Wednesday 14 January 2015

2015 #1 Her Light Extends {by Alison Bomber}

2015 Theme 1: Fragile Papers

Hi everyone, Alison here from Words and Pictures, joining you this evening with a post on the theme of fragile papers. I use tissue paper and book pages a lot in my crafting, so this was right up my street.  I thought of doing some tissue-paper stamping to add to texture, like my December journalling page, but then I got a sneak peek at the new Lynne Perella stamps - wow! - and plans changed.  It had to be stained glass with candlelight shining through... 


I started by hacking a book to pieces.  It's okay, it's a fairly pulpy hardback bought at a charity shop, so I feel fine about it.  I measured the size of the stamp I was using and used a sharp craft knife to cut an aperture in the front cover to fit.  And then began the slow but necessary task of slicing out the internal pages to create my candle nook.


I stamped my stained glass window lady onto some of the Waxed Tissue in White using Jet Black Archival ink and heat set it.  She's from one of the new Lynne Perella plates which will be coming your way in February.



At this stage, I could actually quite happily have stopped - there's something very appealing to me about the monastic simplicity of this - the stamp alone is so beautiful - or even of the candle nook without the "glass" in place at all, but that's for another day!!


I used Inktense pencils to colour her as I wanted a strong hit of colour to try to capture that intensity of tinted glass.  You can really make the most of the fine detail of a stamp like this, and with the water stage you can also get some really subtle shading.


For the cover, I wanted the light to emanate out from the window, so once I'd selected, arranged and glued my metallic pieces - mainly Finnabair Mechanicals with a few extras thrown in - I started by covering the whole lot with white gesso, and then drew some black gesso in from the outer edges before starting to add colour with translucent Fresco Paints. The first stage was Limelight coming out from the centre, and next I brought Inky Pool in from the outside edges.


I then continued to layer in colours - pale from the inside, darker from the outside - highlighting and shading with the Limelight and Inky Pool plus Zesty Zing, Beach Hut and South Pacific.


And once that was working for me, I added further highlights to catch the light using Treasure Gold in White Gold and Aquamarine.  I used the Treasure Gold on the page edges too, to create the look of aged, gilded book pages.


The words in the Ornate Plate form the other main inspiration behind the whole piece, along with the Lynne Perella stamp.  Illa lucem extendebat is Latin for "her light extends", and the phrase has been beautifully set to music by Helen Chadwick (the composer not the artist).  I was singing it in my head throughout the process.


Obviously, this would be a lot safer if you used a battery tealight - I shan't be leaving this one burning without being in close attendance!  You could try the simple b&w version if you don't fancy the colouring; or if you don't want to do the book carving you could simply cut an aperture in a tag and create your tissue paper window that way.  In any case, I hope you'll be inspired to play with tissue-paper-stamping and light, and with the graduating light to shade of the paintwork.  Thanks so much for stopping by today - it's always fantastic to hear what you think.  See you again soon!  Alison xx

Oh Alison, what a wonderful way to use this stamp as a lit-up niche! And you have blended the Fresco paints so marvellously well for your Finnabair inspired cover. I much prefer to use paints this way on the layered bellies, you have so much more control than a spray, and the specific and controlled use of Treasure Gold to carefully to highlight the texture of the embellishments is the PERFECT way to accent. you have done a truly beautiful piece here, thank-you so much!

We would love you to join in with challenge #1: Fragile Papers. If you are inspired by any of our guests who have blogged on this topic over this fortnight, then please join in and link up your creativity HERE

All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. This link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, Jan 18th 2015, winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

49 comments:

massofhair said...

Love what you have created here Alison, definitely a monastic quality to the finished book :-) xxx

PaperArtsy said...

I adore this Alison!! Really amazing, what a beautiful idea with beautiful colours! Thankyou! Leandra

JoFY said...

stunning!

Helen said...

Love it! and the stamps aren't too bad either! Gorgeous project Alison.

pearshapedcrafting said...

What an amazing thing to do with a charity shop book! This looks gorgeous and of course i love this new set of LP stamps!! Chrisx

Julie Lee said...

Wow! Alison, this is such a stunning idea for an altered book! I love how Inktense pencils can be used to create such subtle shading effects and you have created such gorgeous effects with them on this lovely, lovely project. This lady is perfect for the glimmer of candle light and the Latin text is a perfect choice too! I am breathless in admiration! Julie Ann xxx

Hazel Agnew said...

Another wow from me. You have certainly managed to "highlight" (pun intended) Lynne's stamp beautifully. The Inktense look so radiant and love the gilded pages. A great project Alison. Stunning! Xx

Ruth said...

What a fabulous alteration, love the front cover, beautiful colours....another WOW! Of course the stamps are mmmmm! Ruth x

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous Alison! Sue C x

CastleKelly Crafts said...

