Monday 9 September 2013

Alison Bomber Project #2 One TWO Three ....

"Hi everyone, Alison (butterfly) here with my second trio of the week, and - although we’re still botanical - it’s all about the neutrals this time. I started with - what else? - some corrugated cardboard.  It’s from the box my PaperArtsy goodies came in (oh, happy day!) and I have to say: even the PA packaging is well-made... very hard to do the ripping and tearing I wanted to, but I got there in the end".




I covered three manila tags in old book pages, and gave them and the corrugated card a wash of Snowflake Fresco Paint.  Since Snowflake is opaque, I had to dilute it with a spritz of water, or I might have lost all my lovely print. 



For the corrugated card, in the end, I decided I did need a proper undiluted coat to get the look I wanted... but it’s still just a rough coat.  I’m not looking for perfection here... 


I added the lovely birds and grasses from HP1009 to the foot of each tag - I may be in love with this stamp, I think!



This time I stamped my botanicals onto the fantastic Heavyweight Smoothy Stamping Card, using Coffee Archival.  I did try out the Versafine Sepia for comparison’s sake... and apart from preferring the warmer tone of the Coffee (on the right), I think it slightly edged the Versafine for clarity.  I know that’s pretty much heresy round here, so I’ll continue to experiment!



The flowers are from the following Hot Pick Stamp sets:



I tore around the edges for a rough and ready look to match the background.  


I blended Gathered Twigs onto the torn edges, and darkened the very outside with Walnut Stain.  Using more than just one ink colour for the distressing seems to me to give added depth and life to a piece.



I did some classic spritz and flicking, trying to get the water droplets to land on the inked parts of the paper (with somewhat limited success), but it does give a lovely extra texture to the distressing.


Then I sploshed some Distress Stains onto the craft mat and used a paintbrush to suck up the fluid ink - you want the tip nice and saturated - before tapping it against my finger to flick ink onto the stamped images.  It’s something Tim Holtz did on one of his 12 Tags, and I love how it adds a spontaneity and life to the images.



I also inked and distressed the edges of my book page tags, and started assembling things on the cardboard backing.  It needed some thing extra, so I added some crumpled Crunchy Wax Paper to the mix.



And I remembered the little tiny tags Leandra had included in my stash, so I pressed some of those into service too.  They got a book page covering, and then I added partial stampings of some of the insects from HP1109 and 1203, as well as adding the teeny-weeny tag images also from HP1109.
 

I do love the effect of stamping on book pages!


By now, I was pretty happy with my layers, but the corrugated card still lacked definition, despite having had some Distress Inks blended over it.  In the end, I used the CoffeeArchival pad, swiping it directly onto the edges and ridges of the card to give it a bit of oomph.  Much better.



There was still a bit of juggling of layers and elements before I got to a final composition which pleased me, but eventually I got going with the glue.


Of course, you lose a bit of dimension once you start actually sticking things down, so I used padded tape to mount the little tags.  I also like that this means you can slightly peek underneath them...



I used some twine, not only to decorate the tops of the tags, big and small, but also to create the mechanism by which to hang up my hanging triptych.





I’ll leave you with a picture of each panel, with the sun to warm them up.  If only I were a horticulturalist, I could identify them for you by the names of the flowers - but here’s the left...


... the middle...



and the right (pretty sure this one’s an iris!)...



... as well as some favourite little close-ups:





So, that’s trio number two... and I’ve one last threesome to share with you tomorrow.  Hope to see you then!

Leandra Says: Ohhh how fantastic. So effective with a few browns, a bit of distressing and neutral colours to create great impact! Like you, I'm a sucker for old pages, but yes, they do need a good whitewashing first to tone the writing down.... OMG I did have a bad experience in class one day where I innocently handed out a rather raunchy book to them which didn't go down well for everyone! Particularly as the task was to create a poem out of the words on the sheet!!! So I do try to glance at the content first now before kitting up or using !!! oops

Gillian Says: Another beautiful trio Alison, I love your neutral colour palette which is perfect with your corrugated backdrop.

47 comments:

Julie Lee said...

I love corrugated card and I love that birds and grasses stamp too! This is such a lovely make! I adore the browns and neutrals! I had to smile at Leandra's comment. A friend of mine once made her mother-in-law, a devout Catholic an altered book from an old Jilly Cooper and lots of the print showed through! She realized when her children were admiring what she'd done and sniggering! Julie Ann xx

Unknown said...

Gorgeous! xx

Helen said...

well the one on the right is Iris but there you have me! Love this project, it was worth abandoning my tea for to check it out as soon as the post went up, will look properly later!!

Unknown said...

Fabulous, I love it, but that's mainly coz I love neutrals and the sepia type look. I may play tomorrow

margaret said...

I love this piece, lovely natural colours great work will defo have a go!!!

Craftyfield said...

Shabby, grungy but gorgeous!

Unknown said...

Love it! Again!!

sam21ski said...

Oh just love these Alison, but then your neutrals always look fantastic.

Sam xxx

ionabunny said...

