ILLUMINATED POINTILLISM

Hi and welcome to my 100th post! This month at Anything But A Card, it's been... anything goes, so I decided to resurrect a couple of art techniques I often used in the classroom... illuminated lettering and pointillism.
These are fantastic techniques, but I've only used the basic ones for this project, using materials I had readily available, namely brush-tipped marker pens, gold metallic pens, 3D Stamping Paint and Inca Gold. Ideally I would have liked to have worked the lettering with gold leaf, but didn't have any in my supplies at the time. Pointillism is usually done with paint applied in layers of small dots (check out the artist Seurat). In the classroom this wasn't always a feasible method, because kids being kids, wanted to see as finished product on the day it was started, so I devised an adapted version using textas or marker pens and had them build up layers of colour on their art works. This also taught them a great lesson in blending of colours to produce depth and interest. For my little poster, I've combined the two methods.

 

 

 I started by lightly sketching my initial and then painted in the outline using a fine brush and gold ink ( Delicata gold stamp pad)

  

 

 

The background was sketched and then I started filling in the space with small dots of texta colour. To achieve the  depth of colour and variations in the landscape, I used different tones of the same colours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I painted the whole of the letter in the gold ink, and added colour to it with metallic markers.  This then became the base colour for the next layers. Firstly, over painting with copper- coloured 3D Stamping Paint, then topping this with  Inca Gold, using a water brush. 

 

 

The coloured metallic ornamentation was topped with Glossy Accents, to make them look more

jewel-like. 

 

 

 

 

 This piece was added to background of black cardstock which had been stencilled, again with gold ink. Words were added with the same ink and Glossy Accents applied over the top. 

 

The whole piece was then mounted onto another background and inspirational text added as a border. I haven't decided how this is going to be displayed so it has not had anything attached for hanging.

 

Thank you for dropping by. There's still time to be involved in the challenge.. Anything Goes at Anything But A card. Why not pop on over to:  http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/ and have a peep at what the rest of the team have done and also at the amazing entries we've received this month. I'm sure that you will certainly be inspired.

 

Cheers for now.

Di

 

 

 

SUNKISSED ADVENTURES

Hi and welcome to my second post today. This month ARTastic is collaborating with CSI in a special case file.
This is the first time I've participated with the CSI challenge, so it was certainly something a tad out of my comfort zone, but in the end I enjoyed coming  up with a page that fitted a number of the elements required.

From ARTastic we had a fabulous poster promoting Australia, depicting an iconic scene at a beach. Our additional element was to include a striped patterned paper.  CSI added extra elements as well. On my layout I certainly have used a striped patterned paper (the background page from Fabscraps is based on a weatherboard/mural look) but I've also used stripes on my frame for my picture and on the hot air balloons. In addition, I've used a floral print, ribbon. transportation elements, created a rolled canopy, for a private beach gazebo and silhouettes. I've also journalled along stripes, used the words 'wonder' and 'gazed' as part of my story, as well as using all of the required colours.

Pop on over to ARTastic: http://artasticchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/  to see what has inspired us and what the rest of the team has been up to. Also you might want to have a look  at CSI as well. Pop over to :http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/ to investigate their site more.
Thank you for stopping by. Catch you again soon.
Cheers, Di

TIME

Hi! This will be the first of two posts today. At Pixels and Paper we have the inspiration of a carnival/ fair with a ferris wheel, dodgem cars and bright colours.

For my layout, I chose to take the circular shape from the ferris wheel and translated this into a series of cogs. The large one was a chipboard piece covered with embossed aluminium flashing.

The smaller ones were diecut from layers of crumpled aluminium foil. All pieces were coloured with alcohol inks which I tipped on, rather than using the applicator method. To further suggest movement and time, I've used 12 photos taken of sunsets, clouds and the moon,during various months of the year. These have been  placed in a spiral shape- again suggesting movement and cycles.
The background paper came from the  Bo Bunny Back To Basics -Somewhere in Time" collection. This, with its pattern of cogs and gears, fitted perfectly with my layout theme.
Pop on over to:  http://pixelsandpaperchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/ to see the inspiration photo and to see what the rest of the team has done.
Thanks for dropping  by.
Cheers, for now, Di

PENTAGONAL MINI BOX

Hi! Over at Anything But A Card, we have a 5th Sunday mini challenge, running for one week. and once again it's all about the number 5!  Pop on over to: http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/ to see what the team have made for this challenge.
For this, I've made a penatagonal-shaped box.

The pattern came from: http://auntannie.com/BoxesBags and after I printed it, I cut the pattern from some heavy, double-sided, patterned cardstock.



Box before construction

This particular box was constructed as an all-in-one assembly, with the lid being a part of it. To firm it up more, after taping the sides, I cut side pieces to slot inside the box.



Inside of box

Cotton lace and ribbon were added as well. Then it was time to decorate.
This was done with a combination of five punched butterflies, and five flowers. Four of these were punched from pearlised cardstock which had been smooshed with Distress Inks. The rose was made using the tutorial from Jennie (pop on over to her blog:
http://jennie-livethedream.blogspot.com/  and look at her tutorial list to find out how to do these.
I used cream cardstock, dampened it, shaped the petals and then smooshed the edges with Distress Inks. This gave a gorgeous variegated look.

