2017 #8 3D Buddleia {by Kay Carley}

2017 Topic 8: Assemblage

Kay brings a fantastic 3D element to her stamps with this idea, which must not only involve a fair bit of fiddly cutting, but a heck of a lot of patience! The results are certainly worth it, so if you've got some tiny scissors about, here's the challenge to get snipping!

Hi everyone Kay here.

Lovely to be here on the PA blog tonight. I've chosen to share with you a 3D picture of buddleia type flowers made using my EKC05 stamp set and co-ordinating PS058 stencil.

On EKC05 there are two tiny flowers which were included to be used either to add to the background of your piece or to add to the two large flower heads to create a 3D flower which creates such beautiful dimension. (I also designed my EKC02 stamp sheet in the same way with two tiny flowers that can be stamped out multiple times, cut out and added to the larger flowers.) I won't lie...........it really is quite time consuming cutting out lots of the tiny flowers but it honestly is worth it as it gives the flowers a more rounded appearance plus if you do your cutting out whilst watching some telly it's not too bad!

I always try to add 'layers' of colour, stamps etc... and I very rarely begin my 'creative journey' with just one solid colour instead I like to add interest to my background from the start by choosing a few different colours and applying them with a sponge as I like the 'random look'. Of course my paints of choice are the lovely Fresco Finish paints! 

Nowadays I like to 'map out' where I think my main imagery will sit on my panel before adding my background imagery as so often I have stamped/stencilled some background imagery and then ended up covering most of it up with my main imagery! Annoying!!!

Now that I know where my main flower heads will sit I can begin building up my background imagery around them. Here I used Snowflake and Caribbean Sea Fresco Finish and my brand new stencil.......oooohhhhhh!!!! (I like to add touches of white into my project to bring some 'lightness' into the finished piece but if you prefer 'drama' go with a darker colour instead.)

The wavy stem on this leaf stamp is just perfect to create 'flowing background imagery. I think that Snowflake is my 'must have' paint as I use this on practically every project! 

This is always the 'slightly scary' bit as black stamped imagery always looks a bit harsh against a pretty pastel background. You just have to keep your fingers crossed (and maybe toes as well - just to be on the safe side) that it will all look ok in the end!!! Sleight Blue Infusions were very lightly sprinkled and spritzed as a base to begin my multi-coloured flowers but there are  23 other colours to chose from :).

I like to give these type of flower heads texture by using a few different colours of Fresco Finish paint (Blue Oyster, Zesty Zing, Dolly Mix, Eggplant) applied with a small paintbrush in a dabbing motion and then I've found an embossing tool is a great way to apply perfect dots to flower centres etc...

Recently I've been combining dye-based/watercolour based ink with Fresco Finish paint as this enables me to add soft translucent colour over the top of the chalk based paint which I really like the effect of.

I nearly always take some time to apply 'finishing touches' to my project. In this instance these 'touches' consisted of using a circle die to add 'a hole', gluing all my cut out flowers and butterfly into position with Pinflair, stencilling the words with Snowflake paint and writing over the top with a black multi-liner, applying white dot accents with a gel pen, adding some rhinestones, matting and layering the panel to black and grey cardstock and of course applying touches of glitter glue! (Phew......just a few finishing touches then!!!!)

For me it is all these 'little touches' that make a difference to the overall look of the finished piece. See what I mean about how those tiny little flowers make such a difference to the flower heads ;).

I really enjoy creating projects like this with lots of 'layers' and 3D elements. I was working on a 7x7" Smoothy cardstock panel for my picture but the beauty of this stamp set is that you could make a much larger picture if you wanted which I think would look spectacular especially if you had lots of the large flower heads embellished with 'loads' of tiny flowers - it may take you a while though! Also a tall slim panel of these flowers arranged in a vase or jam jar would look good :). I really want to create a set of table mats using this stamp set when I have a minute along with some matching coasters using elements from EKC07 - I just need to find some time!

I really hope that some of you will be 'brave enough' to try adding the little flowers to create dimensional flowers in this way and if you are please let me know as I would love to see your creations :).

Love Kay :) x

Blog: http://kaycarley.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaycarley.designer/
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Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/kaycwilson1/

What a beautiful idea Kay! I'm so glad you shared how to use the stencil to create the great layers, and the infusions add a pop of contrast too. So many gorgeous little dots of paint really seem to bring it all to life and those 3D flowers really are an assemblage of love! But what a stunning effect! Worth it for sure!  ~Leandra

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