Friday 24 May 2013

LAZY, HAZY, DAYS OF SUMMER

Hi and welcome. This month's challenge at ARTastic involved the use of stencils or masks. Pop over to: http://artasticchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au  to see what the design team has been doing.
I've been dabbling with stencils more, so this was an opportune challenge for me. The photograph I have used on the layout was one taken near Dorroughby Environmental Education Centre, about 30mins drive from Lismore. This centre was a significant part of our school curriculum, with overnight stays with a class of students once a year, for far too many years to remember. For an Environmental Centre, it is in an ideal position. nestled among some gentle hills, surrounded by farms and with access to a large dam which was perfect for water studies. Students (at our school, usually Years 3 and 4 (9 and 10 year olds) were able to indulge in the delights of scoop netting the  water in the shallows of the dam to see what they could find, and it was a common occurrence for one or two of them, to 'accidentally' slip into the water. Since our camps were usually in the warmer months, it wasn't too bad. The dam was also home for a group of very shy platypus as well as a number of water birds. It was also common to see dragonflies, butterflies, and bees hovering over waterlilies and reeds. This flower was the most delicate blue, and yes, there is a bee sucking nectar.



The layout grew from this, and the memories invoked. It is redolent of those lazy, hazy summer days; fine weather, not too hot, maybe a gentle, balmy breeze; maybe a picnic beside a lake or lagoon, with the only sounds coming from nature.




The stencil I used reflected this idea perfectly. The paper I stencilled on, was card stock I use to 'decolour' ink sponges. A little glimmermist was also spritzed on before using gesso for the initial stencilling. As the background was still slightly damp, it bled into the gesso, softening the stark white. I repositioned the stencil a couple of more times and added further colour  and texture with the use of 3D stamping paint (silver, walnut brown and bronze). The silver was also streaked across the background card stock, to represent water ripples glistening in the sun.
Flowers punched from some of  my misting experiments, and a die cut butterfly were added. I chose a music background for the butterfly, because I felt it suited the idea behind the layout.





I used a Glaze pen for the heading,  ( and thank you to my friend Maree for the idea for the title). This pen gives a slightly raised surface, and feels as though it has been embossed.
Thank you for visiting. I enjoy reading the comments you leave.
Cheers, Di

15 comments:

  1. Di, you do the most amazing work and this page is no exception. Just delightful in it's simplicity. Thank you once again for being part of ARTastic this month.

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  2. What a fabulous page with such detail AND a wonderful post to read as well Di. Your time spent at Dorroughby reminds me of a camp we used to take children on to the Lake District - I have fond memories of those usually rained out camps and long mountain walks.
    Your background is totally amazing and I just love the flowers you've made from your practice pieces of glimmer misting.
    Fabulous work and thanks so much for sharing it with us at Anything But A Card this time.
    Juliaxx

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  3. Very creative Di! I love the flowers and your use of colors to reflect back to that gorgeous photo. Lovely job. Thanks for entering it at ARTastic. Blessings

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  4. So lovely Di and as always your pages seem to bring about a magic to them. Lovely use of stencils, colours and photo. How lucky are those children to have a place like this to visit and see nature like this.

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  5. That is stunning, Di - such wonderful watery effects... I can feel the sunshine dappling through the trees - just beautiful!
    Alison x

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  6. I have so enjoyed reading through the background to this wonderful piece Di, love thoughts..... Your layout is fabulous, I love how you created the background, the flowers and butterflies are perfect finishing touches. Gorgeous! Hugs, Anne x

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  7. Lovely! The stencil fits well to the pic =)

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  8. I love how part of your background PP has been made,I have been making cards lately with the same idea.
    But Di your work is outstanding & this page is just as wonderful as ever, just amazing! Thank you for playing along at ARTastic with us again.

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  9. Beautiful layout! Thank you for playing along at ARTastic.

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  10. Di what a beautiful post for a beautiful layout. The soft moody colours you have achieved are lovely and offer such opportunities for further play. Thank you for joining us at ARTastic this month. We appreciate your continued support.

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  11. Firstly the excursion sounds so much fun, thanks for letting us know the background to your photo. Your inspiration is just beautiful. Your work amazing; so much detail and it all works together so well. I just love your stencilling and how the colours have gone into the gesso. Thanks for joining us at ARTastic this month, it's a treat to see your creation.

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  12. It is a fantastic background you have made and I love your stencil work. Lovely story behind the LO. Thanks for playing along over at ARTastic this month using masks/stencils :)

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  13. This has something of a Monet feel to it Diane. Love the background as it reminds me of ripples on the surface of a pond. Hugs, Jenny x

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  14. At the risk of repeating Buttons' comment, I thought the same thing! The background really has a 'Water Lilies' feel to it. Both the photo and paper flowers are so beautiful! I really enjoyed the story behind the page too, especially when some 'accidentally' fell in! Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful layout with us at Anything But a Card!

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  15. Great work di! love the stenciling effect and lovely page you have put together...thanks for joining in ARTastic this month!

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