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 21 July 2013

In the undergrowth



Hello everyone, and happy Sunday.  Since I'm nowhere near my craft table, I thought I'd take the chance to do some catching up with Design Team creations here at Words and Pictures.  


I like to make sure my virtual scrapbook of makes is complete so please don't feel you have to comment again if you saw this the first time around at The Artistic Stamper.


I'm sharing a hanging board today, inspired mainly by Katy Fox's beautiful flower from her Encyclopaedia Botanica set.


Even though that's the main image, I'm pretty taken with the background that I created - so what's behind it, in the undergrowth, is also part of the story here.





I started with one of the papier-mâché hanging boards, and used Tim's wrinkle-free distress technique with Distress Paints to create my background.  

I wanted natural colour tones - earth, sky, soil, water.




Once I was happy with the paint, I blended Broken China Distress Ink through the Crafter's Workshop harlequin stencil and then clear embossed it.  

I love the translucent watery effect of this.




I layered in some stamping - using stamps from Insects and Butterflies, Botanical Plate #1 (both in Coffee Archival) and Calligraphic Mat #4 (in Broken China DI).




The main image is stamped separately on white cardstock.  I tore the edges and inked it for a vintage look.  

I also added some splatters of ink for a slightly more distressed look - loved doing this for my version of TH's June tag - I'm thinking you'll see it again.














I mounted it on padded tape to add dimensionality to the piece.





As always, I carried the inking, embossing and stamping over onto the edges of the board, so that you get a lovely dimensional look.




And because the stamps, inks and paints seemed to me to be doing a pretty good job, I put away the various embellishments I'd got out, leaving the piece unadorned to speak for itself.




I hope you like it... Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope to do some catching up in Craftyblogland very soon.


Ingredients used: Artistic Stamper Stamps: Katy Fox Encyclopaedia Botanica, Botanical Plate #1, Insects and Butterflies, Calligraphic Mat #4
Distress Paints: Broken China, Salty Ocean, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
Distress Inks: Broken China, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
Archival Ink: Coffee
Papier-mâché Icon, large
Clear embossing powder
Crafter's Workshop Harlequin Stencil


To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour.
William Blake

46 comments:

May said...

Hi Alison, I love the background of your wonderful creation, Fabulous colous & stamping...perfect image too...Love it...Have a great Sunday... Hugs May x x x

Astrid Maclean said...

Loved the background on this one Alison, and wonderful colours!

Amanda said...

Totally agree that the background speaks for itself, looks brilliant. Great finished piece I think I must have missed it first time round.
Love
Amanda x

Mary Elizabeth said...

Didn't catch this one at the Artistic Stamper. Wow!! This is beautiful. The background board is absolutely stunning. The Broken China distress ink that has clear embossed ... oh I just love the water effect. That is a must try!!!!!! Fabulous make Alison. -- Mary Elizabeth

Jenny Marples said...

Love the watery effect created by the clear embossing powder. Must try that. Happy Sunday, hugs Jenny x

sam21ski said...

Oooh fantastic hanger Alison

Lovely colour combo xxx

Julie Lee said...

Oh, I love the translucent watery background too! I need to note that down to try! I love the dragon-fly - such magical creatures! I think it's lovely that you left off any embellishments and allowed this beautiful ethereal creation to glimmer of its own accord! It reminds me of a costume I once saw - Ellen Terry's I think - made of insect wings! Julie Ann xx

Olivia said...

Beatiful card i lovely colors...my favorite!

Tincan Crafter said...

Hi Alison - I started making a tag and I suddenly realised how much your work is starting to influence me - the blues and browns and muted tones. I really do adore everything that you make and it is starting to show up in my attempts at tag-art as well. I love this new piece of yours as well. Hope you are well.

Terry said...

Alison, one of my favorite color combos is blue and brown and this is stunning. Love this hanging and the background! Happy Sunday! Hugs!

toni said...

Hi Alison, it's always nice to take a second look at your lovely work ! x

Martina said...

How incredibly beautiful, dear Alison! Love your creation!

Paper Profusion said...

Always wonderful to see your work again Alison. Sorry for not visiting so much recently, I feel like I've melted in the heat! Hope you are surviving the temperatures and coming down the home straight workwise. Nicola x

Annie said...

Fabulous layering and textures Alison in lovely earthy tones.

Beautiful stamped images

TFS
Annie x

maria's knutselplezier said...

