Saturday 24 November 2012

Craft Barn Challenge #8 & Emboss It At The Stampman

Firstly, I'd like to say a big hello and welcome to my latest followers - it's lovely of you to want to keep up with what I do.

The latest theme for Craft Barn Calendar challenge is children/cute - I'm now up to date as well, for how long, I've no idea!

I don't really do cute so it had to be children for me. I've got some children stamps but they weren't really shouting out at me so I decided to dig out my La Blanche stamp of the girl with the sunflowers. I love this stamp but find it quite difficult to choose the right context in which to use it.

I'm not sure about choosing pink for my main image but in the end, I was happy enough with it.

I'm also going to enter my calendar page at The Stampman. Their challenge this month is to emboss it. I've used an embossing folder and embossing enamel so I think this piece fits the criteria.

Here's my calendar, see what you think:

Using artificial light is not the best but there seemed to be no light today! I've hidden much of the stamp by framing it but I wanted to add a 3D element with the little flower and it wouldn't match the sunflowers used on the stamp . I also like the oval shape so didn't mind cutting off the bottom of the image.
The frame is made from a Tim folder which I cut pieces out of including the central oval panel to make the frame. Distress inks were used to colour the frame followed by some chunky embossing enamel to give an aged effect. The frame is mounted onto card stamped with archival and coloured with distress inks. Some machine stitching finishes the look.
It was difficult to place the calendar stub but as I have another one which protrudes to the left, that seemed the most sensible option. 
The cotton lace on the bottom edge adds a feminine touch to the already 'girlie' piece.
The little flower is punched with a little pearl in the centre. The calendar stub has some Tim tissue tape on the top edge to hide the ugly holes left after removing the stitches holding the calendar together. Some archival was swiped round the edges followed by some machining to match in with the main background.
Hope you've enjoyed looking at this piece and reading how it came about. I do tend to waffle on but you could always look at just the pictures if you wish! Wonder what the Craft Barn will come up with for their next challenge?  


22 comments:

  1. Lovely Julia, so rich and opulent! Love the golden embossed frame, and the tiny flower in her hands is a wonderful touch. Congrats on the SSSaS win - so well deserved for a great piece!
    Alison xx

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  2. OOoh this is gorgeous Julia, fabulous embossing

    I hope you're going to lay them all out when you've done the 12 and let us see them all together.

    Sam xxx

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  3. Stunning artwork Julia! I love your colours & that beautiful image! x

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  4. This screams Dante Gabriel Rossetti to me. It is so unbelieveably up my street - therefore it must be fate that you picked my birthday month for it. Julia you are a genius. Using the embossing frame/folder in this way works extremely well and is perfect for this young girl. It's gonna be one heck of a calendar! Hugs, Buttons x

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  5. That oval looks amazing Julia..very smart! In combination with the reds and the stamp,it gives
    a great vintage feel. Very creative again Julia and so chic!

    Hugs??? More and more??? :-))
    Okay Julia...BIG hug for you too and enjoy the rest of the weekend, Alie :-)

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  6. Beautiful calender page, love the Victorian vintage style, and the way you have added texture to the frame.

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  7. Beautiful
    The colours and textures you have chosen work so well together and look stunning
    Another wonderful page in a wonderful calendar
    Hugs trace x

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  8. This is really beautiful Julia. Such a lovely image and she looks so pretty with the pink. The frame round her looks amazing too.
    Hugs, Fliss xx

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  9. This is gorgeous Julia, well done you. The lovely deep pink tones you have achieved work beautifully with the antique gold, what a beautiful stamp too.
    Huge hugs x x x x

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  10. I think it is just so gorgeous especially the way you have framed it.
    I have this beautiful stamp myself but not used it for such a while.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  11. Hi Julia, this is just simply stunning. That stamp is wonderful and so perfect for this calendar, the image is so beautiful and the flower in her hand is such a lovely touch. The frame is amazing, I really love this. Many congrats on your win over at Simon Says, it was such a beautiful piece too. Hugs, Anne x

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  12. Another beautiful calendar page, Julia.Love, love love the embossing. It's made the whole piece so rich. Cheers, Di

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  13. This is a beautiful calendar page - the image is lovely and the embossing is fabulous.
    xxx Hazel.

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  14. Simply stunning, Julia. Everything works together perfectly and that gold embossing enamel is gorgeous.

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  15. Thanks for commenting on my post. Cute was tricky but I love the image you've used and it's beautifully framed. Only 4 to go!

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  16. Gorgeous page, I love the background stamp and the opulent embossing. The tiny red flower just sets off the stamped image, perfect !

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  17. This is gorgeous Julia, I love the stamp you've used, and the chunky embossing is fabulous. Clever you for getting out the sewing machine, I always think it's the perfect finishing touch (but never do it myself lol). Thank you for joining us for The Stamp Man embossing challenge. Sue xx

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  18. So fantastic, great calendar page.

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  19. Julia - OH MY! Those were my words when your blog page opened. So gorgeous, rich, and elegant - the colors are amazing, but I especially like the thick applications of embossing powder on your dry embossed frame. Love the use of the thick granules - I have to try it - so of course, you are pinned into my techniques board - thank you for sharing how you made your card.

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  20. Beautiful embossing work !! well done
    Thank for playing with us at the Craft Barn
    Izzy

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  21. Fabulous page. I love the frame.

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