Monday 7 April 2014

GD: Julie Ann Lee Project #2 A Happy Ending {Part 2}

"Hi there, it's Julie Ann again! Thank you so much for coming back to see the show! Tonight it's 'Curtain Up' on my journal spread".


As you can see, at this stage (sorry!) I have not added my actors: they were cut out ready, but not stuck in. I gave both the cover and the first page a coat of Mermaid Fresco followed by Bora Bora and an edging of South Pacific. I also stuck my first two pages together very carefully with some Heavy Gel Medium. On the left I stamped with the Mini 84 script  stamp in Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink Cornflower Blue. Again I used the stamp without a block to create a worn look. I also allowed the lettering to go over onto the back of the bunting which I had painted blue to match my spread.


I had wound the fibres around the aperture and I loved the effect of their texture and colour against the blue. I added some random stenciling with a Prima flourish stencil. Now the empty blue page was taunting me: what drama was to take place here? One of my favourite Shakespeare plays is 'The Tempest' with its beautiful poetry and its enchanted isle setting. I also love Blake's poetry so I thought my page would be about the enchanted worlds we can find all around us - now isn't there a lovely Lin Brown Eclectica flower sentiment along those lines? An idea was taking shape.


Using the wonderful Smoothy White Stamping Card again, I painted it to look like an old piece of parchment, maybe found on the magical isle, saved from a time long ago? I tore the edges and then rolled them around a cocktail stick. I used Vanilla, Chocolate Pudding and a backing of Mermaid and stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia to stamp with ELB05.



Ideas were forming as to what I would do with my poem page, but while they were fermenting, I stuck on my figures for the front cover. They looked perfect, but they backs were boring. I decided to turn the reverse side into goddesses rising from the waves, the protectors of the magical isle! I used LPC006 for the towers and the goddesses' faces. Later I added ripples with a blue Sharpie pen!



Now you can see what I decided to do with the other page!


The tissue here is ordinary, everyday white tissue wrap, painted with Mermaid Fresco, a touch of South Pacific and some Hey Pesto. I stuck it to the page with Matte Medium having stamped with the gorgeous feather, Mini 98. I didn't matter if there were wrinkles - the more the better, as this is the effect I was going for ...

 

When I had fixed my tissue and painted over it with Satin Glaze and it was completely dry, I went in with some White Fire Treasure Gold. The finishing touches are some ornate corners and some punched out leaves painted with Guacamole.


Meet the Queen of the Isle! She's from LPC006 and when she looks about her she really sees the beauty of her magical isle and teaches her subjects to value Nature's Gifts.


Her crown is from LPC003. I wanted to use pearls because they remind me of 'The Tempest' and the piece of gold mesh is something I've been holding onto and not wanting to use! For this journal, I want to have lots of textiles added, so to start with, I dyed some seam-binding with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink and then stamped it with the sun from LPC005




I like to think that the circle around her eye emphasises how when we look and truly see, the world shows us its magic!

 
Thank you so much for returning to see the show. I shall be back tomorrow when the curtain will close on the Last Night, but there will be tickets for a Happy Ending and costumes to try on and all wrapped up - as if by magic - in a tiny tag purse. I'd love you to take your seats for that, if you can! 
Julie Ann x

Leandra Says: Wow Julie Ann, another night with so much wonderful depth incorporated into your project. The scene is being set perfectly for the grand finale tomorrow evening.

Gillian Says: I am completely in love with this theme, again you captured all the details beautifully. Bravo.

If you would like to join in this week's challenge and play along with Julie Ann's techniques, then do link up your creativity here, and go in the draw to win some PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by 17:00, Sunday April 13th 2014

21 comments:

Helen said...

wow, you have such a fabulous imagination!! Love these pages; the feathers look fantastic.

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is such beautiful work, Julie Ann, and so well thought out dramatically and artistically. I love how you have stamped on the back of the bunting and put the ladies on the back of the actors from the front cover to finish them off from the inside. Such attention to detail and such an imaginative use of the stamps. I have had to buy two more stamp sets today, and have been up in the attic hunting for notebooks!

Lucy x

Unknown said...

Great project Julie-Ann! Well done! xx

Darcy Marshall said...

Love it. I def need to do something like this on one of my journals.

Unknown said...

Wow!!! I'm completely bowled over by all the detail and technique you've put into this journal. A fantastic (in more ways than one) project. Inspiring !! Jan

Anonymous said...

I love this so much Julie Ann, it is stunning.

massofhair said...

Can i borrow your brain for a couple of hours... Magical lands indeed!

You never cease to amaze with your attention to detail and your amazing eye for colour. A truly spectacular and exquisite work of Journal ArT:-) xxx

Steven said...

Lucious

Hazel Agnew said...

Another triumph with a beautiful ethereal quality that is so you Julie Ann. You manage to combine your skills with the knowledge that you absorb from the arts around you. Like the reference to the circle around the eye. As usual you have set my mind whirring. Can't wait for episode three! Xx

Colleen said...

Julie Anne,
WOW this will be some journal filled with magic and poetry. Can't wait to come back.

craftytrog said...

You have such wonderful imagination & talent Julie Ann! This is amazing!
Alison xxx

Anonymous said...

You have once again allowed me to take a trip into another time, a mystical and magical time. Eager to view the conclusion.
Wishes
Lynne

Deborah Wainwright said...

Oh Julie Ann I love reading your post as much seeing your art. Your talent shows through in all you do. I love the netting over the face of your stamp. It is the detail you add that makes your art stand out. Really looking forward to tomorrow's xxxx

PetraB said...

So beautifully dramatic and the details are so inspiring.

pearshapedcrafting said...

Fabulous! The texture, the colours, the stamps the clever way you added the feathers - just fabulous!! Chrisx

Etsuko said...

Such a lovely inside too Julie Ann! Fabulous colours, textures and put on the poem. Wonderful!! xx

May said...

Wonderful journal, Filled with fabulous text & images... the colours are amazing...WOW, WOW, WOW... love it all Hugs May x x

Carol Q said...

Another FABulous project Julie Ann. So imaginative. Love your choice of colours too.

Words and Pictures said...

Magical, Julie Ann - with the texture and the shimmer and the imagination taking flight!
Alison x

craftimamma said...

A second wonderful post this week Julie Ann. I'm so glad I waited to look at it in detail rather than giving it a quick scan while my visitors were here. More of your enthralling tail and stunning artwork and I love both. Now for the grand finale!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow so loving the inside of your page and the way it flows from the front. Your work is always amazing and it's the details and the story that makes your work so unique and inspiring. Kezzy:-) xxxxx