Sunday 15 June 2014

Summer Lovin' At Anything But A Card. . . . . . .

Hello everyone. What a busy few days I've had! seven hours travelling to see my daughter's degree show in Plymouth, Devon and of course, another seven hours back again - totally worn out but I was so proud of her! Here's one of her pencil drawings before it was mounted and framed:

Hard to believe it's done in pencil isn't it? 

Just had to share that but let's get back on track now. I am showing my DT work for Anything But A Card today in the third week of their challenge entitled Summer Lovin'. If you haven't already joined in there, click here and see the inspiration provided by the rest of the ladies for you. You won't be disappointed I promise you!

This is how Susan, our lovely leader, describes the challenge for you:

A celebration of all things summer! Think summer weather, vacations, sunflowers, beach parties, cold drinks and Barbeques... bright colors and wide open sky. Pool parties all day, then sitting in lawn chairs sipping drinks and watching the night sky. 



I've made the image large because the details are very subtle on this tag and could be missed in a smaller image.
The base of the tag is watercolour paper which was coloured with Dylusion ink sprays and Perfect Pearls spray. Images were then stamped using a variety of distress ink colours. Each fish was then enhanced using a watercolour pencil but no water. I love these pencils because they give such rich tones to the work - wet or dry.

The fine textured yarn was coloured with the remains of the Dylusions spray from the craft mat. I included the yarn to convey the idea of waves and motion.


You can see quite clearly here how the watercolour pencil was used to enhance the fish outline - I love adding these pencils to distress inks.

The bathing beauty was stamped onto smooth card in archival ink and then coloured with distress inks hopefully achieving an ombre effect in the background.

The edges of the tag were finished with some prussian blue ink which is a gorgeous colour.

The crinkle ribbon was coloured using a mixture of Dylusion ink and Distress ink. It was then scrunched into a ball and dried with a heat gun.

The end of a paintbrush protector was used to stamp 'air bubbles' on the background using Distress ink.

The fish at the bottom was stamped onto some scraps of the watercolour paper coloured with the Dylusion inks. The paper was stuck onto some Tando inchies and then they were laid close together on the craft mat. Once in position, the fish was stamped onto the inchies.

The inchies were joined to the main tag using some cotton seam binding which was also coloured with Dylusions inks, Distress inks and some Perfect Pearls spray.
Quote was made using a label maker and clear tape. This was glued to a coloured paper scrap, applied to card and attached to the cotton tape above the inchies.







I have added some images with no caption. I hope they give you some idea of the amount of shimmer and depth that has been achieved in the background.

Hopefully we'll see you at Anything But A Card with your interpretation of our June theme: Summer Lovin'.
Can't wait to see what you come up with for this great challenge. Please remember to read the small number of rules which you'll find on the blog.

Thank you for joining me and pease do have a look at Anything But A CArd such inspiration awaits you!

14 comments:

  1. Julia I saying Wow ....Wow! Your art is perfect with so many tiny details that really do shout summer and seaside!
    The second wow is for your daughters art. She certainly is one talented young lady. I can imagine how fantastic the exhibition was and how proud you are of her.

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  2. Hi Julia, Such an amazing drawing - you must be such a proud Mum and Congrats to your daughter.
    Love this tag, and that fabulous image. It's been a while since I visited so off for a little catch up.
    Avril x

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  3. What a great artist your daughter is Julia...congratulions with her degree.
    But her mom is so creative too...this tag is gorgeous...what a great idea
    with the cut fish at the bottom!
    Greetings, Alie :-)

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  4. Fabulous background Julia and what gorgeous summer colours. So many wonderful details which you put together so perfectly.

    And what a fabulous drawing by your daughter - no wonder you are very proud of her. My husband draws animals in pencil and it absolutely amazes me the almost photographic effects which can be achieved. Enjoy the rest of your weekend x

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  5. The portrait by your daughter is amazing, Julia - I'm sure her degree show was a huge success.

    And your tag is pretty darn special too... amazing depth to your ocean layers, beautiful stamping, and I love how you've isolated the woman on her own panel amidst the waves. Glorious triptych for the fish at the bottom too! Fantastic tag.
    Alison xx

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  6. Gorgeous tag Julia. I love the fish that are hidden in the background. Congratulations to your daughter too.

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  7. Fabulous tag Julia and your daughter's drawing is amazing. You both have such a talent! Xx

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  8. Fabulous, love the fish such amazing subtle colours

    Your Daughters art is incredible, very talented

    Jools x

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  9. Fantastic summer feeling, great piece.

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  10. Love it. Beautiful in all the details. Took a long time to load but worth it.

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  11. Congratulations to your extremely talented daughter (takes after her mother of course) what a fantastic drawing! A very lovely tag too Julia, just up my street and I love the colours.

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  12. Marvelous tag! You have created a wonderful image of summer by the sea!

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  13. Love the blue!!! And the thread to convey water movement. And the look of fish under water! Your daughter's work is beautiful, too!

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  14. Gorgeous tag Julia, just been using that stamp set myself :)
    What a fabulous talent your daughter has too, that drawing is brilliant!
    Alison xxx

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