STEAMPUNK TAG

Hi and welcome. This month at ABAC, we've been exploring the very versatile steampunk theme. As it was recently Father's Day here in Australia, I decided to do a male orientated tag.

Firstly I cut a tag from cardstock which was originally an experimentation piece. I then stencilled over it using silver Delicata ink (shown up as white, below).

 
After this was dry, I stamped in versamark and added black embossing powder to some of the edges.

 Cream cardstock was put through an embossing folder and smooshed with Distress Inks (Black Soot, Weathered Wood, Faded Jeans and Barn Door). This was mounted onto metallic black card and attached to the tag base.
The stamped playing card was smooshed with Barn Door. Cogs were die cut (Tim Holtz) from crumpled layers of aluminium foil and attached .

These looked too 'new' so I tipped on splashes of alcohol ink and vintaj patina then scratched off some of the colour in parts. Some black stazon was also added on some of the cogs.
A couple of metal embellishments, also treated the same way, completed the tag.
Thank you for stopping by. There's still time to enter  our steampunk challenge, so why not pop over to: http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/ and check out what the rest of the team has done this STEAMPUNKTEMBER!!!

Cheers for now, Di.

COME INTO MY PARLOUR!

Who'd have thought geometry would have turned out to be so useful in my artwork this month. My DT piece for ARTastic is a retro-inspired piece, revisiting the very popular nail and string designs of the '70's, but using the same method on cardstock.

One of my favourite geometry exercises in my previous life, was to introduce the concept of producing curves using straight lines, teaching the basic concepts and then having the kids come up with their own designs.
I drew up the design on white paper first and then placed this over the black cardstock so I could pierce holes in it ready for sewing, using a metallic silver yarn and a needle threader (one of those ones that are about 10cms long and shaped like an oval). I find that these work well especially with all of the holes pre-pierced, and with my eyesight they're easier for me to thread thicker yarn and still have a fine implement to use.
The photos of spiderwebs were the perfect ones to use for the background. One, taken at night with a light sprinkle of dew, which has reflected the flash of the camera beautifully, and the other taken in the early morning.
The title of course was the only one that I could have used... first line from a children's song.
There's still plenty of time to pop on over to ARTastic and have a look at the inspiration piece for this month and of course, what the rest of the team has done. It's amazing how everyone has such varied interpretations. You'll find us at: http://artasticchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/
Thank you for stopping by. I love to read your comments when you leave them.
Cheers, Di

EXPLORE

Hi and welcome again. Today I'm showing you my DT piece for Pixels and Paper. Pop on over to: http://pixelsandpaperchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/  and have a look at our inspiration photo and how the team has interpreted it.

My layout is depicting a set of photos of my son (aged 8) and myself exploring the rockpools at Flat Rock near Ballina, NSW. This is a great rock platform where all sorts of little hidden treasures can be found. Some of our favourite finds of the day included sea anemones, urchins and starfish.

I've framed the photos  with shaped mats and stamped on these as well as on the photos. I've also added some leftover framing from diecuts previously used. These are perfect for highlighting specific parts of a photo, making it look like a slide.

The title was diecut and then painted with a thick texture paste. This was very grainy and gave the appearance of sand.  Some 'crab' trails were added with a gold Kindyglitz (a glitter glue).
Diecut sea creatures  were heat embossed with Opals embossing enamels.  The chipboard pieces were purchased from Julie at  http://timetocreatehandmadetreasure.blogspot.com.au/                       .

The sea anemones were fringed and quilled from textured pearlised  and cobweb papers.
To complete the whole piece is a lovely quote... so true!
Thank you for coming by. Catch you again soon.
Cheers, Di

FIVE FACES OF ME?

Hi and welcome. Over at Anything But A Card we have a week long challenge, based on the Number 5... five of anything. Pop on over to: http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/ to check out the challenge and what the rest of the team has done to inspire you.

For this, I've made a tag. The base is  card which has been used initially as an overspray/ inking sheet. To this I added additional smooshings of distress inks and splattered with water.

 

 

This was then sprayed with Dylusions ink  and Glimmer Mist. Gesso was also applied through a stencil. As this was added while the sprays were still damp, some of the green was able to bleed into the gesso.

 

 

The card was cut to the size I needed. Photos of a juvenile tawny frogmouth were cut out. This particular tawny spent a crazy 30 - 40 minutes one morning,  gyrating and bobbling around on the branch while its two parents, appeared to look on in askance at its behaviour. We were able to capture various moments in this episode between fits of laughter. The juvy just carried on unperturbed. The photos chosen show just  five of the poses and facial expressions we captured... there were many more.  Some of the positions it put itself into made it look like a gargoyle, so this became its name. 

