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 23 September 2015

Crazy Caterpillar

Well, it's been a busy old time here at Words and Pictures, so I'm taking a few days off from Craftyblogland as you read this.  I thought I'd leave you with a bit of fun while I'm having a bit of fun (it's only a couple of days - you won't be rid of me for long!).

This page was just a bit of crazy playtime, letting off steam... so I got out the Crazy Birds.  I tried to feed them a crazy JOFY caterpillar, but I think they're a little bit wary, maybe rightly so!


I'd had the crackly background sitting on the page for a while (and I think it was a cover up of whatever was there before, which I'd given up on), and so I just started stamping JOFY flowers around the place.






I thought they'd make a nice crazy garden setting for the crazy birds.














(I know Cestina will like the "mushrooms".  She's always complaining there aren't enough fungi around here.)













When the crazy caterpillar started climbing one of the stems, I thought, "Ah, crazy dinner!"...














In the long run he got a coat of Glossy Accents and some white doodling.  Maybe that's what scared the crazy birds.













You can tell from the look in his eye that this might mean biting off a bit more than he can chew...











And I think his concerned friend probably agrees!

All the "colouring" is done with PaperArtsy Fresco paints, including on the birds themselves.













There's some Glossy Accents adding light to the butterfly our caterpillar might grow up to be, if the birds don't get him first.











And I've borrowed Alie's trick again of Glossy Accents on the birds' eyes... so that they can keep a beady eye on their prey (or on each other!).












I stamped the words with a Hero Arts alphabet - and added more Fresco paints top and bottom to edge them with "grass" and "sky".











I'm not sure, but I think I prefer the page without the words (though it hasn't got the butterfly either at this stage).  I think the thought is pretty clear even when they're not there.

(Shock, horror!  What, no words?  Now what am I going to call the blog - ... And Pictures?!)










But they're firmly stuck down now, so I guess they're staying... and the birds do look better with a bit of ground to stand on and a bit of shading to bed them in to the page.

So, that's my bit of crazy fun journalling for you.  I'll be back very soon with a slightly more sensible journal page, but one which still has a degree of risk about it.  I remain uncertain whether I'm feeling brave enough to share it... we'll see.

In the meantime, happy crafting all!

The early bird gets the worm.
The early worm... gets eaten.
Norman Ralph Augustine


I'd like to share this with the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge for their Use a Stamp theme - I've used quite a lot of stamps!
And given that's so, I'd like to play Work It Wednesday at Simon Says Stamp too, where they also want us to Use A Stamp.

55 comments:

Helen said...

oh I love this!! how I wish I'd thought of combining the Crazy Birds with the caterpillar! Have a good few days and I hope we see the next page - I'm intrigued now!!

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wow this card looks like a painting , great background great stamps , I just adore it!!!

Greetings
Maria

brenda said...

This is such a fun creation Alison yet still retains your unique style and attention to detail, I definitely need those funky birds.

B x

brenda said...

Meant to ask, sometime when you are over my way can you tell me what make of crackle glaze you use, I am far from happy with the Kroma one I am using (unless I am doing it all wrong of course).

B x

Kath Stewart said...

love it...love it...love it xxx

Amanda said...

Ha ha brilliant!! Great page with fab colouring, my money is on the caterpillar!!
Love
Amanda x

Sue said...

Love it Alison, great fun. I would definitely stay out of the caterpillars way though xx

Lauren Hatwell said...

LOL - A marriage made in heaven! They work beautifully together and the journalling made me smile. Lx

Shirley said...

I love artwork that makes you smile Alison and this piece certainly did, in fact it made me giggle out loud.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

Sophie said...

Oh mein Gott, was für ein herrliches Werk.
Diese Karte ist einmalig, so schön die Farben mit der kleinen Raupe...einfach grandios!
Und die Vögel sind ja immer der Knaller :-)

Herzlichst Sophie xx

Anneke said...

What a wonderful story! beautiful stamping, and colors.
Thanks for showing, Anneke

Dora said...

stunning!! what a beautiful creation have you made.
kind regards, Dora

Etsuko said...

Lovely...love it too...So cute!! xx

Theresa said...

made me laugh out loud. just love all the ideas using the bird crazy birds. thanks as always for sharing.

Cestina said...

Oh this is just lovely! Thank you for the fungi - there will be even more fungi to be seen in Small Worlds by the end of this week....

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Ha ha great fun Alison, those crazy birds sure know how to have a good time!
Hugs
Donna xxx

Marci said...

So cute! A great combination.

Jennie Atkinson said...

Such a fun way to use all those wonderful stamps. Love the colours and especially the funghi. Such fun! Have a good time Jennie x

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is great fun, love it!


Lucy x

Lisa Minckler said...

For those of us that live in the little less sensible plane, I'm breathing in the quirkiness of this and LOVING it!! Totally threw me for a loop and I'll be honest, it was a joyful time seeing a different side of you. It's always refreshing to hear that people are taking a bit of 'breathing time' for themselves, so I hope you do enjoy that! This post was exhilarating and fun and the drawing and painting are fabulous!!!
Hugs to you Alison and thanks for the smiles.
Lisa x

Lys said...

I love your crazy garden, Alison! This caterpillar makes me smile, as much as the faces of the birds, you gave them here a feeling I didn't ever seeN on them before... of course you will be brave enough to share your next make!!

Kirsten said...

This made me laugh out loud, I love it!!!

Corrie Herriman said...

