Tuesday 10 July 2012

Dream in Layers and Circles

The challenge at the Sunday Stamper this week is to use the theme of 'Dreamer'. Hels Sheridan used the work of Finnabair as inspiration so I popped over to have a look for myself.  Wow! Such amazing inspiration can be found here and I know I'll be going back very often. I've tried to use some aspects of her style by using layers and elements although I don't own a very large number of these so decided to  make them from die cuts.

I like the way that Hels split her tag into two sections. I decided to add a lace die cut and hang it from the bottom of the tag as my interpretation of what she did. It was fiddly but I really like the effect as it adds another dimension. I've used the word 'Dream' on my tag and soft, dream like colours with a romantic bias to the content in order to fit Hels' theme.

At Simon Says Stamp And Show, the challenge is to show layering. I've chosen to layer flat and embossed die cuts, inks, shimmer sprays, acrylic paints, texture paste through a mask and various stamping.

At Try It On Tuesday, the challenge is to select a line from the bingo card and the twist is to add a butterfly. The line I have chosen is: brads; flower; die cut or punch. I've used brads in two of the flowers and made all the flowers from die cuts and the smaller ones from punched shapes. The required butterfly is there too!

The Stampalot Challenge is to show your crafty passion. I've used distress inks, shimmer sprays, stamping, flowers and glossy accents - all of which I love! The only one I left out was my beloved powder embossing because it didn't really fit this time. I added gold highlights with Rub and Buff gold leaf paste instead.

The challenge at The Artistic Stamper is circles. I've used gesso stamped circles to help build the background of my tag.

Here's what I made this time:


The main elements of the tag before construction.
This image was taken after the die cuts & canvas had been glued down, inks and shimmer spray had been applied and gesso painted over all the layers so far. At this stage I thought: YUK - IN THE BIN YOU GO! However, I recovered and refused to give in! So, from the above, to this:

The completed tag where colour has been spritzed and painted to create depth and interest.


Die cut flower coloured with dylusions sprays and distress ink. Stamped with a crackle image and chalky ink then layered over a similar flower. Seed beads attached with glossy accents. The tiny flower to the right was made the same way but has a gem for the centre and was a die punch.
TH lace die cut inked as before, stamped with script, gold leaf paste randomly applied and then lightly brushed with gesso. Lace then wired to the bottom of the tag. Die cut letters inked, stamped and gold paste as before then coated with glossy accents. Wired to lace so they dangle. I needed one more letter - perhaps I'll add an S at some point but that would mean undoing all the letters. . . . . 

Heart die cut embossed (same for the other heart), inked with dylusions, stamped with script (it's there, really it is!) and then acrylic metallic paint wash applied. Grooves and edges outlined with graphite stick. Small amount of gold paste smeared here and there.
Die cut cog treated as before with dylusions etc. Leaves applied through dylusions mask using texture paste. Painted with dylusions, acrylic and swiped with gold paste. The other leaves on the tag were created the same way. This is the first time I've used texture paste and I love it!


A snippet of the background showing dylusions and gesso colouring. The brown leaves (dylusion stamp image) were stamped onto tissue paper then applied. Gold acrylic was used to highlight the leaves. Script and crackle images were stamped lightly with various inks. Circles were stamped with gesso.

Die cut butterfly was coloured with dylusions then coated with crackle glaze to achieve aged look. The edges were enhanced with gold leaf paste. The shape was manipulated a little when almost dry to achieve a 3d look. Some walnut distress finished the look.

Die cut was inked, painted and gold leaf paste applied as before. Punched flower treated the same and a brad finishes the look. Small punched flowers were attached to the jute thread to add interest. 

The background can be clearly seen here with the circles and other stamping.  I really like the effect created by the graphite stick. I saw Andy Skinner use one on his aged metal finishes and wondered how it could be utilised in other ways - here's one! Thanks to the super talented Andy. (Er, not that he reads this blog of course but credit where credit's due!!).

44 comments:

  1. WOW, this is absolutely amazingly gorgeously stunning Julia... seriously... tis PERFECT! Thanks for joining in with the Sunday Stamper x

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  2. Blown away by your tag Julia just so much to look at and take in :)
    Von ♥

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  3. I'm thrilled, watching this amazing tag Julia..
    What a great job you did!
    I love every detail on it, so creative and artful!
    Top!!!

    Hugs, Alie :-)

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  4. A truly fab piece, love the way you have hung the word dream and the colours and finish are fab! Trace. X

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  5. Hi Julia, Absolutely STUNNING!!!!
    You really know how to make a tag interesting. Love all the details and finishes and such a depth of colour.
    So pleased you have joined us again at TioT.
    Avril xx

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  6. This is so gorgeous! So much beauty to look at! The Simon Says Stamp & Show design team thanks you for participating in this week's challenge.

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  7. Your tag is great Julia, I can see we love very similar things.

    Thanks so much for sharing your Crafty Passion with us at Stampalot this month.

    B x

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  8. Absolutely SPECTACULAR!!!! Love the texture, but the wired bottom totally thrills me!!! Love this so much! I wish you have a subscribe by email button so I won't miss a thing! LOL!

