.

May get a few more pieces completed after Strictly Come Dancing Results.

I am so behind but getting through the 'to do' list.

Crafty Hugs
Annie x

PetraB said...

A stunning piece, love the background.

Chrissy said...

Love the background of your canvas Alison and really love the embossed butterfly..gorgeous work.

Luv CHRISSYxx

gayle said...

A beautiful piece, I do love sheet music and butterflies :)

mark gould said...

A stunning canvas, I shall look forward to the tutorial. I really love the different layers and textures. x

Janny Jager said...

A greta and beautiful project Alison.
Love it
Greetings Janny

Kim said...

Stunning Alison and a fantastic inspiration!! XXOO

Connie said...

This is absolutely gorgeous!
You are so creative :)
Come over and enter my Give-Away.
Your blogging sister, Connie :)

Astrid Maclean said...

Gorgeous piece Alison, love how you have done the background, very pretty with those "mariposas"!

May said...

Hi Alison, This is so Beautiful, The background is amazing & the texture of those butterflies is stunning... So looking forward to the tutorial.. Hugs May x x x

Hettie said...

Love Love Love this piece Alison! The subject, the canvas and everything in fact. Wow! What an inspiration piece,
Hugs
x

Inkypinkycraft said...

Another beautiful make, full of yumminess trace x

chrissie said...

A beautiful work of art and the image goes well with the backing paper.

Love Chrissie xx

Dorthe said...

Dear Allison, thankyou for becoming a follower of my blog, I feel honoured seing your name among my followers.
Your art is fantastic, and I have at once become a follower of you,too.
This canvas is stunning, I love what you have done, with the paste and the stensiles- the wonderful embossing in silver, and the earthern tones.
So beautiful.
Greetings,Dorthe

Francesca said...

Lovely canvas, love the tones and the textures you have created. Love francesca

Ellie Knol said...

GORGEOUS, I know, always when I come to your blog, that I am getting feast for my eyes.. same as you with mine, I really enjoy your ART.. Is the Eclectic blog yours? Didn't know if so!

Karen McAlpine said...

Wow! Love the way that embossing paste looks! The stencils butterflies are super cool!! Love your canvas!

Nan G said...

Stunning! Love the texture and your colors.

Renee said...

Gorgeous! I am loving that embossing paste with the platinum accents. Beautiful project.

Anonymous said...

That´s such a lovely canvas...beautiful!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Wonderful canvas...Those butterflies are yummy textural beauties!

Unknown said...

Lovely to see a canvas by you Alison. It is very pretty and I love the focal image accented with gorgeous butterflies. Hugs

Lisa Carroll said...

Stunning canvas! Gorgeous colors! :) Thanks for joining us in the "What's Your Favorite?" challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp challenge blog this week! xx

Marlies said...

Wauw what gorgeous creation Alison! I love everything about it!! Thanks for joining us at ATSC, hugs, Marlies

Marjie Kemper said...

How rich! Love that deep gold and the added pop of the paste raises it up so beautifully. Looking forward to your EP tute!

Brenda Brown said...

Don't know how I missed this, it's fabulous. Thanks for sharing at UPA.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Margaret said...

I am in awe of the way you create so much texture and layers on these canvases! I love how the butterflies cover several different textures, and the texture paste makes the most beautiful butterflies! Another marvelous creation!