Thursday 21 February 2013

Antithesis and awards

Hi and Welcome! This photo of self and son was taken when on a holiday in Tasmania, June, 2011. This pretty little beach was deserted except for a number of ducks waddling around a pond on someones property on the beachfront. This photo represents the antithesis of typical beach scenes in summer, with scores of sun-seeking sun-bathers, swimmers and surfers, and is my take on the ARTastic challenge using Charles Meere's  'Australian Beach Pattern'  painting as an inspiration. Check this challenge out at: http://artasticchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/


As a family we tend to avoid the busy, summer scene preferring the quiet, peace and solitude offered at other times and seasons. This gives us time to relax and enjoy our surroundings and to take photo of course!

 
An aperture was cut in cardstock and layered from the reverse with strips of folded paper  (Venetian Folding), which enabled the photo to be tucked in. Strips of contrasting cardstock and a punched edge, a little wave-like, were  added. Also, adding some extra contrast and texture, I've used one of
my string block stamps (see a previous post) to  stamp the cardstock base using Brilliance pearlescent  ink, and an embossed glossy cardstock, smooched with lumieres and inca gold. The net fibre was coloured with Distress Inks. 
 
 
The 'coral' feature was made by embossing cardstock using T.H.   'crack' folder, which was smooched with distress inks, metallic stains and lumieres. Black pearlised cardstock was also run through the folder. Both were then fussy cut and arranged to make the coral.
To complete the seaside theme, I added shells, coloured with a touch of Lumiere, mother of pearl discs and some die cuts.  
 
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jenny for nominating me for a Liebster Award. This is the first time I've heard of this award, and what a beautiful surprise!   You can find Jenny's blog at .http://pushingtherightbuttons.blogspot.com.au/. I follow this blog regularly and have found it truly inspiring and awesome!
 
 
  


 
A bit about the award (I've snaffled this info. from Jenny's post). This award was designed to be a blog award in the pay it forward fashion. Once you've been nominated, you  award it to blogs that you like, that have fewer than 200 followers, to encourage  visitors to these new blogs.
 
Rules for Acceptance.
Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog. Give the award to 5 bloggers who you appreciate, that have fewer than 200 followers. Leave a comment on their blog to let them know that you have given them this awesome award.
So, a huge thank you again Jenny.
 
Pay It Forward.
Here are 5 blogs I think you would enjoy checking out. I have found their artworks vibrant and inspiring. These artists use colour beautifully and always have wonderful textural elements and colour palettes.
Julia Stratford-Wright : http://julialsw.blogspot.com.au/
 
Thank you for visiting. Your comments are always welcome. Cheers, Di
 
 
 

13 comments:

  1. Gorgeous page. Our family loves the beach during winter, I love the freshness and my kids love the treasures they find especially after a storm. Like you say, it's peaceful in winter.The beach embellishments you made for your page are amazing. Thanks for joining in our challenge at ARTastic this month.
    Also personally, thank you so much for the award, I'm really grateful. I'll be putting a thank you on my blog as well.

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  2. What a great layout! Love the cool techniques you used! Wonderful! :)

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  3. Thank you so much for giving me the Liebster Award! It’s so kind of you!! And thanks for playing along at ARTastic! Your coral is fantastic!!!

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  4. Amazing work Di - this page is just wonderful. We live on the coast too and I have never been attracted to the full on packed sands of summer - give me solitude and space anyday!

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  5. Adore your layout Diane, especially the coral and fibre. You so deserve to be seen by lots more people. Hugs, Jenny x

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  6. Congratulations on your award Di! Your layout is fabulous. I like how you see the possibilities in your art that are not the obvious.
    Thank you for joining in at ARTastic this month.

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  7. Congrats on the award - lovely to see Julia on your list (and I'll be sure to check out the others).
    Great layout... I love that fabulous coral and all the detailing of the frames - with all that folding you could enter it in the current challenge at eclectic Paperie for Folded Paper if you're interested http://eclecticpaperie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/eteam-picks-challenge-folded-paper.html
    Alison x

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  8. Very nice!!! Thanks for joining in at ARTastic this month

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  9. Di congratulations on your award and thank you so much for nominating me, it was a lovely to read about the award and the reason behind it.
    Your page is great, love you fussy cutting of the coral, it just looks amazing. The colours that you have used are just perfect and personally a beach in winter I think has more wonder to it.

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  10. Wht an amazing page Di!! Absolutely fabulous!! So much thought & work hs gone into everything on your LO & topped off with tht lovely coral! Thank you for playing long at ARTastic!

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  11. Beautiful work Di, amazing Coral and lovely page! Thanks for joining in at ARTastic this month :)

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  12. That is a beautiful layout! Great work.

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