Love it Alison.. lots of great crackling again ! And you can't help but love those crazy birds...
Corrie x

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Oh no! Don't come back and be all sensible! I think I like your quirky side. This is a lot of fun. I always thought that bird on the left looked like he had his hands on his hips and that pose fits this page for sure!

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous fun page Alison, love the expression on the caterpillar's face - I don't think the birds look brave enough to tackle him!
Enjoy your break.
Avril xx

Paper Profusion said...

Brilliant post and creation Alison! Have a fantastic break. Nicola x

Meggymay said...

Love your fantastic Crazy Bird page. Those two look quite in awe of the caterpillar, the background and words are brilliant.
Yvonne xx

rachel said...

I love this Alison - the crazy birds fir perfectly and i love your words!!! Sorry my visits have been a bit sparse recently - so horribly busy!!! Big hugs rachel xx

Lynne Moncrieff said...

A fun card Alison. I love the addition of the Glossy Accents on the eyes of the birds, really does make them pop. A fabulous scene.
Enjoy your break, I am sure you will make the most of your time away from blogland.
Wishes
Lynne

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh those birds! I hope the caterpillar scares them enough and goes on to be a beautiful butterfly! Have a good break! Chrisx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

OMGosh...I'm cracking up!!! The birds are always awesome, but love caterpillar too!!! FUN scene...great crackle too!

Cocofolies said...

Hahahahaha... no more words??? I don't believe you!!!
But I agree with you, the scene was enough clear even the words here... however they are so charming with all their edges painted like that, and the whole page is so genius (especially the way you put and highlight the caterpillar!!!) that it is a big WOW for me today!! I ADORE this page Alison!!!
Thank you for the feast, hope you have fun at your side too, enjoy this bit of rest... xxx

Jackie PN said...

How adorable Alison!! I love the way you have brought depth to this piece! beautifully done!
have fun- whatever you are up to! ")
Jackie xoxo

Mona Pendleton said...

Super cute card Alison! What a fun scene you created! Love it!

Kim Dellow said...

Super cool Alison! Love the caterpillar so cute :) Great picture. Kx

Terry said...

Oh this is such great fun, Alison! Yes it is gorgeous with all that crackle texture, but I love the little humor as well and that caterpillar! Hugs!

Julia said...

JOFY + Bird Crazy = lots of smiles.
Julia x

Kelly said...

Hi Alison, such a joy to come here to your blog. You always make beautiful things and putting the TH birds into the page is a treat for us. Love the caterpillar and flowers that you just stamped, beautifully. Love the humor too. Enjoy your days off.
Hugs Kelly

Mary Elizabeth said...

Love this!! I really needed a laugh. The looks those crazy birds are giving that caterpillar ... makes me want to know the rest of the story. Who won?!?! Still smiling. Thanks for the reminder about CVC Numbers challenge. I had planned to enter my tag there. Just too frazzled to remember ;). Thanks again. Enjoy your time away for a few days. I'll try to get back around to see what else I've missed lately. Hugs!! -- ME

Kasia said...

So fun, Alison! Love these birds :) So, so cute :)

catherine said...

Yes I really like this one Alison. Hope you have a rest for now as you have been so busy creating fabulous pieces lately. Hope everything at the show went well for you also. I was sorry I couldn't make it this time as it is always a good one to go too. Hope you enjoyed your time there.
x catherine

Julie Lee said...

I love the humour of this journal spread, Alison. It looks like a beautiful illustration from a children's book. I know what you mean about the words: they are fun, but that sky looks wonderful just left in all its glory. This is such a great combination of stamps, though - love it! xx

Gibby Frogett said...

I sat with a big grin on my face (not a pleasant sight LOL) looking at this - such a fabulous post and awesome and adorable piece of work . Love it! Gill xx

Matilde said...

It's gorgeous, Alison!

Sandy said...

This is truly fantastic!!!!!! I know the quality of this piece and can see the colors so easily all because of the delightful crazy bird tag you sent me. I still marvel over that tag especially how you DIDN'T get any ink on the back. It really is perfection Alison. As I said, I love this page - beautifully done and best of all - hysterical!!!!
Sandy xx

Gerrittina said...

These Jofy stamps are lovely. And that caterpillar is so cute.

Suzanne C said...

This is a brilliant wonky garden and love that you upcycled what you had into something just beautiful! Love how they birds look so dubious with the caterpillar and his beautiful colors! Thanks for joining in on the fun with us in our Stamp It blog hop and challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

Astrid Maclean said...

Trying to catch up and wow, you are branching out! I am still resisting the crazy bird craze (though the lovely Anne R let me stamp a few using her set when we met). The setting you have put yours in is just perfect, they certainly look happy and in very good company :)

craftytrog said...

Love your crazy, crackled garden Alison xxx

Sarah B said...

wow these stamps work so well together - definitely think the caterpillar is safe xx

Sandy said...

I am looking at this again and I must say Alison - I think you ought to let this light of your shine through more often!!

Barbara said...

Love this work! Your way to mix Crazy bird and your soft style is awesome! You are an artist! Barbarayaya

Unknown said...

Soooo fun, Alison!! Looks like the only one having a good time is the caterpillar--those little birds look so worried! But that's what makes them so adorable and funny!! Love that crackly background and the flowery garden scene is dreamy, almost sci-fi like...Hey, did those birds land on Mars or something? Fab page, Alison!! XOXO-Shari

Katrina Bufton said...

Just stunning. I love the little scene and the sentiment goes perfectly with the worried looking birds. I've just become your latest follower, can't wait to see what you create next :)
Katrina x

kareN stampZ said...

real work of art - just adorable