Gorgious tag dear Alison, I love the background a lot with a perfect colour choice and lay-out !!

Greetings
Maria

Francesca said...

A great canvas , love the colours you have achieved. xxx

Debi said...

as beautiful as ever :-) Debi x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Such a wonderful canvas, love the background.

Wee Von said...

Alison, love the harlequin background and the colors are out of this world. I would never have tried the two pieces together but they are gorgeous.

Michelle said...

Oh my! This is gorgeous!

Brenda Brown said...

A fabulous hanging Alison, the background has worked beautifully with the blending and embossing, I agree the harlequin has a fabulous watery effect to it. The focal stamp is lovely,
Have a great week.
hugs {brenda} x0x

http://blog.timetocreate.com.au/ said...

Sorry I have been MIA Alison - dealing with an ongoing chest infection is not fun! Zapps me!
Firstly I love the beautiful Blake quote which I love and which sits perfectly with your wonderful hanging.
I'm a bit into hangings at the moment!
Colours, textures and theme are all delightful!

Shelby said...

I love all of this, but the background work is amazing and love everything about it

Shelby

chrissie said...

Terrific work on this hanging Alison and the colour ink make it have a vintage feel.

Have a great day

Love Chrissie x

Ephemera said...

Stunning piece of crafting. I missed this treasure first time around so thanks for sharing it again Alison. XX

mytawnyinspirations said...

Alison, this hanging is stunning! Love the tranquility and peacefulness of the whole piece. Thank you for your step-by-step images... great inspiration. Cheers, Di.

Gio said...

Every time you do the magic, Alison!!

Have a nice start of the week!

House of Bears said...

We didn't see this one before so are glad you posted here. We love the way you did the background, and of course the finished make.

Cocofolies said...

I think you were right to leave the piece unadorned, as your beautiful backgound and central flowers speak for themselves !! Good job Alison, love it. Coco x

Dianne said...

Wow the background is stunning,the effect through the stencil is fabulous, I too love the watery effect,love how you stamped the insects, the main image , wow, love it just lovely vintage brown, with the splatters just gorgeous, I agree no embellishment needed glorious on its own... Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful week.

Mrs.B said...

Love the background, the heat embossing through the stencil gives a great effect. Love those gorgeous stamps used.
Avril xx

Lynne Moncrieff said...

Such lovely use of that flower stamp and I do so love your background.
Wishes
Lynne

Dorthe said...

Your background is stunning Alison- fantastic ,the colours so amazing- and the flower stamp real beautiful.
xo,Dorthe

Sue said...

This is beautiful Alison, I love the colours and the touch of embossing adds to the fluid look. Fabulous stamps and stamping as always xx

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

The background you created is just drop dead amazing. I'm sitting here drooling on my keyboard! I love the way you embossed the stenciled areas - brilliant. Gorgeous stamped image too - love it in the sepia tones!

Hugs,
Linda

Unknown said...

I love this Alison! The colors are great together and the way you made the focal image stand out is amazing. So many wonderful steps along the way. TFS! Hugs

froebelsternchen said...

did you hear my deep art sigh about this Alison?

makes me happy!

hazel said...

I love everything about this Alison - it's beautiful.
xxx Hazel.

Bonnie Irvine said...

Each layer is beautiful on its own but combined is amazing. Love the natural colour palette and the clear embossing over top. Lovely texture and subtle pattern. The top layer is beautiful. It looks so vintage and worn like old paper. Love it!

Kate Yetter said...

A lovey background! Turquoise! & that stamping is perfect!

Bärbel said...

Farben, Stempel und Textur des Hintergrundes begeistern mich, ein wunderbares Projekt!

Margaret said...

This has such a wonderfully earthy feel to it! Your background is outstanding (as always!) and I love the floral image!

Mikaela said...

what a beautiful background!!!!

Neet said...

What a fabulous watery effect you got with the ep - and you used my favourite colours too. Once again Alison, you struck gold with your beautiful work.

Hugs, Neet xx

barbarayaya62 said...

Alsion I'm back!!!!! I love this background, it's very very neautiful!!!! FAb work as always! BArbarayaya

Kezzy said...

Wow Alison this is gorgeous, I really really love your background, it's awesome, I really should try this with my distress paints. The image is beautiful, I love how you vintage it all up. Hugs kezzy :-) xxxx