Oh Leandra you are so funny. Loving the corrugated background and the cream and brown combo

Anonymous said...

Goodness, that is beautiful. The neutral colour scheme is fab. I'm ashamed to say I don't have any of these stamps, shall have to rectify that very soon.

Miriam said...

Totally gorgeous - and love the colours!!

Deborah said...

You do neutrals so perfectly, Alison. Love it!

craftimamma said...

Another fabulous trio for this evening Alison! I love coffee and cream combos and it's perfect for the corrugated cardboard. Love all the stamps you've used.

Leandra, I would love to have been in that classroom!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Annie said...

Another fab layout Alison. Lots of gorgeous distressing and beautiful painted layers. Stamps are on my wish list

Crafty hugs

Annie x

Debbie said...

Absolutely stunning, I must use the corrugated sheet I have asap, it looks amazing. Debbiex

Alison said...

I love the neutral shades & torn edges on this triptych Alison! Gorgeous!!! xxx

Paper Profusion said...

STUNNING crafting Alison and a terrific step x step. I adore the torn edges - using muliple ink shades really enhances the 'burnt, aged look'. Beauteous range of stamps too! This is a fabulous hanging. Nicola x

Redanne said...

Another triumph from you Alison, this is stunning. Anne x

massofhair said...

Loving your tryptich project, natural colours bring out the botanicals so well.
You make it all look so easy:-)

Lucy said...

Beautiful! I love the shades of brown with the botanicals and the natural look of the products you have chosen. Perfect!

Lucy x

Karin said...

Beautiful project.

Meggymay said...

Stunning project, the colours are gorgeous.
Yvonne

toni said...

beautiful! love the colours and textures, a perfect project for those gorgeous stamps Toni x

Fliss said...

Another absolute stunner Alison. I love all the fabulous texture and vintage sepia. So beautiful!
Hugs, Fliss xx

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Another lovely trio and in my favourite warm tones which work beautifully with the corrugated card. Love the trio of florals too. Tracy x

http://blog.timetocreate.com.au/ said...

Alison this is wonderful.
All of those stamps are quietly sitting on the shelf for sale here ...just might need to do a stocktake :)
I like the warmth of coffee archival too!
The lovely faded shades you have achieved are so peaceful and classically pretty.

Kathi said...

Another great post with another piece of gorgeous artwork! So inspiring!

I love the warm browns you used and all the textures and such.

I can't wait til tomorrow!!!

Nan G said...

Love the way you've show cased these stamps! Now this is a fabulous 'butterfly' creation!

barbarayaya62 said...

FAb creation Alison!!!!! BArbarayaya

Lin said...

Beautiful project and I love love love all those layers!!!

Astrid Maclean said...

Another fab trio Alison and great use of those stamps!!

Sid said...

Fab organic look !!

Cocofolies said...

What a wonderful tryptic Alison!!! Totally in your style with those nature and flowers stamps that really pop up after you have sublimated them... Great artwork! Coco xx

kateri said...

Gorgeous colors. I like the look of the whole piece. And I admire you for using your artistic stick-to-your-guns (an old saying that's probably not politically correct) regarding your choice of ink. Great art.

Trish said...

It's gorgeous! I love the neutral tones, so warm and wonderful!

Francesca said...

Beautiful project, using the natural colours id just fab. xx

Mary Elizabeth said...

Botanical Bliss Alison!! Love this. Perfect vintage and rustic vibe for your triptych. Really creates a lovely setting for those gorgeous stamps!! Fabulous make (pinned!!!) -- Mary Elizabeth

Maggie said...

Fabulous Alison love the vintage effects

MaggieH

Linda M. Cain said...

Allison, you are simply brilliant! I love everything you've here.

~Linda

Unknown said...

Beautiful project. I love the idea of tearing around the stamped images. Definitely learning lots of new techniques and ideas this week!

Emma x

cathylynn said...

Wowzers this is a breath-taking trio! Love the stamps and your combination of the textures! Fantastic Alison!!!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

sara j said...

beautius

joanne wardle said...

I love the use of the wax paper for layering, brilliant

Jenny Marples said...

Such a beautifully distressed trio. Love these Alison. Hugs, Jenny x

Dianne said...

Hello Miss Butterfly, I am standing and applauding you again, I loooooooved the first one, now another one, I can hardly stand it, looooooooove this one too, every centimeter of it, you are inspiring everyone around blog land and I am so proud of you I could burst, as I said I applaud you you are THE BOMB*******

Bonnie Irvine said...

Beautiful triptych, Alison. I love the three parts on each section. It's like 3 to the power of 3...so effective and delightful. The neutral tones that you do so wonderfully really suit these images and look fabulous paired with the corrugated card and book text. Fabulous texture...and more stamps to add to my wish list which has now become a wish folder...lol.

Kezzy said...

WOW WOW WOW Alison I so love your work, I can't believe I have been poorly all week and not been able to have a go, then all today I have been crafting but for a DT project. Think I might have a go at this tomorrow as I truly love how you to your browns and the card board, wow super gorgeous work :-) Kezzy xxx