Saturday 4 January 2014

Challenge 31 At Anything But A Card. . . . . . . . Balance.



Hello everyone. Hope your first week in 2014 is going well. It's time for a new challenge at Anything But A Card and this time the theme is based on the photograph below and one word:  Balance.


I had to think quite hard for this challenge! Eventually I decided to take the word Balance and use it in a fairly literal sense.  I could have used the colours, the shapes, the sea or a host of other starting points that this photo and the word conjure up. That's the wonderful thing about challenges at Anything But A Card - you can think as far outside the box as you like and as long as it's NOT a card and you reflect the theme in some way, then we are always thrilled to see what you come up with!

I couldn't get the image of something balancing out of my head so here's my little ATC which depicts balance as I see it:

I've used my favourite Oxford Impressions steampunk bird stamp and he's balancing on some 'rusty' machinery.
For the 'rusty' machinery, I used an old mirror fixing, two die cut card gears and a heart brad to secure them together. The rust was all achieved using DecoArt Traditions paints, their sand texture paste and some Andy Skinner Timeworn techniques.
An ATC was die cut and covered with part of a gelli plate print (made using DecoArt Americana and Traditions paints) then run through an embossing folder. To tone down the brightly coloured gelli print, some DecoArt Metallic Lustres were applied along with a little Treasure Gold to add a green tinge.
Both hat and bird are stamped with archival ink onto white card then cut out. The hat was embossed with clear powder, decorated with some rusty wire and the theme word added using a label maker.
I wanted to make the bird look as if he was balancing on his perch. The rusty wire is used to help secure the foot on the 'machinery'.
I decided to colour the bird in a bright colour to make him stand out yet still tone with a similar colour used in the background.

Hope you like my little bird. I'll have to try not to use him again on an ATC but I can't promise!
So what will you make? Need some more inspiration? Why not pop over to Anything But A Card and see what the first team have come up with and remember, the DT is split into three. That means that each of the following weekends will provide some further inspiration for you! Click here to see what my teamies have made for you. Can't wait to see what you make for this challenge. . . . . . . 

21 comments:

  1. Love your creative thoughts Julia, this is such a lever idea and put together beautifully. The rusted machinery and steampunk bird are magnificent. Love it.
    hugs {brenda} xox

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  2. What a great way to show balance Julia! Love your little steampunk bird on his rusty perch. It's to be hoped he is indoors as balancing outside in this windy weather would be an even bigger challenge! Jenny x

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  3. Wow Julia, no one does rusting quite like you, this is absolutely wonderful. Love the bird and he really does look like he is balancing. I can see why you would want to use him again and again. Anne x

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  4. this looks amazing - love it xx

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  5. Such a fabulous take on the inspiration photograph Julia. The rusted embellishments are just fabulous x

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  6. WOW Julia!!! This is an amazing piece! I wish I lived closer so we could have some crafty time together :-D xxx

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  7. My dear Julia happy New Year to you and yours!
    Your ATC is just stunning…great texture and I love how you incorporate wire in...Perfect creation for the balance theme!
    Hugs from Slovenia

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  8. Yes definitely balance brill ! coupled with your fab texture :)
    Von ♥

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  9. Lovely bit of rust Julia! A great & inspirational piece of art! I love it!
    Alison xxx

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  10. That's an amazing creation, love the rusty look.

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  11. Oh wow, this looks fabulous! Love the rusty balancing board and that little bird looks so cool. Great take on the inspiration photograph!

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  12. ...you've worked your magic yet again Julia, this is stunning on every level and a joy to look at...Happy New Year to you...Mel:)xx

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  13. I am drooling over your 'rusty' machinery!! It looks so REAL! This is absolutely fabulous, but we'd expect nothing less from you!!

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  14. This is gorgeous sweetie, I love the 'balance', very cleverly done. Amazing texture and techniques too.
    Huge hugs x x x x

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  15. Balance would be a great word for the year too! I love the bird on the seesaw...I can totally relate, we all can! Fantastic piece!

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  16. Totally scrumptious ATC, Julia - so many amazing textures, and the bird just maintaining his balance on the top - it's wonderful!
    Alison xx
    (Thank you for your comment the other day too...)

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  17. Wow and Wow! Julia this is a delightful take on Balance. Such a wise bird too!

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  18. Fabulous ATC and a great take on the challenge. Love the rusty elements and the background, but the bird with his top hat is superb.

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  19. Brilliant make out of junk and the colouring and texture is just amazing. Hats off!! (:o)

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  20. Hue he is lovely Julia. The rust looks perfect and the tones on the embossed gelli print work so well. I love that birdie stamp as well x

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