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  9. Wow, Julia, this one is a stunner! Love the layers, the embossing, the gold, the colours - everything! Fabulous. xx

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  10. A stunning take on Finnabair style, Julia. I love it!

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  11. Wow Julia I am impressed, this is one beautiful tag! Thanks for joining us at Stampalot this month.
    Pinky

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  12. So fabulous! Love all the tiny details and elements - really gorgeous! M x

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  13. You are such a talented lady, I think you should be teaching crafting classes. Love all the work here. I can see I will have to give the misters another go, and check out Finnabair. Wonderfully inspiring!

    Cassidy

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  14. This is stunning! Love the colours you've achieved, the embedded hearts and hanging dream from the bottom is a brilliant idea.

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  15. Wow, this has to rank in the top five of my most favourite tags of all time!!! It is absolutely stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, I could go on........fabulous. Thank goodness you persevered. A x

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  16. ...WOWzers this is one amazing Tag, the colours are beautiful & the textures incredible, I loVe the embossed hearts they are just scrumptious...superb!!...Mel :)
    Hi, thought I'd come & say hello, thank you for your loVely comment on my blog, it's nice to know you like my work enough to follow me and after what I've been greeted with on your opening pages It'll be a pleasure to follow you back...Awesome work Julia :)

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  17. This is really special, I love all the techniques you've used and all the colours, wow really inspiring. Michelle x

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  18. Jaw dropping..Gorgeous tag.. Well Andy must be mad if he dont read your blog as he is missing a real treat... this is quite AmAzing.. love the textures, Colours & design... Brillant! Thank you for your kind comments today... Have a fun week, Hugs May x x x

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  19. Wow, I'm missing words, such an outstanding tag.

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  20. Hey Julia, thanks for taking the time to visit my little blog! This tag is amazing, you really are talented - I really want to give texturising a go but am a bit worried! I love the little touchs of gold paste you added, it seems to bring it all together and lift it! Claire x

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  21. WOAH! Words fail me ... that's an absolutely jaw-dropping piece of art. I love all the details you added onto this as well as the whole tag. I'm so glad you didn't give up and dumped it.
    Suzanne x

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  22. I agree with the comment above - words fail me too. This is absolutely beautiful, what an inspired piece of art - so beautifully executed in every way. Cannot think of the words to describe how I feel - it is just gorgeous.
    Neet xx

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  23. Wow...sooo much texture and luscious colour!!! Love all the technique and it just looks brilliant! I just want to keep looking at it.
    Dot x

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  24. this is really a dream!! Words fail me too...so beautiful!
    Echt Wahnsinn!
    Lg siljan

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  25. Phwoar...how gorgeous is that? Love everything about it, colours, textures shapes the lot! its fab!! Trish xx

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  26. Gorgeous! Glad you didn't toss it...lol Great take on the challenge. Thanks for playing with us at TIOT.
    Hugz, Z

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  27. Oh this gorgeous what a lot of work gone into this. Your creations always look fab.

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  28. Beautiful creation , Lovely colours

    Thanks for joining us for our Crafty passion challenge over at
    Sir Stampalot this month and good luck!

    Hugs
    Francesca

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  29. This is awesome, Julia!!!!

    Can't stop looking. All those lovely details and the rich colours. Wonderful artwork!!

    Greetings,

    die amelie

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  30. Fabulous Tag and thank you for joining in The Artistic Stamper CReative Team challenge :)

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  31. Really beautiful work. Thanks for sharing and joining us at TioT. Cindy

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  32. Absolutely beautiful! So much detail. I just love those colours. A fabulous tag. Thank you for sharing your Crafty Passion with us at Stampalot Challenge, and good luck.

    Lynne x

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  33. Wow, this is brilliant! Tank you for joining us at Sir Stampalot this month. Clare x

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  34. This is such a pretty tag. Thanks so much for joining the Sir Stampalot challenge this month, Ruth :)

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  35. Glad this didn't go in the bin! It's stunning. Loving the colors and textures.

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  36. Glad this didn't go in the bin! It's stunning. Loving the colors and textures.

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  37. Awesome tag. Thanks you for explaining how it works.

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  38. Think I need a stepby step tutorial on this as some of the products are unknown to me....it's a gorgeous project!!!!
    Paper Hugs,
    Jan

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  39. Julia - this is the most beautiful tag I have ever seen! I can't get enough of it! I just love everything about it, especially the colors! If this tag were for sale, I would buy it in a heartbeat!!! Absolutely outstanding!

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  40. Wow......super duper gorgeous tag! I am in love......your tag is stunning.....love the color combination

    TFS

    Hugz

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  41. Your tag turned out awesome! Such beautiful colors. What kind of crackle glaze did you use? It looks so fine!

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  42. This is just awesome!! I really love your work!!
    I have to ask: Do you mind if I lift your tag for a Challenge at "ArJo's Tag og ATC kos" at FB?
    Thank you for the inspiration! Hugs, Helga <3
    hektapapirkunst.blogspot.no

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Juliax