I love what you have created and the colours are just perfect, a masterpiece x

Craftyfield said...

Fabulous! Love the effect of light coming out of the window and the image is vibrant. Great new stamps too...

Deborah said...

What a truly stunning altered book, Alison. And new Lynne Perrella stamps on their way - I'm in heaven!

Liesbeth Fidder said...

Wow, this is really WONDERFUL !! :-D

Terry said...

This so has Alison written all over it! What a gorgeous creation and I love the stained glass effect and those beautiful flowers! Hugs!

Gabrielle said...

Ooh! Lovely, lovely book and new LP stamps too! A truly exciting post Alison! We're really spoiled tonight!

Deborah Wainwright said...

Oh my Alison this is stunning the colours are my fav at the moment and they work so well for the frame love love love this xxx

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is just glorious, Alison! I SO want these new stamps! I love how you have gilded the metal flowers and how you have made the book aperture and then lit the stained glass image from behind. I keep having to be reminded to use my Inktense pencils more, and this is a perfect example. Stunning work!

Lucy x

judith@poppy cottage said...

Be-oo-ti-ful Alison, I love the effect of the paint blended over the embellishments, so much more than sprays. Your colour choice is stunning, and those new stamps are just delightful. What a fab project. Thanks for sharing. Judith xx

Redanne said...

I love how you made it look like stained glass Alison, it is simply gorgeous! Love that new LP stamp too... Anne xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Fabulous Alison - and what an inspired idea for an altered book. Love it! xxx

Etsuko said...

Oh This is absolutely gorgeous Alison! Great idea and the metal embellishments are amazing layout and beautiful colours. Just wonderful!! I love it!! xxx

pennylopes54 said...

Lovely project Alison!

Marci said...

Stunning!

experiments in paper said...

Lovely and clever and overall WONDERFUL! So admire your 3-dimensional thinking, which I also appreciate so much in your dollhouse work.

Amanda said...

Beautiful!
Love
Amanda x

www.deeadamsart.blogspot.co.uk said...

Love it Alison the way you built up the colours and the stained glass window brilliant! Dee x

Kirsten said...

That is just stunning Alison. The layers of colour look amazing & the new LP image works perfectly.

Jane said...

What an amazing project, it must look stunning in real life. Gorgeous textures and colours x

yoursartfully said...

Wow Alison, this is so beautiful...such a clever idea!

Lin

craftytrog said...

Such an amazing project Alison! The colours are beautiful too! xxx

Andrea Small said...

ooh - oooooh - OOOOOOH!

Andrea x

Art By Wanda said...

Totally fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dorthe said...

It is stunning Alison, with the light behind, it looks like a glass-mosaic window, ..the stamp is wonderful, truly, and you painted it so fantastic !! The flowers looking metal-like are gorgeous,too !
Hugs,Dorthe

Kathi said...

This is absolutely, positively, gobsmackingly gorgeous!

I love the new stamp and love the way you used it. Transforming it to become an illuminated, colorful stained glass window is brilliant (pun intended).

The setting you created for the window is also beautiful.

Thanks so much for sharing how you created this piece!

Corrie Herriman said...

Beautiful as usual !
Corrie x

Corrie Herriman said...

Beautiful as usual !
Corrie x

Corrie Herriman said...

Beautiful as usual !
Corrie x

Joke said...

This is fabulous, Love it.

Cocofolies said...

Woow, fabulous work Alison!!!! And this new stamps set by Lynne Perella is wonderful, perfect for you, you must love it I guess. Coco xxx

craftimamma said...

Sorry I'm so late commenting Alison but better late than never! Your altered book is absolutely stunning and you have really captured the look of light from within illuminating that beautiful image. Another new set for the wish list, lol!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Wow, what an amazing original make! Stunning effects on both the cover and the stained glass window, and when it is lit up it really comes to life, a super project!

Sarah B said...

I'm lost for words - one of the most beautiful projects I've seen for a long time xx

Julia Aston said...

What a gorgeous cover and lovely stained glass effect on the stamping Alison!

Colleen said...

Alison,
This is beautiful and what a clever idea to put a candle behind.

Shilpa Nagaonkar said...

Stunning project, Alison!! Brilliant idea to use book as a candle holder and light behind lady's photo looks just amazing!!

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow truly amazing creation, I love altering books but would never thought of adding a battery light, awesome. Happy Creating :-) Kezzy xxx

Anonymous said...

I doubt if I can add to what has previously been said.

A thing of beauty.
Wishes
Lynne

Unknown said...

WOW Alison! Just WOW!! Absolutely LOVE this :) XOXO-Shari

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Great job! Both versions are wonderful--the stark simplicity of the first one and the final project. Just so wonderful!