Flora and Fauna

Hello all!  It's the first of the month, and time for some new challenges.  I'll be back later in the morning with the new Country View Challenges theme, but right now we'd like to invite you to come and share your Flora and Fauna with us at The Artistic Stamper this month.

I don't need much excuse to get out the Encyclopaedia Botanica stamps designed by Katy Leitch, so there was never much doubt what I'd be reaching for with that theme... and here's the tag I created.

The metallic background is created with my10 Seconds Verday paints - the Copper colour.

You paint on one layer and let it dry, then paint on a second layer.  While that's still wet you spritz it with the patina solution and let the magic happen.

The real copper and verdigris in the background means you have to give the stamped images some oomph to make them pop against it.

I think this angle gives you an idea of the sheen of the copper as well as of the solution to how you get the images to zing.














It's my usual solution... they're stamped in Coffee Archival and then clear-embossed.

(I never tire of this stunning flower.)










That gives them the extra clarity and visibility amidst the coppery accents of the background.










And with the shine you also get my favourite "now you see'em, now you don't" effect!












I also stamped some of the dictionary text from the same set in Evergreen Bough - a shade which echoes the decayed coppery tones of the verdigris - but left that un-embossed.

I used the Verday paints on the Idea-ology WordBand too, as well as on the wire which attaches it.













The metal skeleton leaves have had a touch of Viva Decor 3D Stamp Paint in various colours to match the verdigris look.












It has a really cool shimmer, I think.













More of the wire is wrapped around the dyed seam binding at the top of the tag.  And I added an Idea-ology Muse Token altered with a hint of Treasure Gold.

So that's my Flora and Fauna for you.  I hope you'll come and play along with us at The Artistic Stamper this month.

Remember, we do need to see some stamping on your creation.  You don't have to use Artistic Stamper stamps but if you do you automatically get two entries into the prize draw.

Hope to see you there... and perhaps here again in a few hours too, when I'll be back with the Country View Challenges theme for April.



If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.
Buddha

Animals are such agreeable friends; they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.
George Eliot