Saturday 20 October 2012

Craft Barn Calendar Challenge #3 - White, Yellow and Green. . . .

The calendar challenge at the Craft Barn continues this week with the theme of three colours: white, yellow and green. I found it quite difficult to think of anything that I'd like to do in these three colours to be honest. I don't 'do' white very often as I seem to be programmed to ink everything so there's not huge expanses of white on my finished calendar this week.

I started by playing around with dylusion colours and making a background with green and yellow. Left that for a few days as nothing was working! Carried on then with some floral stamping, some foliage stamping and then thought about how I wanted to display the little calendar piece. I used a die cut in the end and gave it a makeover. Here's my March calendar page which is quite simple but in the end I was rather pleased with the way it had turned out (sorry the pictures are slightly odd, I had to take them in artficial light):


Finished page for March.


The background was created with dylusions, distress ink, water spritzing and some picket fence marker stamping. Some foliage was stamped in mustard seed distress but you have to look quite carefully for it!
For the calendar holder, a die cut was inked, stamped and crackled. The die cut letter M was inked then coated with glossy accents.


A Tim floral stamp was used in each corner with archival. My touch of white was applied with a gel pen to highlight the centres of some flowers.

The calendar was inked and stitched to provide interest and to blend with the background (you may have noticed the mistake I made with the stitching - can't take it out as tell tale holes are left!).

Close up to show foliage stamping.


The top of the calendar piece was wrapped with some Tim tissue tape and inked to dull the white (I can't help doing that!).

This lovely jute braid was used through the die cut and then to hold the calendar (bought at the Craft Barn). The main piece was also stitched around the edge to give a finished look.


I love the crackled effect and the tissue tape - watch out for more of those two!

Thanks for looking at my calendar page. It's relatively simply but I'm very pleased how it turned out in the end - it's a case of if at first you don't succeed, don't throw it away, leave it and go back!!

32 comments:

  1. Love the die you have used Julia and the crackling is fabulous, like the odd touch of white here and there too. If there is an error in the stitching I couldn't find it but that just adds to the charm of the whole piece anyway. Crafty hugs, Anne x

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  2. This is fantastic, I love everything about it.
    xxx Hazel.

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  3. Amazing details Julia...you're so good in mixed all kind of ideas to a great creation!
    Love this colorscheme too, you did well :-)

    Have a nice weekend, Alie :-)

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  4. The embellishment is both original and beautiful, love it !

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  5. Utterly beautiful background, Julia! Love the gel highlights to the flourishes, and your crackly die-cut is just fab! The stitching is amazing... I have a horrible history with sewing machines, but I so love the look of stitching on the papercrafting, that I got a really cheapo handheld stitching machine recently. Haven't dared crack it open yet, but this could just be the nudge I need - thank you!
    Alison x

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  6. WOW Julia, that crackle is amazing

    Sam xx

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  7. WOW Julia this is beautiful !!! Love all the inking, crackling and design. Have a great weekend, Shirleyx

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  8. Hi Julia, This is a fabulous page, love the background and the little gel hightlights on the flowers is a lovely touch. The crackle finish on the die cut looks stunning.
    Avril xx

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  9. ooh this is gorgeous! So much texture and detail. I love the jute braid on this, and the stitching really finishes it off!

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  10. Only you would spot a mistake with the sewing! Love the multitude of stamped/inked layers in that green background and the calendar topping is a delight. What pleasure you will get from looking at this for 31 days next year. Looking forward to April now (no pressure!) Hugs, Buttons x

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  11. Beautiful calender page Julia with great details and very very colrs.
    Greetings Janny

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  12. So much interest and texture. I love the idea of the stitched border. I have a sewing machine phobia which is a bit of a bane of my life as I love stitching on artwork, every now and then I get a little bit brave lol.
    The jute is a wonderful touch as is the crackle - fabulous!
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  13. Wow, this is gorgeous, the colors, the textures...all are just perfect! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

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  14. Lol Julia, 'relatively simple'?? Your calendar is gorgeous, technique packed and oozing with inspirational attention to detail. I LOVE it.
    Huge hugs x x x x

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  15. Such wonderful details & texture Julia! A fabulous arty calendar page!
    Hope you're having a great weekend,
    Alison xx

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  16. This is gorgeous!! Love the inky background and the crackle and the stitching. Great detail.

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  17. I love your blog, you give me loads of ideas and a ton of inspiration! Love this, may have go tomorrow, depending on how I feel, if that flu jab after effect has worn off... Have to get some of that crackle as well.

    Cassidy xx

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  18. Your calendar page is beautiful. Fantastic stamping and inking, love the effects created with the layers of colour and water. I love the crackly detail on the die cut too - looks gorgeous.

    Hugs, Dawn

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  19. Wonderful creation Julia, with many perfect details... I love it !! Hugs, Coco x

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  20. A wonderful page, love the colors, the texture, the sewing an all :)

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  21. Lots of great shapes going on here Julia :)
    Von ♥

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  22. Gorgeous project! Love all the texture and the crackle does look amazing on the tissue. Great vintage feel! Love it!

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  23. Lovely Calendar love the background and all the stamps fab effect

    MaggieH

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  24. So very gorgeous, Julia, I really don't know which details to emphasize, the whole project is just adorably stunning.
    Hugs, Suzanne xxx

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  25. This is wonderful! I love the aged, crackle effect and the jute braid has such a unique weave! Stunning piece!!

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  26. Absolutely gorgeous! Such detail!

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  27. There are so many interesting elements to this page. I like how it has turned out and the colours look great.

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  28. The textures and colours make this such an interesting page for your calendar which in its entirety will be extraordinary I am sure. The little twisty bit with the jute at the top of your ornament is inspired. Can't wait to see the whole thing.

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  29. OMG this is stunning. Love the colors and design. Lots of eyecandy.

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  30. Great card! Love the crackled effect as well. Beautiful!

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  31. Beautiful, love the background and the crackle.
    Thanks for playing with us.
    Don't forget to get in touch so I can send you your 15% code.
    Izzy

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