Added to the tag was stamping,  torn net fibre and scrim.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving comments. I always like to see what people think and I like to reciprocate by visiting your blogs and leaving comments as well.
Catch you again soon.
Cheers, Di

PS. ABAC is currently having a Design Team call. If you are interested in becoming a member of our team, check out the details.

PATTERNING

Hi and welcome. Thanks for stopping by. For Anything But A Card, this month, we've had the theme and challenge of patterns. To go with a previous canvas, I've done another, again in black and white, using a mandala idea, combined with different patterns. I like the look of these and  am tempted to do a series of them for a wall.... quite dramatic! The canvas size is a 45cm square.

 The design was drawn onto white cardstock, cut out and adhered to the canvas with Collage Pauge.

I started the design using a compass and drew  concentric circles and  a flower design.... always knew I liked geometry for a reason!

Further layers were added to make the design more elaborate

 

With the basic design drawn in patterns were gradually added

For the patterns I used an ultra -fine Sharpie pen. I like these because they give such a fine line and are permanent. Larger sections of the design were blocked in with a slightly thicker Sharpie.


   

 

 

 

Close-ups of the patterns used.

To finish off, I used some stick-on gem stones (black and clear). This added an extra dimension as well as helping to hide some wobbly cutting!
All I have to do now is to do another one or two....?!!!
There's still time to join in the challenge. Why not pop over to have a look at what the rest of the design team as done at: http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/

Again, thanks for stopping by and having a look. I really appreciate your comments.
Cheers, Di

 

THE HOUSE THAT WE BUILT..... MINI ALBUM

Hi and welcome to my second post today. Normally. this post isn't due to go up until week three of the challenge at ARTastic, but because I actually finished this one in advance (don't ask me HOW!!!) it's able to go up today.
The challenge at ARTastic this month, includes the use of fabric. Check the inspirational art piece, criteria and the great takes on this by the rest of the team at: http://artasticchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/

I've done a house-shaped mini album. The covers have been die cut from canvas and each page features some form of fabric: diecut flowers from old denim jeans or hessian (burlap), ribbon, torn fabric, or diecut fabric leaves. The inside pages have been diecut from laser print card, smooshed firstly with Distress Inks, then stamped with archival inks. On the pages I've also used a diecut chevron trellis and the leftover cut-outs as accents. Blue and / or black coloured bling has been added, as these were two of the colours used on the inspiration piece.

This post has quite a number of photos, showing the inside pages of the album. The photos were taken in October, 1977, the year we built our house, and show the early stages the building. I've added a very poignant photo of  my mum and dad,  favourite uncle and aunt and myself,. This was the last photo taken of my dad- he passed away the following month... cancer, and therefore the last one of this group as well. It had been dad's wish to see our house built, but I believe he knew it wasn't to be, so he asked to see it as it was and we were so happy that he was able to see at least this much.

 

Front cover finished with a door diecut. The windows were covered with glossy accents, as were the diecut paper flowers to give them a porcelain appearance. A bit of extra bling completed the flowers and roof line. The album is held together with binder rings tied with various ribbons and braids.



Canvas with smooshings of ink

Almost completed front cover

Page 1. The beginnings.



Page 2



Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Page 8



Page 9. Our son standing on an extension my husband built

Page 10. A Giant Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise)... the name really suits this plant as it is now much higher than our house!

Page 11. The namesake of this blog.. one of our much loved tawny frogmouths. The tree is a chipboard piece, coloured in 3D Stamping Paint, then layered over the top with Glossy Accents... very sparkly effect!

 

 

Page 12. A shot of some very special hippeastrums, which flower mid-late winter and early spring.

Back cover.



Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have time to drop by the ARTastic site.
See you soon.
Cheers, Di

SUNSET DREAMING

Hi and welcome to the first of two posts today.  This is my DT piece for Pixels and Paper. When you look at our inspiration picture, you might be counting sheep!
I've used the colours and wool of the sheep from the inspiration picture to come up with this quirky page.

The background on white cardstock has been stencilled using neon inks with gesso scraped over them and while damp given a light spritz with some Perfect Pearls mist. This is a second generation print, hence the 'bleeding' of the pattern.





The sheep was drawn onto white laser print card and coloured using Lyra Aquarelle crayons. Added to this was cotton wool, tiny knitting needles and wool being knitted into a very special banner.

Cotton wool has also been glued onto laser card which was firstly smooshed  with Radiant Neon inks using sunset colours. This was also repeated on the cotton wool (used a paintbrush dabbed onto the ink pads).

 

The sunset was one taken in late winter last year, again from the front yard.  The layout has been given some random stamping using a stamp I carved into a small eraser.

 

Pop on over to http://pixelsandpaperchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/  to have a look at our very different picture and also to see what the rest of the team has done. This is also the first piece for three new team members as well.

 

Thank you for dropping by. Catch you again soon. Cheers, Di