To finish off I added some leaves, a piece from a paper doily and a bit of sparkle with Kindyglitz.
This little box is about 5cm and is a great size for a small gift or to hold a special little treasure.
I will be making more of these.
Thanks for stopping by.
Have fun crafting and I'll catch you again soon.
Cheers, Di

SUMMER TAG

Hi! Summer Lovin' is the theme at Anything But A Card challenge. For this I did a fairly simple tag, but one I was quite pleased with.

 

The base for the tag is heavy watercolour paper lightly stencilled with gesso (scraped on) and sprayed with Dylusions and glimmer mists while still slightly damp. A Graphic 45 image was used as the focal point.

 In my stash of paper I found a perfect piece with the tag line 'Dive into Summer", the sun and flowers (hibiscus), which were then cut out and used. Behind the flowers I've tucked in some teased out mulberry bark and glittery fibre. The same fibre was also used under the image. Stick-on gems and mother -of -pearl jewellery bits completed the layering. Some little highlights of Kindyglitz ( a glitterglue)  and ribbons were used to complete the tag.

There's still time to play, so pop on over to: http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/ to see the fabulous makes by the rest of the team for some more inspiration.

Thank you for stopping by.
Cheers, Di

HEART AND HOME

Hi and welcome. It's a lovely, sunny winter's day here in our little patch, with just enough crispness for some extra layers.
This month at the ARTastic challenge has been distressing!! and my DT piece for this has certainly been distressed.

My piece started off as inside packaging from a box. The corrugated cardboard was already framed and recessed, making the perfect surface to work the distressing on.
The frame was torn to various depths to show underneath layers. Some bits were rolled and others left partially raised to give an old wood/peeling paint effect.

The whole surface was sprayed with Baseboard and Chalkboard mists with additional layers of colours from Distress Stains and Inks. Gesso was used for the stencilled leaves while the undersurface was still damp.. love the effect that this gives!

 

 

 

 

 

  

The photo I used was from an oil painting given to me by my mum. This was by an artist / teacher, Ken Harris. Mum took up painting classes with him when she was 70 and really enjoyed her new hobby until ill health prevented her from continuing when in her 80's.

 

 

This was mounted on a gelli plate print done with acrylic paints. This was still too bright for the effect I wanted, so it was also smooshed with Distress Inks.

 

 

 

Edges were torn, rolled and inked, with pieces of old manuscript music tucked into some of the gaps,

before attaching.

The original background I'd prepared didn't look right, so I used a piece of brown cardstock, dampened it with water and scrunched it up. When dry, it was inked and edges were torn for a more rustic look

 

 

 

 

 

More torn and inked music manuscript was placed around the frame

To this I added acetate leaves coloured with Vintaj and glass effect gels, die cut leaves, heavily scrunched and then shaped, and real gumnuts.
I really enjoyed this challenge and if you are tempted to join in, have a peep at our inspirational guide artwork at   http://artasticchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/  and while you're there have a look at the fabulous creations done by the rest of the team.

Thankyou for stopping by. Catch you soon.
Cheers, Di                                                                                          .

RAINBOW CONNECTION

Hi and welcome. The first of June means  another new challenge at Pixels and Paper and another great photo for your inspiration. As we, in the Southern Hemisphere head into winter and others in the North head into summer, this photo certainly reflects those not so sunshiny days.

Pixels and paper inspirational photo for June

When I first saw this the vibrant pop of red from the bench seat was the first thing that caught my eyes. then I looked for the more subtle images hidden by the misty rain.

The photograph I have used on my layout was taken by my son at a recent short get away to Caloundra on Queensland's Sunshine Coast (north of Brisbane). It had rained during the night and early morning, but we decided to risk the possibility of another shower and went for a pre-breakfast walk along the boardwalk. The skies were still very murky and then it started to rain. We found some shelter and stayed there until the  shower passed and as luck had it, out came the most glorious double rainbow which reflected in the water of  the bay.
The colours of the rainbow then became an integral part of the layout. The background colours reflected those in the sky and in our inspirational photo. The metallic silver cardstock has been embossed and then lightly inked with archivals. The same cardstock was used for the large raindrops which were stamped  and cut out, as well as for the drawn title, coloured using Peel-off markers.

 

Close up showing rainbow- coloured raindrops and title

 Added to the scene is a diecut figure  (looking at the scene),  diecut flagstone footpath and a bench seat .

Close up showing diecuts and pice of cardstock embossed with ripples.  This was a piece of  an experimental background, sprayed with Dylusions Inks and Perfect Pearls Mists.

To finish off I added small drips of Kindyglitz to give the sparkle of raindrops in the sunlight.
Pop on over to:http://pixelsandpaperchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/ to see the fantastic work by the rest of the team.
Thank you for visiting. I love reading your positive comments and look forward to stopping by your blogs to see what you have been up to.
Cheers, Di