Thursday 17 November 2011

Dragonfly dreams

Carol's been doing a class on the Tando Creative Online Classes blog over the last four weeks. I've played along but, of course, I've done it my own way! Carol used the six inch square frame, mine is the one that's about 88mm square.

As I started out with a smaller frame, I've simplified quite a lot to avoid a very "busy" finished product. I used a lot of Carol's class techniques for the various elements, though (and added a bit of "me" as I went along!).

The basic frame preparation is just as outlined in Carol's first session - I chose not to heat the paste to make it bubble though.

Week 2 and I started to go off piste a bit! I did the basic technique with the stand (although I used a large background stamp rather than a swirl) and sort of followed the background insructions. My main difference was that I sponged gesso through my mask and chose a much smaller scale pattern (the sequin waste mask) to go with my smaller project. I only partially outlined some of my sponged dots.

Week 3 was easy for me - Carol made lots of fab embellishments but I decided the smaller frame couldn't handle very much so I just made the dragonfly! As I wasn't doing all the inchies and fragments etc (actually this frame is not wide enough to take them) I decided to add some extra textural interest by doing the beaten metal effect around the top right. To achieve this look, just bash the heck out of the chippie with an embossing stylus and then very lightly apply Rub n Buff.

The final week brought all the elements together. Again, I simplified and just stamped onto my prepared background, added a little bit of white gel pen to the plant's flower heads and attached the dragonfly with some florist's wire so that it floats free of the frame.

Supplies:
Square frame with stand and Bug Set 1 Sml (Tando Creative)
Sequin Waste mask (Tando Creative)
Plant from Nature Plate 1 (Indigo Blu)
Sentiment from retired CHF set
Crackle stamp
Black and green acrylic paints
Rub n Buff by Amaco (Silver Leaf)
Pearls (coloured with a Copic marker)
Perfect Pearls (Forver Green, Forever Blue, Patina Green)
Opalite inks (Orchid Ice and Cypress Frost)
Versafine ink (Onyx Black)
Distress inks (Tumbled Glass, Brocken China, Bundled Sage)
Inkssentials white pen by Ranger
Clear embossing powder
Gesso
Florist's wire


If you fancy having a go at you own version, all of Carol's instructions will stay up on the blog so we'd love to see you any time! Thanks for stopping by!

22 comments:

Paula Whittaker said...

my fave colours - a wonderful finished project!

Effie said...

Love the finish on the frame... Lovely project.

Lillia said...

Love the textured effect on the frame and think only partially outlining the bubbles is really effective.

Di said...

Oh wow Joanne, I LOVE your frame, it's brilliant x

Kath said...

It is indeed a lovely piece of work. I love the colour,texture and image.

Gez Butterworth said...

WoW! Fabulous creation Joanne. Definately looks like you had lots of fun! Gorgeous, gorgeous colours.

Kaz said...

This is stunning Joanne and lots of you in it for sure! xx

Deborah said...

You've made it your own - and beautiful it is too!

Hazel said...

This is fantastic - and I love the colours you've used x

sam21ski said...

It's always a good idea to add a bit of you. Great colour combo and love the texture of the frame.

Sam xxx

Carol Plume said...

aww Joanne what a gorgeous frame really loving the texture - thank you for sort of joining me xx

Marlene (cards4u) said...

This is simply wonderful - what a work of love!!

Alison said...

Absolutely brilliant Joanne! Love your interpretation of this project x

Mari said...

I love it! And, to be perfectly honest, I love yours best! :)

Janice said...

That is absolutely stunning Joanne. My favourite colours and the stamping is immaculate.

Traceyr said...

Fabulous Joanne and I love that dragonfly and the white pen on the flowers really bring them to life.

:)

Karen said...

WOW! a stunning piece Joanne, love the dragonfly...very you xxx

Unknown said...

Stunningly brilliant - the frame is just perfect - off to look up the link

Sue said...

This is fabulous Joanne, I love the beaten metal effect - I'll definitely have to try that x

Lorraine said...

this is really beautiful.love the colours

JulieD said...

This is beautiful - the frame is stunning and the colours in your background and dragonfly are gorgeous. Love the whole thing, well done!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Wow, this is gorgeous !